Unitarian Universalists of Wellesley Welcome New Assistant Minister

When Wellesley’s Unitarian Universalists celebrated the start of the church year on Sept. 7, there was a new presence in the pulpit: David Helfer, Assistant Minister for Religious Development. This new position reflects the congregation’s core belief that religious and spiritual development are not the province of a single age group, but rather should be available to children, teens, and adults in all stages. During his ministry, David expects to encourage “lifespan learning,” both within and between generations, exploring ways that life experience as well as religious traditions can shape beliefs and values.

David comes to Wellesley by way of a bi-coastal past, having lived in Southern California, Long Island, Washington DC, and Seattle. After two decades in the environmental consulting field, he attended Claremont School of Theology, graduating in 2012. He discovered Unitarian Universalism in mid-life and embraced its “common ground” and how people were inspired by an attitude of support and acceptance. Of his evolving theology he says, “my belief is that in community we heal ourselves and each other, and from that place we are able to turn our attention outward to the needs of the larger world.”

The UU Wellesley community will serve as a launch pad for David’s theology in a variety of settings. He is responsible for K-6 religious education (including a themed play), the Our Whole Lives (OWL) values-based sexuality program for middle schoolers, Senior Youth group activities that will include a service learning trip to Puerto Rico, and the Coming of Age program for 9th and 10th graders during which they work with mentors to formulate a credo (“I believe”) statement. In the future David expects adults to undertake this credo-writing exercise as well, in recognition that growth and faith development never ends, and that each person’s beliefs are unique and changing. He envisions a multigenerational faith community that learns together, its lessons creating a foundation for engagement in service work.

Through his own life and his pastoral work, David has experienced the challenges and opportunities of change and transitions. He is committed to contributing to UU Wellesley as a place where anyone can experience transitions in safety, whether in youth, career, family dynamics, religious identity, gender identity, illness, retirement, bereavement, or any other personal journey.

When David joined his first UU congregation, in Long Beach, CA, he felt he had “come home.” The Wellesley UU congregation is delighted to welcome him to his new home, and to affirm his ministry by ordaining him on Dec. 7.

Article submitted by the Unitarian Universalists of Wellesley