Meet Our Ministers

Our parish co-ministers and primary worship leaders are co-ministers Revs. Wayne Arnason & Kathleen Rolenz.  Every other year, West Shore invites a seminarian to become our ministerial intern, who also leads worship. We are always pleased to welcome back to our pulpit minister Emeritus, The Rev. Dr. David Cole; and Minister Emerita The Rev. Dr. Marjorie Skwire. 

Reverends Wayne Arnason & Kathleen Rolenz were called to serve as parish co-ministers in June 2000.  They have been nationally recognized as outstanding preachers and leaders in the field of worship.  Their book “Worship That Works: Theory and Practice for Unitarian Universalists,” was published by Skinner House Books in 2007.

Children are an important part of our worship life.  The Parish Co-Ministers and Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Kathy Strawser, create Intergenerational Services once a month.  These services are designed to speak to children of all ages as well as adults. Children’s Worship occurs monthly in the Chapel.

Wayne and Kathleen were married in 1998.  Wayne is a fourth generation Unitarian Universalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Kathleen grew up in Akron, Ohio, and first discovered Unitarian Universalism at the UU Church in Kent, Ohio.

Meet Ellen Carvill-Ziemer

our Part-time

Intern for 2010-2012


Ellen Carvill-Ziemer writes: I’ve been a Unitarian Universalist since I was five, but West Shore will be the largest church yet. I grew up in New England, attended college in Minnesota, and then used my computer science degree teaching high school and managing the school’s technology department. (I am happy to announce that my technology support skills are now nearly obsolete!) Somehow the sense I had that the classroom wasn’t large enough for me gradually led me to ministry. I’ve just finished my M.Div at Earlham School of Religion and a two and a half year part-time student ministry at the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
    I also worked for the Ohio Meadville District as the Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant for three years. I live in Kent with my partner Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, the minister of the UU Church of Kent, and our two foster children. In my spare time, I enjoy tinkering around my house, gardening, tinkering with my rain barrel drip irrigation system, and reading novels.