First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Our Minister

Rev. Marcel Duhamel
Rev. Marcel Duhamel, Interim Minister

The Rev. Marcel P. Duhamel is serving as interim minister for the September 2008 through June 2009 church year. Most recently he was the settled minister of the Second Congregational Society, Unitarian Universalist of Concord, New Hampshire, where he served nine years. Prior to that, he was the settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, New York, where he served ten years. Second generation USA born, all four grand parents hail from Quebec and Marcel is proud of his Canadian roots. He is married to the Rev. Ellie Duhamel. Marcel is delighted to be in Canada, particularly pleased to be in Ottawa and honored to be now serving this extraordinarily wonderful church.

Past Ministers (list of all past ministers)

Rev. Janet Newman
Rev. Janet Newman, Interim Minister

The Reverend Janet Newman, who is our Interim Minister for 2007-08, has 20 years of very varied experience in this specialized ministry. Most recently she has been outstandingly successful as Interim Minister at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.

Brian Kopke
Rev. Brian Kopke, Minister Emeritus
Rev. Brian Kopke came to us from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1985. He was a teacher before entering the Unitarian ministry. He completed his work for the Unitarian-Universalist ministry at Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Brian was ordained in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1970. He now has dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S. He was appointed Minister Emeritus in 2007.

NOTE: Rev. Kopke is observing "time away from the congregation" per protocols of the UUA and UUMA for recently retired ministers.

Liz Benjamin Rev. Elizabeth Benjamin, Minister Emerita
Rev. Benjamin came to us from Houston, Texas, in 1987. She had been a children's librarian, kindergarten teacher, and Director of Religious Education. She completed her work for the Unitarian Universalist ministry in the Independent Study program of Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago. Rev. Benjamin was ordained by the Ottawa congregation in 1988. She now has dual citizenship, Canada and the U.S. Specializing in Religious Education, Elizabeth shared the rest of the congregation's ministry with Rev. Kopke until she retired in 2002. She was appointed Minister Emerita in 2003.

Past Ministers (list of all past ministers)
	Rev. Janet Newman, Interim Minister The Reverend Janet Newman, who is our Interim Minister for 2007-08, has 20 years of very varied experience in this specialized ministry. Most recently she has been outstandingly successful as Interim Minister at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.
	Rev. Brian Kopke, Minister Emeritus Rev. Brian Kopke came to us from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1985. He was a teacher before entering the Unitarian ministry. He completed his work for the Unitarian-Universalist ministry at Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Brian was ordained in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1970. He now has dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S. He was appointed Minister Emeritus in 2007. NOTE: Rev. Kopke is observing "time away from the congregation" per protocols of the UUA and UUMA for recently retired ministers.
	Rev. Elizabeth Benjamin, Minister Emerita Rev. Benjamin came to us from Houston, Texas, in 1987. She had been a children's librarian, kindergarten teacher, and Director of Religious Education. She completed her work for the Unitarian Universalist ministry in the Independent Study program of Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago. Rev. Benjamin was ordained by the Ottawa congregation in 1988. She now has dual citizenship, Canada and the U.S. Specializing in Religious Education, Elizabeth shared the rest of the congregation's ministry with Rev. Kopke until she retired in 2002. She was appointed Minister Emerita in 2003.