Sue came to the Unitarian Universalist ministry from the practice of law, and was ordained in Boston in 1985.  Her ministries have taken her to six states and one Canadian province; she loves that this work has allowed her to explore many parts of North America.  Along the way, she discovered a passion for transitional ministry, and spent her final ten years before retirement serving congregations as an interim or developmental minister.

Sue married Chuck Campbell, the great love of her life, at age 65, and was widowed in 2019.  She continues to share their Albuquerque home with many books, houseplants, and cooking tools, and a feisty gray rescue cat named Phoenix.  When in Albuquerque, she sings in a church choir, and volunteers with The Landing, sa local program that assists asylum seekers.

Although she retired in 2018 from full-time ministry, she has “flunked retirement” several times, serving short-term ministries both virtually and in person.  She’s delighted to be spending three months with us here in Oklahoma City.

Send an email to Sue Redfern-Campbell

405-232-9224 | Ext 12

Tim Atkins has been serving as our Director of Lifespan Religious Education since September 2020.  He comes to us after having served the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown, NJ from 2013-2017 and the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD from 2017-2020.

He has presented at a number of religious education workshops and trainings, including being the keynote speaker at the 2015 Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Fall Conference. In addition, Tim has served on the UUA Board of Trustees, the Appointments Committee of the UUA Board, and is currently serving as the president-elect of the Southwest UU Religious Educators Association and serves on the denominational UUA Nominating Committee. Tim has a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy as well as certificates in Social Psychology and Sociology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate certificate in Orange Family Ministry from Southeastern University. Tim has a broad knowledge of Unitarian Universalism and has written UU curriculum himself.

Tim grew up in Indiana and Georgia. Tim discovered Unitarian Universalism in Atlanta. He writes, “I took the online Belief-o-Matic quiz, and it popped up Unitarian Universalism 100%. I thought ‘any religion that agrees with me 100% of the time can’t be a real religion.’ So I waited about a year…I looked for the largest church in Atlanta, figuring there would be a higher likelihood of young adults being there. I fell in love the first week…I had found my home.”

Tim is a proud cat dad of two. His hobbies include bowling and gaming, especially board games, and attempting to garden. He loves wheel-thrown pottery and looks forward to one day having his own at-home pottery studio. Tim is also a writer and has been published by the UUA on multiple occasions.

Send an email to Tim Atkins

405-232-9224 | Ext 14

Marlies has been with First Unitarian Church since 2005. She was born and raised in Midwest City, Oklahoma. She considers the members of the church her family and enjoys seeing and talking to everyone.

Questions about your pledge and/or donation you have made to the church? Marlies can answer or find the answer to your question! Marlies schedules the rental of the facility, maintains the church calendar, and helps with church information material such as brochures, online newsletter and Annual Reports, just to name a few. Marlies also helps maintain the church website. If you have a question, Marlies can probably answer it!

Marlies’ hours are:  Tuesday – Thursday and Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (it is always good to call first)

Send an email to Marlies Grogg

405-232-9224 | Ext 10

Chukwuebuka (who goes by ‘Ebuka, pronounced ay-BOO-kah) is an Igbo-Nigerian graduate student at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts with a major in Directing and Set Design and a minor in Dance and Choreography from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra, Nigeria. In 2021, he received a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at OU. At OU, he has worked as assistant conductor of the Men’s Glee Club and he currently serves as assistant conductor for the Women’s Chorus. He was the choirmaster of a students’ choir at his undergraduate university, served as music director for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shasha in Lagos, Nigeria, and completed choral/tech internships at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette Louisiana and the McFarlin United Methodist Church in Norman OK.  During his spare time, he is a freelance music instrumental synthesizer/producer, voice-over artist, and video editor/producer.

Send an email to ‘Ebuka Ezeakacha

405-232-9224 | Ext 17

Steven Elkins Kennedy is an Oklahoma native who grew up in Moore Oklahoma. After graduating with a master’s in piano performance, he served on the faculty of several universities including OCU and UCO in Oklahoma. You may also find him directing music and conducting productions around town. He is happy to have found a new church family at 1UCOKC.

Send an email to Steven Elkins Kennedy 

Rev. Dr. Tamara Lebak is an ordained Unitarian Universalist community minister, diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, chaplain, coach, mother, wife, author, singer-songwriter, and worship leader.  Rev. Tamara has served at First Unitarian Shaker Heights and West Shore Unitarian Universalist in Cleveland, OH.  She also served nearly 10 years at All Souls in Tulsa, OK. Tamara completed her Doctorate at Phillips Theological Seminary in 2023. She has served as an intern chaplain at Stateville Maximum Security Men’s Prison, Dick Conner Correctional Facility, the University of Chicago Hospitals and is the Resident Chaplain of the Terence Crutcher Foundation. Tamara is the founder of the Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma where she strives to help people know they are not the worst thing they have ever done nor the worst thing that has ever happened to them. The Restorative Justice Institute seeks to transform the retributive and inequitable culture of Oklahoma through a trauma-informed, developmental, and systemic approach to chaplaincy and community circles.

Send an email to Rev. Dr. Tamara Lebak

405-232-9224 | Ext 9

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM: 

Ellisya Ravencroft, AV

Tammy Epperson AV

Caleb Pinson, AV

Paula Geisinger, Bookkeeper (405-232-9224 ext.16)

Brianna McCalla, Childcare Worker

Angela Menefee, Childcare Worker