Rev. Dr. Kent Doss began his ministry at First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City on August 1, 2025. Originally from Tulsa, he served two different congregations in Orange County, California, for 18 years before returning to his home state. Rev. Doss went to seminary at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO, and more recently completed a Doctorate of Ministry at Phillips Theological Seminary. Working with local communities to build justice and equity, and creating transformative worship experiences have been at the core of his ministry.

Rev. Kent’s family still lives in the surrounding area, and he looks forward to spending more time with them. He enjoys mindfulness meditation, reading, running, backpacking, sailing, and general outdoor adventure. These days, Rev. Kent is busy exploring OKC’s museums, restaurants, yoga studios, and coffee shops. Don’t hesitate to say hello if you see him out and about.

Send an email to Rev. Kent

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

Amelia Padalino (soprano) is from Knoxville, Tennessee. She has completed a dual Master’s in Choral Conducting and Voice Performance from the University of Missouri. She earned her Bachelor’s in Voice Performance at Middle Tennessee State University.

Amelia worked and studied as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Missouri. While in school, Padalino found an opportunity to work with the Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri (CAAM) in various capacities: Columbia Youth Choir Assistant, Co-coordinator of Adult Choirs, and as a section leader and soloist. Amelia was the Traditional Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. There, she directed the Adult, Youth, Bell, and Children’s choirs. She was also an Adjunct Professor of Music History at Moberly Area Community College (MACC).

Amelia, along with her husband, Jeremy Padalino, opened their own voice and music studio, Lufner Studio, in January 2023. Their studio aspires to educate students of all ages on their unique musical journey. Lufner Studio offers lessons in voice, basic piano, and music theory, or a combination of all three.

During her time in Missouri, she performed in operas and various large-scale concerts as a featured soloist, coordinator, or choir member. Most recently, Amelia has accepted a position at Casady School in Oklahoma City as their new Assistant Choir Director and helps run Middle and Upper Division choirs. Padalino is also excited to begin her journey as the new Music Director at First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City and oversee the Adult choir and Bell choir.

Send email to Send an email to Amelia Padalino
405-232-9224 | Ext 17

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 in the office are:  Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (it is always good to call first)  Fridays are work from home days, Mondays are her day off.

Send an email to Marlies Grogg

405-232-9224 | Ext 10

Kate Leach is studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, but has been making music since they were five years old. Inspired by their mom playing piano, Kate begged to begin piano lessons and continued to take lessons until they left to go to college.

Kate was originally a Meteorology major at the University of Oklahoma, but decided to switch to Environmental Engineering in their sophomore year because they realized they would rather be implementing research on fighting climate change instead of conducting it. Being a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Kate is especially dedicated to helping their fellow tribal members fight climate change and have access to necessary natural resources.

Kate grew up going to the Presbyterian church, first in Austin, TX, and then in Stephenville, TX after they moved there in 2012. In fact, Kate started piano lessons up again with the music director at the First Presbyterian Church in Stephenville after leaving their previous piano teacher in Austin. They occasionally played piano for the church—sometimes duets with their teacher, sometimes accompanying a choir soloist, and sometimes playing a solo. Kate deeply values the messages of love and kindness spread throughout Unitarian churches and is excited to provide their own version of those messages through music.

When they aren’t studying for their next test, Kate enjoys learning new music, gaming (board and video), and laughing at their crazy corgi. Kate is also a writer for the University of Oklahoma Gaming Club’s News and Media Team and enjoys sharing their opinions about games for all to read. If you see Kate on Sunday, feel free to say hello!

Send an email to Send an email to Kate Leach

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) Celeste Lebak

405-232-9224 | Ext 9

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM: 

Ellisya Ravencroft, AV

Tammy Epperson, AV

Paula Geisinger, Bookkeeper (405-232-9224 ext.16) or Send an email to finance

Ka’Myra Culliver, Childcare Worker

Angela Menefee Childcare Coordinator

Elantra Menefee, Childcare Worker