A Word from Reverend Russell Elleven

I was born in Ft. Worth and raised in small-town Texas. At the age of 13, I had bone cancer and it required the amputation of my left arm. I was left-handed, just like my dad :-). I studied religion and history in college. I never intended to be a minister but did want to continue studying religion. It was in Nashville, Tennessee that I visited my first UU congregation. After earning a master’s degree in the history of religions I returned to Texas and started studying education and earned another master’s and a doctoral degree. I was a professor and administrator at two different universities before feeling the call to UU ministry. I’d also contracted cancer again in my 39th year, this time it was colon cancer. I served Westside UU Church in Ft. Worth, Texas for almost a decade. They named me minister emeritus when I left in 2013. My spouse and I moved to Illinois for a wonderful career opportunity she’d been offered. 

I’ve been vegan since 2007 and was influenced to do so after learning about UUAM. I’d been a vegetarian for many years but did not know/understand many of the reasons for veganism. The UUAM email list and the people I would meet at the UUAM booth at General Assembly were very helpful to me during that time (and beyond). I’ve been a UUAM board member twice and have, more recently, started the chaplain program. I have a pastoral counseling practice that centers around the areas of grief and end-of-life work. (wholisticed.org). 

Please let me know if you have any questions of me. Do not hesitate to email me directly (relleven @ gmail) or on the UUAM email list.