Unitarian Universalists welcome the Rev. Heather Rion Starr

In August, the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware welcomed the Rev. Heather Rion Starr as its fourth settled minister.

Rion Starr, a graduate of Berkeley's Starr King School for the Ministry, comes to UUSD with 16 years of experience in ministry that includes service at Unitarian Universalist congregations in Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.

Rion Starr begins her ministry at UUSD following the retirement of the Rev. Paula Maiorano, who led the congregation through the pandemic and its transition to an online environment with recorded worship services. Maiorano supported the congregation in developing a new hybrid environment that now hosts weekly in-person and livestreaming worship services.

Rion Starr is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. Among the things she deeply appreciates about this faith is that any one individual can journey through different beliefs over the course of their lifetime.

"I have known colleagues who started out in ministry as humanists, became atheists for a time, and then became Christian, all while serving UU congregations, all within the embrace of Unitarian Universalism,” she said.

Rion Starr also brings a deep appreciation for place, and the ways that faith communities can help people deepen their sense of connection and gratitude for the places where they live.

"I am thrilled to have relocated with my family to southern Delaware. The natural beauty of the planet is so precious to us here. We are a small-enough population that we get to interact with and know one another across racial, economic, political and cultural lines. I am glad to represent a faith community that is focused on practicing mutual respect for a wide range of beliefs, life experiences and ways of being our authentic selves in this world,” she said.

With the arrival of Rion Starr, a new chapter has begun for a congregation that thrived during the difficult days of the pandemic, and emerged with new energy and hope to embrace its next settled minister and her family. Her formal installation ceremony is scheduled for May 2022, and it will be open to the public.

UUSD is a welcoming and progressive spiritual community with a faith rooted in love and justice. Its mission is to nurture spiritual growth, embrace diversity, work for justice and strive for a loving world. For more information, go to uussd.org.