Pastor

Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even was born and raised in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. She completed undergraduate and MBA degrees at Pennsylvania State University. In 1992, she graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Theology from Drew University in Madison, NJ.

Prior to coming to the United Church of Fayetteville in August 2007, Dr. Even served the First Presbyterian Church in Bay City, MI and was Associate Pastor for Congregational Nurture and Pastoral Care in Cincinnati, OH .

Director of Music Ministries

Hugh Jones grew up on a farm in Oneida County , received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at Syracuse University and his Masters Degree in Operations Research at George Washington University . From 1962 to the present he served as organist/Director of Music at churches in Maryland and Virginia and most recently, at the Fayetteville United Methodist Church . Hugh was a chapel organist for the US Army and also worked at the Pentagon with the Department of the Army both in the military and as a civilian. Retiring in 2005, he formed a company called Energy Masters.

Hugh has conducted major musical works both sacred and secular from classical to Broadway. He has directed chancel and children's choirs, church orchestras, jazz ensembles and handbell choirs and enjoys composing. Hugh and his wife have three children and live in Canastota. His musical goal is to “build music ministries into fitting offerings to the Lord through prayer, worship and lots of practice.” His aspiration is to “provide a variety of music to the Lord and to the people of God, enhancing worship experiences for both long time Christians and new Seekers of Faith”.

We look forward to welcoming him to UCF in October!

Brenda was born and raised in Western Canada settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. She met and married Brad and together they lived in San Diego, Europe and Albany, NY before settling here in Fayetteville. She studied business law and business management and pursued a career in sales and management before the birth of their three children Toni, Kaitlin and Dylan. Prior to moving to Fayetteville, Brenda worked as an Interim Director for Children's Ministries at the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York. She has served at United Church as both a member and Chair of the Committee on Children's Ministries, a member of the Committee on Youth Ministries and has worked for eight years as a Sunday School teacher having taught all grade levels. Brenda has worked the past five years at Fair World Marketplace, a Fair Trade gift store. She brings to the position a positive energy and desire to enhance the religious education for the children of UCF.

Victoria King joined the staff of UCF in August 2008. She holds undergraduate degrees from Onondaga Community College , Loughborough University in England and SUNY Brockport. Ms. King earned an M.S. Ed degree from SUNY Oswego and an MFA from The Actors Studio, New School University in New York City . She has also been a soloist and choir member in a number of churches.

Victoria managed the theatre and taught drama at Oswego High School for many years. At the college level Victoria has taught at SUNY Potsdam and New School University , NYC. She is a contributor to the New York State Standards for Arts Education and has her own private studio for voice and acting. She and many of her students have been awarded numerous national, state and local awards for academic, musical, and theatrical achievement including the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts and the Golden Plate Award. Recently, Ms. King has directed plays in NYC for the Bleaker Street Theatre, Actors Studio Tishman Theatre, Wollman Theater, and locally, at Syracuse Stage, Society for New Music, Jazz Central, The Worldwide V-Day Campaign and Full Cast Audio.

Administrative Assistant

Lisa Minutoli joined the United Church staff in June of 2005. She has lived the last 20 years in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and recently returned to Central New York leaving a wonderful church family and established career to be closer to her family and friends. Outside of work and church, Lisa has a number of pastimes including quilting, gardening, playing the piano, and reading. She loves children and in New Hampshire provided safe, loving homes to foster children on a temporary basis as well as respite to other foster families.