MEET OUR UU STAFF
Pastor Erik Halseth brings a blend of spiritual depth, compassionate presence, and broad professional experience to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura. Before entering full-time ministry, Pastor Erik spent more than two decades in corporate consumer insights and marketing leadership, experience that now informs his commitment to understanding people and their needs, collaborative leadership, and thoughtful discernment within congregational life. He has served as a hospice chaplain and on-call administrator, work that has shaped his pastoral approach with tenderness, humility, and deep respect for the stories people carry.
Pastor Erik holds a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry, an MBA from California Lutheran University, and has worked at different churches as a fourth Sunday minister, family leave minister, and Director of Religious Education His ministry is grounded in values of community, interdependence, and shared resilience, drawing inspiration from the cultural and spiritual traditions of his extended families, which remind us that we become our fullest selves when we are in community with one another.
Originally from Massachusetts, Pastor Erik has lived on California’s Gold Coast for most of his life, having grown up in Santa Barbara, and then later moving to Ventura as an adult. He currently lives in Eastern Ventura County with his family in Thousand Oaks.
He is grateful every day for the chance to accompany this congregation on its unfolding journey, and he is committed to contributing to a vibrant, inclusive, and spiritually alive community.
Jennifer Luce
Congregational Administrator
Hours:
Mon – Thurs, 9AM – 3PM
Friday, 9AM – 12PM
805-644-3898, ext 100
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Lily Rappaport
Acting Director of Family Ministry
I am delighted to be serving at UUCV as the Acting Director of Family Ministry. I have been a religious educator for 28 years.and have served a number of Unitarian Universalist congregations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Missouri. In addition to congregational work, I have served in leadership roles within the UU denomination and was on the Board of the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) as well as on planning teams for the religious education conferences on Star Island in New Hampshire and in Ferry Beach in Maine.
I am a member of the Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) and the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus Group, and enjoy helping congregations in their efforts to affirm their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
My experience has helped me to develop an understanding of major trends and innovations in the field of religious education today. These times call for innovation, flexibility and patience for all and I am excited to help UUCV redesign faith development for children and families and to support the development of innovative programs that will enrich this spiritual community. I look forward to serving and getting to know you as we embark on this journey together.
Brian Fortune
A/V Technician & Support
I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and landed in Ventura right after graduating from the University of Dayton over 35 years ago. I produced local high school TV sports programming and survived three buyouts. I was hired at UUCV in June, 2014. I also work in the high school at the Ventura Youth Correctional facility. In addition, I officiate ice hockey, do occasional chauffeuring, and have my own company providing video deposition services.
I feel especially fortunate in that I really do enjoy all of my jobs. And the fact that everyone at the church has been so kind to me makes it a lot easier getting up on Sunday mornings than it could be.