Meet the First UU Staff

Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman

      Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman has been serving as First UU’s half-time minister since June of 2020. 

      Rev. Michelle was already familiar to many Springfield residents through her position as campus minister at Ekklesia Progressive Campus Ministry. Ekklesia is affiliated with four denominations and is a leader in interfaith conversations at Missouri State University. She started at Ekklesia in January 2018. 

       She is ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has always taken an ecumenical and interfaith approach to ministry and life in general. 

       “I did not meet a Unitarian Universalist until I was in the seminary,” she said, referring to Eden Theological Seminary, where she earned her master of divinity. She enjoyed her interaction with UUs and with members of other progressive religious groups.

       Rev. Michelle grew up in the small town of New Bloomfield, MO, the youngest of five children. She received a bachelor of science in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from Central Missouri State University. She is completing a doctor of ministry degree at Phillips Theological Seminary as well as pursuing plural standing as a UU minister.

      “I’m a little obsessed with learning new things, so that probably won’t be the end of my student days,” she said.

       Among her goals as minister at First UU are maintaining a community of faith and helping provide resources for people to exercise their beliefs. She wants to be a peacemaker and worker for justice in this community and in the world, connecting the UU community to a wider community in order to make change. She wants to encourage members to be more active in their church and in the community.

       “I have a passion for helping people connect with their inner voice and discover the vocation that is calling them to love and serve the world in the unique way that only they can,” she said.

       She and her wife, Stephanie, have been married 11 years. She describes Stephanie as “a brilliant documentary and storytelling photographer, a fabulous cook, and a lover and encourager of people.” The family includes daughters Alexis and Morgan.    

article written by First UU member Betty Ridge