It is with great pleasure that we announce we have signed an agreement with the Reverend Verdis LeVar Robinson (he/they) to be our Contract Minister. Rev. Verdis comes to us by way of First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, where he served as the Assistant Minister for Growth. He also served as quarter time Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of East Aurora, NY. Prior to that, he was the ministerial coordinator of Worship Arts Production and Adult Lifespan Spiritual Exploration at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, VT, where he completed his internship. Rev. Verdis is in preliminary fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association and was ordained in 2023 by the congregations of the First Unitarian and First Universalist Churches of Rochester, and the Unitarian Church of Montpelier.

Prior to being ordained, Rev. Verdis was very active and had executive leadership roles in community/non-profit organizations including the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), Campus Compact, and The Democracy Commitment (TDC). He began his academic career by teaching History and African American Studies for ten years at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. 

Rev. Verdis holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School specializing in Faith Formation Pedagogy, a master’s degree in African American Studies from the University at Buffalo, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in history from Brockport University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Boston University. 

Rev. Verdis is a member and/or board member of AUUMM, BLUU, DRUUM, UUMA, UU Christian Fellowship, and was the Choir Director for the 2025 General Assembly. He is a member of UUA Appointments Committee and is on the panel for the Fund for a Just Society. He also serves as Executive and Artistic Director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir. 

Rev. Verdis' sermons are inspiring and his worship services are very well-crafted. He has a very calm, pastoral presence and deep interest in helping people through transitions. The three elements of congregational life that resonate with him the most are worship/music/arts, life span faith formation and social justice. He comes to us eager to guide us through our interim period and at the same time, eager to learn from us about the functioning of our healthy, vibrant and engaged congregation.