About ALUCC

Click on the name of the staff member you would like to learn more about.

Senior Minister - The Rev. Kelly Brill
Associate Minister for Pastoral Care - The Rev. James Deitz

Senior Minister:
The Rev. Kelly Brill has been the Senior Minister at ALUCC since January of 1995.  She previously served churches in Lakewood, Ohio; Henry, Illinois; and Waco, Texas.  She was ordained in 1983 and holds ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as well as the United Church of Christ.  She is a graduate of Kalamazoo College and Vanderbilt Divinity School, and is currently a student in the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.  She enjoys writing and currently has a contract with the Alban Institute to write a book on healthy clergy lifestyles.

Kelly’s hobbies include reading, exercise and travel.  She has two children:  Michael, born in 1984, who lives in Cleveland, and Anne, born in 1988, who is a college student. 

Click Here to contact The Rev. Kelly Brill

Associate Minister for Pastoral Care:

Jim Deitz:  I'm a graduate of Haverford College and Eden Theological Seminary.  Later, I received an STM from Yale Divinity School.  I was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1955, and served congregations in Ohio for about 40 years until my retirement.

Since then, I've remained active through some interim ministries, and happily serving part-time on the staff at Avon Lake United Church of Christ (since 1998).   My responsibilities include: calling on home-bound persons, and those in rest homes; occasional preaching;  occasional hospital calling as needed.   Beyond the local church: moderator of the Ohio Conference, president of the Academy of Parish Clergy, trustee of many boards through the years.  Currently  serving on the board of the Interfaith Hospitality Network, Lorain County.  Married to Lou since 1951;  four children and eleven grandchildren. 

Click Here to contact The Rev. James Detiz.

Youth Director:
My name is Nate Taylor and I am the Youth Director at ALUCC. My responsibilities include overseeing and development of the youth ministries for students in grades 5-12. I am also responsible for the education of our confirmation students and the development of that program. I am originally from Toledo, Ohio and first came to the greater Cleveland area in 1999 when I was a student at Baldwin-Wallace College. I graduated from B-W in 2003 with a degree in Sport Management and Business Administration. I spent some time with the Cleveland Browns and the former Cleveland Barons. Most recently I was serving part-time as the youth director at St. Stephen U.C.C. in Sandusky. I began at Avon Lake U.C.C. in April of 2007. I am very active in the conference's Outdoor Ministries and will be looking forward to my 18th summer at camp in 2008. I currently serve on the conference's Division of Outdoor Ministries. I enjoy being outside, canoeing, camping, biking, golf, soccer, photography, live music and live comedy. I love Cleveland's sports teams- Lebron, K2, C.C. and all those guys! I think laughter is the best medicine. I enjoy meeting new people and working with all the amazing students I have had the chance to meet so far. I am currently single and reside in Lakewood.

Click Here to contact Nate Taylor.

Director of Christian Education:
Marilyn Sommer became the Director of Christian Education at ALUCC in May, 1997.    She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Phillips University in Enid, OK, and taught social studies at the high school level for several years. She and her family joined ALUCC shortly after moving to Avon Lake in 1988.  Further education included course work through the Design for Leadership religious education program at Defiance College and she was the interim Christian Education Director at Middleburg Heights Community Church (UCC).  Marilyn and her husband, Ron, have two adult sons and one grandson.

As Director of Christian Education she is responsible for supervising and staffing the Nursery and Sunday School program. She works with the Board of Christian Education in selecting materials and curriculum as needed and in promoting special activities for all ages.  She communicates regularly with parents and coordinates the Children’s Time portion of the Sunday morning Worship Services.  She also supervises other activities such as Vacation Bible School and the Children and Youth Christmas Pageant and promotes the UCC Summer Camp program.  Her adult education responsibilities include organizing, supervising, and teaching various continuing education classes including Bible study classes; overseeing the Advent Devotional booklet; and providing other opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship.  

Click Here to contact Marilyn Sommer.

Director of Jack-N-Jill Nursery School:
Deborah Pettys became the Director of Jack n Jill Nursery School in June of 1995.  She grew up in Berea, Ohio and upon graduation from Berea High School attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  She graduated from Miami with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and taught home ecomomics at Middleburg Heights Junior High School and Berea High School for several years.  She became part of the Jack & Jill staff om 1982, teaching there for 13 years before her appointment as Director.  She and her husband, Chuck, have lived in Avon Lake for 35 years and have been members of ALUCC since 1984.  They have three adult children, a daughter and two sons, a granddaughter and two grandsons.
 
As Director of  Jack & Jill, she works with the guidance of the Director of Christian  Education and the Board of Christian Education.  She is responsible for compliance with all licensing rules as set forth by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.  Her duties include hiring and supervision of the teaching staff, supervision of curriculum and purchasing equipment and supplies for the school.  She prepares and implements the annual school budget, setting rates of tuition and teacher salaries with the advice of the Boards of Christian Education  and Stewardship.  She also acts as liaison between teachers and parents, provides communication regarding school events and represents the school at various community events.

Click Here to contact Debbie Pettys.

 
Director of Music Ministries:
Mary L. Fancher, Director of Music Ministry has been on the staff at ALUCC since 1996.  She has a B.Mus.Ed. from the College of Wooster and a M.A. in Choral Music and Music Education from Eastern Michigan University.  She is a music teacher in the Rocky River City Schools and has previously taught in 3 school districts and has served on the music staff at 4 Presbyterian churches in Michigan and Ohio.  Through her career, she has been a member of the following professional organizations - Choristers Guild, American Choral Directors Association, UCC Musicians Network, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and Ohio Music Educators Association.

Mary has three sons - Kevin, Eric and Brian (college and high school-aged).  Her husband is the Rev. Dr. Jon M. Fancher, pastor at Rocky River Presbyterian Church.

Click Here to contact Mary Fancher.

Organist:
Ruth Williams, organist, was raised in the Chicago area and came to the Oberlin College Conservatory  for her Bachelor of Music in Education.  Before coming to ALUCC, Ruth had many years' experience as piano accompanist for voice lessons, and as an organ substitute in area churches.  She was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for 15 years.  During the week, Ruth is a Learning Disabilities Tutor at St. Raphael School.  She lives in Bay Village with her husband, Glenn, an electronics engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center.  Their daughter Emily is a Suzuki viola teacher in Wheaton, Illinois, and daughter Hilary is an interior designer in Akron.

Click Here to contact Ruth Williams.