Staff

My career background has been in the field of mental health; I have a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and have worked as a foster care social worker, child custody mediator, and therapist in a psychiatric hospital. All of my work has been devoted to caring for the needs of children.

At the center of my life for the past 25 years has been the Unitarian Universalist Church. I have served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura over the years in many ways: both taught and served on the Religious Education (RE) steering committee; chaired Membership; chaired Worship Associates for the past five years; served on the Board of Trustees twice; and active in church sponsored social justice activities. I love to work in collaboration with Unitarian Universalists because all come with a wealth of energy and creative ideas.

As Director of Religious Education for Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa (UUCSR), I get to combine my two greatest passions: serving children, and promoting the principles of Unitarian Universalism.

Born in Kyoto, Japan, Benjamin Taylor spent the majority of his formative years in Santa Rosa. He holds degrees in music composition from Cleveland State University and the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. Benjamin's music has been heard in concert halls, churches and rock clubs, on radio and television, performed by ensembles such as the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, San Francisco Choral Artists, Princeton Singers, and the Wild Harrys. He has served as Composer-in-Residence of the Sonoma County Chamber Singers and enjoys regular performances across North America.

An active conductor, Benjamin acts as cover conductor for the Santa Rosa Symphony's Preparatory and Discovery Orchestras. He is also regularly engaged as a guest conductor throughout the bay area.

Janis Brewster graduated from Burlingame High School and then attended night school at College of San Mateo where she studied Computer Programming and Operations. She also attended Canada College where she completed a Certificate Program in Tourism.

Prior to coming to UUCSR, Janis worked as the Office Manager/Administrator for 14 years at All Saints Lutheran Church and Children's Center in Novato. She was responsible for handling all the bookkeeping and office duties. Prior to her position at All Saints, Janis spent 8 years working as an Administrator/Customer Service Rep for Northern Telecom in Redwood City. This company installed and supported computer and telephone systems throughout the western United States.

Janis comes from a large family; she and her twin sister are the youngest of seven children. Relationships with family and friends are very important to her, and she feels very fortunate to have most of her family in close proximity. Janis has been married for 20 years and has 3 children. She and her family have lived in Petaluma for the past 17 years. They enjoy music together, spending time at the beach, riding bikes and camping. Most of all, Janis enjoys meeting people and listening to what they have to share.

David Templeton is best known in the Bay Area as a long-time writer for the North Bay Bohemian, Strings Magazine and other publications. He is an award-winning journalist, and a recipient of the National Endowment of the Arts fellowship for Theater and Musical Theater at the Annenberg School for Communications at USC.

Born in Southern California, he studied art and religion for several years before relocating to Northern California. With his wife and two daughters he joined the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa in 1999. Since April of 2006, he has been working to expand rental and events activities at the Glaser Center, making it a valuable downtown community resource, developing the UUCSR's arts and culture ministry to Santa Rosa while building revenues to support the work of the congregation. Theologically, he sides with Shakespeare, who once wrote, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."