People

Ministry

Rev. Peggy Clarke - Senior Minister

Rev. Peggy Clarke began her ministry at Community Church of New York the summer of 2019. She came to us after serving as solo minister at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings on Hudson for eight years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Peace Studies and a Masters in Historical Theology from Boston College.

Her doctoral work was in American Religious History. Rev. Clarke has served on the board of the UUA’s climate justice initiative Commit2Respond, the UU Environmental Justice Collaboratory and as chair of the UU Food Justice Ministry. She was one of the denomination's Observer Delegates at the 2015 United Nations Climate Summit in Paris, represented our denomination at Standing Rock and most recently at the Mexican American border, calling attention to the crisis of separated families. In 2021, she served as UU Delegate at the United Nation’s Climate Summit in Glasgow.

Rev. Jude Geiger - Minister of Community Engagement

Over the past thirty years, Rev. Jude has served in numerous leadership roles in our faith at the local, regional and continental level. He also currently serves as a Conflict Engagement Coach for the Hope For Us Team of the UUA.

Previously, he served as the Senior Minister for the UU Fellowship in Huntington, NY, and the First UU Congregation in Brooklyn, NY as Minister of Religious Education. With over 20 years employed in UU congregations in Metro NY, he has served in numerous congregational roles. He has a Masters in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner, and a Masters in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University.

Prior to the ministry, Rev. Jude worked in community organizing and public advocacy on issues related to affordable housing, and health insurance outreach. He previously served on the board of the Liberal Religious Educators’ Association with the portfolio of Professional Support, and formally was a Good Officer for the UU Ministers’ Association, and a founding member of the UU State Advocacy Network of NY. He lives with his husband, Brian Brewer, who works in Cancer Research, and their dog and cat, in Montclair, NJ.

Br. Zachary Stevens-Walter - Chaplain for Pastoral Care

Brother Zachary Stevens-Walter grew up in a dusty desert town called El Cerro, New Mexico. He moved to New York City in 2007 to attend The New School, where he studied Art and Religion by day and explored the independent music scene by night.

A musician by disposition, by the time Brother Zachary received his call to ministry and enrolled at Union Theological Seminary, he had performed with dozens of groups in dozens of venues, worked as a session musician and producer, and had founded two music labels. While at Union Seminary, he became a husband and father, and excelled in Chapel ministry at James Chapel, where he found his call to pastoral care. He pursued this passion first through a CPE program at NYU-Langone Hospital, and in congregational ministry at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. In pursuit of a worldly expression for his spiritual vocation, Brother Zachary received a welcome by the Progressive Catholic Church, at Saint Joseph Mission Church in New Jersey.

When Covid-19 came to New York City, Brother Zachary fled with his spouse and children back to New Mexico. Brother Zachary immersed himself in his own cultural heritage, and discovered a passion for the banjo and Catholic history. He founded his third music label, Heartseed Media. In late 2020, Brother Zachary and his family returned to New York City, and he was ordained a Deacon and Friar in the Order of Franciscan Servants at Saint Joseph Mission Church. Brother Zachary currently lives in Midwood, Brooklyn, with his spouse Rebecca and their two children, Wren and Story. He continues to make music, watch birds, study his own heritage, and devote his internal life to the pursuit of prayer without ceasing.

REligious Education

Jil Novenski - Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth

Jil Novenski began teaching at Community Church in 2007. She graduated high school at the Northwest School for the Arts, Humanities and Environment in Seattle, Washington, majored in child psychology at the Evergreen State College, and holds a degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Her professional history includes teaching adults with developmental disabilities, editorial support in educational publishing, nonprofit fundraising and special event management. Fulfilling her passion for putting faith into action, Jil has worked with Victim Services as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, and was a founding member of the Advisory Board for Family Court Reforms in New York City. In her role as Director of Religious Education for Children & Youth, Jil continues to innovate in the space where arts, education and activism meet.

Deborah Walker - Religious Education Coordinator

Deborah Tierney-Walker was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She became a New York area local in 2005. Deborah’s purpose and passions have been shaped by her spiritual journey, life experiences, relationships with others, undergraduate studies at Calvin University and MBA studies at Baruch College.

Deborah taught math and social-emotional learning in a variety of kindergarten through eighth-grade schools for 10 years. Deborah has also been a charter school and business operations leader since 2015.

Deborah sees her purpose as creating safe spaces that disrupt oppression and unleash access to sustainable resources. She humbly engages in radical love, problem-solving, and community building in all of the spaces they are a part of.

Deborah is also a Mama to two lovely children and wife to a life-long educator and disruptor in her own right. As time permits, Deborah continues to deepen her understanding and passion for sports, financial literacy, restorative justice, dialogue across differences, neurodiversity and lifespan human sexuality education.

Finance Team

Jeff Loveland - Director of Finance & Operations

Jeff Loveland joined Community Church of New York in May 2016 as Church Administrator, after serving as Finance Director at Redeemer Presbyterian Church New York for six years. He is responsible for maintaining the church’s financial records and internal controls; producing monthly financial reports; overseeing annual audits; paying bills; developing budgets and forecasts; maintaining employee benefits; renewing property and liability insurance; repairing church property; liaising with banks, attorneys, fund managers and vendors; and attending board and committee meetings.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Liberal Studies, Jeff joined the Navy and earned his aviator wings, fulfilling a life-long dream to learn to fly. After his military service, he attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Master’s degree in Finance.

Following a period of working in the corporate for-profit sector, Jeff moved into the mission-driven not-for-profit world in 2005, and has never looked back. Originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, Jeff now resides with his wife and two dogs in Darien, Connecticut, where he enjoys Do-It-Yourself projects around his house.

Aigul Sharipova - Bookkeeper

Aigul brings over 9 years of experience in accounting, having worked in both CPA firms and consulting. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting. In her free time, she loves reading books, exploring museums, traveling, and ice skating.

Music Team

Darnell White - Director of Music

Born in Harlem, Darnell White is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for Music and Art and The Julliard School. A noted staple in New York City’s music scene, Darnell has developed a pristine reputation as a performer, composer, and musical director. He’s collaborated with noted artists and graced the stages of New York’s major venues including Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Smokey Joe’s cafe.

Both as a vocalist & instrumentalist, Darnell is well versed in many genres as he believes music should always be approached first from a place of pure expression. It is indeed the desire to share his expressions through the gift of music that have left no style or genre outside his reach including jazz, opera, contemporary gospel, classical, and musical theatre. Darnell is a welcome addition to our talented music team.

Matt Podd - Music Coordinator

Matt Podd is a pianist, composer, arranger, and music director based in Brooklyn, NY. His devotion to craft and creativity shine in all of his music making, whether on-stage, or behind the scenes. Matt brings a joyful intensity to his music, specializing in jazz/blues, gospel, and groove. As both an improviser and classically-trained musician, Matt remains in demand as an active performer and collaborator with singers, musicians, and ensembles of all kinds. He has appeared with some of New York City's finest musicians at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Symphony Space.

Communications Team

Starling Carter - Director of Media & Marketing

Starling Carter is a communications and media professional with several years of experience in international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, particularly in Amman, Jordan, where she lived from 2017-2022. She holds a master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and speaks fluent Levantine Arabic. In addition to her work in communications and related fields, Starling has a background in research, editing, project management, and development. She is passionate about the potential for progressive faith communities to serve as hubs for justice-seeking, community and unyielding efforts to build a better world for all.

Dylan Rice - Communications Coordinator

Dylan Rice is originally from Smithtown, Long Island and currently lives in Hamilton Heights. He has worked for a variety of organizations including the SUNY Student Assembly, the Hotel Trades Council, and AFSCME District Council 37. Additionally, he ran to represent his hometown community in the New York State Assembly in 2020.

On top of a passion for social causes, Dylan is an avid Yankees fan and is incredibly grateful to be a short 30-minute walk from Yankee Stadium. He is also an aspiring writer and currently writes for the local New York City paper The Indypendent. Dylan is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology's Advertising and Marketing Communications program and, taking cues from his alma mater, enjoys dressing to the nines whenever possible (and weather permitting).

Additional MINISTRIES

Esther Rosado - Director of Adult Ministries

Esther Rosado has served UU congregations in Massachusetts, most recently as Director of Religious Education in Medford, MA. She is an active Unitarian Universalist leader working on the local, district and continental levels.

Karishma Gottfried - Intern Minister

Karishma Gottfried was raised on fair-trade coffee and love in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, Oregon. Ever since a particularly meaningful year of Our Whole Lives (OWL) in the seventh grade, Karishma has been involved in all things UU, ranging from regional youth leadership, national denominational service, and guest preaching across the continent. Karishma served as Campus Ministry Organizer with The Sanctuary Boston from 2021-2023 and currently works with NYU’s Global Spiritual Life. Karishma holds a BA in Religion from Wellesley College and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary. She recently completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at New York Presbyterian Hospital and is on the track to Unitarian Universalist ministerial ordination. When not involved in Unitarian Universalism, you can find Karishma playing viola with the Queer Urban Orchestra, drinking tea with her partner, Sloane, or scheming about her next tattoo.

Dr. Yvonne C. Garrett - Student Minister

Dr. Yvonne C. Garrett (she, her, hers) is a second generation UU, Feminist, activist, Religious Humanist/Ethical Vegan, and an Aspirant for UU Ministry. She joined Community Church in 2021 where she served on Church Council prior to stepping into the role of Student Minister. Currently pursuing an M.Div. at Starr King School for the Ministry she is a 2024 Hilda Mason Fellow and will be teaching the fall 2024 course"21st Century Eco-Humanism & Eco-Naturalism".

A longtime editor and academic, she has recently stepped into the role of Editor at the UU Studies Network Journal. She holds a Ph.D. in History & Culture (Drew), an MFA-Fiction (The New School), an MLIS (Palmer/LIU), and two MAs from NYU. She is a Shop Steward for the Teamsters 1205 at The New School where she works in administration/advising. Yvonne is also Senior Fiction Editor at Black Lawrence Press and a regular contributor to The Brooklyn Rail. Prior to working in academia and following the path to ministry, she worked in entertainment including stints at the NBA, film/TV production, Warner/Reprise Records, and much more. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she's been based in the East Village for several years.

Dr. Janice Marie Johnson - Commissioned Lay Minister

Dr. Janice Marie Johnson was commissioned as Community’s Lay Minister (CLM) in February 2020 (https://www.uua.org/central-east/programs/cll). She has been a congregational leader in many capacities since the early 1990s. She developed the Community Care Team in 2018. As coordinator of this team of dedicated volunteers, she centers “care” in all she offers and expects from the community.

Professionally, she serves as Co-Director of Ministries and Faith Development at the Unitarian Universalist Association supporting, sustaining, and advancing multicultural, anti-oppressive, justice-centered, and innovative Unitarian Universalist lay and professional leadership and ministry for all ages.

Committed to making multiculturalism “real,” she is an internationalist, Jamaican, and New Yorker! Janice — mother, grandmother, aunt, sibling -- notes that her mantra, "Masakhane," symbolizes her unstoppable commitment to her beloved Community Church. This is a rich and resonant word from the Nguni family of languages of South Africa, of which Zulu and Xhosa are two. Loosely translated into English, “Masakhane” means, "Let us build together.”