'New beginning' for both UU church and its minister

By Kelsey Klerowski
Correspondent

September 23, 2008 05:32 am

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DANVERS — She did not anticipate making a career change in her late 40s. But in 2001, that is exactly what the Rev. Frieda Gillespie did.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Gillespie, now 54, was a successful computer consultant for Litton Computer Services.

"I had done well there," she said, "but what I was doing was not using my whole being."

As a child, Gillespie attended a Unitarian Universalist church, but stopped going after high school. In 1998, she walked back through the doors of a UU church, where something inside her just clicked.

"I had the 'Ah-ha' kind of experience," she said.

Gillespie found herself drawn to the church, but especially to what a life of ministry had to offer. For her, there was nothing better than a profession that combined teaching, counseling and community building.

After much deliberation, Gillespie entered Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. While in school, Gillespie adopted her daughter. And in 2006, she had her master's in divinity and was ordained.

"It took a while to complete," she said.

After serving as an interim minister for two other UU churches, Gillespie now finds herself the new settled minister for the Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church.

Coming off three years of interim ministers, the NUUC at 323 Locust St. is looking forward to the direction in which Gillespie is going.

"We are just delighted with Frieda," said church member Dan Kennedy.

Besides planning church programs and working with members of the board, Gillespie spends her days counseling, teaching adult classes, interacting with other clergy in the area and, of course, planning Sunday services.

Gillespie has fallen in love with the New England atmosphere and now makes her home in Framingham with her partner, Jennifer, and Jennifer's three children. Gillespie's own daughter is in a nearby residential home for special needs children.

"This will be a great new beginning for the church to grow into something we've never been before," Kennedy said.

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