Reverend Brigitta is serving as our interim minister for the 2024 – 2025 church year. She will depart in June of 2025, and our new interim minister will join us in August. Our interim search team (Janelle, Chris K, Mariana, Melissa and Steve W) is excited to introduce our next interim minister, Rev. Elizabeth Sollie.

Rev. Elizabeth Sollie, MDiv

Elizabeth is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, raised in Colorado. She holds a B.A. in English Literature along with an elementary teaching credential. Early in her career, she worked in National Parks and taught in one-room schoolhouses before spending several years as a stay-at-home parent.

She later settled in the Denver area, where she worked in a library and became deeply involved in her home congregation. There, she served on the Social Justice Committee and the Board of Trustees, playing a key role when the congregation declared itself a sanctuary church.

Elizabeth pursued her call to ministry at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Her formation included an internship with Denver’s LGBTQIA+ Center, a two-year ministerial internship at the UU Fellowship of Corvallis, Oregon, and a chaplaincy residency at the University of Colorado Hospital following a summer internship there. She was ordained in 2018 and received full fellowship in 2023.

Elizabeth describes interim ministry as her true calling: “It’s always the right place for me.” She has served as interim minister at the UU Fellowship of Bismarck-Mandan in North Dakota (2019–2021), Cascade UU Fellowship in East Wenatchee, Washington (2021–2023), and Starr King UU Church in Hayward, California (2023–present).

Her Thoughts on Ministry

Here is just a sample of quotes from Elizabeth.

Goals for Ministry: “I want to build a ministry of connection. … through connection and covenant, to contribute to what love and life are going to evolve into. I would love the opportunity to balance preaching, spiritual deepening, social and environmental justice and pastoral care.”

On Social Justice actions: “We can’t save the world, but we can think about what is possible for us to do. Our justice work is the outward expression of our faith.”

On Leadership: “[It’s] shared ministry and collaboration. I want to have many voices at the table. A good leader is curious, non-anxious and stays grounded in the big picture… recognizes the gifts of the people around her. A good leader is quick to give credit where credit is due and takes responsibility for errors.”

On Conflict and Covenant: “The most important thing is to keep talking and to remain curious. To slow things down. Conflict is natural and inevitable. It is important, then, not to be afraid of conflict, but to engage in it in a calm state of mind, by staying in covenant, by seeing what it has to teach and by staying in dialogue. We consider [our] own responsibility, then come back to the table ready to listen and find a path forward.”

On Pastoral Care: “Coming alongside of people on their life journeys–both emotionally and spiritually is a deep privilege. My goal is to bear witness to people blossoming into their best and most authentic selves and finding their own truths. I hope that bringing my love to bear helps the journey be a little less lonely and difficult.”

On Community Building: “People come to church for a sense of community. We need to ensure that sense of belonging is available to everyone who comes through our doors. … [to be] radically inclusive, not just in intent, but in practice as well.”

In response to “what is your hope for the future of UU?”: “I hope that Unitarian Universalism will grow and deepen into a faith that not only dismantles all the ways we “other” one another. I hope [our] future will include being a fierce champion of the vulnerable and that we will have the courage and stamina to save lives in whatever ways we need to.”

What Her References Said

“She likes the creative process of helping people move from where they are to what they could be.”

“She’s a very grounded person. Her sermons are topical, inclusive, thoughtful, and filled with wisdom. She is quiet but profound in her delivery.”

“She will offer contemplation, build up resilience and hope, and help people discern how social justice work can be sustained and enhanced.”

“She is excellent in pastoral care. She’s there as a support and helps you tap into what you have and how to navigate.”

“Elizabeth has a commitment to truth telling, and an ability to build resilience and hope within communities. She fosters connections through one-on-one meetings to get to know people. She has an ability to amplify a community’s communal sensibility and is willing to confront the community to help them understand themselves better.”

“She will look to see how the congregation is happy, then amplify that.”

See Her In Action

Find sermons by Elizabeth at https://www.youtube.com/@starrkinguuchurch. A few recommendations:

• “In the Soup Together” from 5/18/2025. About the collective trauma many people in the United States may be experiencing in these turbulent political times.
• “Draw the Circle Wide” from 10/20/2024. About inclusion and not “othering” people.

Transition: What to Expect

As we prepare to welcome Rev. Sollie, here is what you can expect for a steady transition.

At the Annual Meeting on June 8th, we’ll reflect on the meaningful year we’ve shared, discuss and vote on the operating budget for the coming church year, and share updates about facility and rental operations, and summer programming.

Rev. Brigitta’s final Sunday in the pulpit will be June 15th, when we’ll hold a ritual of release to honor what has been and create space for what’s to come. Following Northlake tradition, our summer services will be lay-led.

During her remaining weeks, Rev. Brigitta will focus on behind-the-scenes work to support ministerial continuity. Her last day in the office will be July 17th, after which she’ll relocate to San Luis Obispo, California, for her next calling. After that date, if a pastoral emergency arises, please contact our Congregational Administrator, Stephanie Chia, who will help connect you with the appropriate support.

Elizabeth will arrive in August, and we expect August 8th to be her first day in the pulpit.