Meet our wonderful staff
Rev. Ruth Vann Lillian will serve UUCB and UUCT as Sabbatical Minister from March 15, 2025 to September 15, 2025.
Rev. Ruth Vann Lillian was born in Birmingham, Alabama to politically active Southern white liberals: Lillian Foscue Vann was a journalist with the Birmingham Post-Herald and David J. Vann was a mediating attorney during the Civil Rights Movement, and was later elected mayor of Birmingham. She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Birmingham-Southern College, followed with an MAEd in marriage and family counseling at U.A.B., and then attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. She was ordained in the United Methodist Church and served eleven years in parish ministry before going on leave to care full-time for her children.
In 2005 she began attending the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham. During her fourteen years there, she served in many leadership roles including Board President, and volunteered ministerial services on occasion. In 2017 she was asked to step in as Interim Director of Religious Education for two years. She also served as solo minister at UUCT for three years. She received Full Fellowship ministerial credentials with the UUA in 2022. She is thrilled to serve as Sabbatical Minister through mid-September.
Director of Lifespan Faith Development: Courtney McKenny
Courtney is a lifelong UU, who grew up attending the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield, Missouri. She graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelors of Art in History. She is the mom of three teenagers – James, Katherine and Finn. Courtney is also a dog lover and is currently the dog mom of Rufus, Daisy and Maggie. She is also an Orangetheory Fitness enthusiast! Courtney has previously served for over 10 years as the Director of Religious Education at the UU Fellowship of Montgomery. Currently, Courtney is serving on the UUA Appointments committee. Previously she has served on the Mid South District Religious Education Committee as well as the Southeast Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association as vice president and then president. She is also an Our Whole Lives Facilitator Junior and Senior High.
Music Director: Dr. Elizabeth Fisher
Dr. Elizabeth Fisher is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she teaches courses in choral music, music education, voice, piano, and music appreciation. She also serves as the Artistic Director of the Steel City Men’s Chorus in Birmingham, AL. As a mezzo-soprano, Dr. Fisher currently performs with mirabai, a professional women’s chorus that performs and records nationally, as well as with the Highland Consort, and early music ensemble in Birmingham, AL. Prior to her time in Alabama, Fisher was Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Dr. Fisher holds degrees from Millikin University, Westminster Choir
College, and Michigan State University. Dr. Fisher leads the UUCB choir and regularly performs solo pieces during our Sunday services.
Bookkeeper: Barbara Jackson
Barbara has more than 15 years of experience in the accounting field. She lives in Birmingham, has two sons, and has been married to her husband, Rashard, for more than 25 years. As a true homebody, Barbara loves to simply chill out and watch movies with family when she has free time!
Office Administrator: Kim Vansandt
Kim is a native Alabamian. She is the mother of a 13-year old son and dog mom to a Shih Tzu, Emmy, and a Yorkie, Ellie. She enjoys hiking and exploring the growing food scene in Birmingham. If she’s not at home, you can probably find her spending time with her family on Lake Martin.
Click the arrows to meet our Childcare Staff: Amethyst Vineyard, Shannon Wright, and Allyson McPoland + Meet our Custodian: Darius Williams
