In their twenties, Rachel departed from the church of her youth. Her evolving theology now centers around connection and the spaces between, heavily influenced by her personal study of Buddhism and avid reading of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed series. She resonates deeply with the Earthseed statement that “god is change” and the lyric by folk singer Ani DiFranco, “god’s work isn’t done by god, it’s done by people.” Her theology shapes her firm belief in the responsibility to work for justice for all, grounded in the inherent worth and dignity of every person and the interconnected web of existence.

As a Unitarian Universalist (UU), she values the ongoing and responsible development of her own theology and spiritual practices. Rachel identified as a UU in 2014, soon realizing their personal call to ministry. By 2020, they was accepted to divinity school and granted aspirant status to ministry by the Unitarian Universalist Association. They began part-time seminary studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School in the fall of 2021. After a year, they paused their seminary education to focus on their young children, returning again in the summer of 2024.

Encouraged by colleagues and friends, they embrace the identity of “minister” as they navigate the long path to ordination. In the meantime, Rachel serves as a preacher and speaker for Unitarian Universalist congregations regularly, cherishing the opportunities to worship with fellow UUs in her region and welcoming invitations to speak in new places. Rachel also serves as president of the board of directors for First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, is a co-founder and organizer of QDP (a long-running LGBTQIA social and community event), co-organizer of the East Nashville Queer Parents group and a long-time volunteer at Middle Tennessee Camp Bluebird, a twice-yearly retreat for adults living with and after cancer.

Identifying as a writer, she expresses her thoughts through sporadic writing, maintaining an online presence for her work since 1999. The “writing” section of this site serves as a platform for her documentation and creativity.

Though not quite a polymath, Rachel holds numerous passions. Besides her theological and ministerial pursuits, she is an avid reader, long-time knitter, record collector, and passionate lover of live theater. With a college background in theater and women’s studies, culminating in a degree in Liberal Studies, she humorously refers to it as a degree in “everything and nothing at the same time.” Professionally, they work in organizational communications, with a career spanning marketing and operations roles in the tech industry and a brief stint in vinyl record production.