Our Pastor
On April 13, 2022, the United Church in Tallahassee extended a warm and enthusiastic welcome to our new settled pastor, Rev. Dr. Kim Buchanan. For nearly a year and a half, the UCT church community continued without a settled pastor. We thank our supply pastors Rev. Erin Rosica and Rev. Dr. Betsy Goehrig for their leadership during the transition period. Also, the generosity of our members in sharing their creativity and skills during this time period was unmistakable. Over 22 different members and friends of the church delivered sermons or presentations to contribute to our worship services, and to them we owe much gratitude.
Rev. Dr. Kim Buchanan, Pastor (she/her)
Pastor Kim brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for sharing her gifts for ministry. She grew up in Newberry, Florida, and went to the University of Florida for two years before graduating with a degree in music education from Oklahoma Baptist University. Pastor Kim is a musician—she composes music and lyrics, and plays flute, Irish flute, and guitar. After teaching elementary school music for two years, Kim earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and then a Ph.D. in preaching and education from Emory University. While her denominational roots are Southern Baptist, Kim has been pastoring in the United Church of Christ tradition since 2001.
A strong influence for Pastor Kim is Parker Palmer, the founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal and a well-known activist focused on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. The term “creating space” comes from Parker Palmer’s book, To Know as We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education. Pastor Kim says, “For me, to minister is to create space where people might meet God.”
Staff Members
Quentin M. Jones, Music Director (he/him)
Quentin Jones joined the team of UCT staff as Director of Music in August 2021. An active church musician since childhood, he is grateful to have had the opportunity to share the gift of music within a church community as a violinist, pianist, choir member, worship leader, and now music director. Holding graduate degrees in both piano performance and music theory, Quentin has presented solo performances in Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Sterzing/Vipiteno, Italy, and completed a master’s thesis on the piano works of Olivier Messiaen that rely on materials derived from birdsong. A native of Orlando, Florida, Quentin enjoys spending downtime exploring the many parks in Tallahassee, spending time at home with his partner, Andy, and their three cats, as well as painting and yarn crafts.
Kathryn Mareci, Office Administrator (she/her)
Kathryn Mareci (Ma-ree-see) was born in Gainesville, Florida, and started attending a Unitarian Universalist church when she was 8. She loves working at UCT because its values align with the UU’s. Kathryn was silly enough to move to Tallahassee in 2010 to be with a man, but she supposes it worked out in the end—she and her husband Cody, have been together for 12 years. She is a lifelong artist and has a mini-art supply store in her home. She considers herself a jack of all trades and has worked as a hairstylist, in veterinary medicine, the healthcare industry, Planned Parenthood, and during Covid, as an at-home school aide for digital academy students. Kathryn lives with her spouse and a rescue dog/house hippo named Tootie.
Taylor McCoy, Sound Technician (he/him)
Taylor McCoy, born July 1994, was raised to be unstoppable. Orginally born in Hampton, Virginia and raised in Georgia, Taylor discovered music along his journey and began playing piano at the age of 10. From the sparks of music and passion, he dived into the world of music and touched his hands on everything a creative genius would do! From being a musician, sound engineer and music composer, the world of music is embraced in every aspect in Taylor's life.
Bex Pennell, Livestream Technician (they/them)
Bex Pennell is a senior at Florida State University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in music. Bex sings and plays the bass and the spoons. When they're not at school, Bex loves to hike, cook and befriend the nearest available cat.
