Purpose

Your Search Team is actively working on preparing the FUSF congregational record (an overview of our congregation and our history) along with all required supporting documents. All of these materials need to be finalized for uploading to a UUA portal by the end of November. In addition, the Finance Committee and the Board are working on FY 27 budget projections in order to ensure we can offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Ministers will be able to start viewing our packet starting in early December. We have a good story to tell! 

Team Members

Vicki Coates (she/her) (Chair)

Vicki began attending FUSF in 1996, when she and her husband, Alec Danz, were searching for a spiritual home within which to raise their two kids (now 36 and 33). The warmth of the FUSF community and its commitment to living our faith through active social justice work, is what kept, and keeps, her coming. Vicki has participated in FUSF life in a variety of ways—teaching RE, as a Coming of Age mentor, chairing several committees including the current Food Justice and Communications Teams, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees—to name a few. She is now happily retired; while she misses the mission-driven work of providing health insurance to those who need it, she does not miss the long commutes or getting up very early each morning. Vicki keeps busy volunteering at the Franklin Food Pantry, playing pickle ball and Mah Jongg, and helping to care for her granddaughter.

Dave Gerlits (he/him) 

Dave is happy to be serving FUSF on the Search Team for our next minister. Dave became a member of FUSF in 2004, and after an 8-year hiatus, returned to FUSF in 2022. Dave is a former nuclear trained submarine officer, former senior reactor operator, and a retired nuclear engineer. At FUSF, Dave was a founding member of the Interweave group (LGBTQAI / Allies), and has served the congregation as a communications team member, Board member, and vice president. Dave is husband to member Bobbi Gerlits, father of two, and grandfather to three boys. He enjoys time with family, board games, walking, and dancing (anywhere, anytime). He also enjoys reading the works of Joseph Campbell and JRR Tolkien.

Tim Harter (he/him)

Tim started attending FUSF in 2018. He spent the previous ten years at New England Chapel, a Christian Reformed church after growing up in a Catholic household and attending Catholic elementary and high school. In FUSF, Tim has found a community he is proud to have his kids grow up in that truly “walks the walk” when it comes to the social justice and inclusive teachings.  At FUSF, Tim has been an active volunteer in the religious education program where two of his three kids, now ages 13 and 15, have attended since they were 6 and 8 years old. 

Professionally, Tim currently leads a team of researchers at CVS Health. He lives in Franklin with his wife Nicole, two kids—Magnolia and Levi—and their puppy Rey. He is also a proud step-father to his son Sam, a recent college grad now living in Boston. Outside of work and FUSF, Tim enjoys music, travel, sports, art, and is currently working toward a black belt in Krav Maga.

Katie Nunes (she/her)

Katie began attending FUSF in 2000. She is currently a lay minister, a member of the Food Justice Team, and is on the Fundraising Steering Committee. In the past, Katie was a member of the former Fundraising Committee for 13 years and also taught in the religious education program.

Professionally, Katie was in public education for 34 years, as a French and Spanish teacher and as a high school assistant principal. She has one grown daughter who went through the RE program at FUSF.  Katie is retired now and lives in Wrentham with her husband of 39 years, Gerry Danca. Katie and her husband have done extensive travel in their RV for the past few years. Aside from travel and studying various languages, Katie enjoys reading, cooking and baking, as well as both playing and teaching American Mah Jongg.