Meg Soens is a student at Andover Newton Theological School and moving toward ordination in the denomination with the goal of serving as a parish minister. Meg is the mother -- together Cecilia, her wife/partner of twenty-two years -- of four teenagers (Alice, Rich, Peter and Sophie) ages 13 and 16.

Well before beginning her formal path to ministry in 2004, Meg spent several years working on a Ph.D. in Chinese History, followed by a career in finance as a junk bond analyst and distressed debt assistant portfolio manager. After the birth of her first two children, she stayed at home. However, since the oldest children started school 11 years ago, Meg has been working at balancing family responsibilities and outside efforts.

Meg found her way to ministry in political activism. When her oldest set of twins (Alice and Rich) were starting kindergarten, Meg began to be active in the public schools, trying to ensure that kids like hers with gay parents felt welcome and reflected in the classroom and on the playground. This work then led her to found and chair two town-wide coalitions, including one of several churches and temples called Respecting Differences that was focused on organizing and leading educational opportunities for the town community around the safety and welcoming glbt people and families experienced. At the same time, Meg was actively involved within the public schools to educate teachers and parents about the issues facing gay children and the children of gay parents, and her efforts after many years led to the development of a town-wide diversity curriculum that is now in place in all the elementary schools in town.

The congregational pastoral support Meg received while doing this work was very healing, and because of that and her contact with ministers of many denominations, Meg realized that she wanted to be a minister. The minister she is working to be is one who will help birth wholeness and healing through leading a congregation to sustain its’ members and touch the world around it pastorally. The different ministries she has been involved thus far include: domestic violence survivors, group spiritual direction, hospital chaplaincy, youth groups and OWL classes, living well with dying, and people with Alzheimers’ disease and their caregivers. She is very excited about coming to UUCR!