The Reverend Dr. Furrer comes to us with impressive experience dating back to 1981: an Assistant Minister (Berkeley, '81-'82), Settled Minister (West Redding, CT - '83-87; Vineyard Haven, MA -'88-'91; East Suburban Pittsburgh - '93-'99; Santa Fe, '00-'09), Contract Minister (Morgantown, WV - '94-96; Indiana, PA - '96-'99), and as an Interim (Saco, ME - '87-'88; Berlin, MA - '91-93; Binghamton, NY - '99-'00; Santa Monica, '09-'10; and Long Beach, '10-present)

Rev. Furrer, who is a sixth generation Unitarian Universalist, did his Internship at First Church in San Francisco, and he tells us he is thrilled to be bringing his great passion for liberal ministry and our movement, back here to San Francisco.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Furrer

(photo by Sonnie Willis)

As an Affiliated Community Minister, Kay Jorgensen's primary responsibility is the day-to-day administration of the Faithful Fools, an outreach and “inreach” effort supported by this congregation which provides a peaceful presence and a helping hand to those struggling and confused over the close living quarters shared by the poor and wealthy with our city. Kay serves the Faithful Fools as Co-Founder and President.

Kay has been a performer, teacher, and director of theater groups for many years. Her credits include performing as a mime and clown in The Street Circus, a company that brought theater to the streets of Minnesota. She has blended drama and spirituality since her undergraduate days when she earned a B.A. in drama and religion at Minnesota's St. Olaf College.

Kay has been a parish minister, a leader in the Unitarian Universalist Community ministry movement, and an adjunct professor at the Starr King School for the Ministry. Her current ministerial work includes an after-school program for children of parents going from welfare to workfare; UU Just Economic Community that advocates for workers rights, living wage and others; Religious Witness with Homeless People; Tom Wadell Public Health Clinic; Interfaith Winter Shelter; and many others.

Born in 1937, Margot Campbell Gross is Scottish by heritage, but grew up in Great Britian. The oldest in a lively family of seven children, Margot had a talent for art and design. She graduated from the Royal College of Art with a BA in 1958 and went to work as a designer for the London County Council. 

In 1960 Margot married Peter Watson Gross, an American law student. They lived in Boston but later moved to Knoxville, TN, where Margot quickly became involved in the Religious Education Program at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Youth services continued to be a strong calling, along with raising their growing family: two birth and four adopted children.   

In 1985 the family moved to Berkeley, CA, where Margot attended Starr King School for the Ministry. She graduated in 1988 after completing an internship at All Souls Church in New York City with Revs. Forrest Church and John Buehrens.  

Following her ministry at the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, NJ, in 1995 Margot was called to be Co-Minister with Rev. John Marsh of the first Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco. Here, her passions for social justice and spiritual growth in the congregation created a living legacy, exemplified in the founding of our community after-school program – Up On Top – and the cofounding of the Faithful Fools Street Ministry.  

Margot retired in 2004. She enjoys traveling with her husband Peter, time for painting, walks on Ocean Beach, and visits with extended family. 

“The words on the walls of our Sanctuary speak to me: ‘Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God’ is a call to the work of social justice in the world.”