About The Church in Silver Lake
What We Believe
As an open and affirming Church of the United Church of Christ we talk honestly about scripture and truly embrace the teachings of Jesus and how they apply in this modern age. We are working to heal the hurt caused by the institutional church and together we spread God’s message of love and acceptance.
Staff & Leadership
Rev. Jennifer Bertoni, Pastor
Rev. Jennifer Bertoni was ordained and installed as our pastor on September 21st. She has previously served churches in many other roles, including youth director, Sunday school and preschool music teacher, music director and organist, and even church secretary!
Jen is a convert to the UCC: she was raised in the Roman Catholic church, and found the UCC in her forties because of her desire to be a part of a church that welcomed all to an open table, including divorced and LGBTQ+ people. She is proud to now be part of a church that recognizes women can be called to the pulpit and the table. Jen’s own call to pastoral ministry did not involve a traditional seminary; she is a product of the UCC’s Multiple Paths to Ministry. This route to ministry recognizes a potential minister’s previous experience in churches, and allows them to fill in the gaps in their training by taking classes in the UCC’s schools for laypersons, by taking online classes, or by doing private readings.
In her previous career, Jen was a stage manager and director of opera and musical theater; she still teaches the occasional voice lesson, and enjoys singing in community choirs and participating in community theater productions in her free time. She is a proud mama bear to three children; Nicole, Marcus, and Brandon.
Lisa Everson, Office Manager
Lisa has been a member of The Church in Silver Lake congregation since 2022. Before serving as the office manager for her beloved community, she retired from a 17 year position as Administrative Assistant for the School of Art at Kent State University. Lisa has a passion for social justice in mental health and neurodivergent advocacy.
Bobbi Ulliger, Technical Director
Bobbi (her, she) has been working as an audio technician since the early 2000’s, and it has been her full time career since 2010. Currently semi-retired, she works for a small audio production company in Kent, OH. Over the years she has been the sound/ video tech for Kent Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Kent Vineyard Church, and currently The Church in Silver Lake (UCC), where she attends with her wife, Cathy. Bobbi and Cathy have lived and raised their family in Kent since they were married 47 years ago. They have 5 adult kids, 8 grandkids, and a 2 year old mini golden doodle named Kali. When not making rock bands, jazz musicians, and church artists loud, she enjoys spending time with Cathy and Kali on Lake Erie in their small sailboat, teaching middle school kids in Kent the basics of technical theatre, and is a member of the United Christian Ministries at Kent State board and the Q Christian Fellowship board.