Rev. Bruce Russell-Jayne
Bruce was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, went to high school in Russellville, Kentucky, and earned a Bachelors of Engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While in the Navy he lived in Florida and Virginia. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Kentucky and Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was a lay leader at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga. He returned to school in 2001 and earned a Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School (Unitarian Universalist) in Chicago, Illinois. He was Intern Minister at North Shore Unitarian Church, and he served as Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah. Bruce and Cece, his wife, moved to Cincinnati in the summer of 2007 after accepting the congregation’s call to be minister of Northern Hills Fellowship.

Bruce says of his call to ministry, “Some of the values I bring to Unitarian Universalist ministry formed in childhood. My pastor at Post Oak Baptist Church, “Brother Joe” Carrico, showed by his personal example how our church could help the poor. As a Boy Scout I fell in love with the outdoors, and I learned a land conservation ethic. We were taught, “Always leave a campground better than you found it.” In recent years I have found inspiration from the awesome beauty and complexity of creation as I hiked in the Appalachian Mountain wilderness and toured national parks in the West. Through the Sierra Club I gained appreciation for the critical importance of human interactions with our environment.

The pain of a divorce in 1986 drove me to learn how to create healthy and happy relationships and how to provide supportive parenting to my daughter. One stage of my education happened in Adult Children of Alcoholics and AA groups. The more I listened to people's stories, the more I understood and empathized with them. The nurturing I experienced then began a restructuring of my core values toward honoring relationships and community. When I served on an interfaith team assisting a young man dying of AIDS, I found a strong resonance in my heart for the ministry of caring for those who suffer, and I became motivated by compassion to work to reduce the causes of suffering. Working for social justice always energizes me.

The Unitarian Universalist Church is the place where I can most authentically pursue my search for spiritual growth. In worship, religious education, social justice work, and through the intentional relationships found in small groups of UUs, I have deep sharing and learning experiences. For me and many others, the UU church is vital; its liberating message needed by our society. My commitment to relationship, community, the environment and justice in the liberal religious context of Unitarian Universalism is my call to ministry.”

Minister’s Office Hours
Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm and Thursdays 10am to noon
Other times by appointment

Contact Information
Please feel free to contact Rev. Bruce via email at brussell-jayne@uunhf.org, or call him at 513-766-1489, or call the office at 513-931-6651.

Check Out Bruce's Blog at Bruce's Blog Webpage

Brenda Bene
Hello! I am happy to serve this community and I look forward to meeting you and seeking together our lives in this universe. I am Brenda Bene, the Director of Religious Education. I was brought up in New Richmond Ohio and I raised my four sons in the same area of Clermont County.

I attended the College of Mt. St. Joseph in Cincinnati Ohio and received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies/Pastoral Care. My background is working as a Religious Educator in the Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic traditions. I realize I am a Unitarian Universalist all along! With my background I bring acceptance, knowledge and the eagerness to learn more. I want to see our youth and children grow in love and I want them to know there are caring adults willing to guide them.

Families are the primary educators of their children, we at Northern Hills Fellowship are here to guide you and help guide your children in a life of learning.. I hope we meet soon!

I am available through email at bbene@uunhf.org or through the Fellowship office at 513-931-6651.

The Office Administrator is available to answer questions that members or visitors may have about current activities and events here at Northern Hills Fellowship and to help with any needs including coordinating rentals of our facility and scheduling of meetings and events.
Contact the Fellowship office at 513-931-6651 or email to administrator@uunhf.org