The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist
c3hoffice@gmail.com
(919) 942-2050
  • Home
  • Virtual Worship
    • Wednesday Night Vespers
    • This Week's Service
    • Virtual Worship Archive
    • Vespers Archives
  • Worship and Arts
    • Upcoming Services & Schedule
    • Music Ministry >
      • Community Church Choir
      • Virtual Music Gala
      • Gala Donations Page
      • Virtual Worship Music
      • Music Program
      • Shrek the Musical
      • Community Church Singers
      • Children's Choir
      • Youth Music Ensemble
      • UUkes
      • Instrumentalists
      • Music Team
      • Music Gala
      • Musicals
      • Pageants
      • Choir Sundays
      • Concert Series
    • Art at Community Church >
      • Art in the Sanctuary >
        • Upcoming Art Exhibits
      • Art in the Commons
      • Past Art Exhibits
    • Sermon Archive
  • Newcomers
    • Welcome
    • What to Expect When You Visit
    • Visiting with Children and Youth
    • Map and Directions
    • The Path to Membership
    • How to Connect
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Minister
    • Our Staff
    • Our Governance >
      • Our Board of Trustees
      • 2020 Board
      • Board Nominees 2020
      • Congregational Meeting Documents 2019
      • Our Covenant
      • Our Mission and Vision
      • Our Strategic Plan
      • Our Bylaws
      • Social Media Policy
      • More About Our Governance
    • Committees and Ministries >
      • Caring Ministry
      • Living Our Covenant with Intention
      • Committee on Ministry
      • Communications Committee
      • Endowment Committee
      • Finance Committee >
        • Sunday Counters
      • Worship Ministry
    • Community Church in Action >
      • Community Day of Service 2020 Photos
      • Community Day of Service 2019 Photos
    • Our History >
      • Timeline
      • Congregational Award Recipients
    • About Unitarian Universalism >
      • The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
      • Our Beliefs
      • Unitarian Universalist History
      • Southeast District of the UUA
    • Making a Financial Commitment >
      • Annual Pledge Drive
      • Building On Our Legacy Capital Fund
      • The Endowment Fund: Supporting the Future of Our Congregational Mission >
        • Proposing a Project
        • Contribute to the Fund
        • Past Projects
        • What is the Fund
      • Qualified Charitable Distributions
  • Youth and Children
    • Virtual Offerings for Children and Youth
    • Ready for RE, a visual guide
    • About Youth and Children's Ministry At The Community Church >
      • Program Philosophy
      • Helping Children and Youth Connect at Church
      • Parent Expectations
      • Program Leadership
    • Sarah Elizabeth Insch Church Youth Leadership Program >
      • Insch Program Description
      • Insch Associates
      • Insch Program History
      • Insch Program Application
    • Youth Staff Internship Program
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education
    • 2020 Hogwarts on the Hill
    • Chalice Camp 2020
  • Justice and Service
    • Racial Equity Challenges
    • Charles M. Jones Peace & Justice Committee
    • Community Service Ministry
    • ECO
    • Habitat For Humanity Outreach
    • Immigrant Justice Initiative
    • Share the Plate
    • Side with Love Ministry >
      • Side with Love Spotlight
      • Side with Love Concerts
  • Learning and Fellowship
    • Welcoming Ministry
    • 20s and 30s Group
    • Annual Fall Auction >
      • Auction Resources
    • Community Clickers >
      • Community Church - 2021 Projects
      • Patterns and Instructions
      • Community Clickers - 2020 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2019 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2018 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2017 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2016 Projects
    • Covenant Groups
    • Flaming Chalices Softball
    • Outdoor Connections
    • Rare Women >
      • Housing Options as We Age
      • Resources for Rare Women
    • Sanctuary for Dialogue
    • Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) >
      • SEA Pilgrimage Class
    • UNC Campus Fellowship
    • UU Non-Fiction Readers
    • WomenCircle
  • Donate Now
  • Home

Thom Belote

Picture

Rev. Thom Belote has served as minister of The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, since 2014.

With more than 17 years of experience leading Unitarian Universalist congregations, Thom brings to his work both a deep love of ministry and considerable gifts in all facets of ministry. Thom is an acclaimed preacher, a devoted pastor, an innovative teacher, a skilled administrator, and a committed activist.

At age 25, Thom was called as the settled minister of the Shawnee Mission UU Church in Lenexa, KS. During his 11 years in Kansas, Thom helped that church to nearly double in size and successfully complete an ambitious building project. During these years, Thom won awards for excellence in ministry and for service to the community. His book, The Growing Church: Keys to Congregational Vitality, was published by Skinner House in 2010.

Thom earned his Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and his BA in Religion from Reed College. Thom approaches ministry with heart and with a strong academic background in Religious Studies.

Thom is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist.  He was born and raised in a small town in the Boston suburbs. Thom first experienced a call to the ministry at age 15 as a member of his high school youth group.
 
Thom’s wife Anne works as an Executive Assistant at UNC-Chapel Hill. Their daughter, Lydia, is in elementary school. In addition to being a minister and a dad, Thom reads fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, participates in justice work in the community, and loves working out at CrossFit Homeward.



Professional Ministry
Parish Minister, The Community Church of Chapel Hill, UU, 2014-present
Parish Minister, Shawnee Mission UU Church, Overland Park, KS, 2003-2014
Student Minister, First Parish Needham, MA, 2002-2003
Intern Minister, Horizon UU Church, Carrollton, TX, 2001-2002
Student Minister, First and Second Church of Boston, MA, 2000-2001
Intern, Faith In Action Office, Unitarian Universalist Association, 1999-2000

Selected Publications
The Growing Church: Keys to Congregational Vitality. Skinner House Books, 2010.
Listening to Experience: 12 Visionary Ministers Discuss Growth (DVD), UUA, 2008.
“Disobeying Herod,” Quest, Church of the Larger Fellowship, January 2018.
“Facing Vulnerability,” Quest, Church of the Larger Fellowship, October 2013.
“Rob Bell’s Case for Universalism,” UU World, Fall 2011
“Covenantal – Not Creedal,” Quest, Church of the Larger Fellowship, September 2009.

Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
Good Guy Award, Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, 2012.
Next Generation Award, Kansas Choice Alliance, 2012.
Westwood Award, UUA, 2010. Awarded to “ministers who have brought an
entrepreneurial spirit toward spreading our faith and nurturing our congregations.”
Natalie Gulbrandsen Grant, UUA, 2009. Funded sabbatical in Ecuador and Peru.
Williams Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School, 1999-2003.
Phi Beta Kappa, Reed College, 1999.

Leadership and Service
Co-chair, Religious Affairs Committee, Chapel Hill / Carrboro NAACP, 2017-2019
MAINstream Coalition, Vice President, 2011-2012, Board Member 2007-2012.
Chair, Executive Director Search Committee, MAINstream Coalition, 2011.
Executive Committee, Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, 2006-2009
One of twelve ministers invited to second UUA Growth Consultation by UUA President
Peter Morales. 2010.
History and Theology Lecturer, UU Midwest Leadership School, 2009-2010.
One of twelve ministers invited to first UUA Growth Consultation by UUA President
William Sinkford. 2007.
Presenter, Gloria Steinem Leadership Institute, National Conference, Washington D.C.
2007 and Midwest Regional Conference, Lawrence, KS 2006 and 2007.

Education
Master of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School, 2003.
Bachelor of Arts, Reed College, 1999. Religion major.
The Executive Experience, LeaderPoint, 2004.
Level 1 Clinical Pastoral Education, Parkland Hospital, Dallas, TX, 2001.

  • Home
  • Virtual Worship
    • Wednesday Night Vespers
    • This Week's Service
    • Virtual Worship Archive
    • Vespers Archives
  • Worship and Arts
    • Upcoming Services & Schedule
    • Music Ministry >
      • Community Church Choir
      • Virtual Music Gala
      • Gala Donations Page
      • Virtual Worship Music
      • Music Program
      • Shrek the Musical
      • Community Church Singers
      • Children's Choir
      • Youth Music Ensemble
      • UUkes
      • Instrumentalists
      • Music Team
      • Music Gala
      • Musicals
      • Pageants
      • Choir Sundays
      • Concert Series
    • Art at Community Church >
      • Art in the Sanctuary >
        • Upcoming Art Exhibits
      • Art in the Commons
      • Past Art Exhibits
    • Sermon Archive
  • Newcomers
    • Welcome
    • What to Expect When You Visit
    • Visiting with Children and Youth
    • Map and Directions
    • The Path to Membership
    • How to Connect
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Minister
    • Our Staff
    • Our Governance >
      • Our Board of Trustees
      • 2020 Board
      • Board Nominees 2020
      • Congregational Meeting Documents 2019
      • Our Covenant
      • Our Mission and Vision
      • Our Strategic Plan
      • Our Bylaws
      • Social Media Policy
      • More About Our Governance
    • Committees and Ministries >
      • Caring Ministry
      • Living Our Covenant with Intention
      • Committee on Ministry
      • Communications Committee
      • Endowment Committee
      • Finance Committee >
        • Sunday Counters
      • Worship Ministry
    • Community Church in Action >
      • Community Day of Service 2020 Photos
      • Community Day of Service 2019 Photos
    • Our History >
      • Timeline
      • Congregational Award Recipients
    • About Unitarian Universalism >
      • The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
      • Our Beliefs
      • Unitarian Universalist History
      • Southeast District of the UUA
    • Making a Financial Commitment >
      • Annual Pledge Drive
      • Building On Our Legacy Capital Fund
      • The Endowment Fund: Supporting the Future of Our Congregational Mission >
        • Proposing a Project
        • Contribute to the Fund
        • Past Projects
        • What is the Fund
      • Qualified Charitable Distributions
  • Youth and Children
    • Virtual Offerings for Children and Youth
    • Ready for RE, a visual guide
    • About Youth and Children's Ministry At The Community Church >
      • Program Philosophy
      • Helping Children and Youth Connect at Church
      • Parent Expectations
      • Program Leadership
    • Sarah Elizabeth Insch Church Youth Leadership Program >
      • Insch Program Description
      • Insch Associates
      • Insch Program History
      • Insch Program Application
    • Youth Staff Internship Program
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education
    • 2020 Hogwarts on the Hill
    • Chalice Camp 2020
  • Justice and Service
    • Racial Equity Challenges
    • Charles M. Jones Peace & Justice Committee
    • Community Service Ministry
    • ECO
    • Habitat For Humanity Outreach
    • Immigrant Justice Initiative
    • Share the Plate
    • Side with Love Ministry >
      • Side with Love Spotlight
      • Side with Love Concerts
  • Learning and Fellowship
    • Welcoming Ministry
    • 20s and 30s Group
    • Annual Fall Auction >
      • Auction Resources
    • Community Clickers >
      • Community Church - 2021 Projects
      • Patterns and Instructions
      • Community Clickers - 2020 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2019 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2018 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2017 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2016 Projects
    • Covenant Groups
    • Flaming Chalices Softball
    • Outdoor Connections
    • Rare Women >
      • Housing Options as We Age
      • Resources for Rare Women
    • Sanctuary for Dialogue
    • Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) >
      • SEA Pilgrimage Class
    • UNC Campus Fellowship
    • UU Non-Fiction Readers
    • WomenCircle
  • Donate Now
  • Home