Please join me in thanking Michael Knowles, our Director of Operations, for his diligent care and service at First Unitarian as he moves to the next chapter. I feel personal gratitude especially that he stayed to be a part of the leadership team through the transition years and the start of our time together. We have planned a substantial time of transition for him that will allow us to say our goodbyes personally and have a period for recruiting and transferring Michael’s work portfolio.

In Faith,
Rev. Dave

Dear First U Family and Friends,

After discussion with my many of you, my wife, and with great reflection and deliberation, I have come to the decision to leave my position here at First Unitarian to focus on my health and some pressing social and community issues. This is great timing and an opportunity to move aside as we begin to bring new energy and an exciting future to First Unitarian.

Many of you know that prior to my arrival, I spent many years in non-profit organizations focusing on youth development, fatherhood involvement, and human relations. This includes work at the Adoption Information Center of IL, the YMCA of Chicago, the National Parent-Teachers Association, the National Center for Fathering, and Up With People International. There is work I have left undone, and I feel a great longing to contribute to those missions in my semi-retirement.

My eight and a half years here at First U have awarded me great friends, joy, growth, and satisfaction. I have had the opportunity to support the maintenance and capital improvements of our beautiful buildings, sustain the continuity of operations through a pandemic, and aid in many transitions and rights of passages of First Unitarian families and the local community.

I will be forever grateful for this opportunity to serve at First U and thank you all for your great encouragement and support over the years. Please know that I am just a call away if ever I can be of assistance to the First Unitarian Church of Chicago.

Sincerely,
Mike Knowles,
Director of Operations