Rev. Susan Panttaja, Minister
Rev. Susan has served NVUU as contract minister since February 2022. She comes to ministry after a 30-year career as a geologist in the environmental consulting world and a UU for over 20 years. She holds a master of divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. Prior to her work at NVUU, she served as sabbatical minister at the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula. Rev. Susan was ordained in October 2023. Please see her Ordination photos and video HERE.
Rev. Susan’s understanding of Earth history and love of the natural world inform her theology. For her, scientific knowledge and spiritual experience coexist and enhance each other. Susan has deep roots in Sonoma County and has lived in Petaluma for over 30 years with her husband David Templeton. She and David have two grown children, Jaye and Andy, and a cat named Dickens. Susan enjoys hiking, singing, and attending the theater.
Rev. Susan is in Napa on Wednesdays, and leads Worship on two Sundays a month. She is available for meetings and pastoral care by phone, online, or in person during the week. Please contact her (minister@nvuu.org) to schedule an appointment.
Rev. Bonnie Dlott, Minister Emerita
The Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists named Rev. Bonnie Dlott as their Minister Emerita in September 2022, in recognition of her dedicated and caring service to this congregation, and the affection and gratitude felt by the congregation.
Rev. Bonnie served NVUU as our settled minister from 2007 to 2017. During her tenure, the congregation purchased and moved into our church home at 1625 Salvador Avenue in Napa.
Since retiring in 2017, Rev. Bonnie has had the privilege of providing pulpit supply and pastoral care coverage for several Bay Area congregations. Rev. Bonnie is a Bay Area native and spends her time communing with nature, cooking, traveling with her husband, and spending time with their adult children and grandchildren.
