Southwest Association Pulpit Supply Listing
(Updated November 15, 2023)
(Pandemic adjustments to worship listed in italics)
The recommended honorarium for one worship service is $150.  You should expect to pay more if you are asking for leadership of more than one service.  Remember also to reimburse the guest preacher for travel expenses, including round trip mileage.

Printable Pulpit Supply Listing

ORDAINED MINISTERS

Rev. Lawrence Balleine
W5711 Koller Circle, Monticello, WI 53570
(608) 938-4367
Bio:  I retired from active, full-time ministry in late 2014 after serving local congregations for forty years — the last eighteen as pastor of Zwingli United Church of Christ in Monticello.   When subbing — I will follow the lectionary if that is the practice of the local church.  If I am called to speak at a “non-lectionary” church, I will either base the sermon on the lectionary texts or address an underlying theme of the particular liturgical season.

Would participate in outdoor services, e.g., in parking lots, parks, or lawns of private homes.

Rev. Ron Ballew
(262) 565-3775
4225 N. 92 Street, Milwaukee 53222
Bio: As a pastor with 21 years parish experience, my context preaching form is the African American experience with the ability to focus on the struggle of being African American in America.  I have served churches which are majority white, and have assisted them to face racism on many levels.

Rev. Raul Bermudez – raul.bermudez@me.com
(918) 851-8442
10 N. Livingston Street, Apt. 827, Madison, WI 53703
Bio: My name is Raul Bermudez, I am an ordained UCC minister. I am currently serving as a
Veteran’s Affairs chaplain at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. I am also
new to Madison, Wisconsin from Oklahoma. In the past I have served as Pastor/Minister in both
Reformed and Presbyterian churches. My sermon style is expositional and follows the Common
Revised Lectionary. Preaching for me is the announcement of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the
salvation of humanity. The Theology of the Cross is very important to me. I enjoy studying on
Luther and the Reformation and the Reformation in Scotland. I have led many mission teams to
Cuba and Latin America and have taught at various seminaries as an adjunct professor.

Rev. Luke Bocher
Rev. Luke Bocher – bocher@charter.net
(608) 302-5902
1323 Erick Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
Bio: My name is Luke Bocher and a few years ago I retired after serving as a local pastor.  I have served in three churches in the Wisconsin Conference UCC since 1980.  I live in Fort Atkinson.  I can preach from the lectionary if needed or preach to the needs of individual congregations taking into account the climate of the world around us.  I like to connect the scriptures to the everyday lives of the congregants.
I have a computer with camera and mike and am familiar with zoom.
I would be willing to do an outdoor live service or a recorded service at the church with a
limited number of participants. Not indoors.

Rev. Beverly (Bev) Davis 
(715) 687-4568
302 Nautilus Dr.  #110, Madison, WI 53705
Bio: I am an ordained UCC minister. I reflect on past experience as Pastor, Hospice Chaplain, artist. My sermons often connect the scripture with contemporary events and life experiences. I am a second career minister. I also have written a children’s book series, entitled Great Gray, A Book about, Exceeding “NO” Expectations that address bullying, and build self-esteem.

Rev. Barbara Brakey
(608) 331-7939
650 N Water Street, Platteville, WI 53818
Bio:  I retired from parish ministry in 2020 after over 20 years of service as a Commissioned
Youth Pastor and Licensed and Ordained.  During time before and during seminary, I spent 4
years supplying pulpits all over Connecticut and Maine.  After serving several churches in Maine
as Pastor, I followed a call to Wisconsin in 2016.  Wherever I have served, whether for a Sunday
or an extended call, ministering to a particular congregation has always been my focus.  I have
most always been a lectionary preacher, however, if a congregation makes known a need or
familiarity of a topical approach, I will be happy to accommodate them.  My theological focus is
biblical, weaving Old and New Testament scriptures through the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
asking what this scripture is telling us about the Triune God and how it might apply to us. I
continue this weaving in the creation of my services, which reflect the scriptural basis used for
my message throughout.  The Psalms have always been a particular focus for me.  I currently run
an arts business in Platteville and continue an arts ministry I have offered from my heart since
age 14.  I am happy to travel if a congregation is willing to reimburse mileage.

Rev. Sonny Graves (he/him/they/them)
(608) 535-9251 – call or text available for contact
419 S Mills St., Madison, WI 53715
Bio: I have served in local parish, interim, Conference, and chaplaincy settings as a minister. I am comfortable in any size congregation – and wherever a congregation may fall in the spectrum of political and theological beliefs. I am happy to travel up to (and sometimes a little bit more!) of an hour outside of Madison. I am a very pastoral preacher and love to use the holy moments of everyday life and community to connect us deeper to scripture and discipleship. I currently work in a Burn ICU in healthcare, and I am comfortable preaching in person or virtually. I am Queer and Transgender and welcome the opportunity to come preach towards full inclusion of all people in the ministries and life of the church if that is an area a congregation is exploring.

Rev. Dean Kucera 
(773) 380-9398
625Skyview Place, Madison, WI 53713
Bio: I am an ordained UCC minister with my standing in Northern Illinois Conference since 1989.  I have just recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin.  My mission is to bring people together to see their potential as spiritual, physical and psychological individuals with gifts to give. I like to guide, educate and empower through preaching sermons that reach people where they are in life. I try to bridge gaps in relationships between peoples of various faith traditions and hope to create opportunity for understanding and peace. I am willing to conduct in-person worship as long as proper safety protocols are in place and followed.

Rev. Jessica Taft 
(513) 702-2834
412 Orchard Drive, Madison, WI  53711
Bio: I am ordained UCC clergy, currently taking time away from full time ministry to take care of my 3 young children.  I am a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary and I served as solo pastor of a church in Cincinnati, Ohio before my hiatus.  I tend to preach on the lectionary, but am able to preach topically, if requested.  I find it meaningful to make connections between the historical context of scripture and our lives today. I have a computer with camera and mike and currently available to pre-record and electronically send content for worship. I cannot meet for an in-person service.

Rev. Julia Weaver
(608) 261-9755
115 W. Doty Street, Madison, WI 53703
Bio: I am an ordained UCC minister. I reflect on my call as a chaplain and artist working primarily with women returning to their families and communities from incarceration, backyardmosaicwomensproject.org. I have a laptop computer with camera and microphone. I would be open to working with congregations on a live or pre-recorded service with their technological assistance. I am not comfortable doing a traditional in-person service.

Rev. Laura Yurs 
(920) 838-4475
432 W. Clover Lane, Cottage Grove, WI 53527
Bio: I am an ordained UCC minister currently taking time away after ten years of full-time
ministry to attend UW-Madison Law School.  I was ordained in 2011 after graduating from
Union Theological seminary in New York.  Most recently, I served Immanuel UCC in Plymouth,
WI for seven years.  I eagerly welcome the opportunity to provide pulpit supply as a means of
continuing to serve the church while I am in law school.  As a worship leader and preacher, I aim
to infuse a sense of wonder and imagination in worship, and I seek to encourage congregations
by providing a sense of both urgency and agency in answering the call of discipleship in an
aching and beautiful world.  I reside in Cottage Grove, WI.

LAITY

Robert H. Gwynne 
(608) 257-5761
5715 American Parkway, Apartment #203, Madison, WI 53718
Bio: I received my MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1997 after a 26 year career in Student Personnel Work at Madison College, having previously been a teacher and counselor in secondary schools in WV and CO as a graduate of Dartmouth College. I have previously been licensed by Eastern Illinois Association and Southwest Wisconsin Association to serve as interim (sole pastor) in Steger, IL and Belleville, Fox Lake and Fort Atkinson, WI, as well as by the Milwaukee Presbytery of the PCUSA to serve concurrently its church in Fox Lake. I normally preach from the lectionary, applying those texts to life in the community as reported in local and national media, preaching a gospel of reconciliation.

 Sonja Heiser
(608) 220-8674
133 Maple Street, Evansville, WI 53536
Bio: I am a retired authorized lay pastor, having served a small, rural congregation for 13 years.  I generally preach from the lectionary, incorporating scripture into current events as well as relating its historical significance to the culture at the time.  My goal is two-fold: to equip the congregation for the challenges that await them when they leave the sanctuary and to give them a deeper understanding and appreciation of the richness of The Word.

 Alan Timm 
(920) 674-0604
N3671 Willing Rd, Jefferson, WI 53549
Bio: I am a member of Grace United Church in Fort Atkinson. I am in year four of Lay Academy.  I am a former dairy farmer.  I usually preach from the lectionary but will accept the challenge of an ongoing series or special topic if desired.  My Lay Academy experience has been life transforming and I enjoy talking about that part of my life journey and what it has meant to me.  My style reflects a layperson’s interpretation of the scriptures and their message. I have been serving a small congregation (<10) that has continued to meet in-person. With my computer I have been self-recording and sending a short devotionals to the members and currently videotape the services to email and to post on social media.

Terri Wolff 
(920) 927-5412 Home phone
(920) 763-5411 Cell phone
P.O. Box 22, Lowell, WI 53557

Bio: I am a graduate of the Lay Academy and have been an authorized Lay Pastor since November of 2005.  Since then I have helped a number of churches in the Southwest Association, along with filling in for my home church in Lowell WI where I have been a member for most of my life.  My preaching usually follows the lectionary for the given Sunday.  I am comfortable doing children’s time during a service as well as sharing the service with readers/helpers.  I am available for most Sundays.

Sabbatical Fill in

Rev. Lawrence Balleine 
(608)938-4367
W5711 Koller Circle, Monticello, WI 53570

Rev. Ron Ballew
(262)565-3775
4225 N. 92 Street, Milwaukee, WI 53522

Rev. Jill Sneed Bobholz
(608)381-0412
620 9th Ave. Baraboo, WI 53913

Rev. John W. Eyster
(608) 332-5811
112 East Cox Road, Edgerton, WI 53534-9761

Rev. Dr. Rex Piercy 
(608)467-2390
(773)909-6701
601 N. Segoe Road Unit 403
Madison, WI 53705