New Hope is led by the Director of Religious Education (DRE) and by a Board of Trustees, elected by the members. Every person at New Hope probably takes a leadership role in some special way.

Kathy Silver - Religious Educator

Kathy has worked in UU churches since 1989. She has led both small and large programs and has a wealth of experience in multi-generational worship. She came to New Hope in 2006. Kathy usually plans and leads our Sunday worship services, sometimes with assistance from our members and friends.

A child abuse prevention educator and foster parent educator in her early career, Kathy has a BA in Psychology and a MS in Community Health Education. Religious Education has been her passion for many years and she loves working at New Hope. Kathy is active in the MI cluster of DRE’s and the MidAmerica UU Region. She is also a member of the Liberal Religious Educator’s Association and the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

Denise Harris - President of the Board

Denise lives in Milford and has been a Unitarian Universalist for over 25 years.  She was drawn by the friendly and welcoming community of New Hope and has been a member since 2014.  She is retired from General Motors where she worked in international and aftersales marketing.

Jack Schneider - Vice President

Jack is a long time Unitarian Universalist, who raised four children in the church. He taught elementary and high school in Livonia for 49 years. Jack says that "While I truly loved teaching. I equally enjoy retirement." The loss of his beloved wife, Merylene, brought him to New Hope, where he has found a spiritual home.

Sue Myers - Secretary

Sue is a retired teacher who worked in the Dearborn Heights/Westwood School District for 34 years. For most of that time she worked with Special Education students. She enjoyed her career very much. She has been a member of the New Hope Congregation since 2007. She has been the Board Secretary for the last 6 years and enjoys that job also. Plus she now collects the CLEAN bottles and cans so that New Hope can benefit from the refunds!

Mike Kelleher - Treasurer

Mike and his wife, Corinne, originally from Massachusetts, discovered Unitarian Universalism in 1984 and joined the First Parish Church of Plymouth, MA. He and his family moved to Harbor Springs, MI in 1994 and then to Wixom, MI in 2004, where they presently live. Mike is now retired, after having a 40 year career in the Material Handling Industry holding positions as an electrical project engineer and application engineer. He has been a member of New Hope since 2010 and has been Treasurer since 2013. He has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Bonnie Campbell – Member at large

Bonnie has been an active member of New Hope since April 2014. In her board position she is responsible for maintaining regular communications with the Social Justice Liaison, the Greeting Coordinator, the Hospitality Leader. Bonnie has lived in MI since she was four years old. She is retired from the University of MI and is married to a great guy!

Brian Tyler – Maintenance Manager

Brian has been a member and a friend at New Hope for many years. His expertise and attention keep our building and grounds in excellent condition. We are very grateful for the time and energy that he devotes to his important task.

Deb Edford - Social Justice Liaison

Deb is a retired nurse practitioner and psychotherapist with a B.S.N. and M.S.N. from Wayne State University. She has been a member of New Hope since 2012 and has served as social justice liaison and hospitality coordinator. Deb keeps us informed of social justice activities on a national, state and local level and makes suggestions for activities in which members might want to participant.