Learn more about our conference, mission and team.
Rev. Dr. Chad Abbott has been the Conference Minister in the Indiana-Kentucky Conference since 2017. Originally ordained in the Indiana-Kentucky Conference, he has served churches in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Indiana. He received his bachelors from Greenville University in philosophy and religion, a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary with a focus on the sociology of religion and race, and recently received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Church and Community Leadership. Chad is the author of a couple of books about creativity and discernment among local churches, his latest of which is Incline Your Ear: Cultivating Spiritual Awakening in Congregations and Sacred Habits: The Rise of the Creative Clergy. He is passionate about local churches, pastors, mental health, and integrating contemplative spirituality into daily work and social justice. He is a trained labyrinth facilitator, spiritual director, and storyteller. He grew up in nearby Illinois and felt the call to ministry at age 10. Chad and his wife, Shannon, live in Indianapolis with their two kids, Isabel and Solomon, and dogs, Zoe and Finn.
Rev. Dr. Monica J. Ouellette was born in Washington D.C., spent most of her childhood in Stone Mountain, GA. and her teen years in Newport, RI. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a B.A. in Anthropology in May 1999. She earned her M.Div. from and her D.Min. from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, MA . Monica has served at First United Church of Christ in Carlisle, PA, St. John’s United Church of Christ in Boalsburg, PA and Lynnhurst United Church of Christ in Louisville, KY. In October 2018 she began her ministry with the Indiana Kentucky Conference. Monica works with congregations in transition and Members-in-Discernment. She also supports Committees on Ministry and Search Committees. Monica is energized by working with committees and teams to share resources and best practices, brainstorm ideas and create an action plan. Monica lives in Indianapolis, IN. She loves quilting, reading, spending time with her grandchildren and traveling to new places.
Rebecca’s primary responsibility is the support of the churches and clergy in the Conference. She is the hub of the operation who resources the churches and the staff. Her expertise also includes management and analysis of the business activities of the Conference to facilitate financial decision making and planning. Her experience and knowledge make her an asset to our churches and authorized ministers in matters of contract negotiations, payroll, policies and procedures, not-for-profit filings and tax questions, budgeting, etc. Rebecca also possesses a depth of knowledge on the many benefit, investment and insurance plans provided by the UCC. Rebecca earned her Master of Business Administration at the University of Indianapolis. When she is not at the office, Rebecca feeds her spirit by attending and volunteering at her church. She is a wife and mother, who expresses her creativity through cooking and crafting.
Rev. Cassidy Hall, MDiv, MTS, MA, is an author, filmmaker, and podcaster. Born and raised in Iowa, she now serves as the Digital Minister for the IKC and Heartland Conferences. Throughout her time at Christian Theological Seminary, she worked as a Teaching Assistant while studying for her MDiv and MTS degrees (December, 2021). During her time at seminary, she also served as the Secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society and continues to serve on the board of Enfleshed.
She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Her forthcoming book, Queering Contemplation, Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality is set for release in May of 2024. Cassidy is widely published and is studying for her DMin degree at CTS.
Before pursuing her MDiv and MTS in Indianapolis, Cassidy lived in Los Angeles where she worked on the production team of the documentary feature film, In Pursuit of Silence. The film’s success on the festival circuit and beyond led to its worldwide theatrical release. Her directorial debut short-film, Day of a Stranger, paints an intimate portrait of Thomas Merton’s hermitage years and received the Audience Choice Award from Illuminate Film Festival.
You can learn more about her and her work at cassidyhall.com
Valerie Ruess is a graduate of International Business College in Fort Wayne, IN. and a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. Val works full time as the Administrative Assistant to the President of Christian Theological Seminary. As the Data Entry Specialist, Val provides part-time assistance to the conference administrator in maintaining vital records for all clergy, volunteers and staff. When not at work, Val enjoys volunteering for various mission and outreach projects, reading, hiking and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Margaret Velto (she/her), originally from NC, is a second-year Master of Divinity student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After graduating from Oberlin College in 2022 with a BA in Religion and Gender, Sexuality, & Feminist Studies, Margaret moved to Louisville to work at the intersections of faith and reproductive advocacy. Once here, she found her church home at Grace Immanuel UCC in the Kentuckiana Association and eventually answered her call to ministry. Margaret will serve as IKC student intern for the 2024-2025 academic year and hopes to one day be ordained in the United Church of Christ, just like her mother.
Sign up to receive our emails.
