Staff
The Rev. Dianne Arakawa, Interim Senior Minister
Our Interim Senior Minister, the Rev. Dianne Arakawa, was invited to serve us in August 2009. She holds standing in the United Church of Christ and fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association, and specializes in systemic transformation and the interim process.
She currently chairs the Transitional Ministry Committee and is a part of the Pastoral Excellence Team of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC, and has served as Interim in churches in Milton, Somerset, Belmont, and Westford. Prior to this she served in settled positions in the Chicago area and New York City. She also held positions on the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee, the Commission on Appraisal, the International Association for Religious Freedom/U.S. and the Women in Ministry Committee of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in NY.
Born and raised in Honolulu, she holds degrees from the University of Chicago Divinity School, Harvard Divinity School and Wheaton College in MA. She is married to the Rev. Stephen C. Washburn and they have a son.
Contact Information
617-227-2155 ext. 310
dearakawa@kings-chapel.org
The Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt, Assistant Minister
The Reverend Kristin Grassel Schmidt grew up attending Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Maryland, where she is still a member and was ordained in March of 2011. Kristin earned her Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, and served as Intern Minister with the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston, Texas. Kristin also serves on the board of the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship.
She enjoys cooking, baking, quilting, and talking theology with her husband, Christian, who is a seminary student at Andover Theological School. Kristin began serving King’s Chapel as Assistant Minister in September of 2010.
Contact Information
617-227-2155 ext. 312
kschmidt@kings-chapel.org
Heinrich Christensen, Music Director
A native of Denmark, Heinrich Christensen received the Church Music and Soloist Diplomas from the Århus Conservatory of Music with further studies at the Conservatoire de Saint-Maur with Olivier Latry. After a stint as a music director in Malmö, Sweden, he came to the US in 1998 and received an Artist Diploma in Organ Performance from the Boston Conservatory where his teacher was James David Christie.
He was appointed Music Director King's Chapel in the year 2000 after serving as the affiliate organist under Daniel Pinkham for the last two years of Dr. Pinkham’s 42-year tenure at the church. At King's Chapel, he manages the Tuesday Noon Hour Recitals as well as the King's Chapel Concert Series, and directs the fully professional choir. Heinrich was a prizewinner at the international organ competitions in Odense and Erfurt and has given solo recitals on four continents.
An avid proponent of contemporary music, he has premiered works by Daniel Pinkham, Carson Cooman, Graham Gordon Ramsay, James Woodman and several others. He has worked extensively as an accompanist for many choral groups in the Boston area, and has recorded with Philovox, Boston Secession and Seraphim Singers, and Daniel Pinkham’s works for solo voice and organ with Florestan Recital Project,. The solo CD "Heinrich Christensen plays the C.B. Fisk Organ at King's Chapel" (available at www.arsisaudio.com) was hailed by Gramophone Magazine as a "smorgasbord" of "enormous stylistic flexibility". Since 1998 he has performed an annual recital as a featured soloist of Boston’s venerable First Night celebrations. In February 2011, he released a recording of Clavierübung III. In October 2011, Albany Records released “The Sacred Voice” with works of Graham Gordon Ramsay.
His articles have been published in Denmark and the UK, he was a recitalist at the American Guild of Organists's Region IV convention in 2011, and he presented a workshop on Scandinavian Organ Repertoire at the AGO National Convention in Mineeapolis in 2008. Mr. Christensen is a past dean of the Boston chapter of the AGO, served on the steering committee for the Regional Convention 2009, and is currently on the New Music and steering committees for the National Convention slated for 2014 in Boston.
Contact Information
617-227-2155 ext. 345
hchristensen@kings-chapel.org
Elizabeth Sloane, Parish Administrator
Our Parish Administrator, Elizabeth Sloane, joined King’s Chapel in April 2011. Elizabeth brings a background in non-profit management and consulting with a focus on starting or strengthening organizations. Her professional experience includes work with academic, governmental and philanthropic organizations, such as Harvard Divinity School, The University of Hawaii Foundation, Neighborworks and other regional and national non-profits.
Born in Rye, New York, Elizabeth has spent much of her life in the Northeast region. After attending Wheaton College in MA, she entered Yale Divinity School to complete a Master of Divinity degree in ethics and economics. Her interests include gardening, swimming and the arts. She is married to Wick Sloane and has a daughter and son.
617-227-2155 ext. 314
esloane@kings-chapel.org
Theresa Cooney O'Hara, Lead Guide
Theresa Cooney O’Hara began work at King’s Chapel as the Assistant Lead Guide in the fall of 2008. A year later, she became the Parish House verger, and in fall of 2010 assumed the position of Lead Guide. Presently Theresa oversees a staff of about a dozen guides for King’s Chapel’s Freedom Trail Program, which focuses on educating the public about the historic and religious significance of King’s Chapel while also coordinating with its other ministries.
Originally from Medfield, Massachusetts, Theresa has a BA from Georgetown University in theology and political science, a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and is currently in a PhD program in the Division of Religious and Theological Studies at Boston University. She is focusing on early twentieth-century Catholic political theology and questions of sovereignty and authority. She enjoys running, cooking, writing, and spending time with her husband, Michael, and family and friends.
Contact Information
617-227-2155 ext. 309
freedomtrail@kings-chapel.org
Shannon Lee, Church School Director
Shannon Lee has been a staff member of the King’s Chapel Church School since the fall of 2008. Within a few months of being hired as a teacher, she was promoted to the role of Church School Director. Shannon is responsible for overseeing the implementation of classroom curricula, delivered by teachers in three age-appropriate classrooms, as well as the programs for music and art, confirmation, and other activities. Additionally, she is involved in supporting children and families in participating in service projects that promote health, education, and overall well-being both locally and globally.
Shannon is originally from Attleboro, Massachusetts, and she has lived in different parts of the state while pursuing her academic studies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clark University, a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master of Social Work from Simmons University, and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Boston University. Shannon is an active professional in the field of human services, and serves as a mentor to students in local elementary and high schools as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Contact Information
617-227-2155 ext. 309
slee@kings-chapel.org
Anne Krupsky, Bookkeeper
617-227-2155 ext. 335
akrupsky@kings-chapel.org
Fax
617-227-4101