Our Minister and Staff

Rev. David H. Messner, Ph. D. Interim Senior Minister

Rev. David H. Messner is the interim senior minister of the Main Line Unitarian Church. Previously he served as interim minister at the Unitarian Church in Charleston, the Mother Church of Southern Unitarianism, He was settled minister for seven years at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah, which he accompanied in their growth into a mid-sized church with an outsized public voice for unity and justice. He trained at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

He’s a born and bred Unitarian, a devout humanist with an abiding faith in God, and a believer in resurgent possibility–especially when all seems lost. He knows that church done right can become indispensable to a life well-lived. His ministry is rooted in preaching, teaching, writing, and coaching toward collective liberation and individual fulfillment.

He earned his Ph.D. in Religion (Ethics & Society) from Emory University, a Master’s in Divinity from the University of Chicago with an emphasis on theology and ethics, his MBA from Yale University with concentrations in strategy and organizational behavior, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Reed College with a specialization in decision making under risky conditions. His scholarly interests include the way institutions, their structures, and their practices can be conducive to better moral choices and action.

His professional life began in management consulting with a focus on organizational effectiveness and strategies for growing businesses to reach new customers. Then for more than a decade, he was a leader in international pharmaceutical businesses (Eisai, Pfizer, and Bausch & Lomb) and was in charge of teams responsible for strategy development, partnership development, and transaction execution. His most recent industry role was as Vice President of Business Development at B&L building their international pharmaceuticals business.

He was born in Washington D.C. and now lives in Devon, PA with his wife of 25+ years. They have two wonderful young adult children and a Blue Heeler pup that just won’t quit. In his free time, he grows hot peppers, grills meat, and photographs wild places.

610-688-8332, ext. 112
revdave@mluc.org

Click Here To Request A Meeting with Rev. Dave

Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt became the Director of Lifespan Faith Development at Main Line Unitarian Church in July, 2017.

Dawn Star is a third generation Unitarian Universalist, born and raised at the UU Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia. She was a leader in YRUU at the local and district levels as a teenager and participated in campus ministry and young adult programming before teaching religious education classes and becoming a professional religious educator in 1998. Since that time she has worked with five other UU congregations as religious educator, youth ministry coordinator, and summer religious educator. She has a BA in Philosophy and the History of Science with a minor in Religion from St. John’s College Annapolis, and is a Master Level Credentialed Religious Educator through the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Dawn Star lives with her husband, their four children, and various pets in Bala Cynwyd. She is also a homeschooling mom and a Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula (Birthing From Within). She is passionate about creating transformative experiences in worship and life, and bringing non-anxious presence to building community and seeking justice.

610-688-8332, ext. 123
dawnstar@mluc.org
Dawn’s Stories for All Ages

Dr. Vincent Craig, Music Director

Dr. Vincent Craig has been the Music Director of Main Line Unitarian Church since 1996, directing the Adult, Multigenerational, and Handbell Choirs, and providing musical support for Sunday morning worship services. services. He is a member of the Association for Unitarian Music Ministries, and serves on the Music Leadership Certification Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Association. An accomplished pianist, Dr. Craig earned his Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College where he studied with Frances Walker. He then went on to earn his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied with Ann Schein.

Dr. Craig is Professor of Piano and Keyboard Literature at the Wells School of Music at West Chester University of Pa., and has been the Head Accompanist for the Maryland State Boychoir for nearly 30 years.

His CD of Bach solo keyboard music was released in the fall of 2013 and his latest CD, Radiant Pinnacle, features solo piano music of William Grant Still, Nathaniel Dett, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, all composers of African descent.

Dr. Craig gave his Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall) debut in New York City in 2017, and recently he performed with the University City Symphony in St. Louis, Missouri in the North American premiere of the Grand Concerto in D Major by the Chilean composer Enrique Soro, in commemoration of the 100 th anniversary of the world premiere of this work.

610-688-8332, ext. 122
vincent@mluc.org

Rich Fritzson, Executive Director

Rich and his wife Sally-Ann have been active members of MLUC since 1995. Both of their children were raised in the church.

Rich has held a variety of roles at MLUC, including church school teacher, leader of the stewardship campaign, trustee, and member of several ministerial search committees. He has also represented the church as a delegate to ten UUA General Assemblies.

Before joining the staff in 2017 Rich had a 45 year career with multiple companies as a computer scientist, specializing in artificial intelligence. He has a Masters degree in computational linguistics from the University at Buffalo.

610-688-8332, ext. 115 rich@mluc.org

Caroline Bright, Ministerial Intern

Caroline Bright serves Main Line Unitarian Church as the Brad and Catherine Greely Ministerial Intern. She is a Master of Divinity student at Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry.

Caroline attended St. Lawrence University and Saint Michael’s College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in History and Religious Studies. Her professional background is in political work, non-profit administration, aviation, and events.

Caroline proudly represented her home state as Miss Vermont 2010 at the Miss America competition with a platform of “Rock the World – Run for Office”, which focused on encouraging young women to run for public office. She was a candidate for the Vermont State House in 2016 and a candidate for the Vermont State Senate in 2012.

Caroline and her husband, Joel, have two children (an infant and a toddler), two cats, and a one eyed dog. They divide their time between Philadelphia and Vermont.
610-688-8332, ext. 114

caroline@mluc.org

Madelaine Sayko, Membership and Stewardship Manager

Madelaine has been a member of MLUC for 9 years and has attended Unitarian churches for the past 20 years. She has served on MLUC’s Board of Trustees and has been a member of a Small Group Ministry for several years. Madelaine joined the MLUC staff this past August. Previously she was the Managing Director of a non-profit focused on mental health.

Madelaine’s background includes over 30 years as a project manager in technology & healthcare. She has also been actively engaged in disability rights for much of the past decade. Madelaine lives in Radnor with her partner, Peter, her mother, Elsie and, at times, her daughter Victoria along with 4 cats and a service dog named Sasha.
610-688-8332, ext. 126

madelaine@mluc.org