Rev. Jim Culver

We are extremely fortunate to have Rev. Dr. James "Jim" Culver serving as our consulting minister. In addition to preaching twice a month and providing other ministerial services, Jim also serves as the church's Minister of Music. Jim is a strong believer in the importance of religious community. Jim believes that our task is to create an environment where everyone can come and feel this is a religious community, a home for them.

Jim is an accomplished organist, composer, choir director and was a certified musical wunderkind, having performed organ compositions in many of Europe's great cathedrals and at St. Peter's in the Vatican as a young man. Jim holds a doctor of musical arts from the University of Iowa, and was ordained at Fountain Street Church, a 2,200 member liberal church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as Music Director.

As the church's Minister of Music, Jim has energized the church's choir by stressing the imortance of community. “The most important thing is for the choir is to get to know each other, to come together as family. Once people understand that, that’s a part of the church family people will want to know. That’s the best way to grow,” Jim has stated.

To this aim, Jim recently composed and wrote a musical composition for church members to perform at a Sunday Service: "Tut-Tut... or My Pharaoh Lady." The musical comedy traces the spiritual journeys of famous people throughout the ages from Nero to Mae West. An inter-generational musical production directed and produced by member Anne Justiss, the process of preparing for the musical proved to be as rewarding to church members as the actual performance.

Jim also leads an active children’s choir and handbell group, which – like the adult choir – will take on expanded roles as the church grows.

“Everyone involved in the music program not only will sing or ring hand bells, but also will compose,” said Jim, himself a published composer. More than 120,000 copies of his compositions have been sold, including the best seller “Go in Love,” with an additional 5 million recordings through educational publisher Silver Burdett Co.

Jim was only 11 years old when he took his first job as a church organist at the small Methodist church his family attended, to earn extra money for his family. By the time he was a senior in high school, he had played at Roman Catholic, Baptist and Jewish services, an experience that shaped his religious philosophy.

“By the time I was 18 I had heard so many priests, rabbis and ministers saying that their religion was the one true way, I knew something was up,” he said. “I was thinking I’m not any of these.”

During his career, spanning nearly three decades, he has chaired the music department at a private school in New Jersey and spent seven years as the owner of four Cold Stone Creamery locations in Grand Rapids. He’s been music director at three churches including Fountain Street.

A job relocation by Jim’s wife, Rebecca, prompted the couple’s move to the St. Petersburg area. They have six children, ranging from 29 years old to the youngest, Liz, who is the only child still living at home.

Rev. Alec Craig

Rev. Alec Craig, an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, is our Pastoral Care Minister. Alec concentrates primarily on providing pastoral care to church members, and building a robust pastoral care team within the church. He also leads Sunday service once a month.

Alec views pastoral care, which includes visiting ill members, supporting those going through a life crisis, and providing care to bereaved friends and family members, as an opportunity for spiritual enlightenment. “It’s something that I enjoy doing because it’s a time when people are open to growing spiritually,” Alec has stated.

Alec holds a Master's in Education from Syracuse University and attended Bangor Theological Seminary. He received a Doctorate in Special Education from Syracuse in 1968 and had a 28-year career in Special Education before being called to the ministry. He was ordained by the First Universalist Church of Sangerville, Maine in 1990, and named Emeritus at the Sangerville church in 1994. He has been active in the St. Petersburg community, serving on the boards of the Hospice of the Suncoast and Americans United. He currently is a volunteer with the AARP, staffing events and as a safe driving instructor.

Alec is currently the Consulting Minister of Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists in Odessa.