817: What It’s Like to Be an Ordained UCC Minister With Melissa Douaire, Whole Person Conversations [Main T4C Episode]

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Melissa Douaire is an ordained United Church of Christ Minister who served as the Associate Minister of Pastoral Care at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn in Chicago. She currently works as a grief counselor and runs a company called Whole Person Conversations whose mission statement is “moving from a culture of grief aversion to one of acknowledgment and compassion.” Melissa is passionate about helping those who are grieving and supporting them through their journey. She earned her Master’s Degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary. She also has an M.A. in Education from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in Education from DePauw University.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

• When and why Melissa decided to get ordained (6:31)
• Why Melissa says there’s power in naming your grief (12:19)
• How Melissa made the transition from UCC minister to grief counselor during the pandemic (16:36)
• How to become a certified grief counselor through the American Grief Association and the requirements involved (20:23)
• What were Melissa’s responsibilities as a United Christ Church minister (26:21)
• How Melissa takes care of her mental health while balancing her work (29:18)
• What advice Melissa would give to her college self (41:06)