For the Annual Meeting on May 18, 2025, the Nominating Committee is pleased to report that the following ERUUF members have agreed to be placed on a ballot for elected positions of the Fellowship.

Board of Trustees:
Elizabeth Ault
Addison Evans
Sarah Ward

Healthy Congregation Committee:
Prudence (Prue) Cuper

Nominating Committee:
Sloan Alday
Susan Baylies
Cheryl Turney

Read more about the candidates below.

Board of Trustees

Elizabeth Ault

My family came to Unitarian Universalism when my mom (now a member of MVUC in Alexandria, VA!) was searching for a spiritual home that would honor her choices as a divorced mother. At the DuPage UU Church in suburban Chicago, I watched the filmstrips back when OWL was still About Your Sexuality, and planned an incredible Con with my lifesaving youth group comrades at Main Line Unitarian Church outside Philadelphia. For many years after that, I described myself as “a lapsed UU,” focusing my spirituality mostly through tarot, astrology, and other witchy channels, which are still important to me.

After moving to Durham, I decided to return to Unitarian Universalism, seeking intergenerational community outside of the scholarly, organizing, and work contexts that had dominated my life. I finished a PhD in American Studies at the University of Minnesota and started working as a book editor at Duke University Press in 2012. As part of my job, I’m honored to work with scholars on the cutting edge of theorizing liberation across lines of race, gender, sexuality, ability, class, and nation. I also organize with the NC Women’s Prison Book Project to send reading materials to incarcerated women in our state. I live near downtown Durham in the Northgate Park neighborhood with my partner of 16 years, Mike.

I came to ERUUF in the fall of 2013, and quickly became involved with our most important sacrament, coffee hour, and as a leader in the 20s/30s group. In 2014, I began working with our incredible youth (and RE team) as an advisor to the High School Youth Group and have been lucky enough to be involved with Coming of Age over the years as well. I have been committed to forwarding the work of anti-racism personally and professionally, and joined ERUUF’s Change Team, now the Theory of Change Committee, in 2017. As part of that work, I’ve attended, organized, and facilitated multiple trainings, participated in book studies, and spent a lot of time thinking seriously about ERUUF’s strategic vision. I look forward to putting all of these experiences to work as a member of the Board of Trustees.

 
Addison Evans

My name is addison a. evans, and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I’m a disabled Black, trans, and agender UU socialist who has been attending ERUUF for the past seven years. My life goal is to achieve bodily autonomy for all people because I believe achieving that will open up so many possibilities for everyone and allow us to create and live in a more just and equitable society. I’m an avid traveller and love to explore new places but I’m a Southerner through and through. Ice cream is the best dessert, and no one does sweet tea, lemonade, and biscuits better than the south.

Sarah Ward

Sarah Ward is a dedicated real estate professional with a deep commitment to fostering equity and inclusion in all aspects of her work and community involvement. Her journey with Unitarian Universalism began in middle school when a friend introduced her to the faith, leading her to become actively involved in YRUU in the NH/VT district and later the Northeastern district.

Serving on the Board of Trustees for ERUUF is both a profound honor and a meaningful opportunity for Sarah. She is inspired by the ERUUF community’s unwavering support, kindness, and the unique presence each member brings to one another. She cherishes this sacred space and looks forward to contributing to its governance, ensuring its continued growth and impact. With gratitude and enthusiasm, she embraces the opportunity to learn and serve.

When she’s not working, Sarah can be found playing music, writing poetry, cooking delicious meals, or grabbing lunch with friends—always seeking ways to connect, create, and share joy.

 

Healthy Congregations Committee

Prudence (Prue) Cuper

Prue Cuper and her spouse, Kelly Eppley, joined ERUUF ten years ago. Since then, she’s served on the coffee team, taught Religious Exploration classes, and volunteered as an advisor with the Middle School Youth Group. A native of New Jersey, she lived in Seattle as a young adult and moved to Durham in 2004 to attend graduate school at Duke University. Like so many others who have found their way to the Triangle through the universities, she never left. She and Kelly are moms to a teenaged daughter, Maggie, and a scruffy terrier named Lucy Rose.

In her professional life, Prue is a clinical psychologist, working in private practice and serving as a co-chair of the Professional Affairs and Ethics Committee of the North Carolina Psychological Association. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, jogging, and puzzles and games of all kinds (most recently, playing the digital version of Wingspan with her brother, who lives on the other side of the country).

 

Nominating Committee

Sloan Alday

I moved to the Triangle in 2022 and quickly began to visit places of worship. ERUUF provided the kind of diverse, social justice-oriented space I wanted, and I was delighted to become a member in the Spring of 2023. At ERUUF, I serve on the Coffee Team and have been a part of two different Chalice Circles. Professionally, I work as a Clinical Psychologist at the VA in Durham and absolutely love what I do! When I’m not working or at ERUUF, I enjoy walking in the woods and working with yarn. I live in Durham with my adult son, Sam, and our two cats, Pip and Charlie.

Susan Baylies

Susan began attending ERUUF in the mid 90’s and has found her wider community of caring people here. She has taught RE for many years, served on the Coffee team, has co-founded the current Eno River CUUPS group, sings with the Beloved Community Chorus, participates in a chalice circle, and has joined in many social justice initiatives throughout her time here.

She lives with her life partner, Vance Hunter, and has one married son who also lives in Durham. She is a Democratic Precinct Chair in her neighborhood. She has always created her own path as a creative self-employed person. She still works in her first business, Snake and Snake Productions, designing t-shirts and selling lunar cards. She tutors some children in her second business, Pathway to English, which was actually inspired by some ERUUF volunteer work she did teaching English to Montagnard refugees over 20 years ago.