CANTON -- The Unitarian Universalist Church has selected Rev. Joel Miller as interim minister.

Miller recently held his first service with the congregation and will be in Canton for two years.

“Ministerial transitions are exceptional opportunities for congregations” said Miller.

Past ministers have included Revs. David Blanchard, Anne Marsh, Wade Wheelock, and the late Max Coots.

Rev. Miller moved to the North Country from Oregon, where he was interim minister for two years at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, he studied at Thomas Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif. before starting the Mission Peak congregation in Fremont, Calif.

He was later appointed minister at Columbine Church in Littleton, Colo., and in 2000 he was called to serve the Church of Buffalo where he was the senior minister for 11 years.

Miller’s social justice work has focused on women's reproductive rights, mental health access, and marriage equality.

He was a co-founder of the Trauma Response Ministry after his experiences with the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999.

To learn more about Miller and the Unitarian Universalist Church visit www.uucantonny.org.