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After a thorough process of review, prayer, and discernment, the SCNCUCC Search Committee unanimously presented the candidacy of Felix Villanueva to the Board of Directors. After a process of almost two years, with a great sense of joy, all believe that the Spirit has led us to present the Reverend Felix Villanueva to be our next Conference Minister.  For pictures and the full announcement, click here.  Read more below as well!

After an afternoon of conversation with Felix to share common goals, hopes, and concerns for our conference, the Board voted unanimously to affirm the Search Committee’s choice. In this next month there will be five opportunities in locations through out the conference for you to meet Felix, to learn of his skills, his faith journey, his love for this conference, his current understanding of who we are, and his vision for leading us forward.  As those locations are determined we will send more detailed information.

Please review the information below. Then join us with eager anticipation at Annual Gathering, June 11-12 where we will have the opportunity to officially call Felix Villanueva to be Conference Minister of Southern California Nevada Conference.  We will gather at First Congregational Church in Santa Ana, to celebrate this exciting moment in the life of our Conference.

The Rev. Felix Villanueva is a native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.  He was ordained in 1982 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  He has been the Senior Minister at the United Church of Christ of La Mesa since 2005.

Felix spent 21 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain.  At the time of retirement in 2003, he held the rank of U.S. Navy Captain.  His last assignment was as Division Chaplain, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California.  His tours of duty cover a wide spectrum from sea duty to chapel programs worldwide.  The Rev. Villanueva had the opportunity to serve in the Far East while stationed in the Republic of the Philippines.  He has also participated in humanitarian rescue operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Haiti.  In March 2003, Felix was called to go into Iraq as American forces prepared for the war.  He spent three months in Iraq where he led 28 chaplains representing 12 religious bodies in ministering to U.S. Forces as they moved from Kuwait City to Baghdad.  Felix retired from military duty shortly after returning from Iraq.

Shortly after retirement from the U.S. Navy, Felix served as Chaplain for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care in San Diego.  Felix has served as member of the Board of Directors of the UCC and Chair of the Southern Association Church and Ministry Committee of the Whole.  He serves as Advisory Board Member of the Centro Romero for Border Ministries and member of the San Diego County Clinical Pastoral Education Advisory Board. Felix has also served as Board Member of the Ecumenical Council of San Diego County.

Felix is an active member in the East County Progressive Clergy Network.  The group meets every month and is composed of clergy from a variety of faith traditions (Unitarian, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Lutheran-ELCA, Episcopal and UCC), as is open to all clergy in the La Mesa area.  In the past, he was the convener of the Navajo Interfaith Clergy Group.  Felix has been also active in a wide variety of social justice issues such as LGBT rights, gender equality and immigration issues, to name a few.  He has been invited in numerous occasions to speak before groups examining those issues.  Felix has also been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.  He is currently the president of the Rancho San Diego Kiwanis Club.  He has also acted as pro-bono consultant for the East County YMCA and other non-profit community organizations on strategic planning and organizational leadership. The UCC Southern California Nevada Conference has also benefited from his expertise in strategic planning through the various workshops he has offered at Annual Gatherings and Vitality Events.

The Reverend Villanueva holds a Bachelor Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, a Masters Degree in Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, and a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey.

On a personal level Felix enjoys a wide variety of interests to include: playing guitar, golf, reading, outdoor activities, computer technology, auto mechanics and discovering new venues for personal growth.

Felix is married to his best friend and life-partner, Sherry. Between them they have four grown children, Carlos, Jeanyvette, Jean (Jon), and Denay.  They also show a lot of pride in their four grandchildren: Cailin, Cole, Isaac, and Gabriel.

As our new candidate has been quoted to say, “I approach ministry from a perspective of community.  I have a deep sense of call.  I have prayerfully sought discernment over this decision, and I consider myself to be a person of deep faith and spirituality.  We are called to embrace, respect and value each culture, as well as each other.  God does not make exceptions, but rather, ours is a God of abundant love for all.”