The Ministry Team at UUCA
Reverend John T. Crestwell, Jr
Senior Minister/Executive
Email: jcrestwell@uuannapolis.org
Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. is a dynamic leader, minister, author, and public advocate who has been a transformative voice in the Unitarian Universalist movement for nearly 25 years. As Senior Minister and Executive of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), John leads with a clear vision of Beloved Community—grounded in spiritual depth, courageous truth-telling, and bold, compassionate action.
Known for his innovative and integrative approach to ministry, John co-founded AWAKE Ministries, which reimagined worship by blending contemporary music, life coaching, spiritual practice, and service—expanding the emotional, racial, and intercultural capacity of congregations. His current leadership at UUCA emphasizes thriving across the lifespan through worship, faith formation, anti-racism work, pastoral care, and community engagement.
John’s call to ministry is deeply shaped by his lived experience navigating America’s complex racial and social landscape. He earned a BA in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University and a Master’s in Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary, and began his ministry at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation, where he helped guide the congregation into becoming one of the most racially diverse UU churches in the denomination. Building bridges across difference has remained a defining thread throughout his ministry.
At UUCA, John’s leadership has drawn regional and national attention—particularly during moments of collective crisis. Following the 2018 Capital Gazette shooting, he organized and officiated a city-wide memorial honoring Wendi Winters, a beloved church member and hero, offering steady, compassionate leadership amid profound grief. In 2012, John preached at the UUA General Assembly in Phoenix before more than 4,000 people, calling the denomination toward justice, equity, and an embodied understanding of our shared humanity.
Beyond the congregation, John’s public ministry is expansive. He serves on the Board of Directors of Annapolis Pride, is Chair of the Anne Arundel County Executive’s Interfaith Advisory Council, and is an active leader with Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) and the Maryland Just Power Alliance. He has served on the board of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland, mentors leaders through UU formation programs, and frequently represents faith communities in civic spaces where moral clarity and calm leadership are needed.
A sought-after preacher and speaker, John’s sermons explore the spiritual and social challenges of our time with honesty, warmth, and depth. His published works include Conversations: The Hidden Truth That Keeps the World From Being At Peace (2001), The Charge of the Chalice (2007), and You Were Made for So Much More: Interfaith Lessons to Transform Our World (2016).
His most recent books include RUN: Lessons for On and Off the Track and Field of Life, co-authored with performance coach Diana McNab, and MY BEST STUFF: 21st-Century Sermons for a New Age of Faith, Hope, and Love—a collection of sermons weaving ancient wisdom, science, psychology, and lived experience to address race, resilience, love, culture, and the evolving nature of God.
John is also a gifted singer who integrates music into worship as a spiritual and emotional language, creating services that engage both heart and mind. His ministry reflects a holistic synthesis of spirituality, science, justice, and practical wisdom.
Outside of his professional life, John is devoted to his family and to living authentically in community. Widowed, he is the father of three as well as dad to two step-children. John understands life not as theory, but as practice—marked by love, loss, resilience, and ongoing becoming.
Reverend Dr. Fred Muir
Minister Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Fred Muir retired in December 2017 after 34 years at UUCA. He grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary (NY) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary (DC). He began his parish ministry over thirty years ago by serving a congregation in a small town in Maine. Since 1984, he served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis.He is the author of five books: A Reason for Hope: Liberation Theology Confronts a Liberal Faith; Heretics’ Faith: A Vocabulary for Religious Liberals; and Maglipay Universalist: The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines; The Whole World Kin: Darwin and the Spirit of Liberal Religion; and Turning Point: Essays on a New Unitarian Universalism. He is co-editor of and contributing essayist to The Safe Congregation Handbook: Nurturing Healthy Boundaries in Our Faith Communities. He has also contributed essays
In 1989 he published “Annapolis On the Bay: Camelot or Crisis? (Housing and Community by Race and Population, 1950-1988)”. Fred served on the Annapolis Human Relations Commission for four years. He frequently testifies and witnesses in support of anti-racism, an end to discriminationbased on gender and sexual orientation, and leads and supports his faith community and others who seek to “affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people with justice, equity, and compassion.” Since 2001, Fred has given considerable effort to working for interfaith understanding among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. In 2007 he was honored with the Martin Luther King Peacemaker award “for substantial and sustained leadership in furthering the cause of social justice in our community”.
He has done extensive work for the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) on sexual misconduct and safe congregations. He is a board member of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of MD. He has been a co-facilitator of the Empowerment Workshop for the Department of Faith in Action, UUA. He has served on the UUA’s Joseph Priestley District’s anti-racism team and also the South-East Regional Sub-committee on [Ministerial] Candidacy. Until recently, he was the vice-president of the UU Partner Church Council and now is a member of the UUA International Advisory Committee.
He formerly served on the UU Minister’s Association (UUMA) Executive Committee with the portfolio of Good Offices. In 2012, Fred was chosen to deliver the UUMA Berry Street Lecture at the UUA General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. In retirement, he is serving as the Acting Director of the Office of International Relations of the UUA.
Fred is the UUPCC Interim Executive Director until August 1, 2021.
Until her death in August 2023, he was married to Karen Muir who was a retired social studies teacher for AACPS. They had two adult children together, Kristina and Andrew, who attended local Annapolis schools. During his retirement, Rev. Fred continues to enjoy his grandchildren, writing, traveling, and preaching occasionally.