Meet Our Lay Chaplains
Our Lay Chaplains will work with you to create ceremonies for occasions of personal significance:
- weddings, commitment ceremonies and renewals of vows
- baby naming ceremonies, child dedications, and coming of age ceremonies
- memorials, grave side ceremonies, and celebrations of life
- other ceremonies such as coming out ceremonies, house blessings, retirements, and many others
The service you craft together will embrace and express your personal beliefs and values. We proudly offer services for interfaith clients and the LGBT community.
Lay Chaplains are registered with the Province of British Columbia to perform legal marriages. The services can take place here at the Unitarian Centre, at home or in public halls or gardens — any place that affords quiet and the privacy you desire.
The Unitarian Community supports every individual’s personal search for truth and meaning. We believe that all people with or without a faith community should have the opportunity to mark and celebrate important moments in their lives in a way that reflects their values and spiritual beliefs. You do not need to be a member of our church, and we welcome all people. Want to learn more? Listen to the Lay Chaplains tell stories about their work.
Karen Bartlett
Karen has been a member of VanU since 1989. She is interested in intercultural rituals and has served on interfaith committees. She treasures working with individuals to develop meaningful, personal services for weddings, memorials, child dedications, and celebrations of joining, celebrations of life, and other rituals such as house blessings.
Karen retired from her faculty position at the University of British Columbia in 2023, and now commits time to the VanU community and outreach to the larger Vancouver Community.