Minister Emerita

The Rev, Dr. Becky Edmiston-Lange served Emerson UU Church for 21 years, 17 of them as Co-Minister with her husband, the Rev. Mark Edmiston-Lange. After Mark’s death in 2016, Becky continued as solo Senior Minister until retirement in 2020. Prior to Emerson, Becky served the Accotink UU Church in Burke, Va. (a suburb of D.C.) for thirteen years as Senior Minister.   

Dr. Edmiston-Lange holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia (1975), a M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York City (1978), certification from the Institute for Pastoral Psychotherapy in Washington, D.C. (1983) and a PhD in Counseling from the Catholic University of America in D.C. (1990).  Prior to earning Fellowship in the UU Ministry, Becky practiced as a psychotherapist. She enjoyed being a therapist but discovered her true calling in congregational ministry. 

Becky writes of her years as a Unitarian Universalist parish minister: I have loved ministry.  I have loved collaborating with others to craft worship experiences to empower and sustain us through all the challenges of our days and the heartbreak of our world; reverencing life together as holy, honoring our home, the earth and lifting up our joys and hopes for a better future for all.  I have been deeply honored to walk with people through times of grief and pain; trying to find the ways back to sing life’s praises even when the hurt seems unbearable, even when the way forward seems shrouded in fog.  I have been privileged to work with congregational leaders to advance the mission of the church, ever seeking to increase the realm of love and justice.   And I have been honored to be a public witness for our faith which has professed throughout our history that all human beings are beloved children of the universe, bound together in one common destiny. I am so grateful to have been allowed to be a minister.  I have been enriched beyond measure.   I am deeply honored to be named Minister Emerita by the Emerson UU Church.   

Becky lives in Houston with her husband, Philip Kinton.  The two, who were teenage sweethearts, reconnected in 2018 and were married in 2023.  The two hope to grow very old together.