Layne Richard-Hammock
Layne Richard-Hammock began serving the EUUC community in May 2008. As the Director of Lifespan Religious Education she directs and consults with our Minister and volunteer leaders for faith development programming though all the ages and stages, from cradle to cane.
Layne's Biography
Layne found Unitarian Universalism while looking for a church community and religious education for her children. She had been engaged in church shopping, and like so many, was unaware of the UU faith as an option. After having been ‘warned off’ of visiting Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church by a fundamentalist acquaintance, she just had to go check it out – and the rest, as they say, is history. Layne reports the experience was like coming home to a place she'd never been before.
With experience in public and Montessori education and a thirst to learn more, she quickly got involved in Religious Education. Within a year she discovered she had a calling as a religious educator in accepting the DRE position at Heritage UU Church in 1994. In the years to follow, she became deeply involved in the larger UU movement.
In addition to serving Heritage UU Church as DRE for 13 years, and her last position as Co-DRE at St. John’s UUC, she is a leader of Renaissance Module training's for other religious educators in the areas of RE Administration, Curriculum in the Church, Worship for All Ages, and most recently, Teacher Development for UU Faith -Full Teachers.
Layne served many years on the Heartland District RE Committee, was one of the facilitators for the regional Midwest UU Leadership School for three years, and served as district staff as the Lifespan Religious Education Coordinator. In 2004 Layne completed the UUA’s Credentialing Program, met with the RE Credentialing committee (a body paralleling the fellow shipping committee for ministers) and earned the status of Credentialed UU Religious Educator.
Born, raised and residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, Layne comes to us with wind under her wings and lots of song in her heart. Living in the Pacific Northwest has been an ongoing dream, having visited this area in 1975 while engaged in an 18 month, 48 state Bicentennial Exposition Tour as a guest relations employee with the American Freedom Train. She reports being drawn to this area since she was in her early 20's.
Serving a growing and dynamic church community as a full time religious professional has been another dream. Finding here at Edmonds, the opportunity to fulfill two dreams in one felt like it was just meant to be!
Together with her husband Jay, they have raised three children. Daughter Kiera, 20, is a makeup artist. Their two musician sons are Alex, 22, multimedia artist and Tyson, 25, athletic trainer. In June they will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary. All the clan is supportive of and excited about this opportunity and the offspring are likely to join in Layne and Jay’s great adventure in the future. Jay is an architectural engineer and active in construction management, familiar with (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
