Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills Gains New Minister

There's a new minister at The Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills.  

Scott Rudolph, 33, began conducting services last week. The congregation, by unanimous vote, called him in April. He moved to the North Hills from Chicago earlier this summer and resides in McCandless Township with his wife, Rebecca, and 2-year-old son, Simon. The Rudolphs are expecting their second child in October. 

Rudolph is originally from Bowling Green, KY. He attended Hanover College in Hanover, IN, where in 2000 he received a bachelor's of arts with a major in English literature and a minor in philosophy. In the winter of 1999, he studied at Katholieke Universiteitin Leuven, Belgium. He received his master of divinity degree in May 2011 from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago.  

Before entering the seminary, Rudolph was assistant director of development for corporate and foundations relations at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, where he was responsible for coordinating fundraising activities among different segments of the university. He also was a volunteer and staff member with AmeriCorps VISTA in Louisville, KY.

He said he was attracted to the Pittsburgh area because its rolling hills reminded him of Kentucky. An avid hiker, Rudolph and his wife have hiked the entire 2,200-mile length of the Appalachian Trail.

"I just immediately fell in love with Pittsburgh and the North Hills area," he said. "It's gorgeous." 

More than that, "it was the congregation that drew me," he said, adding that the church is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

It also recently completed renovations to the church at 2359 West Ingomar Road, adding a loft area in the former barn to house the education and meeting rooms. 

"Now the congregation is done building and looking outward," Rudolph said. 

Unitarian Universalism is a diverse and personalized faith that draws from different religions in the belief that no one religion has all the answers and that most have something to teach. Each church within the faith ordains its own ministers. 

Raised a Presbyterian, Rudolph said the ministry had always called to him, but it wasn't until he found Unitarian Universalism that he felt a good fit. He said he believes the church deepens the joy in life and increases the comfort and healing one finds when suffering. 

"My ministry is grounded in the concept of awe, gratitude and compassion," he said. 

Rudolph will be ordained in November.