Countryside Church (CCUU) is a not for profit corporation owned and run democratically by its members. The congregation calls Minister(s), establishes an annual budget, and delegates much of the strategic responsibilities to a Board of Trustees and supporting committees. The Board hires staff and empowers committees to see to much of the operational work of the church through the Ministry Council.
Rev. Pam Rumancik
Co-Minister
The Rev. Pam Rumancik, joined us on August 1, 2024. She and Rev. Karen Mooney became our Co-Ministers July 2025.
Rev. Karen Mooney
Co-Minister & Director of Religious Exploration
Rev. Karen Mooney began serving as our Interim Religious Exploration Manager October 2024 and became our Co-Minister in July 2025.
Rev. Dr. C. Scot Giles
Community Minister
Dr. C. Scot Giles is our Community-Based Minister. Scot in his role gives sermons to the congregation a few times a year and is available for counseling ministry. In addition to being a Unitarian Universalist Community Minister, he is a Board Certified Chaplain and a Board Certified Hypnotist. He holds officer status with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the oldest and largest hypnosis organization in the world. Dr. Giles specializes in working with cancer patients and directs the first medically approved, hospital-based program in America for the hypnotic treatment of cancer. He has received numerous awards for his hypnotic work, including the highest award offered by the National Guild of Hypnotists, and has authored many articles and curricula on medical hypnotism.
Laurie Lantz
Congregational Administrator
Laurie joined the staff as half-time Office Manager in November 2002, and her position has evolved to full-time Congregational Administrator. In this role, her areas of responsibility include church office management (including oversight of the church calendar); financial administration and support; communications; property management and building usage; and administrative support for the ministers and staff, Board, and Ministry Council. She is the staff lead for the Foundations Ministry.
Laurie’s previous work-life includes elementary school teaching, financial aid administration, and stay-at-home parenting. She has been a member of Countryside Church since 1995 and when wearing her church member “hat” can be seen singing in the Countryside Choir, serving as a Coming of Age mentor, and attending the Last Mondays Book Group. Laurie grew up in Libertyville and lives in Palatine with her husband, Chris Smith; they have two adult children and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and scrapbooking.
Alison Vernon
Director of Music
We were excited to have Alison Vernon join CCUU as our Director of Music in July 2015. Alison is a highly qualified director, who comes to us with a strong background and experience. Her past experience includes teaching kindergarten through college in schools and directing children, youth, adult, handbell, and recorder choirs in churches. She not only has experience and training in choral and instrumental conducting, but also has had careers as a singer/performer and teacher. She maintains a small private voice studio. Alison has been involved with many different denominations of churches and also for ten years, she served as a cantorial soloist in a local temple. She has experience with many different styles of music, from early music to jazz, pop, and show tunes. Alison particularly loves music that touches our spirit and believes that the highest form of music often combines words and music. Alison is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to make music with all of us.
Dr. Janice L. Razaq
Staff Pianist
Luis Diaz
Technology Coordinator
Luis joined the staff the end of September 2022 as our 1/4-time Tech Coordinator. He manages the technical side of our multi-platform worship services, staffing the audio-visual table and helping with live-streaming of the worship services.
