Ministerial Staff Biographies

Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe, Rev. Lois H. Annich, Pastor Adam H. Hange, and James P. Riggs

Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe Senior Minister   The Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe attended Yale Divinity School, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1995. She received her Doctorate of Ministry in preaching from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 2007. In addition to serving as Plymouth’s Senior Minister, Dr. Monroe serves on the board of the Louisville Institute, and on the board of trustees for the Deaconess Community Foundation. She is a member of the American Academy of Religion and has taught courses in preaching, contemporary culture and theology, and grant writing for non-profit organizations. An accomplished writer, she is the author of Not So Desperate: Fantasy, Fact and Faith on Wisteria Lane (Chalice Press, 2006) and Living Christianity: A Pastoral Theology for Today (Fortress, 2009).   She is the wife of Dr. Neil Mueller and mother to Walter, Clara and Ren. Dr. Monroe’s interests include playing the piano, cooking, and mixing reformed theology with pop culture.   Before coming to Plymouth Church, Dr. Monroe served First Congregational Church UCC (Moorhead, MN), Trinitarian Congregational Church (Concord, MA) and Colebrook Congregational Church (Colebrook, CT).     Email Shawnthea Monroe at: SMonroe@PlymouthChurchUCC.org

James P. Riggs Minister of Music and The Arts   Now in his twenty-fifth year of church music, James P. Riggs serves as Director of Music/Organist at Plymouth Church, a position he has held since 1998. At Plymouth, he has overseen the renovation of the church's pipe organ, the purchase and implementation of a new hymnal, has expanded the inventory of musical instruments, and has begun an intern program to provide student organists with professsional experience.   Mr. Riggs oversees a diverse music program and a paid music staff. He works with ArtsPlymouth-a series that offers Fine Arts programming for Plymouth Church and the community. ArtsPlymouth received the 2004 Sunshine Award, presented by Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland, for outstanding service to the community. Prior to this position Mr. Riggs served as Director of Music Ministries/Organist at Baldwin Community United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, PA where he was a founding member of the Board of Directors as well as Assistant Director/Accompanist for The Three Rivers Choral Society.   He began his organ study with Robert Nelson and then studied with Edgar B. Highberger as a student in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Seton Hill College, obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music. In May 1997, Mr. Riggs graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a Master of Arts degree in Organ Performance as a pupil of Dr. Carol Teti. An Associate of Arts degree in Business Management was awarded from Harrisburg Area Community College in 1989.   He is a member of numerous music organizations including the American Guild of Organists (AGO) where he has served as Sub-Dean and Dean of the Seton Hill College/Westmoreland County Chapter, has served on the Executive Board of the Pittsburgh Chapter, and as Sub-Dean of the Cleveland Chapter. Mr. Riggs also served on the Steering Committee for the 2003 Region V AGO Convention. He has a journal article published in The American Organist, the official journal of the AGO.   Email Jim Riggs at: JRiggs@PlymouthChurchUCC.org

Rev Lois H. Annich Minister of Pastoral Care Lois has had a longstanding passion for supporting individuals, families, and communities in their desire for wholeness. She trained at The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and at the Cleveland Center for Cognitive Therapy, and has integrated their modalities with a practical approach to wellness in her work as a pastor, counselor, and teacher. Lois is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and enthusiastically promotes centering practices as a means of physical, psychological, and spiritual health. She has led retreats and workshops locally and nationally on prayer, wellness, and relationships.  She began her career as an intern with The American Association of Retired Persons in Washington, D.C. and is delighted to come full circle to work with, among other groups, the elders at Plymouth Church. She brings years of experience dealing with other care receivers as well, such as people facing cancer, alcoholism, and other life-threatening diseases, and individuals and families in need of counseling. She welcomes the opportunity to preach on a more regular basis once again. Lois enjoys yoga, exercise, movies, and reading. She is a committed community volunteer, having served as a Girl Scout leader and in numerous PTO positions in the Shaker Schools. She is married and the mother of two children.  Email Rev. Lois H. Annich at: LAnnich@PlymouthChurchUCC.org

Pastor Adam H. Hange Minister for Youth & Children   While in seminary, Adam served for 4 years as youth pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Mansfield, Ohio. He has led and participated in mission and service trips to Japan, Brazil, Jordan, Cyprus, England, Poland, West Virginia, South Dakota, and Kentucky. Upon completing his seminary education Adam and his wife Hannah moved to Tamura, Japan where they lived and worked for nearly two years with the Wakakusa English Program, teaching conversational English to students in both public and private schools.   Adam’s interests include outdoor sports, travel, reading, theater, music, movies, international food, and coffee. He enjoys relaxing by running and cycling with his delightful wife Hannah. Hannah earned her undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education, with emphases in Language Arts and Social Studies.  She is pursuing her masters in Speech and Language Pathology at Kent State University. The two live near Shaker Square and are enjoying getting to know the Shaker Heights and Cleveland area. Though originally from an evangelical background, Adam became more interested in the United Church of Christ through the influence of his sister, Rev. Christina Kukuk, who is senior minister of 1st Congregational Church of Elyria, Ohio. He was attracted to the UCC and Plymouth Church in particular for their warm welcome. Adam is taking courses in the history and polity of the UCC later this year, and is considering ordination after that time. He enjoys working with youth and children and their parents throughout the church year and looks forward to growing in ministry over his coming years with Plymouth Church. Email Pastor Adam H. Hange at: AHange@plymouthchurchucc.org