Rev. Danielle Garrett

Danielle Garrett is a Unitarian Universalist minister who feels called to ground her work for justice in the rich fabric of congregational life. She believes in a spirit of love and liberation and the transformative power of a good church potluck. Danielle joined us in Salem in August 2025, having served previously as the Assistant Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Portland in Portland, OR.

​​Before following a call to ministry, Danielle spent ten years working in health care policy and advocacy in Washington, D.C. at organizations including the National Women’s Law Center, The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and Community Catalyst. While living in D.C., she discovered Unitarian Universalism at All Souls Church and became an active lay leader—teaching children’s religious education, chairing the adult spiritual development committee, and serving on the leadership team for the Reproductive Justice Initiative. 

Danielle feels deeply called to parish ministry and there is almost no facet of church life she doesn’t love. She especially enjoys connecting with congregants, crafting meaningful worship, building networks of care and expanding our hearts and minds through theological exploration and spiritual practices. She is also a pilgrimage scholar and enthusiast, having accompanied UU congregations on long-distance treks through Spain and Scotland. 

Danielle is a proud graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, where she received the Founder’s Medal for first honors. She also holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas. She lives with her wife Mari, who works in renewable energy policy, and their very spirited terrier mix, Josephine (Jo) March. 

Send an email to Rev. Garrett. Or schedule an appointment using her Calendly Page.

MBK-portrait-800x600.jpg

Michael Kraft, Director of Music

Michael was appointed President in 2016 and is Senior Reed Voicer at C.B. Fisk.  Earning his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, he was a student of Garth Peacock and Lisa Crawford.  His Master of Music degree is from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he was an organ student of Yuko Hayashi.  Michael joined the Fisk workshop in 1986, apprenticing as a pipemaker and reed voicer.  Research trips to England, France and Germany have given him the opportunity to hear, play, and measure many historic organs, a significant influence on his conceptualizing and voicing of reed pipes.  He oversees the design, construction, and voicing of all reeds, as well as the maintenance of and modifications to all Fisk instruments. Michael has been the Music Director of The Dover Church in Dover, Massachusetts since 1993 when Fisk Opus 107 was installed there.  Michael and his wife Stacia, a singer and preservationist, are restoring and renovating a 1794 home in Salem where they live with their three children, John, Ilsa and Oskar. 

Catherine Bertrand, Congregational Administrator

Catherine was born and raised in Lynn, MA and has lived in Salem for over twenty years since attending Salem State University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. In a past life she was a stage director whose work has been seen in Boston and on the North Shore primarily in Salem and most recently Lynn. She recently joined the Board of the local nonprofit The Clothing Connection which is housed in the First Church basement. In addition to her love for Salem and theatre she has a passion for photography, houseplants, reading, trying to solve true crime, watching bad teen angst drama, and animals of most species.

Catherine has been at First Church since 2011. She and her wife, Caroline, and their twelve-year old son, Gavin, have a home here in Salem, which they share with their cats Luna and Apollo and their dog Stella.

Theo Burbank, Director of Lifespan Religious Education

Theo was hired as the Religious Education Coordinator in 2022, and expanded to the role of Director of Lifespan Religious Education in 2023. In this role, she organizes and runs programming for people of all ages, including Sunday Morning RE for our children and youth and regular adult and intergenerational activities.

Theo has a BA in Anthropology from Smith College, and lots of work experience in childcare and education, including Early Intervention playgroups, a pre-school, and an elementary school library. She was also raised at First Church, and volunteered and worked in RE here for a number of years before taking on an official staff position. She brings her institutional knowledge, as well as new ideas and innovation to this role.

Theo lives here in Salem, where she enjoys visiting museums, spending time near the ocean, reading, writing, and crafting.

Billy McCarthy, Sexton

Billy is a native of Salem and has worked as a custodian and painter for many years. Most recently he was the caretaker of the VWF in Beverly.