Since January 1, 2025 the minister of IAO UCC has been the Rev. Pastor Lauren Buck Medeiros. Pastor Lauren came to us from O’ahu after retiring from 28 years from being a chaplain at Punahou School. She was raised in the islands of Micronesia (Kosraean was her first language) and has served UCC, Presbyterian and the Disciples of Christ churches. She has two children: Christopher, a graduate of Yale University currently living and working in Ecuador, and Kalia, a graduate of the University of Michigan currently living and working in New York City.
Pastor Lauren earned her undergraduate degree in music education from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma ’80; a master’s in theology from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas ’87 and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Hawai`i, Manoa ’11. Ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1990, with standing in the United Church of Christ since that time.
When she was called, Iao UCC was especially drawn to her joyful energy, her creative ideas for worship, faith and community building, her skills in music, her delight in youth and deep aloha for Micronesians, and her absolute commitment to the extravagant welcome of God in the church and the world.
What a blessing God sent to us!
