B.J.

Rev. B. J. Beu has served churches in both the Southern California-Nevada and the Pacific Northwest conferences of the United Church of Christ. He has served our conference as Conference Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Worship Design Chair for four Annual Gatherings, Worship Team Member for General Synod, facilitator of a Community of Practice group for UCC clergy, and presenter in UCC Church Vitality initiatives and conference retreats. Pastor B. J. has also served individuals and our conference as a spiritual director, coach, and healing touch spiritual practitioner.

After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University, B. J. did graduate work at St. Mary’s College of the University of Saint Andrews, Scotland, before completing his M.Div and studying for his Ph.D in Theology at Boston University. His congregations have enjoyed studies ranging from “Understanding Your Spiritual Types,” “Spiritual Gifts,” “the Enneagram,” “Basics of Prayer,” to “Current Ethical Issues.” With deep relationships with numerous Jewish communities, the Lakota peoples, and Tibetan monasteries in Southern India, B. J. brings an inclusive faith to those who wish to pursue and deepen their spiritual journeys.

A prolific writer, B. J. is the is author and editor of numerous books and articles, including eighteen volumes of The Abingdon Worship Annual, The Abingdon Preaching Annual, Is It Communion Sunday Already?!, Planning Your Wedding: Words for Your Marriage Ceremony, Planning Your LGBTQ Wedding: Words for Your Same-Sex Ceremony, Worship at Home: Advent and Christmas 2020, Worship at Home: Lent 2021, and Worship at Home: Easter 2021.

B. J. met his wife, Mary Scifres, at seminary. They share a home in Laguna Beach and are the proud parents of Michael Beu, a successful video editor and film production graduate from California State University Northridge.