Dr. Russell K. Elleven is the minister of Westside Unitarian Universalist Church. He is married to the former Gayle Sivess, a longtime resident of Dallas. Gayle graduated from Bryan Adams High School, and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of North Texas. They lived in Denton, Texas for seven years prior to moving to Fort Worth in 1998.
Russell earned a bachelor's degree in History and Religion from Texas Christian University, a master's degree in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University Divinity School and a doctoral degree in Education and Counseling from the University of North Texas. He also earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Meadville/Lombard Theological School.
He is a two-time cancer survivor. At the age of 13 he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his left arm. The doctors gave him about a 50% chance of survival. The amputation of the arm was necessary and was followed by two years of chemotherapy. In 2005 he beat colon cancer. By grace alone, he is a cancer survivor!
After serving some time as the congregation's contract minister, Russell was called to serve Westside as minister in January 2006. He can most easily be reached via E-MAIL and maintains his own website. Click on "Sermons" for his most recent reflections.