Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ (MA/CT/RI)

Legacy Church Specialist (September 2024 — Present)

In partnership with the SNEUCC Area Conference Ministry team and fellow Legacy Church Specialist Charlie Kuchenbrod, I’ll be providing support and accompaniment for congregations considering or engaged in the Legacy (church closure) process. You can read the press release about this partnership here: Area Conference Ministry Team Announces Staff Additions (12/4/24)

First Church of Christ Congregational, UCC (Bedford, MA)

Consulting Pastor (June 2024 — Present)

In collaboration with church leadership and a specially-formed Transformation Working Group, I’m leading the congregation through a Transition and Transformation Process as they discern their future path. While drawing on existing resources, this process is designed to meet the specific needs of First Church Bedford, and takes a whole-church approach to assessing capacity and vitality as they live into the next era of ministry.

The Congregational Church of Needham, UCC (Needham, MA)

Sabbatical Lay Preaching Project (December 2023 — May 2024)

This exciting and innovate initiative co-created with Senior Pastor Rev. John Gage was designed to equip and support lay preachers during Rev. Gage’s sabbatical in 2024. Preparatory work included orienting lay preachers and church leadership, and basic education on sermon preparation. I (remotely) coached the preachers on sermon writing and delivery as they neared their worship leadership date, and followed up with a series of reflection questions. Read a reference from Needham’s Minister of Christian Education & Youth Rev. Maddie Foster here.

Bethel United Church of Christ (Arlington, VA)

Consulting Pastor (March 2022 — August 2023)

In collaboration with church leadership, I designed and led a congregational discernment process which ultimately led to a decision to become a Legacy Church. Despite the geographical distance of nearly 400 miles, we were able to accomplish this work in 18 months, using a hybrid approach of remote meetings and in-person gatherings. With the engagement of the Working Group, leadership, and pastoral staff, our discernment process enabled the congregation to vote unanimously in favor of dissolution, despite a history of open conflict.

In the final phase of discernment, I worked with the Legacy Governing Board to identify Legacy Gift Candidates to receive remaining assets. Over $1.75 million in Legacy Gifts were distributed to local, national, and international organizations. This work required careful research, vetting, and extensive communication with candidate organizations to make certain each organization’s mission and values aligned with the core values of the historic Bethel United Church of Christ membership, while also adhering to state and federal law.

Read a reference from Bethel’s Legacy Governing Board President here.

Read an article about my work with Bethel UCC: UCC News: "Virginia Church Closing Creates Reparative Gift to Historically Black Churches"

South Church of Amherst, UCC (Amherst, MA) 

“Tell Me About Your Church” Discernment Retreat (Fall 2022)

This local UCC congregation recognized that they were at a crossroads as they emerged from the pandemic, faced staffing changes, and prepared to celebrate 200 years of ministry. Following conversations with clergy and leadership, I designed and led a 2-part reflection and discernment retreat which utilized storytelling to identify Core Values. The retreat format was designed in such a way to draw out a wide spectrum of voices and perspectives, with an eye towards an equitable power balance (“Sharing the Air”). Church leadership opted to receive the “raw data” from the retreat sessions, and soon after utilized these reflections in the creation of their Interim Minister profile.