HARTFORD -- First Church of Christ in Hartford, known as Center Church, has a rich history. After all, this was the church that first called Thomas Hooker to be its pastor and move to Hartford in 1636. As the current pastor of Center Church, Rev. Damaris Whittaker takes a leadership role in a church with equally rich traditions of diversity and community service. 05/20/2013
DANIELSON -- "It was a constant pull for me," says Chapman, "to love people and help them the best I could. The church seemed a natural outlet for that." 03/19/2013
GLASTONBURY -- Before begin called in August, Rev. Lindsey Levenson knew Buckingham Congregational Church UCC in Glastonbury was the right church for her. How? For one, they interviewed her in a park. 02/04/2013
MERIDEN -- Second careers in ministry are common among clergy. Often it takes years of personal exploring to finally hear God's call. For Pastor Bruce Miller of First Congregational Church of Meriden, the call to clergy was more like an evolution of one career to the next. 10/10/2012
COVENTRY -- Rev. Dr. Sara Worcester, Senior Pastor at First Congregational Church of Coventry, may have degrees in Psychology and Social Work, but her true calling was not in therapy or counseling. Worcester has a true passion to make "God's love real in people's lives." 09/24/2012
WEST HAVEN -- Rev. Steven Langehough is well traveled, and he often brought his congregation with him. He's been to Germany, Turkey, Korea, and the outback of Australia. As a military chaplain, Langehough has served the all over Europe and the Middle East. Now he brings his extensive experience to West Haven. 08/13/2012
WESTPORT -- Most pastors hope to build something new when they are called to a new church. After a November fire damaged parts of the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, Rev. Alison Patton has a chance to rebuild not only a congregation, but also the spaces used for their ministry. 08/08/2012
MONROE -- Rev. Jenn Gingras is born and raised Connecticut. She was raised her, educated here, settled here in her first career, and even felt the call to clergy and answered here. Yet one of the most transformative experiences of her career came over 5,000 miles away. 07/20/2012
MILFORD -- Rev. Gary Witte, pastor at Woodmont UCC in Milford, has a persistent habit, and his Master's Degree in Addiction Studies cannot help him. Rev. Witte cannot stop helping people. 05/30/2012
HARTFORD -- The Rev. Matt Laney, Senior Pastor at Asylum Hill Congregational Church UCC, heard his call to ministry when most boys are fascinated with superheroes, science fiction, and martial arts. At age twelve, a strong relationship with his father -- a chaplain in Maine -- and a deep connection to Jesus helped Laney understand that he was being pulled toward a life where superheroes, science fiction, and martial arts would only be hobbies. The worship would be his life. 05/23/2012
NORWICH -- Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals was called to serve as senior pastor at Park Congregational in Norwich in September 2011, ending a intermittent journey eastward from Davenport, Iowa. From Iowa to Illinois to Boston, Ofner-Seals seems to have been drawn gradually to the east coast. Yet a detour west to Los Angeles helped Ofner-Seals find her path to ministry. 05/09/2012
N. STAMFORD -- Rev. Dr. Cheryl Miller has a knack for finding places where she is needed. Her gift has brought her from the world of corporate communications to senior pastor at North Stamford Congregational Church. Along the way, she has developed a long list of skills suited to transforming a congregation into a thriving faith community. 04/23/2012
MILTON -- After 14 years in North Guilford, Rev. Peggy Allen was ready to retire. Almost. When Milton Congregational called her last spring looking for a part-time pastor, Allen found a small church that fit her perfectly. 03/28/2012
DARIEN -- On January 1st, Rev. Dale Rosenberger began serving as senior pastor at the First Congregational Church of Darien. The calling is new, and with it comes new challenges, but Rosenberger is not new to Connecticut. He trained at Yale Divinity, was ordained in Branford in 1979, and served in Ridgefield for 8 years. Yet, Rosenberger's journey has veered well outside our little state. 02/27/2012
WARREN -- When we think about speaking to youth about working for God for a living, we don't often imagine a 15 year old preaching regularly in church, or being ordained at 19. For Rev. Don Morgan of Warren Congregational Church, this is simply personal history. 02/22/2012
BETHLEHEM -- It's not unusual for a pastor to move from church to church. It is fairly common for pastors to move from one denomination to another. The Rev. Dr. John Pelletier did both. In between, he started a new career, returned to the clergy, retired, and once more was called to serve. 02/08/2012
GRANBY -- Ginny McDaniel and Nada Sellers were searching for a church that looked to the future and would consider new ways of becoming a church. At First Congregational Church of Granby, they found that church, through very different paths. 01/25/2012
SOUTH WINDSOR -- Filled with energy, alive with ideas, and enthusiastic about her new call, Sarah Iverson began her service as pastor of the First Congregational Church UCC of South Windsor on the first Sunday of Advent. Her first pastoral decision, however, came a few weeks earlier, on the weekend of her candidating sermon. Scheduled for October 31, her introduction to the church she hoped to serve coincided with an early snowstorm which brought down tree limbs and power lines throughout Connecticut. 01/09/2012
BERLIN -- Rev. Mark Pilletere is a not just a Connecticut man; he's a community man. Civic mindedness is at the heart of his ministry, his calling, and even his hobbies. 12/21/2011
WILLIMANTIC -- When Richard Haverly began his studies at Duke University, he intended to work with marine life, not people. That changed, as did several aspects of Rev. Haverly's career. 12/12/2011
HAMDEN -- Patience is a virtue. For the Rev. Jeffrey Crews, it is a way of life. It took 55 years to accept God's calling and another 11 months to embrace the call of a church in Connecticut. Now, Rev. Crews plans to patiently listen, and learn. 11/30/2011
WILTON -- The Rev. Suzanne Wagner has been in ministry in Connecticut for over 10 years, but her newest call brought her to Wilton Congregational as Interim Pastor in August. Her focus is vision and the refocusing of an already driven and active congregation. 11/23/2011
REDDING -- John "Jack" Davidson is a Connecticut minster born and bred. Raised in Greenwich, Redding's new Associate Minister has been involved in the church his entire life. It was no surprise that he decided to go into ministry. 10/31/2011
STAMFORD -- The Rev. Dr. Jane Ann Groom began serving the First Congregational Church UCC of Stamford on October 1. She brings a unique set of experiences from New York, and sees her ministry at First Church as an opportunity to help the congregation transform into a community of discerners. 10/19/2011
HIGGANUM -- Rev. Judith Cooke recently began a new ministry at Higganum Congregational Church where she finds a very positive membership, some new construction, and a re-adjustment to life in a parsonage. 09/14/2011
STAFFORD -- Meet Reverend Stuart Charter, interim pastor at Second Congregational of Stafford. 08/05/2011
AVON -- Interim Pastor, the Rev. Martha F. Chenault preached her first sermon at Avon Congregational Church on Sunday, June 26th. She called the sermon "The Sacred Art of Gardening," using the transform pursuit as a metaphor for describing the work Avon has before it as it enters a period of transition. 06/29/2011
STORRS -- Many who meet the Rev. Chang Ho Jun, with his long pony-tail, a T-shirt, and jeans, would not imagine the journey he endured to become the pastor of the Conference's newest congregation, the Storrs Korean Church UCC. His story is marked with religious persecution, national instability, and a surprising partnership. 06/24/2011
