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| The Rev. Arthur Higgins in 1989 |
NORTH HAVEN (11/19/2007) -- The Rev. Arthur E. Higgins, who served the Connecticut Conference as Minister of Church and Society and as Acting Conference Minister, died on Sunday evening, Nov. 18, at Branford Hospice, surrounded by family and friends. He was 85.
Ordained in 1946, Rev. Higgins served the United Church of Chester and the Wilton Congregational Church prior to joining the Connecticut Conference staff in 1965. During his nineteen years with the Department of Church and Society, he helped the launch of the New Samaritan Corporation, Elderly Housing Management, and a host of other institutions dedicated to building life-transforming systemic change into the ministry of UCC churches in the state.
As Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Higgins' duties included service to the Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex Associations. During his two years as Acting Conference Minister (1989-1990), he was instrumental in finding and building the resources necessary to support capital improvements at Silver Lake Conference Center and at Ingraham House.
Conference Minister Davida Foy Crabtree said of him, "Tens of thousands of people in Connecticut have lived better and safer lives because of his work in affordable and elderly housing. Thousands more have been strengthened by his leadership on issues such as racial justice, disability ministries, women's concerns, peace and non-violence."
Rev. Higgins is survived by his wife, Anne; and their children, Bart, Lesley, Gerald, and Ethel.
A memorial service honoring the life and ministry of Rev. Higgins will be hald on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 2:00 pm at the United Church on the Green in New Haven. Click here for directions to the church.
