Community news for the West Hartford edition – Hartford Courant

WEST HARTFORD — WEST HARTFORD – During a season of transitions at First Church, West Hartford, the excitement of the moment is that the town’s 309-year-old Congregational Church has called Rev. Jane Willan as its 21st senior pastor.

“In its more than 300 year history First Church has seen lots of change and growth: five different meeting houses, 20 pastors, and several interim leaders, but never a female in the settled senior pastor position,” said current church moderator Eleanor Wight. “We are very excited for this change, and we believe West Hartford is ready.”

Rev. Willan delivered a Candidating Sermon at First Church on Jan. 9. Following worship, church members filled in ballots at a congregational meeting. One hundred and five people voted unanimously to extend the call to Rev. Willan. She will begin serving in her new role on Feb. 8.

In May of 2020, First Church assembled a Senior Pastor Search Committee of nine volunteers following the retirement of Rev. Dr. C. Geordie Campbell in January.

Under the guidance of interim Senior Pastor Rev. Erica Avena, Acting Associate Pastor Rev. Amie Giguere, Director of Worship Arts Jim Boratko, John P. Webster Library Director Jennifer deSimas, Bridge Pastor Rev. Dr. Michael Newheart and others, the church continued to offer worship, support and programming though YouTube, phone, emails, and Zoom. Meanwhile the Search Committee began its work of updating the church profile.

“Due to the pandemic, our Search process was unlike any other. Our meetings and initial interviews were held entirely on Zoom,” said chairperson Suzanne Carnes. “We also visited other churches virtually to listen to sermons of potential candidates. Only finalists were scheduled for in-person interviews.”

The Search Committee first became acquainted with Rev. Willan at the end of September 2021 after they received her Ministerial Profile. Her profile was the 15th one they reviewed and stood out for several reasons. Rev. Willan shared her passion for social justice. She was among the first to officiate same sex marriages in Iowa.

Rev. Willan serves the wider church as a board member of the Central Massachusetts Association and the Board of Ministerial Aid. Within her own community, she is on the Board of Directors of Colony Retirement Homes.

Rev. Willan comes to First Church, West Hartford from within the United Church of Christ (UCC) Southern New England Conference. She was ordained in 2003 and has served congregations in Massachusetts and Iowa. Rev. Willan holds degrees from Hiram College, (Ohio) Boston University, and received her Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is no stranger to Connecticut, having worked in Simsbury early in her career, prior to her call to ministry.

“I was drawn to the First Church community by its strong use of technology, the community outreach, the involvement with the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA) and the interfaith partnerships,” said Rev. Willan during one of four scheduled “meet and greet” sessions with the congregation Jan. 8.

Rev. Willan brings a wealth of knowledge about churches, is a self-proclaimed “numbers person,” and during the meet and greet she spoke of the need for a senior pastor to be empowering while nurturing the community she serves.

When asked what she will bring to the congregation in West Hartford, “one thing that bothers me is when a church says, ‘we need to attract more young families.’ I don’t think, as a church, we attract. What we need to do is be a welcoming place for all people, and the growth will come.”

Rev. Willan likes to spend her spare time with her husband Don, their dog, Moses and cat, Winifred. She enjoys writing fiction and is the author of the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery Series. She and Don will be relocating to Connecticut in the near future.

STATEWIDE – Registration is open for Special Olympics Connecticut’s upcoming Penguin Plunge events. Visit soct.org for more information.

Participants in the Plunge will jump into the chilly waters of a lake or Long Island Sound to support the organization’s year-round sports, health and fitness programs for athletes around the state and help create communities that accept and include people of all abilities.