11 January 2016
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is with a mixture of deep gratitude and sadness that we announce to you our resignations. God is calling us both to new ministries and new contexts. For the past 12 years we have served as co-pastors in a few churches, and with our children getting older, we have the opportunity to pursue ministries in different settings.
Nicole has accepted a call to be Senior Minister of First Congregational Church in Windsor, CT. FCC is a healthy, program-sized church with many vital ministries in the greater Hartford area. Nicole has the signal distinction of being the first woman Senior Minister in FCC’s 386 year history. Windsor is also close to our daughter Olivia’s school in Farmington.
Todd has accepted a call to be Transitional Minister of First Congregational Church in Stamford, CT. FCC is a 375-year-old congregation in downtown Stamford that is in the process of reinventing itself for the next chapter in its ministry. It is currently working on a multi-million dollar building renovation with a vision of becoming more welcoming and accessible.
It is difficult to put into words the journey we have travelled together at Beneficent. The transformation of the church, the people, and our relationship to the wider community cannot be understated. We will take all that we have learned from our ministry with you and use it to help other churches become the faith communities God is calling them to be. We trust that even in this time of goodbye, God continues to bless our journeys. For as the Apostle Paul wrote “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
As we talk more with the Church Council, we will plan our time of farewell so we can all have closure. Our end date will be in March and we will let you know more details as things unfold. Rev. Barbara Libby of the RI Conference UCC will assist the church as it searches and finds an interim minister.
Shalom blessings,
Pastor Nicole Pastor Todd
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is with a mixture of deep gratitude and sadness that we announce to you our resignations. God is calling us both to new ministries and new contexts. For the past 12 years we have served as co-pastors in a few churches, and with our children getting older, we have the opportunity to pursue ministries in different settings.
Nicole has accepted a call to be Senior Minister of First Congregational Church in Windsor, CT. FCC is a healthy, program-sized church with many vital ministries in the greater Hartford area. Nicole has the signal distinction of being the first woman Senior Minister in FCC’s 386 year history. Windsor is also close to our daughter Olivia’s school in Farmington.
Todd has accepted a call to be Transitional Minister of First Congregational Church in Stamford, CT. FCC is a 375-year-old congregation in downtown Stamford that is in the process of reinventing itself for the next chapter in its ministry. It is currently working on a multi-million dollar building renovation with a vision of becoming more welcoming and accessible.
It is difficult to put into words the journey we have travelled together at Beneficent. The transformation of the church, the people, and our relationship to the wider community cannot be understated. We will take all that we have learned from our ministry with you and use it to help other churches become the faith communities God is calling them to be. We trust that even in this time of goodbye, God continues to bless our journeys. For as the Apostle Paul wrote “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
As we talk more with the Church Council, we will plan our time of farewell so we can all have closure. Our end date will be in March and we will let you know more details as things unfold. Rev. Barbara Libby of the RI Conference UCC will assist the church as it searches and finds an interim minister.
Shalom blessings,
Pastor Nicole Pastor Todd
To read more about Nicole's new church, First Congregational Church of Windsor,
please click here.
To read more about Todd's new church, First Congregational Church of Stamford,
please click here.
please click here.
To read more about Todd's new church, First Congregational Church of Stamford,
please click here.