Introducing Rev. James T. Watson Candidate for Senior Pastor At First Congregational Church of Ridgefield

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1 We gather together Sustained by the Holy Spirit To worship God To nurture people in faith To grow as disciples of Christ and to minister to others. Introducing Rev. James T. Watson Candidate for Senior Pastor At First Congregational Church of Ridgefield Candidating Weekend September 21-23, 2018

2 We announce to you what we have seen and heard, because we want you to have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 From the Senior Pastor Search Committee The Senior Pastor Search Committee is delighted to announce the selection of Reverend James T. Watson as our candidate! The Search Committee and Church Council invite you to participate in a weekend of activities to get to know James, followed by a Congregational Meeting after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, September 23rd, James is humbled and thrilled at the opportunity to serve with us to further Christ s mission in Ridgefield and beyond. In a little over a year of working together, we have reviewed scores of candidate profiles from around the country, and held extensive interviews with many qualified candidates. No one spoke to our hearts the way Pastor James has. With each encounter with James, we found ourselves drawn more and more to his devotion to Christian leadership and a confidence that he is the Senior Pastor we are seeking. We conducted 5 interviews with James via video link and in person. We listened to multiple sermons. James led us in an illuminating Bible Study of Mark. We interviewed former congregants, UCC representatives and fellow clergy to get a more complete picture of who James is and what he brings to his ministry. We enjoyed an evening and dinner with James and his wife at the home of one of our Search Committee members. At heart James is a pastor, tending to the spiritual life of his congregation. James is firmly rooted in study and reflection of scripture and in the great traditions of the church. He has also brought innovative programs and new forms of worship and music to the churches he has served. He is continually learning about God and delights to share insights through sermons, Bible studies and other traditional and unique forums. He believes strongly that an educated and theologically articulate laity serves to strengthen the presence, mission, vitality and relevance of the church. James also brings experience and passion for strategic planning, church growth coaching and interfaith dialogue. He has led churches to embrace mission, outreach and community involvement as a natural expression of Christian faith. He is conscious that no one person can do it all, but that it takes a number of dedicated people working together to accomplish great things, and so he takes time to nurture and engage dynamic staff and lay teams. 2

3 James has a big heart for children and youth and loves being involved in the Confirmation process and beyond. He engages with millennials to encourage them to invest their time in the mission of the church, and as their awareness and appreciation deepens, guiding them toward greater leadership roles. James and his wife Thelma met in seminary and have been married for 33 years. Thelma was the first Filipina ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is now retired. She has worked in cross-cultural ministries, community organizing, chaplaincy, and in justice ministries dealing with domestic violence, abuse, and human trafficking. They have an adult daughter, Sasha, who works as a caterer and volunteers as a church High School Youth Leader. She lives with her husband, Mike, who is finishing his Master s Degree in Education, in southern Illinois. We look forward to introducing you to Pastor James and his wife, Thelma during our Candidate weekend, Friday-Sunday, September We are excited and confident you will share our enthusiasm about Pastor James ministry at First Congregational Church of Ridgefield. The Senior Pastor Search Committee Ann Kessler, Co-Chair Brenda Calia, Co-Chair Nicole Gibson Eric Johnson Gerry O Hara Wendy O Sullivan Roger Restaino Nathan Sved Janissa Wiles Conference: Connecticut Conference Association: Fairfield West Name of Staff Assisting in the Search: Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba, UCC Regional Minister 3

4 Rev. James T. Watson James Watson grew up in suburban Detroit, child of an American mother and a Scottish father. At age 9 his family moved to Great Britain, the result of a corporate relocation. James attended an English Public School, and through that experience was exposed to the high liturgy and spirituality of the Anglican tradition. He spent school holidays in Scotland, where he was introduced to the Iona movement, and wandered throughout Western Europe and countries bordering the Mediterranean, places where Christianity was born and came of age. While not actively pursuing an intentional spiritual life at the time, nevertheless, these experiences provided a grounding for that which would flourish later. Returning to the U.S. in his late teens, James entered the University of Michigan, majoring in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and Philosophy and graduating in Education James entered the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he met Thelma Burgonio from the Philippines, his future wife. After his first year of seminary study, James worked as a seminary intern at First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, NE. He then returned to studies in Dubuque in 1983, and began a It was in seminary that the influences of my past finally gelled to form three-year stint as a Licensed emphases in ministry. I believe in a vigorous life of the mind: preaching Minister at the Congregational that is intellectually grounded and relevant, offering adult education that digs far deeper than the superficial introduction to a topic. UCC in Keosauqua, IA. In 1984 Thelma graduated with her M.Div. and was called to a Native American Ministry in Northwestern Washington State, while James transferred to Eden Theological Seminary, where he graduated with his M.Div. in Thelma and James married in

5 James was ordained and called part-time to Plymouth Congregational UCC in 1986, an aging congregation in Tacoma, WA, where he served for a little over two years. In 1989, James entered the Th.M. program at Vancouver School of Theology, and found affinity for Church History, focusing on the history and theology of the Reformation. Just as he began to write his thesis, he was invited by the University of Geneva in Switzerland to pursue doctoral research there. He did so, writing a thesis on the interpretation of the Psalms in the 16 th Century as seen through the lens of Augustin Marlorat, a student and admirer of John Calvin. One of life s detours along the way In 1995 James was diagnosed with a chronic condition and had to suspend his doctoral program. During the time of initial recovery, James entered a culinary arts program in order to learn how to cook with fresh ingredients, initially as part of a continued push back toward full health. It turned out that he had a gift for it, and graduated as Student of the Year in He was invited to join the teaching faculty, and then became an Executive Chef at the Bellevue Club of Seattle. During that time, James learned a lot about the hospitality service sector that he was later able to take back with him into the church, giving him additional depth to theological reflection and the practice of ministry. After all, the central act of Christian worship is table fellowship, the sacred sharing of a meal. Ministry On a whim I entered a culinary arts program. It turned out that I had a gift for it. People who seek out church these days are largely looking for a place where they can be called by name and genuinely embraced. They are looking for home. In each ministry setting I have served in since, the things I learned in a professional kitchen have been translated into effective tools for welcoming new people home and fostering healthy church growth. James returned to ministry in 2001 as the Director for Adult and Hospitality Ministries at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church near downtown Seattle. He created an in-house food ministry that boosted attendance, energy and joy at the church s programs. He established a communitywide Friday Feast, which highlighted different ministries of the congregation along with a themed menu each month. He also opened the church to hosting the meetings of a number of non-profit organizations on the island, making the church a community asset and venue of choice. He also taught on topics including biblical interpretation and church history, often hosting over 100 participants in a given session. In addition, James reached into the talent pool of the greater Seattle area to bring in experts on a variety of topics and faith perspectives for Adult Education, including a sustained Muslim-Jewish-Christian dialogue. James also partnered with the Children s and Youth Ministries to sponsor a rotating series of parenting classes focused on various age levels, as a way to draw parents into closer active participation in the 5

6 church. During this time, James co-led a two-week Reformation Heritage tour through England and Scotland for members and friends of the church, beginning in London at Westminster Abbey While I have studied the past of Christianity extensively, I really live in the future. For every congregation I have served, I have been conscious that my ministry not only affects the present members of the church, but also lays the groundwork for the viable church of the future. and culminating in a visit to the restored Benedictine Abbey on the Isle of Iona. After their daughter, Sasha, enrolled at the University of Montana, James was called to First Congregational UCC of Loveland, CO. This church had been broken by poor prior pastoral leadership and a painfully divisive conflict regarding the church s stand on human sexuality. James began a process of healing and restoration with them, and in 2008 the Rocky Mountain Conference recognized a 10% increase in worship attendance. James also took advantage of the Conference s initiatives on church growth, becoming a church growth coach, working with numerous congregations, assessing their strengths and weaknesses and supporting their strategic planning to embrace more vital futures. In 2013 James was called as Senior Pastor of St. Paul UCC in Waterloo, IL. This deeply suffering church had I coach teams to ask these two questions at the end of each meeting. What s next? Who else needs to be at the table with us? These questions help push the team towards completion of a task and bring more creativity to the table allowing the initiatives that they are working with to grow and evolve. endured nonstop conflict for the prior 15 years, creating perpetually revolving doors on all of the pastors offices, and resulting in membership dropping from 1800 members to 650. James articulated a new vision for St. Paul by means of short-term focused strategic planning sessions, worked with committees to refine that vision and sense of purpose for their respective areas of ministry, and systematically restored programs to functionality. New pastoral care teams were put in place, including Stephen Ministry. The church began reengaging the community, creating a new non-profit community coalition to support those most on the margin and at-risk in the community. Music groups were expanded, adding contemporary worship and music with children. The Children and Youth ministry was completely revamped, including a radical redesign of the Confirmation program. Stewardship practices were reviewed, and annual Stewardship campaigns restarted. James began shifting mission initiatives from an exclusive pattern identifying monthly short-term projects to include the development of sustained partnerships and initiatives that were in closer alignment with the church s goals and priorities. Despite the infusion of new energy and programs at St. Paul UCC, the earlier years of declining membership were trailed by increasingly unsustainable budget deficits. In 2017 James convinced the Church Council to take a realistic look at what was necessary to achieve sustainability. Ultimately, a new staffing plan was developed and both pastors were released from their covenant obligations in January

7 Since then James has been engaging in search and call, taking time to catch up on his reading list, providing pulpit supply for local UCC congregations in transition, and getting back on his touring bike riding trails around the St. Louis area. Continuing Ed and Wider Church Involvement James s extensive Continuing Education studies have included a wide range of subjects: youth and young adult ministries, church governance and strategic planning, stewardship initiatives, non-lectionary preaching, new media worship trends, creating sacred spaces through art and design, hospitality ministries, facilities management, stewardship, church growth, and an introduction to contemporary worship. Rev. James has held numerous elected positions in the Illinois South Conference UCC as well as the Rocky Mountain Conference UCC. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the Interim Ministry Network. Family James wife, Rev. Thelma Burgonio-Watson, is the first Filipina ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She holds a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and a BS in Public Health from the University of the Philippines. Early in her career, Thelma worked with Native Americans in Washington State in a ministry to bridge mutual understanding. For over a decade and a half she was the Program Director of FaithTrust Institute, advocating for a faith response to sexual and domestic violence, and human trafficking. During their time in Loveland, CO Thelma found a calling as chaplain at the Medical Center of the Rockies, a Level 2 Trauma and Heart Center, often helping families in crisis deal with tragically unplanned visits to the hospital. More recently she has worked as the Founding Director of the House of Neighborly Service of Monroe County, IL. Before retirement, Thelma was also heavily involved in the work of a number of special task forces created by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 7

8 James and Thelma have been married for 33 years. They have an adult daughter, Sasha, who works as a caterer and volunteers as a church High School Youth Leader. She lives with her husband, Mike, who is finishing his Master s Degree in Education. They live in southern Illinois. Special interests During their years in Loveland, James and Thelma took up fly fishing, which has since become an abiding passion. While in Colorado they were able to fish waters all over the northern Rockies. Their favorite fly fishing destination remains Yellowstone National Park, which at the time was a mere six hour drive away. I confess to a great love affair with the American West. My spiritual home ranges from the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast. I am particularly at home wading in a trout stream waving my fly rod. Every time I walk into a river to cast my line, there comes a point when the river stands still, the banks begin to flow by, and I become one with the river. I have long since recognized fly fishing as a powerfully immersive spiritual experience, where I am buoyed up and carried by something far greater than me. Welcome to Ridgefield! Thelma and James are looking forward to moving to Ridgefield. The area reminds James of the northern Cotswolds, where he grew up. When James first saw the inside of the sanctuary, it was a heart-stopping moment of déja-vu. It had an uncannily strong resemblance to the chapel at his old English Public School, and James felt immediately at-home in it. In many ways the prospect of coming to Ridgefield feels like coming full circle after a long, winding and wide-ranging journey through life. 8

9 The great goal of Christianity, which is embedded in the commands to love beyond one s inner circle, seeks to achieve the radically new community of the kingdom of heaven. We need to start talking about what the viable church of the future is going to look like. We need to start listening carefully to the conversations people are having around us about the problems and obstacles they are facing, reflect on how Christianity might offer a measure of resolution to them, and then become honest dialogue partners with them. We are going to even have to consider where ministry needs to happen. And it may not necessarily be in a church building. It is time to ask these questions again and craft the answers into creative, viable, life-giving, transformative ministry for our time and beyond. Rev. James T. Watson 9