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Area Minister called for West
January/February, 2002
A pastor who nurtured a new church start for 17 years has been called as the new Associate Conference Minister in the Western Area.
The Rev. Dr. Peter A. Wells, pastor of the New Ark United Church of Christ in Newark, Delaware, will officially begin on April 29th, although he expects to visit some Association meetings before then.
“Peter brings a passion for the local church and a deep love for the United Church of Christ,” said Conference Minister and President Nancy S. Taylor. “He is gifted and capable. He is a person of great faith, a disciple.”
“As the members of the search committee worked together, we came to believe that Peter would be a wonderful fit with our Western Area churches,” Taylor said. “We believe he will love and serve our churches with dedication, creativity, good organization and pastoral care.”
The previous Western Area Minister, Donna Schaper, left the post in the spring of 2000 for a call in Florida. Alan Macy has served as the Interim Area Minister since then.
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Search Committee Chair Alice Wilmot said the search process began soon after Schaper left, when clergy in the Western Area met to talk about what they needed in their next area minister.
“One of the big things they mentioned was their desire for a presence, and one of the things people felt about Peter was that he has a sense of presence. When he’s with you, he’s with you 100 percent,” Wilmot said. “He expressed a desire to be present for all members of the clergy, to get to know them.”
Wilmot said that during the search process there was much discussion – even among some candidates – as to whether the Western Area Minister’s job is an impossible one, with churches in four Associations spread so wide geographically.
Rev. Dr. Peter A. Wells
Pastoral work
• 1984 – present : Pastor, New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, Delaware.
• 1981 – 1984: Community Organizer, Capitol Region Conference of Churches, Hartford, Connecticut
• 1978-1981: Pastor, Stanley Memorial Church, New Britian, Connecticut
• 1974-1978: Associate Pastor, Faith United Church of Christ, Springfield, MassachusettsEducation
• Doctor of Ministry, 1996 Wesley Seminary, Washington, DC
• Master of Divinity, 1974 Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester New York
• Bachelor of Arts, 1969, Heildelberg College, Tiffin, OhioFamily
• Married to Joanne; two sons, Jason (20) and Matthew (16).“This is the only Area with four Associations, and some felt you could not be present in all four Associations and do the kind of job you want to do,” she said. “We felt we had lost some of the Western Area ministers in the past due to that, and to the driving conditions here.
“But there was nothing in Peter that admitted it couldn’t be done,” she said. “He loves to drive, he loves to travel, he does his best thinking behind the wheel. He felt it was do-able, and that some of the duties would be shareable.”
Wells is no stranger to the Western Area: his first calling as an ordained minister was as the associate pastor at Faith United Church of Christ in Springfield, where he was part of the process that united two churches.
Wells said he looks forward to his new calling.
“I know personally the importance of pastoral support. I know personally the power you can draw from it when it’s there, and the difficulties when it’s not,” he said. “I see this as an opportunity to extend the pastoral ministry.”
Wells said he was also drawn to the Conference by the Vision for Renewal and Growth, which has guided Conference program efforts over the past two years.
“I saw that and thought ‘wow!’” he said. “To strengthen and build congregations is an exciting prospect, and I’ve had some experiences that I can draw upon and share.”
Wells guided the New Ark Covenant Church from its infancy through a move into its own building and its growth to over 200 members.
Wells said that in his role at New Ark, he faced the same challenges that existing small congregations face when looking for growth and renewal.
Wilmot said his unusual experience is another reason Wells was called.
“The committee felt that a lot of the skills he developed there would be helpful in the Western Area, where we have many small, struggling churches,” she said.
Wilmot said the committee had more then 15 applicants, all of whom submitted answers to five questions along with their profiles. Five candidates were called for interviews, and three for second interviews. The candidates were diverse, she said, including men and women, persons of color and those who identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
“We were overwhelmed by the caliber of the people who applied. This was not an easy decision,” Wilmot said. “Everybody who applied had qualifications for the job.”