Rev. Scovil will lead Mashpee church start
February/March 2007
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Just 18 months after this paper reported that the MACUCC gave a green light to a Mashpee church start, the Rev. Dr. James S. Scovil has been called to become full-time Organizing Pastor. |
The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ has called the Rev. Dr. James S. Scovil to become full-time Organizing Pastor for a new United Church of Christ church start in Mashpee, MA beginning January 1, 2007.
The call comes following extensive research, considerable fundraising among area United Church of Christ congregations, and much prayer; it marks a major milestone in a commitment to building an inclusive United Church of Christ community in Mashpee.
“Jim has the proven experience, knows the Cape and knows how to build a church start,” said the Rev. Mr. Dale Hempen, Associate Conference Minister, Barnstable, Old Colony and Pilgrim Associations and Central Association East Sector, who played a large part in bringing the southeast churches together and helping to raise the funds and support to establish the new church. “We think he is the right person at the right time.”
Scovil brings thirty-five years of parish ministry experience to the position, including a new church start in Green Valley, Arizona. Most recently he has received advanced training as an interim minister while serving Dennis Union Church in Dennis, MA, and the First Congregational Church of Bellevue, WA. Scovil has stated how blessed he feels to be part of a new church start on Cape Cod which has not seen a new United Church of Christ church in over 80 years. The start comes during the 50th anniversary of the United Church of Christ.
“This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a church with a new vision, one that comes in the midst of the ‘God Is Still Speaking’ campaign launched by the denomination,” Rev. Scovil said.
There are 410 churches in the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, which traces its roots back to Congregational churches founded by the Pilgrims. The UCC is the largest Protestant presence in the Commonwealth. Those same roots will now help grow that presence in the Town of Mashpee.
“It’s been an exciting cooperative effort among the Massachusetts Conference churches in the southeast area and the undertaking has been filled with spirit,” said Paul Nickerson, Associate Conference Minister for Evangelism, Mission and Justice Ministries. “It’s been two years in the making, and I know Jim will make a terrific church start pastor.”
“The local churches have showed great commitment,” said Hempen. “And they will continue to support the church going forward, whether it be by loaning members, or supporting the church in financial or other ways.”
“This undertaking has shown that it takes the whole conference to start a new church,” he said.
Rev. Scovil and his wife, Diane, will live in their home in Centerville. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.
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