The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Larsen arrived here in September, 2006 having served over 20 years in Massachusetts and before that in Connecticut and New Hampshire.  He is a native of Lexington, MA, did his theological studies at Boston University School of Theology and Chicago Seminary and has a MA in Education from the University of Connecticut.

He and his wife Kathleen, who is an OBGYN nurse in Fall River, have two daughters, Carrie and Meghan who are both married with children.  Carrie is an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner living with her family in Charleston, SC and Meghan lives in Edgewood and teaches at the Wheeler School in Providence.  Meghan and Brian and their three small children also belong to our church.

Jeff brings to his ministry a joy in working with children, an energy in working in a busy program church such as ours, and a commitment to making our church family a faithful body of Christ in this world.  In his spare time he loves playing with his grandchildren, kayaking, hiking, making Nantucket baskets, doing genealogy work and writing.  He and Kathleen have a cottage in Maine that they escape to as often as possible.

Rev. Elizabeth D. Barnum has served as associate minister since February 2008. Her formal education includes earning a bachelor’s degree in religious studies, with a minor in women’s studies, from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s of divinity from Harvard. She obtained state educator licensure while focusing a portion of her graduate studies and field education within the Program in Religion and Secondary Education at Harvard. She understands her passion for teaching as part of the path leading to a vocation in ministry.

Elizabeth’s love of learning and teaching here at BCCUCC has included guiding implementation of Godly Play (Montessori-inspired method of religious education) into the church school program, in partnership with the C.E. coordinator and the CEYM Team.  In addition to working with the senior minister to help lead worship, she also facilitates the confirmation program, offers pastoral care, provides ministry team support, and oversees youth ministry. Trained as an Our Whole Lives facilitator for grades 7-12, Elizabeth is a proponent for progressive & comprehensive sexuality education across the lifespan and in a variety of settings, including church. Her current advocacy work in this area includes participation in a year-long leadership institute exploring the complexities and intersections of faith and reproductive justice. BCCUCC will begin offering OWL in the fall of 2012. She also currently serves on the Bradley Hospital Ethics Committee and the Rhode Island Conference UCC Board of Directors.

Previous experiences in ministry and/or education have included positions at St. Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne, Australia, the Exeter Congregational Church UCC, Philips Exeter Academy, Philips Academy Andover, and Northfield Mount Hermon School. Elizabeth was ordained in January 2007 at the Exeter Congregational Church UCC, Exeter, NH. She was baptized and confirmed at the West Avon Congregational Church in her hometown of Avon, CT.

Elizabeth resides in one of the parsonages with her golden retriever dog named Kali. She loves taking long walks, spending time with friends and family, traveling, listening to music, experiencing art, writing, and dancing. Embodied spiritual practice is foundational to her life of faith. Since 2000, she has been a student of the 5Rhythms movement practice & completed training to teach the practice in 2005.

Christine began work at BCCUCC in October 1998, shortly after moving to Rhode Island.  Both she and her husband, Philip, were born in England but have lived in the United States for almost 30 years. They are the proud parents of two grown daughters, Elizabeth and Victoria. 

Christine graduated from Bristol University in England with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Biochemistry.  She worked in medical research for a short time before returning to academia to do research for a doctorate at Sussex University.  With the birth of her daughter Elizabeth, and then the move to the U.S. she became a stay-home mum for many years but kept busy volunteering in a variety of different ways.  She also taught piano to beginning students.  Volunteering in her Episcopal church in Pennsylvania led to her being employed initially as a part time office assistant and then as the full time parish administrator - the beginning of her new career in church administration. 

Financial Secretary and Office Assistant:  Pat Stoddard

Pat has been a BCCUCC church member since 1994 and has always been very active.  In addition to volunteering in a variety of different ways, she has served as chair of the Music Ministry Team and Clerk.  She is a member of the White Church Ringers and also regularly sings with the choir.  She rings handbell solos from time to time as part of worship.

She holds a B.A. Degree in Biology with an English minor.  Prior to working at the church, Pat worked in the Pharmaceutical field in Regulatory Affairs and Information Services, as well as writing for and doing layout for a small town newspaper.  She was also a day care provider for a number of years while her own children were growing up.  Soccer families in Barrington will recognize her as the long-time Registrar for Barrington Youth Soccer.

Pat is a fiercely loyal fan of the New England Patriots, and could be classified as a sports fanatic.  She enjoys doing almost anything outside, especially gardening.

She lives in Barrington with her husband, Charlie and has two grown daughters, Lauren and Bethany. 

Andrea Terni Bullard took on the part-time position of Christian Education Assistant in early January, 2007.  Andrea has been married for 15 years to her husband, Rob, and they have three children: Wyatt, 15, Alexa,14, and Reed, 6.  They moved to Warren over eight years ago and have been members of BCCUCC since 2002.