We are thrilled to announce that while Amy is on sabbatical, Christine VanDeWege will be serving as the sabbatical pastor. The hiring team reviewed materials from three outstanding candidates and interviewed each one. The team consisted of Kent and Amy as well as Deanna Baker from the Children and Youth Deepening Team and Kate Baker-Carr from Human Relations. At this exciting moment in the life of United Parish, we are confident that Christine will be a valued addition to our community. Her extensive background in church school and joy in working with youth and their families will be an asset to us; her background in business will help us look at how we do things with fresh eyes. We look forward to a shared season of ministry together! Christine’s first day will be August 14.
Christine VanDeWege is a Member in Discernment with the United Church of Christ who is completing her final steps prior to full ordination as a pastor. She is a recent summa cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Theology, having completed her undergraduate work at Vanderbilt University and also earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University. Christine served as the Interim Pastor of Youth & Families and Student Minister at Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA. She has also served as a seminarian at the First Congregational Church in Holliston, MA. She has either worked or volunteered as a parent with just about every youth activity in a church: from the nursery to junior and high school youth groups, from church camps to Christmas pageants, from Sunday School to Vacation Bible School.
Christine is a native of the Chicago suburbs who began her career in healthcare administration, serving as the Vice President for Ambulatory Services at Adventist Midwest Health and the Executive Director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, among other positions. Her passion has always been to extend the hands of Christ, first through healthcare and now through formal ministry. Christine and her husband are parents to four sons. Her happy place is near or on the water, either taking photos of nature or reading a book.
