The Reverend Gale E. Grayson was called as the settled pastor of First Church on Sept. 22, 2019, after serving for a year as designated interim minister.
Under her guidance, and a formal declaration by the congregation, First Church became an “Open and Affirming” congregation in November, 2018.
Pastor Grayson served previously as interim pastor at Park Church in Norwich and as Senior Minister at the Oxford Congregational Church. She holds a master’s degree in divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s of science degree in business.
Prior to attending seminary, Pastor Grayson worked for 27 years in mechanical engineering and business at Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies.
Pastor Grayson is looking forward to working with church members and friends and the East Haddam community. She is guided by the United Church of Christ principle of “extravagant welcome” embodied in the phrase “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
Pastor Grayson is “passionate about helping people of all ages to grow spiritually and to become empowered to serve God.”
With her husband, Terry, she owns and operates a farm in Oakdale.
