The members of the First Congregational Church of Natick (FCC Natick) voted unanimously in a Special Business Meeting to call the Reverend Cindy Worthington-Berry as their new Senior Pastor. Reverend Worthington-Berry received her Master of Divinity degree from Andover-Newton Theological School in 1996. She is a graduate of Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and Psychology.

Worthington-Barry replaces FCC’s longtime pastor, Rev. Victoria Alford Guest, who retired in November 2019. In the meantime, the church has been served by two interim pastors. Rev. Jonathan New ushered the congregation through the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev. Andrew Burr assumed his role with FCC in January 2022. He engaged the congregation in work to discern the needs of the church and its vision for an ideal leader. 

With more than 20 years of experience as a pastor serving two United Church of Christ congregations in Massachusetts, Rev. Worthington-Berry has been an advocate for economic, racial, and environmental justice in the communities that she has served. FCC Moderator Lane McDonough said he is hopeful that Worthington-Berry will maintain FCC’s strong ties to the larger community and inspire new ways for members to serve their local and global neighbors. “One thing about Cindy that really stood out in this process was her commitment to connecting to people beyond our congregation,” he said. “We know she will minister passionately to FCC’s members, but we believe she will also serve the wider community by strengthening our connections and leveraging new relationships with our Natick neighbors too. She has a track record of building bridges.” 

The members of FCC look forward to Worthington-Berry’s ministry, which will launch with her first service on Sunday, October 22.