Area Conference Minister Team

The Area Conference Minister Team seeks to inspire and provoke local churches and associations to discover how God is calling them to be the church in a new era. We serve as the face of the Vision of the conference to local churches, associations, and covenant partners. We help churches identify the gifts they can offer to their communities. We support local churches in times of transition, helping them to see beyond what is to what is possible through the leading of the Spirit. We resource and guide the work of committees on church and ministry as they authorize persons for ministry and maintain ministerial standing for clergy. We work cooperatively with other Conference Teams to embody the vision of the Southern New England Conference.

Go here for a map that show the regions of the Conference

Michael Ciba (he-him)

Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba

Team Leader; Area Conference Minister for the Southwest Region
Fairfield East, Fairfield West, Litchfield South, New Haven, New Haven East Consociation and Naugatuck Valley Associations
Email: cibam@sneucc.org Phone: 860-761-7198

Rev. Michael Ciba walks with churches and associations in the Southwest Region to help them discover how God is calling them to live the love and justice of Jesus in this new and wondrous time. Churches in the Southwest Region can contact Rev. Ciba for assistance with:

Pastoral transitions.
Committee on Ministry practices
Local church vision, mission, best practices, and organizational structure in a time of cultural change.

Isaac Lawson

Rev. Isaac Lawson

Area Conference Minister South Central Region
Central CT, Farmington Valley, Hartford, Hartford East, Middlesex, New London and Tolland Associations
Email: l awsoni@sneucc.org Phone: 860-761-7188

Rev. Isaac Lawson supports and resources clergy, congregations, and associations of the South Central region in their efforts to live the love and justice of Jesus in their locale. Contact him for support with:

Pastoral Transitions
Committees on Church and Ministry

Jill Ford (she-her)

Jill Ford

Program Support Associate
Email: fordj@sneucc.org Phone: 860-761-7112

Jill Ford provides program support for the Area Conference Ministers serving associations, clergy and churches in the Southwest and South Central Regions of the Conference, and supports several Connecticut legacy programs including scholarships and resources for retired clergy. Contact her for

General inquiries
Pulpit supply lists
Clergy information changes

Terry Yasuko Ogawa (she-her)

Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa

Area Conference Minister for the Northwest Region
Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Litchfield North Associations
Email: ogawaty@sneucc.org Phone: 860-761-7192

Rev. Ogawa accompanies clergy and churches through adaptive change; times of transition; and discerning God’s call to meet the needs of their congregations and communities. Rev. Ogawa resources Committees on Ministry in the Northwest Region of the Conference. Contact her for:

Assistance with pastoral transitions.
Discernment about next steps in ministry.
Healthy solutions to challenges in congregational life.
Preaching engagements and celebrating milestones in the life of your congregation.

Rev. Ogawa has always worked at the intersection of land, culture, and spirituality, which is evidenced in her pursuit to explore the hills and valleys of her region and learn regional food traditions—she welcomes your recommendations!

Liz Garrigan-Byerly
(she-her)

Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly

Area Conference Minister for the North Central Region
Central MA and Windham Associations
Email: garrigan-byerlye@sneucc.org Phone: 508-244-4311

Rev. Garrigan-Byerly accompanies congregations, clergy and committees on ministry in the North Central Region as they continually discern how to live the love and justice of Jesus in their context. She provides resources, support and holy provocation in the following areas:

Search & call process
Healthy processes and practices for congregational life
Formation, support and accountability of Authorized Ministry

Rev. Garrigan-Byerly enjoys quilting and gardening, wonderful metaphors for ministry, and shares daily life with her husband and elementary aged daughter

Deb Holmes
(she-her)

Deb Holmes

Program Support Associate
Email: holmesd@sneucc.org Phone: 508-244-4399

Deb Holmes supports the Area Conference Ministers for the North Central and Northwest Regions of the Southern New England Conference as well as supporting the Association leadership, churches, and clergy. Contact her for:

Pulpit supply lists
Member in Discernment information
Transfers of standing
General inquiries

Alex Shea Will (he/him)

Rev. Alexander Shea Will

Area Conference Minister for the Northeast Region
Northeast and Metropolitan Boston Associations
Email: sheawilla@sneucc.org Phone: 508-244-4769

Rev. Shea Will accompanies clergy, congregations, and committees as they live the love and justice of Jesus in ways that honor their unique contexts and gifts. In this work he is guided by relationship building, traditioned innovation, and covenantal wisdom. Contact him regarding:

Pastoral Transitions
The Search and Call Process
The Discernment and Formation process

Rev. Shea Will can usually be found looking for a ball – whether it’s for rugby, basketball, or soccer. He also has a love of espresso and is always up for a cup and conversation; so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Patty Kogut (she-her)

Rev. Dr. Patricia Kogut

Area Conference Minister for the Southeast Region
Barnstable, Old Colony, Pilgrim and Rhode Island Associations
Email: kogutp@sneucc.org Phone: 508-244-4416

Rev. Kogut accompanies clergy, congregations, and committees to live the love and justice of Jesus. She does so with over 30 years of parish experience, training in church vitality and conflict transformation, and as a PCC level coach.

Support of Committees on Ministry, with particular focus on the UCC Manual on Ministry
Support of the Search and Call Process
Assistance to clergy in specialized settings as well as local church pastors and retired ministers

The Rev. Kogut is excited about her expanded role in the Conference and enjoys her new home, walks, kayaking, and learning new and interesting musical instruments, most recently the "Pocket saxophone."

Lynn Varney (she-her)

Lynn Varney

Program Support Associate
Email: varneyl@sneucc.org Phone: 781-369-1396

Lynn Varney assists the ACM, Association leadership, churches and clergy with processing members in discernment, changes in standing, pulpit supply, meetings, and the Northeast and Southeast regional newsletters. Contact her for:

Pulpit supply lists
Information for Members in Discernment
Clergy information changes

Martha Goodman (she-her)

Martha Goodman

Search & Call Associate

Email: SearchCall@sneucc.org Phone: 508-244-4352

Martha Goodman supports Area Conference Ministers as they assist our churches seeking new pastors and ministers seeking a new call. Contact her if:

You are an ordained UCC minister or Member in Discernment seeking a pastoral call
You are a church Search Committee member needing assistance with administrative matters related to your search