Following an extensive search, the members of the Second Congregational Church, UCC in Newcastle have chosen the Rev. Charlene “Char” Curtiss Corbett to become the church’s new pastor. She will give her first formal sermon at the church at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 9.

Pastor Char was born in Los Angeles, California and lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a time before eventually moving with her family as a young girl to Connecticut, where her parents had originally met. She grew up in Windsor, Connecticut and she has many fond memories of her childhood, including carefree afternoons running around with her youngest sister at Camp Shalom in Windsor. This 365-acre summer and conference camp along the Farmington River is owned by the Hartford Jewish Community Center, and Char’s family lived there year-round as her father was the Property Manager from 1978-1992. Char graduated from Windsor High School in 1989 and later from Central Connecticut State University in 1994 with a B.S. in management, concentrating in not-for-profit administration. Before entering the ministry, she was a budget analyst for the Connecticut State University System and then the finance and office administrator for Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity.

Char completed the Associate's Program in Christian Education at Hartford Seminary in 2003 while serving many years as the part-time Youth Leader and then Director of Youth and Christian Education at South Congregational-First Baptist Church in New Britain, Connecticut. In 2005, Char entered the Divinity program at Andover Newton Theological School outside Boston. Char was the third seminary student to participate in First Church in Windsor’s Teaching Parish Program in Windsor, Connecticut. She remained at First Church in Windsor as the Student Minister for three years until she was awarded a master’s of divinity degree, graduating with honors in May 2010. Late that same summer, after a mutual and complete search process, she was called to serve as First Church in Windsor’s Associate Pastor of Faith Formation and Outreach, where she has joyously served full-time for nearly seven years.  

Char has nearly wrapped up a three-month sabbatical grant study with the Louisville Institute on the Doctrine of Discovery as it pertains to the U.S. National Parks and Indian Reservations, with a vision for a more inclusive and justice- oriented understanding of land stewardship in the 21st century Church. Char is passionate about ministry and endeavors to bring a sense of joy and connection to her life, ministry, and work. She is deeply spiritual, loves to share stories and laughter and brings her gifts of compassion and presence to all she does.  

Pastor Char currently resides in East Granby, Connecticut and loves to read, hike, camp, kayak, birdwatch and, quite literally, chase rainbows with her husband, Jim, of nearly 25 years and their daughter, Katie, who is a sophomore in high school and will be attending Lincoln Academy in the fall. Jim is currently an engineer for a local telephone company and is an avid reader and science fiction fan. Katie loves animals, especially horses, and is currently training in the English riding tradition and works weekends at a local barn. The Corbett family is entertained non-stop by their friendly dog, Summit, three mischievous cats, Marshmallow, Marco and Polo and Katie’s silly hamster, Ginger. They each look forward to getting to know everyone better at Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. The family will be living locally until they find a permanent home of their own in the area.

All are invited to join Char in her inaugural worship on July 9.