Narrative Biography        Answers to Questions       Resumé

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All candidates were asked to submit a professional resumé, a 200-250 word narrative biography and answer the same 4 questions.

Resumé

I am a person of faith, conviction, charisma, skill, compassion, humor, energy, enthusiasm, vision and strategy – a Christian leader that inspires others to experience, live and share the Gospel.

Personal characteristics:

1. •Deep faith and conviction in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
   

2. •Charisma: a congenial, dynamic extrovert that relates well to all people.
   

3. •Great sense of humor, which is the necessary salt of life.
   

4. •Highly energetic and enthusiastic.
   

5. •Skilled, compassionate pastor.
   

6. •Leads with vision and strategy: unique ability to see the big picture and also pay attention to the details, enabling the vision to come to fruition. Adept at building consensus instead of searching for it.
   

7. •Creates sense of personal connection and caring in midst of corporate management and delegation.
   

8. •Embodies Edwin Friedman’s ideal of a “Non-Anxious presence” as a leader in conflict and change.
   

9. •Excellent business skills - masterful manager of finances and budgets.
   

10. •Committed to the inclusive, unconditional acceptance of all people.
    

11. •In superb health spiritually, physically, psychologically and emotionally.
    

Ministry to my body, soul and mind: 

1. •Vigorous and constant prayer life.
   

2. •Very happily married to Heidi Odierna since 2001.  Heidi is a GI Physician Assistant.
   

3. •I have three grown children whom I love and adore.  Oldest (Jim) is a high school math teacher and I have two daughters, Jennifer in grad school (Leslie Univ.) and Becky in college (University of Hawaii).
   

4. •Sports enthusiast: College and High School soccer referee and baseball/softball umpire (1978 – present.) Named the 2004 New England Intercollegiate Referee of theYear.  Regularly play squash, golf, snow ski, water ski, and bike.  Soccer Class “D” Coaches License: Coached at Hobart College (1971), University of Vermont (1973), and youth club travel soccer in Nashua (1990 – 2000).    Squash coach at Taft Prep School (1981 – 1986).  Warning: Die-hard NY Yankees fan!
   

Ministry of Liturgy and Preaching

I believe that worship done with conviction, integrity, and flair, in a down to earth style, can be a

transforming experience.  As a preacher I try to live into the Good Friday prayer (BCP) to preach the Gospel with “grace and power”.  My sermon style is to follow Jesus’ example of telling modern day

stories/parables to bring the Gospel alive in today’s world for today’s people.

Ministry of Administration and Congregational Development

My ministry and leadership is based on a theology of incarnation.  By God becoming a human being in Jesus Christ, God revealed how his love, forgiveness and presence is to be spread in today’s world – through human beings. Christians are called to fulfill this ministry as baptized members of a congregation.

1. •Rector, Church of the Good Shepherd (1986 – present): Priest and pastor of parish which has increased in size from 350 households to 500 households, 1250 communicants.  Supervise lay staff of 6 people.  Supervised, mentored and worked collegially with 8 Assistant Rectors in 21 years.  Annual Budget of $600,000.00 with an endowment fund of $1,000,000.00. CGS is a thriving, vibrant, inviting, inclusive parish that encourages openness, questions and growth.  Particularly strong worship, music, Christian Education, pastoral care, youth programs, and outreach (designated Jubilee Ministry Center of the Episcopal Church 1988 – present).  Created “Walking in the Light”, a program of spiritual growth and renewal. Instituted annual Shepherd’s Commendation Award.  Created a Memorial Burial Garden.  Initiated companion relationship with St. Paul’s Church Mississippi, parish victimized by hurricane Katrina (2005 – present). Presented five parishioners for ordination.  See WWW.cgsnashua.org
   

2. •Rector, All Saints Oakville (1978 – 1986).  Parish increased in size from 70 households to 155 households. Two lay staff.
   

3. •Assistant Rector (1975) and Priest-in-Charge (1976 – 1978), Christ Church, Ridgewood, NJ. Led the parish of 450 households through the conflict, adjustments and healing necessitated by the sexual misconduct of its Rector.  Supervised five lay staff and one clergy assistant.
   

4. •Chaplain, St. Anselm’s Chapel, University of Vermont (1973-1974): Chapel increased in size from from 15 households to 95 households..
   

5. •Capital Fund Drive Experience: Church of the Good Shepherd Capital Fund Drive: $1,250,000.00  (2007). Nashua Pastoral Care Center Capital Fund Drive: $500,000.00 (2004).  Diocesan Advance Fund For the 90’s: $1.5 million (1989).  Church of the Good Shepherd Capital Improvement Program:  $250,000.00 (1998).    All Saints, Oakville, CT., Capital Improvement Project: $150,000.00 (1984).
   

Ministry of Pastoral Care in crisis, conflict, and change

Pastoral Care/Counseling involves embodying the supportive presence of the Holy Spirit to heal, forgive and empower.  With God’s grace and by encountering ourselves, our feelings, and our crosses, we can discover hope, resurrection, and new life.

1. •Pastoral Support Team for Congregations in Crisis in the Diocese of NH. (2005 – present).
   

2. •Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (1982 –present).
   

3. •Pastoral Presence: providing long term, short term, crisis, marriage, and grief counseling for parishioners. (1975 – present).   
   

4. •Private Psychotherapy Practice (1986 – present): Three clients per week.
   

5. •Founder and Director of the Waterbury Pastoral Counseling Center (1982 –1986) – A Center affiliated with the Foundation for Religion and Mental Health with offices in Waterbury, Watertown and Trumbull, CT.  Supervised and administered a staff of three psychotherapists and one consulting psychiatrist in a center designed to provide sliding scale counseling for those unable to afford it.
   

6. •Staff Psychotherapist Waterbury Pastoral Counseling Center (1982 – 1986).
   

Ministry to the Community for Outreach and Social Justice

I am deeply committed to serving “all sorts and conditions of people”.  “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)

1. •Founder of the Nashua Pastoral Care Center (1987). President Board of Directors (1987-1993); Treasurer 1993 – present; Finance Committee chair (1993 – present); Personnel Committee chair 1987 – present); Penny Drive chair (1989 – present); Long Range Planning (1987 – present). The NPCC www.nashuanpcc.org has become a premier outreach agency responding to the needs of the poor and disenfranchised, particularly women and children.  The goal is to help clients create self-sufficiency. Its programs include a Transitional Housing Program, Homelessness Prevention, Security Deposit Loan Program, Crisis Response and Advocacy (rent, utilities and prescription drug aid), Food Pantry, Dental Connection, Santa Fund Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program, and Advocacy. Staff of 12 people with an annual budget of  $1,000,000.00 and endowment fund of $550,000.00. The Care Center is also the official outreach arm of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
   

2. •Initiated companion relationship between CGS and St. Paul’s Church Mississippi, parish victimized by hurricane Katrina (2005 – present).
   

3. •Rotary International (1978 – present): Interact Committee 1986-present; Scholarship Committee, Chair (1986-present).
   

4. •Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce Eminence Award: Volunteer of the Year (2005)
   

5. •City of Nashua Child Care Commission (1999 – present).
   

6. •Nashua Interfaith Council (1986 – present).
   

7. •Provided worship space for a developing congregations: Kenyan (2000); Brazilian (2004 – 2005).
   

8. •Founded Evolution Sports Rivals, LLC in 2007 as new funding source for Care Center and CGS.
   

Ministry to the wider church

1. •Pastoral Support Team for Congregations & Clergy in Crisis, Diocese of NH (2005 – present).
   

2. •Bishop Search Committee Diocese of New Hampshire (2003).
   

3. •Diocesan (NH) Health Insurance Committee (1988 – present).
   

4. •Consultant, Church Deployment process Diocese of NH (1994 – present).
   

5. •Mentor, Fresh Start Clergy Orientation/Development Program (1998 – 2000).
   

6. •Diocesan (NH) Peace and Social Justice Committee (2000 – 2003)
   

7. •Diocesan (NH) Committee on Aided Congregations, Chair (1990 – 1996).
   

8. •Diocesan (NH) Clergy Compensation Committee (1988-1994).
   

9. •Diocesan (NH) Advance Fund for the 90’s Capital Funds Campaign Committee (1989).
   

10. •Diocesan (CT) Executive Committee (1982 – 1986)
    

11. •Diocesan (CT) Health and Human Services Committee, Chair (1982 – 1986).
    

12. •Diocesan (CT) Youth Committee (1983 – 1986).
    

13. •Diocesan (CT) Committee for the Support of Seminaries (1983 – 1986).
    

14. •Dean, Waterbury (CT) Deanery (1980 – 1982).
    

Life Long Learner: Ministry of Continuing Education

1. •Seaford High School, Long Island, NY, 1967.
   

2. •BA Psychology, Hobart College, 1971.
   

3. •M.Div. Theology, The General Theological Seminary, 1975.
   

4. •Ordained to the Diaconate June 7, 1975 and to the Priesthood December 13, 1975.
   

5. •Blanton Peale Graduate Institute, NYC, NY.  Certificate in Pastoral Counseling, 1981.
   

6. •College of Preachers, Washington Cathedral 1981.
   

7. •Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (1982 –present).
   

8. •D.Min. Pastoral Psychotherapy, Andover Newton Theological School, 1996.
   

9. •Participate in Therapy, Clinical Supervision and/or Peer Clinical Supervision (1975 – present).
   

10. •Author: Thesis: “Psychotherapy by Clergy in Parochial Settings” (1996).
    

            Book:  “What People in the Pew Really Want to Know” (Being published in 2008).

1. •Regularly attend seminars on a variety of personal and professional topics.