WESTBROOK – After two years with no settled minister, Prides Corner Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, has its new leader.

The Rev. Kelli Whitman recently moved to the area with her husband to take the open post. At 26 years old, she said some in the congregation found it hard to believe she is old enough to lead a church. She took the post fresh out of seminary school, she said.

But Whitman said the holidays provided natural times to settle in, as more people return to the church for the season. She recently took some time to speak with the American Journal about her experiences and vision for the church, which holds Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.

Q: What is your professional experience?

A: I graduated in May 2010 from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. Prides Corner is the first congregation I am serving full time.

During my time in St. Louis, I worked for two years with Faith Aloud, a faith-based nonprofit that provides support to abortion clinics and women who are dealing with reproductive loss. I helped to organize training seminars that taught clergy how to provide spiritual support to women facing a reproductive loss.

I also worked with the First Congregational Church of St. Louis for two years. During that time I led a youth mission trip to Re-Member, a nonprofit that works with the Oglala Lakota tribe in Pine Ridge, S.D. where we spent a week building and delivering bunk beds to families living on the Pine Ridge reservation. I worked with the middle school confirmation class and coordinated the Christian Education programming for kindergarten through seventh grade.

Q: What kind of leadership do you hope to bring to the congregation?

A: Prides Corner has a great group of dedicated lay leaders. I hope to provide support and guidance to those leaders so that our existing work can grow even stronger.

Q: What message do you hope the church sends out to the community?

A: I hope the community sees Prides Corner as a welcoming congregation that is committed to helping people of all ages grow in faith.

Q: What do you believe the church’s role is in 2011 and beyond?

A: Our world is so full of anxiety and uncertainty right now. People need a place where it’s OK to ask questions, a community that can share their grief as well as their joys. I think, at its best, the church can be that place. The church can provide a community of care that creates a safe place to explore the deep questions of faith and life.

Q: What are your goals for Prides Corner Congregational?

A: I hope to work with the lay leaders to create worship and education experiences to help our members grow and deepen their faith. I hope we can provide opportunities for our members to put their faith into action.

“People need a place where it’s OK to ask questions, a community that can share their grief as well as their joys,” says the Rev. Kelli Whitman, who recently became pastor at Prides Corner Congregational Church.Staff photo by Joey Cresta