Peace UCC Calls New Pastor

Peace United Church of Christ has called a new pastor to a church that was originally formed in 1879. Julia Gaughan, who serves as the Conference’s Consultant for Equity and Inclusion, will serve as a designated term minister for the congregation. Peace Church joined the UCC through the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church when the United Church of Christ was created in 1957.

Julia is a member-in-discernment and has been authorized for this ministry with Peace through the Committee on Ministry for Discernment. Julia joined the United Church of Christ in 2009 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Julia served in various lay leadership roles with Plymouth before joining the Board of Directors for the United Church of Christ at the National Setting. Julia began pursuing her Master in Divinity at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2021, and you may have already seen her leading Mental Health First Aid within the Conference.

Julia grew up in Clay Center, Kansas, and has felt right at home in Alma since joining the congregation at the start of the new year. Julia's sense that Peace was the right place for her at this moment was confirmed by seeing a quote posted in the church office from Richard Hooker, a 16th century theologian and scholar:

Pastor Julia Gaughan

“Pray that none will be offended if I seek to make the Christian Religion an inn where all are received joyously, rather than a cottage where some few friends of the family are to be received.”

Peace UCC will be hosting a Welcome Celebration for Julia on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Services will begin at 9:30 am with a luncheon to follow. Congratulations, Julia!