Meet our new Candidate: Reverend Jennifer Johnson

Reverend Jennifer Johnson is our candidate for settled ministry. Join us in welcoming her during candidating week April 28 – May 5!

Candidating Week Schedule

Video of First Parish Search Team’s announcement during worship service April 7
Video of Rev. Jennifer Johnson’s greeting to First Parish

The First Parish Ministerial Search Committee’s unanimous recommendation for our next settled minister is the Reverend Jennifer Johnson. We are delighted to share her background and why your Search Team is delighted to recommend her.

Join us for Candidating Week April 28 – May 5 when Rev. Jennifer will lead the worship services and attend gatherings to share information, answer questions and start to get to know First Parish. Meet her at one of the congregation-wide events:

• Sunday, April 28 10 AM – Worship service followed by introduction and Q&A during coffee hour
• Thursday, May 2 11:30 AM – Tea and Coffee break with Rev. Jennifer
• Friday, May 3 6 PM – Congregational Pasta Dinner – free and family friendly!

Join us in welcoming Reverend Jennifer Johnson!

Rev. Jennifer’s ministry is grounded in the vision and promise of the Beloved Community. In all of her ministerial endeavors, she strives to foster individual thriving and collective flourishing. Drawing on experience with congregations and staff teams of all sizes, Jennifer embraces a collaborative approach to ministerial leadership.

Following her internship in nearby Chelmsford, she completed a two year Learning Fellowship with the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) and its prison ministry program, Worthy Now. The Church of the Larger Fellowship is the largest congregation in the UU denomination, a church “without walls” and with global reach. For the past three years, Jennifer has served as minister of First Parish Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where she helped the congregation rebound from the COVID crisis and develop greater capacity for its ministries.

Prior to ministry, Jennifer spent a decade building and directing the Communications and Outreach department at Advocates, a leading nonprofit social services agency in Massachusetts.

A lover of all things literary, Jennifer holds degrees in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire (a Bachelors) and Tufts University (a Masters). While serving as a lay worship leader at her home congregation, she was delighted to discover that sermon writing is her favorite creative outlet. Her passion for worship led her to Meadville Lombard Theological School, where she earned a Master of Divinity in 2020.

Born in Boston to New England transplants, Jennifer laid down roots here with her husband Dave and their two daughters, Amelia and Carly. Together they enjoy hiking New England’s woodland trails with their rescue pup, Cooper; sharing their eclectic music and movie tastes; and engaging in lively dinner-table debates.

Why the Search Team is delighted to recommend Rev. Jennifer

• We were wowed when she preached for us at a neutral pulpit. We saw a warm, articulate and inspiring worship leader.
• References praised her sermon writing.
• We believe people of all ages will find her very approachable, and welcome her open-hearted ministry.
• She brings many years of professional experience in non-profit communication, strategy development, and team building and management.
• Having entered a career in ministry in mid-life, she has a passion for the role of church in our lives now, and brings fresh perspectives and flexibility in finding a way forward.
• She is deeply familiar with Concord’s rich literary history. Her daughter even worked as a guide at Orchard House!
• Her commitment to social action is evidenced by her career in social services and a demonstrated commitment to engaging in anti-racism and anti-oppression initiatives in congregations and beyond.
• Throughout our interview weekend and beyond, she radiated enthusiasm for First Parish.

The Search Team is grateful to all of you for entrusting us with this process and decision. We are thrilled with the outcome!

– Sara Ballard, Jeff Clanon, Kristin Haddad, Peter Lowitt, Kristin Moore, Eric Van Loon, Lora Venesy