SHANNON RYE WALL NAMED ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DARIEN
Darien, CT -- May 19, 2008 – The
First Congregational Church of Darien today announced the appointment of
Shannon Rye Wall as Associate Minister.
Ms. Wall, who has been serving as Acting Associate Minister since
September, was voted to the position by a special meeting of the
congregation on Sunday, May 18.
As Associate Minister, Ms. Wall will
preach and teach the Gospel, administer the rites and sacraments of the
church, and provide pastoral care and leadership.
Debra Hertz, Chair of the church’s
Search Committee, said: “Since joining our church in September as Acting
Associate Minister, Shannon has provided compassionate pastoral care along
with thought-provoking sermons. She also helped to facilitate the
confirmation process. She is warm, kind, caring, open, positive, and a quick
study and we believe that she will be a wonderful addition both to our
church family and the entire Darien community.”
Ms. Wall is currently In-Care with
the Fairfield West Association of the United Church of Christ and hopes to
be ordained this year. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The College
of William & Mary with a B.A. in English.
She received a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University,
and later this month she will receive her Master of Divinity degree from
Yale University. At Yale, she
was awarded the William E. Downes Prize for “proficiency in public reading
of scriptures” and has taught workshops in reading scripture in worship.
Ms. Wall and her husband Larry Arno
live in Wilton with their children Jack and Sara. She brings a wealth of
experience to the church as a teacher, a writer, a management consultant,
and an actress. Prior to joining
First Congregational Church, she was an active member of the Wilton
Congregational Church, serving there on the Board of Deacons; she interned
at the Pound Ridge Community Church and Norwalk Hospital.
“I am delighted,” she says,
“to be part of this church family and this community.
I appreciate all of the encouragement, support, and love I have
received from the church, my friends, and my family throughout my journey
toward this day, and I look forward to many years of joyful service
together.”