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Massachusetts Conference Edition
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Tom Clough accepts call to local parish in Maineby Tiffany Vail, Associate for Communication and Communication Technologies August/September 2007
“No one has ever accused me of following a career path. I have joyfully careened from school teacher to suburban pastor to missionary to middle judicatory,” he said. “Now seems like an excellent time to explore the world of pastor in a small rural church.” Working for the Massachusetts Conference, Clough has worked with the Metropolitan Boston Association churches and also more recently the Central Association north sector churches. His last day will be August 17th. Clough came to the Conference six years ago, fresh off of a two-year stint serving as a missionary in Honduras with his wife, Ava Clough. Prior to that, he served churches in Arlington, Lexington and Lynnfield. “After eight years, I’m very much looking forward to getting back to the routine of a local parish,” Clough said. Clough said he was drawn to Maine partly because his four grandchildren are there, but also because serving a smaller, rural parish will be a new challenge for him – an important challenge being repeated across the wider church today, he said. Clough will be replaced by Wendy Vander Hart, currently the pastor at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church. “I’m really glad someone with Wendy’s energy and enthusiasm is taking up the challenge,” Clough said. “She’ll be able to bring great strength.” Clough said he has enjoyed his time working for Conference. “I’ve loved it immensely; it’s just been an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to interact with the people I’ve been working with,” he said. “These jobs give us entry into the lives of some great people, and it’s great fun.” Conference Minister and President Jim Antal said Clough will be missed. “I have benefited countless times from his insight into challenging situations, his pastoral sensitivity, his deep and abiding faith, his robust intelligence, and his wit – which has brought a smile to my face more times than I can count,” Antal said. “Because Tom’s ministry is rooted in relationship, his departure will be particularly difficult for those of us who have been blessed to be in relationship with him. Because Tom has served among us with a pastor’s heart, there will be a hole in our hearts when he leaves. But there are others in Edgecomb, Maine with whom we can rejoice. Their lives will be blessed by his coming beyond what they now imagine,” Antal said.
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When Associate Conference Minister Tom Clough takes the helm of a small church in Maine later this summer, it will be the latest twist in a complicated ministerial path.