Ordination
September 14, 1997
First Congregational Church of St. Johns, Michigan
Affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
Dual standing with the UCC Hartford, CT Association & Grace Church, Farmington, CT
Expertise
Chaplain at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona,
Midway Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota
The Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Conference Speaker in Youth Ministry
Speaker on Grief and Loss
Led Teams to ASP (Appalachia Service Project- 7 trips from churches across country)
Led Team to LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots)
Developed and Directed & Counseled both Jr. & Sr. High Camps for several religious traditions (MI & WI & MN)
Coordinated Special Projects in Marketing Field
Education
Theological Masters in Worship and Preaching
Duke Divinity, Durham, North Carolina
1996 – 1997
Masters of Divinity towards Ordination in a Congregational Church (NACCC)
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota
1992 – 1996
Masters of Arts in Pastoral Care, Aging (Death and Dying Issues)
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota
1992 – 1996
Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
1983 – 1985
Also have studied at:
Duke Divinity, Durham, North Carolina (1994 – 1995)
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (1981 – 1983)
Certificate from Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies
1996
Experience
SUPPLY PREACHING, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, WORSHIP SERVICES 2013 to Present
See www.ByKissa.com for recent work.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL, Unionville, CT.
Interim Minister 2010 to 2013
Responsible for all aspects of ministry in church. Preaching, Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals and Visitation, Counseling, Office administration, Administration of all boards and committees, oversight of CE personnel, Oversight of Office personnel, Help in grief work and getting congregation through search process.
HARTFORD HOSPITAL INSTITUTE OF LIVING, Hartford, CT 2005 to 2010
Chaplain
Responsible for Sunday services for all six wings of the Institute of Living, Mental Health Facility.
EAST GRANBY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 2000 to 2005
Associate Minister of Christian Nurture
Redesigned the Workshop Rotational Model of Sunday School for Christian Education. Have redesigned youth programs and missions, while working with Sr. Interim Minister during transition of church. Preaching, Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals and Visitation.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, St. Johns, MI. 1997 to 2000
Associate Minister of Christian Education
Redesigned the Sunday School program for Christian Education. This was a new position and the church was seeking to expand its vision for youth and families. Preaching, Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals and Visitation.
DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC. 1996 – 1997
Area Coordinator
Responsible for two freshman undergraduate resident halls as well as all staff in those houses. Works directly with University administration and students.
MIDWAY HOSPITAL (HEALTHEAST) St. Paul, MN. 1995 – 1996
Chaplain
Responsible for the Spiritual Care of the Hospital as well as all of HealthEast when “on call.” Provides lectures for the system on Grief and Loss. A part of the Employee Recreational Team which seeks ways to improve moral among the employees. Directly responsible for Pre-Surgery, Maternity and Transitional Care Units at Midway.
LUTHER SEMINARY St. Paul, MN. 1996
Teaching Assistant
Teaching in Pastoral Care and Counseling for Professor Bob Albers. Responsible for group processing time and correction of student papers.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SUN CITY, NACCC, Sun City, AZ. 1994-1995
Ministerial Intern
Responsible for learning about the ministry in all areas. My strengths that emerged were Crisis Counseling, Preaching, Teaching, Pastoral Care and Worship Coordination.
GOOD SAMARITAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Phoenix, AZ. 1994
Chaplain Resident
Completed basic unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) in the summer of 1994. Continued to work over breaks, or when needed at the hospital. Worked specifically with Neo-Natal ICU, High Risk Pregnancy and Neuro Surgery when at the hospital full time. Return to work over breaks.
DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC. 1994 – 1995
Head Resident Advisor
Counseled, organized, disciplined and lived with college freshman at residence hall. Supervised staff on floor of 350 person building.
DUKE MEDICAL CENTER, Durham, NC. 1994 – 1995
Chaplain
Did Chaplaincy on a volunteer basis as needed by the hospital pastoral care department.
LUTHER NORTHWESTERN SEMINARY, ST. Paul, MN. 1992 – 1994
Receptionist
Handled all incoming calls to the seminary and helped with all questions of incoming visitors and students.
LUTHER NORTHWESTERN SEMINARY, ST. Paul, MN. 1993 – 1994
Copy Room Assistant
Handled work for seminary that needed to be photocopied.
DCI MARKETING, Milwaukee, WI. 1987 – 1992
Client Supervisor
Organized and implemented strategies in Direct Mail Marketing and Database Management.
Won Highest Marketing Award Possible for work on Toyota Lexus Presell
ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA, Wauwatosa, WI. 1989 – 1992
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Started, organized and implemented a youth ministry program in both Jr. and Sr. High.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NACCC, Wauwatosa, WI. 1988 – 1989
Youth Ministry Consultant
Organized and led my home church’s youth ministry program until they had staff back in place.
Also worked with them informally for 10 years previously.
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL, UCC, Burlington, WI. 1988 – 1989
Youth Ministries Coordinator
Started, organized and implemented a youth ministry program for both Jr. and Sr. High.
NORTH SHORE CONGREGATIONAL, NACCC, Fox Point, WI 1987 – 1988
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Organized and implemented the Jr. and Sr. youth ministry of the church.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC and NACCC, Newton Falls, OH. 1986 – 1987
Pilgrim School, Administrator, Youth Ministries Coordinator, Christian Ed. Director
Administrated and oversaw pre-school program and day care center. Management of staff of the school. Started, organized and implemented a youth ministry program for church. Organized and oversaw the Christian Education of the church.
THE CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION OF ENGLAND, London, England. 1985 – 1986
Youth Ministries and Christian Education Specialist
Traveled to churches all over the country to teach Christian Education and Youth Ministry. Also started, organized and implemented a youth group at Anchor Congregational in Wandsworth.
Activities and Memberships
Religious:
- Coordinator for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Trinity Church, Tarffiville, CT
- Coordinator and Team Leader, SCO (St. Olaf Christian Outreach)
- Organized and sent out youth ministries team to the Midwest
- President, State HOPE (Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavors) Active National, State and Local. (College Aged Kids)
- PF Advisor (Pilgrim Fellowship). Advised National, State and Local levels. (High School Aged Kids)
- CFTS Scholar (Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies)
Civic:
- President for 6 years Member of PEO Chapter WJ in Gilroy, CA.
- International Delegate for PEO in CT and CA
- CAPEO DCC – Chairperson for State Leadership Team (Team & Chair 3 years)
- Chairperson for Arts & Culture Committee Town of Gilroy, CA
- Troop Leader for Girl Scouts Troop #60071, Gilroy, CA
- Leader Service Manager & Scholarship Chairperson for Gilroy Service Unit Girl Scouts
- President & Vice President of Programming for Simsbury Newcomer’s, Simsbury, CT
- Association with Greater Hartford Jaycees, including HOBY
- Past President, Board Member of Friends of Town Farm Dairy Nonprofit Organization
- Board Member, Pastoral Counseling Center of West Hartford
- PHQ, and Majority Member of Job’s Daughters #9, Wauwatosa, WI.
- Time Magazine, Person of the Year 2006
Seminars and Special Training
Curisillo
Emmaus
Crossways International “Bible Studies With Vision” Leader Training
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Counseling Training
Gary Smalley’s “Keys to Loving Relationships”
Domestic Violence and Abuse Seminars (Both Clinical and Educational)
Kaleidoscope – After school program for children from violent homes
Youth Specialties Seminars
Appalachia Service Projects Seminars
Aging & Pastoral Care National Seminars on:
Long Term Care Chaplains: The Network
Aging and Spirituality: Wrestling with Change
Taize Retreat
CFTS Seminars on:
Small Church Ministry
Urban Ministry in conjunction with SCUPE
Conflict Management in Congregations in conjunction with Albion Institute
Luther Seminary Rural Plunge (Experience with Rural Ministry)
Historical Trip to Israel
Historical trips on Congregationalism in England
ELCA Stewardship Seminar
ELCA Clergy Tax Seminar
Financial Planning through Lutheran Brotherhood
ELCA Healthy Minister: Sexuality
Stephen Ministers Training
Befrienders Training
Seminar – Lesile Newbigin on Pluralistic Gospel
Seminar – John Westerhoff on The Contemplative Life
Conference – William Willimon on Resident Aliens
Conference – Stanley Hawerwas on Medicine and Theology
Conference – Hospice of Arizona
Conference – New Approaches in Alcohol Treatment and Relapse
Conference – Resolve Through Sharing (AZ, Good Samaritan)
Seminar – Richard Mauw
Seminar – Rosemary Radford Ruether
Residential Life Training at Duke University (Two Years)
Guitar Teacher
Seminar – David Elkind
Conference – H. Stephen Glenn
Conference – Eberhard & Renate Bethge on Bonhoeffer
Seminar – Rebecca Pippert
Meeting with Barbara Brown Taylor
Duke Chapel Choir Concert Tour of China
Classes with Rev. Samuel Proctor & Dr. William Willimon
Publications
Woman’s Ordination in the Congregational Tradition
Past, Present and Future
(Will be in Duke Library)
References
Rev. Dr. Peter R. K. Brenner
42 years, My Youth Minister & Mentor
Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Debbie Wakefield
56 years, Christian Education Director at Home Church
Rev. Phil Jackson
42 years, Camp Director & Dean of CFTS