Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice Named Interim Associate Conference Minister

We are delighted to announce that the Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice will begin her service with us as Interim Associate Conference Minister on April 6.

Sheresa grew up in south central Pennsylvania and received her Master of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she is also now completing her Doctor of Ministry. She has served small and rural congregations in the Heartland Conference (OH) and in the Penn Central Conference, and has also worked as a mental health professional providing therapeutic services in institutional, clinical and residential settings.  While in Ohio, she served as chair of her Association’s Members in Discernment Committee , and as moderator/past moderator of the governance board. Her local Association work in the Penn Central Conference included serving on the Parish Life, Communications, and Church and Ministry committees, and acting as president of the ministerium.

Sheresa has a passion for diversity, community engagement and breaking down the barriers that separate us from one another. She is an avid baker and cook, who loves movies and books. She is married to her husband Karl, and has a son, Karl Jr., who resides in Texas with his lovely wife, Elizabeth. Her love for dogs resonates with Lola, her rescue mutt, and her two grand-dogs, Fletcher and Rex.

Rev. Simpson-Rice will assume duties including search and call, care and nurture of congregations in the northern half of the state, and staffing our Discernment and Preparation for Authorized Ministry Subcommittee of the Committee on Ministry. We look forward to welcoming Sheresa to our Minnesota Conference UCC family!

Until the arrival of our Interim ACM on April 6, churches in the northern part of the Conference should feel free to contact Conference Minister Shari Prestemon or ACM’s Anita Bradshaw and Kevin Brown for assistance. Congregations with search and call questions may contact either Anita Bradshaw or Shari Prestemon. The Conference office telephone number is 612-871-0359.