Bridging the Gap
We are excited to share that two part time bridge ministers are joining the staff at AHCC: Rev. Sonya Green and Rev. Nina Schmid.
What is a bridge minister?
It’s almost exactly as it sounds – a clergy person who bridges the gap while a congregation is between settled pastors. Unlike an interim minister, who is often called upon to help a congregation reflect/heal/deal with conflict/grief/etc., a bridge minister offers presence and support where it is needed most.
To that end, we have hired two fabulous bridge ministers to work alongside Revs Erica and Jordan while the Search Committee continues their faithful task of finding our next settled Mid to Later Life Minister. Each will work part-time (20 hours a week).
Rev. Sonya Green will be working with our Adult Faith Formation and Justice and Outreach Ministry Teams.
Rev. Nina Schmid will be working with our Nurture and Engage Ministry Team, focusing predominantly on congregational care and visitation.
We are thrilled to welcome both pastors to our team and we look forward to getting to know them as we move forward together. Please greet them warmly.
The Reverend Sonya Green is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. Drawn to peace-building since childhood, Sonya is certified as a Level 1 Trainer in Kingian Nonviolence and is the Board Chair of the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence. She served as an associate minister at the Union Baptist Church in Hartford.
A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, Sonya has been engaged in the work of building the Beloved Community by creating programs that facilitate cultural appreciation and racial reconciliation at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, in public and independent schools, and diverse community and faith-based settings in the Greater Hartford area.
Sonya is serving as the chaplain at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, having completed a chaplain residency at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. She is the grateful mother of six adult children, and a happy mother-in-law, NaNa to two granddaughters, and mama to a cat named Nate.
Rev. Nina was raised on the Connecticut shoreline and loves all things sea and shore. She is a “cradle Congregationalist,” having grown up in the Old Lyme Congregational church. Prior to discerning her call, she worked at various and sundry undertakings, after which she resided on Fishers Island, NY, becoming a member and lay leader at Fishers Island Union Chapel UCC, where she was ordained (2016) following her graduation from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, (MDiv) in 2015.
Nina recently completed a seven-year ministry as sole pastor at First Congregational Church of South Windsor and was one of the founders of the South Windsor Refugee Alliance in 2021.
Nina is passionate about contemplative spirituality and practices, interfaith ministry, and caring for and walking alongside all God’s children. Prior to humbly and gratefully joining the amazing AHCC team as bridge minister, she has been enjoying ‘going out’ into the world providing temporary ministerial coverage. A wide-eyed wonderer and wanderer in God’s creation, she relishes communing with nature, birdwatching, reading, cycling, walking, writing, traveling, and spending time with her 15 month-old grandson, Wesley. Thanks be to God!