Archive: Around Town

Rev. Dr. David A. Kaden will be Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Ithaca beginning in August, announced John Zollweg, president of the Church Council, after a unanimous vote at a special Congregational Meeting on June 28 calling him to the position.

He served as Associate Minister of the First Congregational Church from 2005-2009 before pursuing additional advanced studies.  In his candidacy sermon, Rev. Dr. Kaden shared that he has preached in many churches since 2009, but speaking from the pulpit at 309 Highland Road felt like "coming home".

"My primary passion in ministry is blending preaching and teaching with social justice," expressed Rev. Dr. Kaden. "I look forward to the promise of our mutual ministry," he told the gathering of members and friends of the church located on the edge of the Cornell campus. Joining him in Ithaca will be his wife Jacquie and their two school-aged children, David and Ellie.

Originally from Hoboken, NJ, he completed a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from the University of Toronto last year.  Rev. Dr. Kaden also holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Messiah College, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Harvard University.  He was ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC) when he was the church's Associate Minister.  In addition, Rev. Dr. Kaden has served churches in Massachusetts, worked as an interim college chaplain at the University of Toronto, and preached regularly at the College Street United Church in Toronto.

This past year, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. At the University of Toronto, he was a course instructor as well as a research fellow at its Jackman Humanities Institute.  Rev. Dr. Kaden has written numerous articles and book reviews, and has authored the forthcoming book, "Matthew, Paul, and the Anthropology of Law" (Mohr Siebeck, 2015), which is based on his doctoral dissertation.

George Hudler, chair of the Senior Pastor Search Committee that concluded its work by nominating Rev. Dr. Kaden to become Senior Minister, said: "We are so pleased to present Rev. Dr. Kaden as our top choice!" "We valued his thoughtfulness in answering and asking questions, his knowledge of and love for our congregation, and his dedication to the spiritual journey.  He is an outstanding and dedicated minister," explained Hudler.

On Sunday, August 2, the First Congregational Church will celebrate the interim ministry of Rev. Dr. David Ashby, before Rev. Dr. Kaden begins as pastor including leadership of the August 9 service.

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