The Team

Rev. John R White (Pastor John)

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Pastor John has always been attracted to the beauty and power of words. PJ’s work and life experiences before becoming our pastor are diverse. He has degrees from Mt. Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg State College, and a Master of Divinity degree from Drew University in New Jersey.

Before coming to Dudley in 1997 he was working as a chaplain at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, NJ, specializing in working with cancer patients and those recovering from addiction.

Pastor John incorporates the multifaceted experiences of his life into everything he does at the First Congregational Church of Dudley, United Church of Christ. This is reflected in part through his inclusive and welcoming worship style.

The greatest joy of Pastor John’s life is his family – his wife and best friend Sarah and their children: Emily, Timothy, Peter, Benjamin and Michaela. PJ enjoys hiking, books, films, theater and yoga. Being pastor of this extra-ordinary church continues to be a source of deep personal fulfillment and “I continually believe we have only begun to fully realize what is possible for us here.”

Tom Boyd

Hi My name is Tom Boyd and I am the church’s historian. Having grown up in this church, I was
privileged to many different generations of church members who shared their stories of our church and life here on Dudley Hill. As a result, it peaked my interests to go into teaching and share my interests in history. I taught U.S. History for 32 years at Shepherd Hill, which is in Dudley and my alma mater, sharing some of these stories about the region as well as the history of our country.
One of my earliest memories in this church was when a I was a very young child, my parents would sit in the back of the church. I was mesmerized by our church’s stained glass windows. I’m not sure if it was all the colors or design of the windows

Kathy Waynick

Raised in Baltimore, Kathy calls Northeastern Connecticut home these days. As an active Board Member and Advisor for many technology companies around the world she still finds time to support her local church UCC Dudley.