NAUCC Staff

New Ark United Church of Christ

An "Open and Affirming" and "JustPeace" Congregation

NAUCC Staff

David and Wilma

David and Wilma Weddington

On 12 September 2004, the congregation of the New Ark United Church of Christ called David Weddington to be our new called pastor, and he graciously accepted. Since arriving in October 2004, the Weddingtons have become very much a vital part of our growing church family.

Here, David introduces himself:

I'm North Carolina born and raised. I was born in Lincolnton and grew up in and around Charlotte. I always had a hunch I was going to end up in a pulpit. My mom tells me I used to come home from church and re-preach the sermon when I was small enough to use her vanity stool for a pulpit. I also got the acting bug young-I was in a local community outdoor drama when I was five. I always enjoyed the theater and music. I took piano lessons when I was young and when I was in sixth grade, I took up the cello. I changed my main focus from music to theater in High School when I was attending the NC School of the Arts.

After one year of college, I decided to give up my student deferment, so that I could engage my draft board. After some conversation, I was granted Conscientious Objector's status, and went to Atlanta to do alternative service.

When I finished my two years there, I returned to UNC-Charlotte, filled with a renewed passion for the good news, for the many ways we all go about making contact with Someone or Something more than ourselves. So I finished my undergraduate work with a major in Religious Studies.

But I hadn't finished exploring the theater yet. So I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for graduate study in acting, then spent about fifteen years more or less on the road, acting when I could and waiting tables or doing office temp work when I had to.

I enjoyed seeing the country and I enjoyed doing the work. I especially enjoyed playing Shakespeare. Iago in Othello was one of my favorite roles-a walk on the dark side of myself; and Cervantes/Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha-still one of my very favorite shows-helped me, more than any other acting job to realize something important about myself.

I began to notice that there were shows that mattered a great deal more to me than others-shows like Man of La Mancha, where there's a real opportunity to touch people's lives in ways that might open them to new hopefulness. And I began to realize that the theater wasn't giving me all I needed. I needed to be involved with people who are reaching out for more abundant life. I needed to be involved with people I could get to know and live with on this journey. I was hungry for my true calling-the calling to pastoral ministry.

At about that same time, I became aware of a church called the United Church of Christ. I was introduced to the denomination by wonderful people who revealed to me that it was possible to be a person of faith without checking your brain in the narthex. This was a great relief to me, since I'd just about given up on that possibility.

I attended seminary at Candler School of Theology (Emory University in Atlanta). And I worked as a student pastor, serving United Methodist churches while I studied. After my first year, I took another break, and spent a year and half working first in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities, and then in an institution for people with severe developmental disabilities. That's where I met Wilma, who encouraged me to return to seminary.

After seminary, Wilma and I moved to Everett, WA, where I worked for four years in a group home again, before returning to my call to ministry. During that time, Wilma and I spent two years as members of the Metropolitan Community Church-a denomination founded by and for gay and lesbian Christians who had been asked to leave their more conservative churches. Wilma and I found a powerful healing and nourishing love in the Seattle MCC. Over time, though, we found ourselves feeling a call to return to the UCC, so we became members of University Congregational UCC in Seattle.

Through this church, I was encouraged to complete an internship, and to accept a call to the First Congregational Church in Forks. I began my ministry here in August of 1999. I was ordained on October 3, 1999.

I've had the chance to do lots of very fulfilling things in Forks. I've seen a generation of amazing pioneer people through the last days of their lives. I've walked with the people who call this church home as they've started to face the difficult realities that face them. I've served as a member of the Hospital Ethics Board, and as the Chaplain for Hospice. I've learned to enjoy three days of sideways rain and summer days that are seventeen hours long. One thing that I've especially enjoyed has been (no great surprise) the chance to make good music and act in the theater. I've been in several community theater plays--Visit to a Small Planet was my favorite. And I've hooked up with a bluegrass band, where I've gotten to play guitar, mandolin and fiddle to my heart's content.

When I realized that it was time for me to open up to hear a new call, I got the denomination's Job Opportunities, and I saw the little blurb New Ark had put in there. I was immediately drawn to this church, and called the Conference Office to have my profile sent to you for consideration.

I'm very glad I did.

Administrative Assistant: Liz Salt

Music Director: Jane Dilley

Organist: Rich Wildonger

Copyright 2002-2007

	New Ark United Church of Christ An "Open and Affirming" and "JustPeace" Congregation
	NAUCC Staff
	David and Wilma Weddington On 12 September 2004, the congregation of the New Ark United Church of Christ called David Weddington to be our new called pastor, and he graciously accepted. Since arriving in October 2004, the Weddingtons have become very much a vital part of our growing church family. Here, David introduces himself: I'm North Carolina born and raised. I was born in Lincolnton and grew up in and around Charlotte. I always had a hunch I was going to end up in a pulpit. My mom tells me I used to come home from church and re-preach the sermon when I was small enough to use her vanity stool for a pulpit. I also got the acting bug young-I was in a local community outdoor drama when I was five. I always enjoyed the theater and music. I took piano lessons when I was young and when I was in sixth grade, I took up the cello. I changed my main focus from music to theater in High School when I was attending the NC School of the Arts. After one year of college, I decided to give up my student deferment, so that I could engage my draft board. After some conversation, I was granted Conscientious Objector's status, and went to Atlanta to do alternative service. When I finished my two years there, I returned to UNC-Charlotte, filled with a renewed passion for the good news, for the many ways we all go about making contact with Someone or Something more than ourselves. So I finished my undergraduate work with a major in Religious Studies. But I hadn't finished exploring the theater yet. So I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for graduate study in acting, then spent about fifteen years more or less on the road, acting when I could and waiting tables or doing office temp work when I had to. I enjoyed seeing the country and I enjoyed doing the work. I especially enjoyed playing Shakespeare. Iago in Othello was one of my favorite roles-a walk on the dark side of myself; and Cervantes/Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha-still one of my very favorite shows-helped me, more than any other acting job to realize something important about myself. I began to notice that there were shows that mattered a great deal more to me than others-shows like Man of La Mancha, where there's a real opportunity to touch people's lives in ways that might open them to new hopefulness. And I began to realize that the theater wasn't giving me all I needed. I needed to be involved with people who are reaching out for more abundant life. I needed to be involved with people I could get to know and live with on this journey. I was hungry for my true calling-the calling to pastoral ministry. At about that same time, I became aware of a church called the United Church of Christ. I was introduced to the denomination by wonderful people who revealed to me that it was possible to be a person of faith without checking your brain in the narthex. This was a great relief to me, since I'd just about given up on that possibility. I attended seminary at Candler School of Theology (Emory University in Atlanta). And I worked as a student pastor, serving United Methodist churches while I studied. After my first year, I took another break, and spent a year and half working first in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities, and then in an institution for people with severe developmental disabilities. That's where I met Wilma, who encouraged me to return to seminary. After seminary, Wilma and I moved to Everett, WA, where I worked for four years in a group home again, before returning to my call to ministry. During that time, Wilma and I spent two years as members of the Metropolitan Community Church-a denomination founded by and for gay and lesbian Christians who had been asked to leave their more conservative churches. Wilma and I found a powerful healing and nourishing love in the Seattle MCC. Over time, though, we found ourselves feeling a call to return to the UCC, so we became members of University Congregational UCC in Seattle. Through this church, I was encouraged to complete an internship, and to accept a call to the First Congregational Church in Forks. I began my ministry here in August of 1999. I was ordained on October 3, 1999. I've had the chance to do lots of very fulfilling things in Forks. I've seen a generation of amazing pioneer people through the last days of their lives. I've walked with the people who call this church home as they've started to face the difficult realities that face them. I've served as a member of the Hospital Ethics Board, and as the Chaplain for Hospice. I've learned to enjoy three days of sideways rain and summer days that are seventeen hours long. One thing that I've especially enjoyed has been (no great surprise) the chance to make good music and act in the theater. I've been in several community theater plays--Visit to a Small Planet was my favorite. And I've hooked up with a bluegrass band, where I've gotten to play guitar, mandolin and fiddle to my heart's content. When I realized that it was time for me to open up to hear a new call, I got the denomination's Job Opportunities, and I saw the little blurb New Ark had put in there. I was immediately drawn to this church, and called the Conference Office to have my profile sent to you for consideration. I'm very glad I did. Administrative Assistant: Liz Salt Music Director: Jane Dilley Organist: Rich Wildonger
Copyright 2002-2007