PERSONALITIES: New Enfield minister brings her gifts to the table

Tim Leininger, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·5 min read

Aug. 27—ENFIELD — Hazardville United Methodist Church has welcomed its new pastor, the Rev. Lisa McColgan.

A native of South Glens Falls, New York, McColgan spent the last 31 years in Dalton, New York, in the Berkshires, as a lay person for the United Methodist Church there, after finishing her Master's of Divinity degree at seminary at Boston University in 2021.

"My folks came from the Deerfield Valley in Massachusetts," McColgan said. "My dad was a structural engineer and his first job was working for Boeing in Seattle. We moved out to Washington and when the 747 was done being built, we came back East. He found a job in Glens Falls, New York."

There is a bit of family legacy for McColgan becoming a pastor.

"My great-grandparents were missionaries in China, met on the mission field," she said. "Granddaddy served in Northfield as a minister and Deacon Samuel Chapin, who's part of the founding of Springfield, was one of my ancestors as well. So in my heritage, there was clergy work."

Lisa McColgan

WHO SHE IS: Pastor of Hazardville United Methodist Church in Enfield.

GROWING UP: Is a native of South Glens Falls, New York.

BACKGROUND: Great-grandparents were missionaries in China, grandfather was a minister, one ancestor was a deacon who was a founder of Springfield.

EDUCATION: Was a lay person for the United Methodist Church in Dalton, New York, for 31 years. Earned her Master's of Divinity degree at Boston University School of Theology in 2021. Has a Bachelor's Degree in landscape architecture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

After high school, McColgan studied landscape design and development, getting her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

"I had a small design build gardening business," she said.

After marrying her husband, Patrick, in 1992, they had their first child in 1996.

"I closed my business so that I could be a full-time at-home parent and then got into homeschooling and serving the church in Dalton," she said.

It was at this time, she said, that the ministry became her next vocational passion was.

"It was not only discovering the gifts and graces for pastoral work, both speaking and preaching," she said. "One of the certifications for lay servants was pastoral care. I worked in the prayer ministry for a lot of years and ecumenically as well."

McColgan said her internal confirmation to become a pastor came after her children grew old enough to not need constant supervision.

She became more involved with church leadership.

"I was energized in the pastoral care and in studying scripture and putting worship together and holding retreats," she said. "I used to hold and create and hold an annual prayer retreat for the prayer teams. It was a lot of work. I paid attention to what had confirmations from people and inside.

Becoming a pastor, though, wasn't an immediate act, it was a journey for McColgan.

"I wasn't quite ready when one of the pastors handed me the ministry discernment book to go through that process, but they saw that in me," she said. "I held onto it until the time was right.

"I think at some points I was resisting," she said. "I don't know if I can do an either/or. I was deeply committed to my children's needs first and foremost. Back then I was a one project at a time kind of person."

McColgan's first day at Hazardville United Methodist Church was June 30, and described the congregation as an amazing group of people.

"They really interact with each other as a family and watch each other's backs, keep tabs on each other," she said, adding that she is impressed by their community involvement with organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Here We Grow Daycare, and Alcoholics Anonymous, and looks to expand the congregation's involvement.

"We have a lot of exciting plans starting in September, not just getting the prayer gatherings and Bible study going again, but also youth activities, having game nights, board game nights, having a hike, having campfires," she said. "We can celebrate the youth and celebrate the Scouts and celebrate our partnership together."

McColgan also has a strong connection to art. Some of her own paintings adorn her office at the church, and she said she would like to connect to the church's artistic community.

"Art is cathartic and it's a way to bring empowerment and expression in venues that aren't always available to people," she said. "I don't know how that will unfold yet. There are very creative people in this congregation, performing arts as well. We're excitedly planning a possible production for Holy Week. We have a new choir director/music director who is also from Dalton. She wrote a production called 'Pilgrimage of Hope,' and we're hoping to be able to do that and open it.

"I strongly believe that all of us have been given gifts and that if someone isn't bringing their gift to the table, we all suffer," she said. "I'm going to make sure that that gift is nurtured and cared for and brought forth."

Hazardville United Methodist Church member Esta Clarke said McColgan is a good choice for the congregation.

"We're very encouraged with her enthusiasm and her new ideas, and provision for us," Clarke said. "We are a visionary church. She has some really great hope for changes. We're really excited."

"I am fortunate and grateful to be here," McColgan said. "This is a really good group of people and it's been a blessing so far on many levels."

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