The first woman to be named head of staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Hartford led her first service on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Submitted by Westminster Presbyterian Church

Rev. Julie Emery has been named senior minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Submitted photo.

The members of Westminster Presbyterian Church have called the Rev. Julie Emery as their new senior minister. She preached her first sermon on Oct. 5.

“I was drawn to Westminster because of its commitment to outreach and justice, its dedication to education and youth ministry, and its members’ genuine care for each other. I am excited to see where God will lead us into the future,” said Rev. Emery.

Previously, Rev. Emery spent six years as associate pastor of Larchmont Avenue Church in Larchmont, NY. Prior to that, she was Minister for Youth and Education at Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church in New London, NH. She has led several mission trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

She was carefully and prayerfully chosen after a nationwide two-year search.

“I am impressed with Julie’s passion for mission and social justice,” said Search Committee member Stacy Raney.

Rev. Emery recently moved to West Hartford with her husband, Jason, and her two sons, Chase and Aiden, who now attend Braeburn Elementary School.

“We feel truly blessed by the opportunity to live and serve in West Hartford. Westminster’s congregation has been wonderfully welcoming to our family, and we are already enjoying all that this community has to offer,” she said.

Rev. Emery grew up in Michigan and earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from the University of Michigan. She is the recipient of the 2003 Jagow Prize in Preaching and the 2004 Bryant M. Kirkland Prize for Excellence in Practical Theology, both awarded by Princeton.

Rev. Emery is Westminster’s fifth pastor since its founding in 1950. She is the first woman to be named head of staff. She joins Associate Pastor gretchen N. Sausville, who is currently on sabbatical. More information about Westminster, its services, and its works of service can be found on its website, www.westpresby.org.