CAMDEN — The Rev. Dr. Ute S. Molitor, senior minister of the First Congregational Church of Camden, announced her decision to retire from parish ministry, effective February 28, 2025. 

In a Nov. 13 letter to the congregation, Molitor said, “With a full and grateful heart I am writing to you to announce my retirement, after 25 years in ministry, at the end of February, 2025. Having the opportunity to serve with and among you for these last six plus years has been a wonderful blessing and privilege in my life. Your amazing ways of caring for each other and serving the community continue to touch my heart.”

Reverend Molitor began her ministry at the First Congregational Church of Camden in September 2018. She is the 22nd senior minister to serve since the church’s founding in 1805, and she is the first woman to carry out this leadership role.

During her tenure, the church broadened its advocacy and justice work, developed several meditation ministries, welcomed associate minister Patty Fox to the church, and has recently commenced creation care initiatives. Also of note, the church restored its 1879 steeple and navigated the COVID-19 pandemic with great success under her leadership.  

In explaining her decision to retire from pastoral ministry, Molitor stated: “After much discernment, I have come to realize that I need to listen better to my body and find a more sustainable pace in my life. After taking a break, I will likely devote some time and space to spiritual companioning, creation-care, and re-engaging with the bodywork I have trained to do as a craniosacral practitioner. My husband, Mark Burrows, and I plan to stay in Camden.” 

“While my personal vision is taking me in a new direction, I am confident that our congregation is well poised to live into the future guided by the newly developed vision we have been working on for the last several years,” she said.

Church leaders have already begun to map out next steps and timelines, including the need for transitional pastoral leadership as the search for the next senior minister begins. Associate minister Patty Fox will shift part of her work to pastoral care during this time. 

Tim Sheehy, moderator of the church, also addressed the congregation on behalf of lay leadership, saying“It has been a joy and a delight to work with Ute, who will be deeply missed.  She leaves us as a more vibrant faith community in every important dimension. Her wonderful legacy is ours to continue to live and grow. Change is uncomfortable but inevitable. It is also exciting, a time to fully consider how we can remain viable, visionary, and resilient in this ever-changing world. With God’s help, and with the support of each other, First Congregational Church of Camden will persevere through Ute’s departure. Let us continue to grow as a congregation, focused on God’s work for the future in our community.” 

The First Congregational Church, founded on September 11, 1805, is the oldest church in Camden. The Church is an open and affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.

For more information, visit www.camdenucc.org or call 207-236-4821.