Meet Our Staff
Pastor Laura's first day in the office will be Monday, November 23, 2026. She will be settling in and acclimating in her new role as Pastor at First Congregational UCC Brainerd.
Initially Pastor Laura's work day hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Drop-in hours for office visits will be Wednesdays 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Please call or email the office to schedule an appointment. Phone: 218-829-2528 or uccbrainerd@gmail.com
Pastor Laua's first worship service is Sunday, November 29, 2026.
Pastor
Rev. Laura Callender
"Pastor Laura grew up a country bumpkin in Ohio with an insatiable curiosity about God's big world. Unable to consider Episcopal ordination as a young woman, she became a journalist. Her 30 years in that field blessed her with experiencing people and cultures she otherwise never would have known. But God still wanted her in ministry. She was licensed in 2006 as a lay minister and preacher. In 2009, she surrendered fully to God's call. After serving on mission in China for a year, she gave up all she had and went to Seminary, obtaining her MDiv in 2013. Uncomfortable with Episcopal polity and narrow theology, she left that denomination and wandered into the United Church of Christ. Much like when she discovered her heart's real home when she moved to Washington State, she found her real church home had always been the UCC. She and her husband, Bob, have been married 11 years. All their "children" have fur. Bob is an accomplished woodworker and has a wonderful singing voice. We look forward to our time with you! "
Heirloom Sunflowers grown 2026 season in our main garden on the homestead.
Administrative Assistant /Office Manager/Bookkeeper
Terri Chidester
Terri joined First Congregational UCC Brainerd in December 2019.
Before coming to UCC, she worked in healthcare in a variety of positions; home health aid, as DSP in group homes and Administrative Assistant in a local Corporate Office.
Terri and her two sons moved to Brainerd in 2012 from a 5th generation homestead in Aitkin County.
Terri is semi-retired and lives with her youngest son on his small homestead. She loves gardening and spending time with the two family dogs Banner and Valor.
Terri is a former Master Gardener of 11 years (Aitkin and Crow Wing County), specializing in heirloom gardening, native plants and flowers. Terri is a Certified Flower Essence Practitioner through Alaskan Flower Essence.
uccbrainerd@gmail.com | 218-829-2528
Leadership
Church Council
The Church Council is made up of eleven members and consists of:
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Executive Committee: Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Treasurer, and Clerk
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Representatives from each subcommittee: Christian Education, Christian Ministry, Trustees, and Stewardship
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At-large members (3) elected at the Annual Leadership Meeting of the Congregation
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Pastor
The Council can also establish additional committees as needed to serve current church needs (Music, Arts, Echternacht Scholarship Fund, Memorial, etc.)
Executive Committee
At the Annual Leadership Meeting, the congregation elects four officers to lead the congregation:
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The Moderator - Leads the Church Council meetings and helps to set priorities each year.
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The Assistant Moderator - Attends all Council meetings and works together with the Moderator on key initiatives. Typically steps into the Moderator the following year.
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The Treasurer - Works with the Office Manager to provide guidance on finances and is responsible for financial reporting to the Council and congregation. They also prepare the annual budget with input from the subcommittees.
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The Clerk - Keeps records of key events for members such as births, deaths, marriages and changes in membership. They also record minutes at the Council meetings and maintain the minutes for all committees.
Congregational Polity
The congregation is self-governed, in simple secular terms. In spiritual terms, we say the church is governed by the Holy Spirit, as interpreted by the congregation.
The Congregation meets twice a year; in May there is an Annual Planning Meeting, and in November there is an Annual Budget Meeting. On occasion, the church calls a special meeting for special events or circumstances.
Four subcommittees exist to support further tasks:
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Christian Education - Educational ministries (all ages)
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Christian Ministry - Membership, Missions, Worship, Fellowship
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Trustees - Care of the building and grounds
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Stewardship - Fundraising and promotion of generosity, annual stewardship campaign, and time/talents
The Pastor
The Pastor is called to lead worship, preach and teach, provide pastoral care and spiritual leadership. They provide administrative leadership and supervise staff in accordance with church bylaws. The pastor does not run the church. The pastor supports the leadership but does not make the budget, write checks or mow the lawn. The members set priorities for the whole church, and provide avenues to help serve each other, our community, and the world beyond our doors.
Office Manager
A key role in church operations is the Office Manager. This individual reports to the Pastor directly and supports the church by performing administrative duties such as record keeping, bookkeeping, and general office support. They also have a close working relationship with the Church Treasurer who provides guidance on financial matters.
UCC Foundation
This church is also affiliated with the First Congregational United Church of Christ Foundation. The Foundation is a Minnesota non-profit corporation and is a separate legal entity. Its purpose is to accept, manage, and use funds or property received from donors desiring to make a charitable contribution for the advancement of our religious purpose or activity of our congregation. Its activities are governed by a separate, six person Board.
