Rev. Howard Tobak, Interim Pastor

The Rev. Howard Tobak [Howie] was raised in New York City and earned a BS in Chemistry from Hobart College (Geneva, NY) in 1974. Following a year of graduate study in Physiological Chemistry at Ohio State University and 8 years in the chemical industry as a Quality Assurance Supervisor/Manager, he enrolled at Bangor Theological Seminary (Bangor, Maine) to study for the Christian ministry. Howie graduated with an

MDiv degree with honors in 1986, and was recognized for his New Testament Scholarship. He taught New Testament Greek Translation/Interpretation at BTS and was aconsultant to churches during his senior year. He then enrolled at Drew University (Madison, NJ) to study Christian Social Ethics over the next 6 years. Howie has served UCC churches during the interim time since 1987 in Connecticut [Seymour]; Maine

[Sunset & Deer Isle, Otter Creek, Tremont, Brewer, North Bridgton & Harrison, Lincoln, and Wilton]; Minnesota [Winona, Millville, and St. Paul]; Illinois [O’Fallon]; Michigan [St. Joseph]; Ohio [Wapakoneta]; and Massachusetts [Westminster]. He also served as Interim Campus Minister at The University of Maine, Orono; as consultant to UCC churches in crisis; and most recently as Interim Associate Conference Minister for the Minnesota Conference UCC working with the ministers and 66 churches in the northern 2/3 of the state. He is one of 72 ministers from 24 religious bodies in North America to attain the designation of “Professional Transition Specialist” conferred by The Interim Ministry Network (Baltimore, Maryland). Howie was Adjunct Professor of New Testament Greek Translation/ Interpretation, and Christian Ethics (1989-94) at Bangor Theological Seminary; and has lectured on thesubjects of: transition ministry, UCC polity, ministerial self-care, the frailty of biblical translation, ministerial ethics, and Judaism in the 1st century CE. He served as primary Consultant to The New Century Hymnal researching/ compiling the Scriptural, Thematic and Lectionary indices. He chaired the Division of Ministry (Maine Conference UCC), co-chaired the Church & Ministry Committee (Southern Association, Minnesota Conference UCC), vice chaired the Association of UCC Intentional Interim Ministers; and Convened the Transition Ministry Working Group for the United Church of Christ. He was educated within Orthodox Judaism, and feels blessed by his heritage. When not otherwise occupied,

Howie enjoys walking, reading, visiting art museums and antique shops, and discussing social and theological issues of interest.

His wife, Betsy J. Tobak, a former independent bookstore manager, is also an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Mary R. Brownlow, Associate Pastor

Mary R. Brownlow has been the Associate Pastor since she was ordained in this church in May 1998. She got her first graduate degree in Theater Arts and worked as a costume designer in New York City before becoming a full time mother. She received a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in 1997. Chaplaincy is also part of her ministerial career: she has worked as an assistant chaplain at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and is currently the chaplain of the local Hospice organization. She has three children: Johannes, Will, and Elizabeth.

Rev. Douglas Moore, Pastor (recently retired)

After serving the Norwich Congreational Church for seven years, Rev. Doug Moore retired in January 2009. He is greatly missed.

Doug Moore was born in Evanston, Illinois and went to the local public schools there through high school. He attended Yale University and graduated in 1966. Not knowing what else to do other than be a student, he enrolled in the Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, Tennessee. While in Nashville he met Judith Howe Simpson. Judy was attending the George Peabody Teachers College (now a part of Vanderbilt). They were married in January, 1968. After a two day honeymoon Judy went to work teaching and Doug went back to classes at the Law School. Upon graduation from Law School in June, 1969, he went on active duty with the USMC in October, 1969. He served in Iwakuni, Japan, and Norfolk, Virginia. In 1972 Judy and he moved to Evanston, Illinois and he began work as very junior associate in a large law firm. A few years later he moved to a smaller firm which specialized in civil trial work. In 1982, Judy and he and their two children relocated to Norwich, Vermont. He practiced law in Norwich for the next eight years. During these eight years he became more interested in the church, the Moores adopted three children from Korea, he went on a peace mission to Nicaragua, and decided to attend seminary. His family of seven moved to Walkerburn, Scotland, in 1990, and he attended the University of Edinburgh New College Divinity School. In 1992 he became the Licensed Minister of the Sharon (Vermont) Congregational Church, U.C.C. In June 1993, he completed his Clinical Pastoral Education program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and was awarded his degree from Edinburgh. He was ordained in October, 1993. In December, 2001, after nine wonderful years in Sharon, he returned "home" to begin his ministry in Norwich.