Served in Brockport 21 years The Reverend Kenneth McCarthy, pastor of First Baptist Church in Brockport, will retire from the ministry following the worship service on Sunday, February 4. "Leadership lasts for a limited length of time," observed McCarthy. "It will be good for the congregation to work with someone else. That is an important part of the growth of churches." During his 35 years in ministry, McCarthy has served three congregations. His first pastorate was in New Bedford, Maine; his second congregation was in McGraw, New York. He has served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Brockport since February 1987. McCarthy admits that he has mixed feelings about retirement. "There is a huge amount of sadness in leaving the people I worked with for 21 years," he said. "And there is excitement about moving on to some other things. It is a bittersweet experience." According to Ann Hazen, a long time member of the congregation, the church has been engaged in a transformation and visioning process. "There is no easy time to leave a congregation," she said. "But, Ken felt that this was the right time. And as much as it saddens me, I agree with him that this is the best time for our congregation to move on." "I will miss the personal relationship I have with people and the way I have been able to be part of their lives," McCarthy said. "I love the teaching part of ministry where you help people to understand who they area, what God wants of them, how God is present in their life," he said. "It is very personal, like old time medical doctors used to be: connected with people. That still exists in local churches with pastors." Barbara Sherwood, another member of the congregation, characterized McCarthy as "a warm, generous, caring man. He has been very dedicated to both the church and the membership," she said. Sherwood recalled McCarthy's personal concern for her mother. "My mother was semi-housebound," she said. "Later, she was in a nursing home. He was very conscientious about visiting her in her apartment and then in the nursing home," she said. McCarthy will also miss the children with whom he has worked. "I love to see how they are growing and learning," he said. "I am going to miss seeing how they turn out." Hazen observed that McCarthy works well with the children. "One of my favorite times in the worship service is his time with the children," she said. "Sometimes, they steal the show. But he always brings them back to the fact that he cares about them and that God loves them." In addition to tending the needs of his congregation that currently includes about 200 members, McCarthy has also been active within the community. He has served on the board of Lakeside Hospital; he has worked with the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf; and he was a member of the advisory group to the Brockport Central School counselors. McCarthy is looking forward to slowing down. "I don't want a full time job at this point. But, I don't plan to sit in a rocking chair and watch television," he said. "I want to be involved in something constructive. I would like to continue to contribute to other people's lives." His hope is to teach part time as an adjunct in a local college. Additionally, he is trained to administer the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory. He finds it a useful tool, especially in counseling engaged couples, and he would like to expand his work with it. "These 35 years of ministry have been a blessing to me," McCarthy said. "In each congregation I have served, the people have been supportive, encouraging, and have taken good care of us. I feel blessed to have been a part of this." Fran Fuller has been the secretary at First Baptist Church for 25 years. She is saddened to see McCarthy leave. "We have a wonderful working relationship," she said. Hazen agreed. "Ken has affirmed the gifts of the people in our congregation and he encouraged our spiritual growth," she said. "We love him dearly. He will be greatly missed." The First Baptist Church of Brockport, 124 South Main Street, invites the community to a reception at the church on Sunday, January 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. for Ken and Marcia McCarthy in honor and celebration of Ken's retirement from the ministry. For additional information call the church office: 637-9770. January 21, 2007 |
