Rev. Kim Kendrick joins Community Congregational Church/UCC of Benicia

On Sunday, October 13, Pastor Kim Kendrick was affirmed as new co-pastor at Community Congregational Church, UCC of Benicia. She joins current co-pastor Rev. Bladimer Paeste on the ministry team. Rev. Kendrick previously served as Hillcrest UCC’s Intentional Interim Minister in Pleasant Hill, CA and Interim Pastor of Glenside UCC in Glenside, PA. Prior to that, she shared her gifts for five years as Chaplain of Bethany Children’s Home on Womelsdorf, PA and Co-Pastor at Living Water UCC in Philadelphia, PA.

Pastor Kim is a graduate of Pierce College (Philadelphia, PA) in 2005 and Lancaster Theological Seminary (Lancaster, PA) in 2014 with a Masters of Divinity and Certificate in Youth and Young Adult Ministry. She was ordained into ministry into the UCC on August 22, 2015. She recently completed Transitional Ministry training with the Interim Ministry Network and serves as a Life Coach to parents, tweens, teens and young adults. Within the national UCC setting, she is a certified trainer in the ‘Our Whole Lives’ (OWL) curriculum, conducting workshops on Human Sexuality and Spirituality for all ages. She has served as a committee co-chair for the UCC’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event and a member of the Penn. Southeast Conference Committee on Ministry. In 2016, she was called to be the Chaplain for the National Youth Event in Orlando, Florida, and the closing preacher during General Synod 2017.

Rev. Kim is passionate about the Social Justice Gospel and follows the example of Jesus, who cared deeply about the social causes around him. Rev. Kim shared that “participating in movement work that is seeking justice, results in positive reform and empowerment as one of the most Christ-like things we can do.” She believes that her Call is to journey with all of God’s beloved children and to share, through word and action the radical love and inclusivity of Jesus in community.

As someone who hails from Pennsylvania, Pastor Kim is an avid Philadelphia Eagle’s fan who enjoys movies, reading, camping, and tacos! She resides in the Bay Area and is a proud co-parent to three brilliant girls: a 13 year old and twins, age 7. In her own words: “I am an unapologetic Black, Lesbian, Mother and Lover of Jesus. I cannot remove any of these layers. The Divine gives us an invitation to an expansive table where all are welcome. Our responsibility is to make space and bring more chairs.”

Community Congregational Church is located at 1305 West Second Street in Benicia. www.cccucc.org