Kingston Congregational Church Welcomes New Pastor

On March 4, Kingston Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, welcomed its new senior pastor, Reverend Dr. L. Weldon Palmer.  

Palmer is the 43^rd pastor in the church’s 317-year history.  He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and a Ph.D. in the field of religion from Columbia University, where he specialized in American religious traditions. He has served as pastor of churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts, most recently at First Congregational Church in Fall River.

Palmer grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, but moved East in his early 20s to pursue seminary and graduate studies. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1993 and is married to the Rev. Patricia Hazeltine, who is also an ordained UCC minister. They have two children, William, a freshman at Brown University, and Frances, a junior at North Attleborough High School, where the family resides.

The Revs. Palmer and Hazeltine have longtime Rhode Island roots. Hazeltine grew up in Providence. Her father, Barrett Hazeltine, is a professor at Brown University and her mother, Mary Hazeltine, has been active in the United Church of Christ and other voluntary organizations.

Hazeltine graduated from Classical High School in Providence and is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Union Theological Seminary. She served as Associate Pastor of Peace Dale Congregational Church from 1987 to 1993 and currently serves as Church School Director of the Old South Church in Boston.

In their spare time, Weldon and Patricia are avid gardeners.  They also have travelled extensively, including visits to East Africa and Central America.

Looking to the future, Palmer is enthusiastic about the opportunity to build upon the strengths of the church, to develop and extend its educational programs and its longstanding commitment to missions, outreach and justice ministries.

The church is actively involved in South Providence Neighborhood Ministries.  It supports the world community and local community in numerous ways, including support for Welcome House, Johnny Cake Center, Habitat for Humanity and serving Thanksgiving Dinner for the community.  

“I am excited about this wonderful church, this community, and the opportunity to be part of it,” he said.

Kingston Congregational Church, affectionately known as “King Cong,” is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ, the largest Protestant denomination in New England. There are 5,287 U.C.C. congregations in the United States, whose membership exceeds one million. There are 31 churches in Rhode Island.

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