With an eye on serving an ever growing community, the First Congregational Church of Greenwich called the Rev. Cydney Van Dyke as Associate Pastor beginning October 13, 2020. According to First Church’s Senior Pastor Patrick Collins, who served as Associate Pastor at First Church for over three years before being called as Senior Pastor in December, “Pastor Cydney brings with her an abundance of enthusiasm, compassion, and commitment. I am excited to have her join our community and am looking forward to working alongside her to bring a message of love and grace to the wonderful people of Greenwich.”
Van Dyke’s experience includes significant community and wider church involvement, as well as roles with Harvard Divinity School, the United Parish in Brookline (Massachusetts), and most recently as Associate Pastor at the New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Growing up in Southeast Pennsylvania, Van Dyke attended Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania while majoring in Peace and Justice Studies, earned her Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School, and was ordained in 2016. While at Harvard Divinity School, Van Dyke served United Parish in Brookline as Seminarian, Summer Pastoral Associate, and Interim Christian Education Coordinator.
Well known for her role in church and community leadership, Van Dyke is also a participant in the United Church of Christ’s ‘Next Generation Leadership Initiative,’ a clergy development program that “equips, energizes, and empowers younger UCC local church pastors to build vibrant congregations that change lives and further God’s mission in the world.” As a pastor, Van Dyke is committed to an inclusive and healing faith, and advocates for youth-led ministry, music enrichment, and, in her words, “making church fun.”
