Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Pittsfield is delighted to welcome the Rev. Dr. Nina Ranadive Pooley as the parish’s new rector. She assumes her leadership role this month.

The Rev. Dr. Pooley has a BA in Religion and a BA in Psychology from The College of William and Mary and a Master of Education from The University of Virginia. She was formed for ordained ministry at The School of Theology, University of the South and was awarded the M.Div. in 2004. After ordination to the priesthood, she served for two years as Associate Rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mt., TN. After Good Shepherd, Nina served as Associate Chaplain at St. Paul’s School, in Lutherville MD for a year – 2006-2007.

In 2007 Nina was called to be Rector of St. Bartholomew’s, Yarmouth, ME and provided that congregation with 13 years of faithful leadership. During her service in Yarmouth, she began work on a D.Min. at The School of Theology in 2009 and was awarded the degree in 2014.

Upon accepting the call of the parish’s Search Committee and Vestry, Rev. Pooley wrote, “There are so many reasons I feel St. Stephen’s is a good fit for me. But at the top of the list are your commitment to social justice, your active investment in local mission and ministry, and your genuinely inclusive welcome of all of God’s people.”

At the announcement of Rev. Pooley’s selection, parish Co-Wardens Tom Dillon and Erin Sullivan shared with the church, “We are excited to have Nina guide us on the next part of our journey as a congregation.  She has energy, vision, compassion, and an empathic way of relating to others.”

Nina, her husband Ken, adult daughters, Mackenzie and Channing, dog Finn, and a few cats will live in Hinsdale, MA.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church has been serving the Pittsfield community for more than a century. Due to the current public health crisis, all worship services are being held virtually and can be accessed via the church’s website at www.ststephenspittsfield.org. Through its feeding program, St. Stephen’s Table, the parish serves hot nutritious dinners to people in the Pittsfield community every Thursday and Friday.