WESTHAMPTON — When the Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, known as “Pastor Tadd,” received his first call to faith to serve as the pastor of the Westhampton Congregational United Church of Christ, he recalled his upbringing in Vermont.
“I’d found my joie de vivre,” he said.
That initial feeling of comfort he experienced, he says, has clearly had an impact on his life as he’s held the post for more than a decade. Many first-call pastors within the United Church of Christ faith stay with a congregation for only three years or so, he said.
Now, after 14 years as the pastor of the Westhampton church, Allman-Morton has decided to step down. He tendered his resignation in January and made a formal announcement in the March edition of the church’s community newsletter, Bell Tower, citing personal and professional reasons for his departure. His last official day is Monday, March 28.
In an interview with the Gazette, Allman-Morton shared how losses throughout his tenure are chief among his reasons for stepping away. His mother also died last May.
“Having to hold other people’s interests above … it just became more of a burden than joy. I have life concerns I need to give attention to without being responsible to who I should be and represent,” he said. “It was incredibly heart-wrenching having to announce to these people, but the outpouring of love is more than I ever anticipated. It’s humbling.”
Allman-Morton studied at the former seminary Andover Newton Theological School in Newton. He also holds an associate degree from Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington.
Before Westhampton Congregational, he was an intern minister at Old South Church in Boston and an intern at what was formerly the Boston Theological Institute, but is now known as the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium. He also previously served as the director of religious education at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier.
Though nothing is done in a vacuum within a congregation in the United Church of Christ denomination as choices are made in consultation within committees, there have been some changes throughout Allman-Morton’s pastoral tenure. One area he was particularly proud of was the church’s communion service. Initially, the tenor was more solemn, but over time, Allman-Morton sought to present more of a celebratory tone.
“We’re forgiven before we even sin. That table is out of celebration, not regret and remorse,” he said. “The heart of Christ and God is love, unlimited love.”
Early on, he also faced some pushback from the congregation. Before his start, the congregation had been working to become a more open and affirming church. The designation in the United Church of Christ faith makes a covenant to welcome persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions into their full life and ministry. Some parishioners left the church as a result of the designation, he said. On one occasion, he was even lambasted during a sermon and Allman-Morton said he yelled right back.
“I’ve stolen this from another pastor, but, ‘we need not all think alike to love alike’,” he said.
But time, as it does with most difficulties, helped, he said.
He’s also witnessed a renovation of the sanctuary and the installation of a projector, a sound system and new flooring courtesy of a capital campaign that raised more than 200% of its initial goal. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, the congregation learned how to carry on virtually through Zoom. The technology and ability to provide sermons both in person and virtually will continue after the pandemic.
While the church looks to find an interim pastor, the Deacons Committee has lined up three pastors to cover nine Sundays, according to Kevin O’Keefe, a deacon of the church. Once an interim pastor has been selected, that person will assume the role for 18 to 24 months while the church looks for a permanent pastor, O’Keefe said.
Allman-Morton said he has lined up work as a produce manager at the River Valley Co-op in Easthampton, having previously worked as a produce manager at an independent health food store in Vermont.
In the meantime, he’s also been brushing up on his French as he hopes to one day retire in a French-speaking country alongside his wife, the Rev. Carol Allman-Morton, who is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of the South Berkshire in Housatonic.
“The people here are just so wonderful. They do everything they can to be supportive,” he said. “It has been an honor to serve this small and mighty church through many seasons of life and the beautiful and peculiar Christian calendar.”
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
