OUR SENIOR PASTOR
REVEREND JOHN G. HUGHES II

Reverend John Hughes joined First Parish Church, Congregational as Minister in 1980. He is a native of Massachusetts and received his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College, PA and his Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theology School, Newton, MA. He was ordained in 1976 in the First Congregational Church, U.C.C., Billerica, MA. He holds his standing for ministry in the Essex Association of the United Church of Christ (U.C.C.). John’s professional training for Pastoral Counseling was through the Clinical Pastoral Education program.

Reverend Hughes’ pastorate focuses on celebrating the “turning points”- births, deaths, weddings, funerals – as well as growing and meeting the church’s and community’s larger spiritual needs. Rev. Hughes preaches, celebrates the sacraments (communion and baptism), and celebrates marriages and funerals for the community. John counsels people in preparation for baptism, marriage, funerals, and for life changes and crises.

Rev. Hughes takes an active leadership role in key community health initiatives, including being the Chair, of the Professional Consultation Committee for Northeast Healthcare System, overseeing the Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.), conducted out of Beverly Hospital, a NEST (Northeast Supervisory Training) center for the national ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). In this capacity, Rev. Hughes ensures the CPE program meets its standard for national accreditation. CPE is a program of professional development for all clergy considering ordination in a denomination as well as those seeking accreditation as a Chaplain or as a Pastoral Counselor. John visits regularly in hospitals, homes, and assisted living facilities upon request or as part of his regular visits. John is also an on-call chaplain for Beverly Hospital to cover emergencies and late evening calls.

Rev. Hughes headed the first Mission Committee for the Essex Association, U.C.C. in 1988, which led to the founding of the first Permanently Affordable Housing on Alper Road, Gloucester (now, Haven Terrace). This was the result of organizing the 41 churches of the Essex Association in fundraising, "sweat equity", and celebrations of prayer and worship. Since then, John served the Emmaus, Inc., Haverhill on the Board of Directors, to create the first family-friendly emergency shelter, housing 13 families. John organized the youth of First Parish Church in building a shed for the Cape Ann Habitat for Humanity program, Ipswich, MA. His support of the Salem Shelter (formerly, Crombie Shelter) has ranged from having young adults rappel off cliffs to raise money ('Up against the Wall for those Up against the Wall') to "Walk the Milky Way", a fundraiser to provide milk for residents of the shelter and the community who access the shelter pantry. John regularly supports the Open Door Food Pantry dinners, Gloucester, MA.

Rev. Hughes has served as Delegate to two National Synods of the U.C.C. and was involved in an exchange with the Evangelical Church of the Union of Germany, representing the Mass. Conference, U.C.C. Studying the effects the Berlin Wall separation had on the churches of West and East Germany allowed him to travel extensively in Germany and, later, led to his participation in bringing adults and then youth to America on EKU/UCC exchanges. John led a group of 12 church members to tour Germany in the Walk with God format, "following the footsteps of Luther". Rev. Mr. Hughes also was involved in setting up an exchange with the Pentecostal Church of Chili and helped organize bringing Chilean youth to America and organizing their itinerary while in America.

John spent his 2006 Sabbatical studying at Cambridge University, England. John and his wife, Marilyn, live in Manchester-by-the-Sea, where they have raised their six children.