New Pastors at Oxford Church

Applause rang out through the Oxford United Church of Christ on Sunday, March 3, as members joyfully added the Rev. Karen Jodice and the Rev. Jerry Smith to the long list of ministers who have served this place of worship. Having co-pastors allows the church to benefit from two sets of skills and two perspectives from this part-time ministry.

The church has searched unsuccessfully for a new leader for a number of years. During that period, both Rev. Jodice and Rev. Smith have served as supply ministers. The news that they each felt called to end that search and to share the job was both a tremendous relief and the granting of a congregation-wide wish. As Deacon Joy Harmann put it, “It’s a blessing for all of us: the congregation and our new pastors.”

Rev. Smith has served at the Oxford church on and off since the fall of 2012. “The church and I have gotten to know and care for each other,” he says. “For the last few years they have not had consistent pastoral leadership. I feel honored to have a part in changing that, and sharing that task with Karen Jodice is a real plus!”

Growing up in South Bend, Indiana, Rev. Smith first moved to Connecticut as an actuarial intern in Hartford, completing a BS Degree in Business at the University of Hartford and marrying his wife, Cheryl. Upon graduation he entered data processing, working for Xerox in Rochester, New York, but after more than 15 years in the business world, he heard and responded to a call to the pastoral ministry.

Rev. Smith graduated with honors from the Colgate Rochester Divinity School, concurrently working and teaching computers and serving as a part-time pastor of a small rural church. He was ordained as a Pastor and Teacher by the United Church of Christ in 1985, and has served churches in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. Although he retired to Southbury in 2011, he has continued his life in the church, doing pulpit supply as well as interim and temporary ministries.

He and Cheryl have three married children, six grandchildren and a rescued Golden Retriever named Chester.

Rev. Karen Jodice was born and raised in Lexington, Massachusetts. Quinnipiac University brought her to Connecticut where she completed her BS Degree in Physical Therapy. For many years she has worked as a physical therapist, first with children with special needs and more recently with adults in a variety of settings.

Later in her life, she discerned and answered a call to ordained ministry which led her to Yale Divinity School where she earned a Master of Divinity Degree in 2004. Rev. Jodice was ordained as a minister in the United Church of Christ in 2005 and served the Broadview Community Church, UCC in Hartford as pastor from 2005 to 2010. She began ministering to the Oxford congregation in 2017 as a short term or bridge minister and says, “Over these past two years I’ve come to know and care about the people of OUCC and feel privileged to be called as their co-pastor. To share the journey with Jerry Smith is a real joy.”

In addition, Rev. Jodice works for the Visiting Nurses of Connecticut, The Watermark at East Hill and The Lutheran Home of Southbury. She lives in Southbury with her spouse, their son and their beagle.

Sunday services are held at the Oxford United Church of Christ at 10 a.m. Further information is available by calling (203) 888-6186.