Rev. Jeffrey W. Cornwell, Interim Pastor
Education and Service
Going back in time, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from the University of Missouri (UMSL) in 1978, and a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary in 1982, followed by post-graduate studies in liturgy at Boston Theological Seminary in the late 1990’s.
I had the joy of serving Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Elyria, Ohio, from 1982-1988, before moving to Vermont and serving the United Church of Milton as lead pastor in July, 1988 until January, 2021.
I then served as a pastor on staff (part-time position) at the Church of the Rock, St. Albans, from April, 2021 – February, 2023, overlapping with a part-time position as Hospice Chaplain with Franklin County Home Health Agency from January, 2022 – January, 2024.
More recently, I have been serving as interim pastor at Georgia Plain Baptist Church while the pastor is on sabbatical leave.
Family Life
I am married to Kathleen Berard-Brown, who has worked for NCSS (Northwestern Counseling and Support Services) for more than 30 years as a nurse. We live in Fairfax and have two children, Matthew, who lives with his wife, Preethi, in Boston, and the other, Jaimee, who lives in Colchester and is engaged to be married. We have one seven-year-old granddaughter.
Interests
I raise a large garden, ski, play tennis, and work in my woodshop. Kath likes to garden, swim, bake, and help raise our granddaughter. Now that she has sold her motorcycle, we share rides in our Mazda Miata on the way to various maple creemee stands.
Recent Pastor – 2004-2025
Rev. Jason R. McConnell served Franklin United Church and East Franklin Union Church as pastor since January 1, 2004. Prior to moving to Franklin, Jason served in various
pastoral roles at the Chapel of Hope in Josephine,
Pennsylvania; Parkview Presbyterian Church in Oak Park, IL; and Peoples Evangelical Congregational Church in Ashburnham, MA.
Jason and Jennifer met at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, where they both graduated in 2001. Jason received a
Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music.
After graduating from Moody, the McConnells moved to Massachusetts to begin studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Jason completed a Master of Divinity degree in 2005 and a Master of Theology degree in 2007. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree in Rural Ministry from Beeson Divinity School in 2011. Since earning his doctorate, Jason often speaks and teaches in the field of rural ministry.
As well as leading worship at the Franklin and East Franklin churches, Jennifer is an elementary music teacher in the public school system.
In addition to their ministry at the church, the McConnells enjoy spending time in the Vermont outdoors: hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
The McConnells have four children: Sarah, Marcus, and Duncan, and Matthias.