Our Ministers
The Reverend Harold E. Masback, III
Senior Minister
The
Reverend Harold E. “Skip” Masback, III has served our church as minister for
over 15 years. He and his wife, Amy, moved to New Canaan in 1994; their three
children, Owen, Katy, and Libby grew up in New Canaan,
participating in the church's youth ministries and attending local schools.
Skip was first called to serve as Associate
Minister in August, 1994 with particular emphasis on youth ministries, Christian
formation and mission. In February, 2001, he was called to serve as the
church's 18th
Senior Minister. Skip took over the customary senior minister responsibilities
for preaching, teaching and pastoral care, but he has maintained his passion for
youth ministries, formation and mission. He continues to work to deepen and
broaden youth ministries both in this church and beyond. He has lectured and
consulted on youth ministry issues in denominational settings and at Yale
Divinity School, where he serves on the school’s Board of Advisors. Skip also
serves on the board of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, where he is the
founder and director of the Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Program. Working
with Dean Harry Attridge,
Skip
developed the Yale Divinity School Bible Study program for local churches. He
has contributed essays on preaching texts from Paul’s Letter to the Romans for
publication in Feasting on the Word, Volume XI.
Skip is a native of White Plains, New York,
where he grew up in a community Baptist church. He graduated from Williams
College and Columbia University Law School before joining the Washington, D. C.
law firm of Hogan & Hartson in 1976. His national litigation practice included
representing major corporate clients and public interest clients such as the
National Wildlife Federation, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Democratic
National Committee. Skip helped start the National Endowment for Democracy in
1983 and was the founding general counsel for the Commission on Presidential
Debates. Skip founded the Legal Services Board for the Whitman Walker Clinic
and started a legal services clinic there for people living with HIV AIDS. After
resigning from Hogan & Hartson in 1983, Skip and colleagues founded the firm of
Ross, Dixon & Masback that grew to include 115 lawyers in four cities across the
country.
Skip left the practice of law in 1991 to enter
Yale Divinity School, graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree in 1994.
While at Yale, he was the founding chair and president of “I Have a Dream,” New
Haven, Inc., an educational enrichment program. Skip and Amy enjoy reading,
theater, gardening, sailing, skiing and playing golf (poorly).
The Reverend Jonah K. Smith-Bartlett
Associate Minister
The Reverend Jonah Bartlett began serving as Associate
Minister in July, 2009. His responsibilities include the adult education
program as well as assisting with our youth groups, confirmation classes and
worship services.
Jonah graduated from Yale Divinity School with a
Master of Divinity degree in May, 2009. He previously received a Master of Arts
and Theological Studies focused in theology and ethics from the Union
Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond,
VA. He earned his undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College in 2002 where he
majored in English and minored in journalism. During his youth, Jonah lived in
Oakland, CA, Richmond, and North Haven, CT.
Before entering seminary, Jonah was a crisis
counselor at Overby-Sheppard Elementary School in Richmond. He enjoys fiction
writing as a “job on the side.” He is also a founding member, songwriter and
tin whistle player for a Richmond Irish band, “The Ex-Patriots.” Jonah’s other
interests include music, literature, film and television; especially how these
mediums are able to play a role in social justice movements.
The Reverend Chris M. Delmar
Minister of Pastoral Care and Nurture
The
Reverend Chris Delmar joined us in October 2010 as our Minister of Pastoral Care
and Nurture.
Chris was ordained
to the ministry in 2009 after graduating from Yale Divinity School and serving
as Chaplain Intern at Norwalk Hospital and Ministry Assistant at First
Presbyterian Church of Stamford. Most recently, Chris served at Yale New Haven
Hospital as a Chaplain Resident. She holds a Masters of Divinity and has
completed special courses in addiction and premarital counseling.
Ministry is a
career change for Chris. Prior to raising her children, she worked as an
attorney and as a manager in the software industry. Chris felt called to
ministry after serving as an active member of her home church, Wilton
Presbyterian. Chris feels especially called to pastoral care. “I am delighted
that God has led me now to a church that has such a deep commitment to caring
for its members, both through its ministers and through its highly skilled lay
care givers,” said Chris. “It is a joy and privilege to have been asked to
serve here.”
Chris and her
husband Dan have lived in Wilton for nearly 26 years. They have two children;
Greg who works for Microsoft in Seattle, and Anne who is a sophomore at the
University of Pennsylvania. When not ministering to those in need, Chris enjoys
playing bridge, and engaging in long “walks and talks” with family and friends.
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