The Wardens and Vestry are delighted to announce that The Reverend Eleanor Applewhite Terry has accepted the call to become the 5th Rector of our beloved Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton! Ellie will be joining us on or after October 1, 2020. Ellie comes to us from the Old North Church in Boston, where she has served on the clergy staff since 2013, first as Associate Vicar, and then in 2019, as Bridge Vicar. In this current role, she has sole responsibility for parish services, ministries, and administration, all the while supporting that parish during a transitional period as they prepare to welcome a new Vicar.

Our new Rector also served for seven years as the Vicar of St. Paul's Church in Plainfield, Connecticut, and began her ordained ministry as the Associate Rector of Saints Peter & Paul Church in Portland, Oregon. These two parishes gave her diverse experiences: one a family-oriented, small community parish where she was instrumental in growing average Sunday attendance by 86%; the other an urban congregation with exquisite liturgy and a strong commitment to outreach.

Ellie earned a M.Div. from Yale Divinity School in 1997 (Diploma of Anglican Studies, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale) and a B.A. from Smith College in 1991, with a Major in Religion and Biblical Literature and a Minor in Government.

Ellie has actually been among us in the Acton community for some time: she and her family have lived in Acton since 2012! Some of you might already know Ellie and her family from school and other activities.

The Wardens and Vestry are extremely appreciative of the dedicated and discerning work of the Rector Search Committee over these past months and years. Thank you for your good and faithful service! Please join with the Wardens and Vestry in sharing a big WELCOME to Ellie as she prepares to join the Church of the Good Shepherd faith community!