Development & Support Groups
Development & Support Groups
Pastoral Leadership Development Groups (PLDG)
Grace Scott Fund for Pastoral Care
New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, administered by BrightLeaf (formerly Pastoral Counseling Services)
Pastoral Leadership Development Groups (PLDGs) will be offered in the fall of 2026 for ongoing professional support, personal growth as individuals in ministry, and building skills to sustain living out the call in these demanding times. These groups provide a safe setting to develop one’s identity and practice as a clergyperson.
PLDG facilitators are trained as pastoral psychotherapists, CPE supervisors, and/or specialists in systems theory as applied to the church. Groups will meet virtually, with an option to meet in person twice during the year, if participants decide. The groups are open to all Authorized Ministers of the NH Conference of the UCC. Tuition is $250, which covers ten meetings and is payable in full or in installments if needed (no tuition required for retirees).
In addition to three parish-based PLDGs, groups focused on three specialty areas are offered:
Newly Called — for parish clergy who are new to ministry and/or new to the NH Conference
Members In Discernment — for those discerning their call while in care of an Association of the NH Conference
Retired Clergy — for those no longer serving in active ministry or will soon be entering retirement (two groups will be available this year)
Contact a designated facilitator listed below to be considered for the group in which you are interested. For general questions, contact David Reynolds, PLDG Administrator, at (603) 518-7751 or dreynolds@brightleafnh.org.
Facilitator Descriptions and Group Contacts
The Rev. Dr. Margaret B. Hess
(603) 930-3456 • meg@makegladness.comParish Based Group B • 2nd Wednesday, 1–3 p.m.
Meg is a NH Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapist practicing in Nashua, NH. An ordained American Baptist Minister, she served as Minister and Interim Minister to ABC/USA congregations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for 25 years. Meg is on the faculty of Leadership in Ministry Workshops, which uses Bowen systems theory as a lens to explore leadership development in religious institutions. She was adjunct faculty in preaching at Andover Newton Theological School for over 30 years. Meg is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. She returns for the eighteenth year as a facilitator for the PLDGs.
Meg’s groups will use Bowen family systems theory to explore pastoral leadership in congregations. The format will combine didactic sessions on Bowen theory, case study presentations, and family diagram (genogram) work by the participants.
The Rev. Rebecca Maccini
(603) 867-4604 • revrwm@myfairpoint.netParish Based Group C • 2nd Wednesday, 10 a.m.–noon
Rebecca has been in pastoral ministry of the UCC for 36 years. She has served churches in northern New England and Scotland in these pastoral configurations: as an associate; co-pastor; bivocational/part-time; designated, transitional, and full-time. Mentored by students of Murray Bowen and Edwin Friedman, Rebecca has been studying Bowen family systems theory for 27 years. She serves on the faculty of the Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary, coaching and presenting at Leadership in Ministry workshops and webinars.
Rebecca offers the lens of family systems, which includes understanding triangles, congregational history, anxiety and the pastor’s familial history as a way to frame pastoral ministry and leadership in a congregational setting. Family systems theory provides a way of ‘seeing’ emotional process, and the opportunity for greater awareness of leadership skills in pastoral ministry. In addition, the key concept of boundaries will focus upon self-regulation and clarity about one’s beliefs, and responsibilities in ministry. Bringing congregational case studies, doing family-of-origin work, utilizing genogram work, teaching the theory, and theological reflection will be part of the group work.
The Rev. Dr. David B. Reynolds
(603) 518-7751 • dreynolds@brightleafnh.orgParish Based Group D • 3rd Wednesday, 9–11 a.m.
David is Senior Staff at BrightLeaf (formerly Pastoral Counseling Services) in Manchester, NH, where he has worked for thirty-eight years. After stepping down from being Executive Director, he continues to provide spiritually integrated psychotherapy, spiritual direction and consultation. As an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a NH Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapist, and a Clinical Member in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, he oversees the Clergy and Congregational Care Program at PCS, which provides psychotherapy, psychological testing, spiritual direction, and consultation for clergy and their families. David served eight years in the parish before working in pastoral psychotherapy. He returns for his seventeenth year in leading a PLDG and is administrator of the program.
The PLDG he leads has three components: spiritual centering; check-in on the pastoral self; and case presentations by group members. Special attention is given to Murray Bowen’s concepts of anxiety, triangles, reactivity, self-differentiation, and emotional process in the context of the congregation. The group sometimes decides to read a book or an article together at the first gathering.
The Rev. Dr. Ron Dieter
(603) 731-7546 • rdieter463@gmail.comRetired Clergy Group 1 • 3rd FridayRetired Clergy Group 2 • 3rd Monday
The Retired Clergy Groups of the PLDG program are facilitated by Ron, who is in his fourth year. He recently retired as a hospital Chaplain, following his 40 years of experience as a NH Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapist. His work provides an orientation toward the spiritual process of healing and transformation, often during times of change, loss, and transition. Ron is specially trained in family therapy by the Kantor Family Institute. He is the former Director of Senior Enrichment Services, a pioneering mental health program for the aging in central New Hampshire.
Ron is an ordained American Baptist (ABC/USA) Minister. He values the spiritual resources of individuals to achieve healing of the whole person. In describing his style Ron states a common question that he asks is “Are you willing to bet on you?” It’s important for clergy (and others) to invest in themselves to grow and to realize the gifts within. Group time will focus on self-care of members, congregational case studies, theological reflection and what makes for renewal.
The Rev. Rebecca Maccini
(603) 867-4604 • revrwm@myfairpoint.netNewly Called Group • 2nd Thursday, 10 a.m.–noon
The Newly Called Group is for those clergy newly called to ministry or to a UCC church in New Hampshire. This group generally meets by Zoom once a month (September–June) on the second Thursday at 10 a.m.–noon. The group may meet physically if there is interest. Beginnings, endings and transitions are discussed along with the challenges and joys of becoming part of and leading a new congregation. The focus of the group is based upon the needs and interests of the participants. Short didactics about congregational emotional process, and other topics of interest that lead to deeper discussion and support ministerial leadership have been conducted. (See Rebecca’s bio above.)
The Rev. Joel Eaton
(603) 545-5505 • jeaton@hhhinfo.orgMembers-In-Discernment Group • 2nd Wednesday, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
The journey of being a member in discernment follows a long and winding road. The pastoral leadership development group (PLDG) for MIDs aims to provide good companionship and mutual support among MID peers to remind each MID that they are not alone but are making this journey in good company. The MID group provides compassionate space for MIDs to process experiences among peers and learn and receive support from others in different stages of formation. The group is facilitated by Rev. Joel Eaton, a Board Certified Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care & Education at Havenwood Heritage Heights, a continuing care retirement community in Concord, New Hampshire. Prior to becoming a chaplain, Joel served as a local church pastor. His own path to ordination was nontraditional, serving as a licensed pastor while completing Divinity School and ordination requirements. Through his own journey, Joel knows the ups and downs, twists and turns — the joys and anxieties of discerning call in community. Joel loves his work teaching Clinical Pastoral Education at HHH; he has an enthusiasm for reflective practice and is a skilled and empathetic facilitator of group processes. In his facilitation of the MID PLDG he draws on his own experience of compassionately accompanying CPE interns on their unique journeys of vocational discernment and becoming.
Newly Called in the NHCUCC Support Group
Purpose: This program is intended to enhance skills among those authorized for ministry, address concerns particular to new positions and transitions in ministry, as well as to meet and form a supportive network for clergy in the New Hampshire Conference.
Format: The support group utilizes the case conference model in which clergy are able to share concerns or problems they are facing in their new ministry settings.
Leadership: The Rev. Rebecca Maccini (revrwm@myfairpoint.net) facilitates this group.
Enrollment: Check back for contact information on enrollment. In the past, start-up times are offered where there are either breaks in the meeting schedule, or when there is enough clergy interest to create a group. Limited enrollment (8 being the maximum) allows ample time to have needs addressed. After a two-year cycle of participation, clergy are encouraged to seek support in the Pastoral Leadership Development Groups offered throughout the Conference.
Cost: Donations of $20 per participant for each session are combined with funding from the Grace Scott Fund for Pastoral Care to fund this program.
Limited scholarship assistance is available for those in need. Please contact Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, at (603) 225-6647, ext. 1101 or grankin@nhcucc.org to apply for financial support.