The Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Organization: Old South Church (UCC), Boston, MA

Nancy S. Taylor has served since 2005 as the 20th senior minister and chief executive officer of Old South Church in Boston. The dual nature of this role reflects Old South's dual identity as both a thriving urban church, and an historic leadership institution in Boston (and, as such, steward of storied events and personages, of a National Historic Landmark Building, as well as collections of rare books and silver). 

Under Nancy's leadership, Old South Church has grown remarkably in ways measurable (worship services, attendance, participation, programming, national profile, financial stewardship) and immeasurable (there is a palpably spirited 'buzz" at the church, a sense of excitement and joy in the work we are doing.) The Church was recognized in 2011 at a United Church of Christ (UCC) "Center for Excellence," has grown in its vocation as a teaching church and developed an exciting Vision for the 21^st Century in which it is engaged. The Church has exercised ecumenical and interfaith leadership, for instance, in hosting worship services on the inauguration of Deval Patrick as Governor and Martin Walsh as Mayor, convening the leadership who planned services and events on the tenth anniversary of 9 11, addressing growing instances of Islamophobia, and ministering to the City of Boston and many survivors in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings.

Nancy describes her enthusiasm for the ministry of Old South Church: "To enter the life of Old South Church is to step into and become a part of a great stream of history. You stand in the same waters as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and Phillis Wheatley. You take your place in the movement of God's people that goes back to Abraham and Sarah and wends its way down through the ages. It is humbling and thrilling. To ask 'To what is God calling us in this age?' is to hear the echoes of prior ages. You want to measure yourself by the great ones who have come before. You want to rise to the moment and to serve God in this time. Such is the pull of Old South Church."

Before her call to Old South Church, she served as Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC (2001-2005).  During this time, Nancy was instrumental in introducing the legislation making clergy mandated reporters of suspected child abuse; worked to establish a public voice for the UCC; supervised a $1.5 million Lilly Endowment grant for pastoral excellence program; hosted Freedom Schooner Amistad's visit to Boston Harbor; and worked with interfaith leaders in the aftermath of 9/11. 

During her ten years serving as the Senior Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Boise, Idaho, Nancy was instrumental in introducing legislation that assured Idaho' s farm workers a minimum wage and she helped to defeat two anti-gay ballot initiatives.