All members of First Church are “ministers,” called to share their gifts and commitments in church and community. Our Transition Minister is the Reverend Doctor Sidney D. Fowler and our Associate Minister of Christian Education is the Reverend Doctor Barbra (Bonnie) Hardy.

Sidney D. Fowler

Sid Fowler has served as interim senior minister at Westmoreland Congregational UCC in Bethesda and Hope UCC in Alexandria. He directed the online scripture project of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and teaches with Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Prior to 2005, he served for 14 years on the national UCC staff in areas of curriculum, spiritual formation, worship, and church vitality. Sid is author of What Matters to You? Matters to Us: Engaging Six Vital Themes of Our Faith and numerous curriculum projects. Recently he was one of three UCC representatives to the Reformed and Roman Catholic seven-year dialogue that led to mutual recognition of baptism. He has an M.Div from Duke Divinity School and earned his Ed.D. in religion and education from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University. Sid has been a member of First Church since he and his partner, Jeffrey Catts, moved to the District in 2005.

Barbra (Bonnie) Hardy

Bonnie Hardy is our Associate Minister for Christian Education. She works with all of the educational programs in our L.O.F.T. (Living our Faith Together) program. She also works as a Spiritual Director in the Northern Virginia/Maryland/DC area and volunteers at the Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage at the National Cathedral. As a writer Bonnie contributes to the Faith Practices series being published by Pilgrim Press. Bonnie holds a M.Div. degree from Claremont School of Theology and a D.Min. degree in Christian Spirituality from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is a resident of Alexandria, Virginia where she lives with her partner, Navy Chaplain Bill Middleton. They share six children, two dogs, and five feral cats in their blended family.

Gary Fitzgerald

Gary Fitzgerald is the Music Director of First Congregational United Church of Christ. He directs the choir, plays organ and piano and works with worship leaders and preachers to enhance worship.  He has been a church musician most of his life. Rooted in the Episcopal Church, he has served as a music director in congregations in South Carolina and at two different congregations in Fairfax, VA. He is a graduate of Juilliard School of Music and has worked as a professional musician in Montreal, Perth (Western Australia) and New York City. He is a skilled musician/artist on piano, organ, and various stringed instruments (especially the cello). His leadership provides creative guidance and direction for our volunteer choir and other music programs of the church.

Nan McConnell

Nan McConnell was elected Moderator of First Congregational United Church of Christ in January 2011. As moderator of First Church, she works with the church council to make decisions for the church, or to refer them to congregational meetings for vote. At First Church all members participate in the work and governance of the church by serving on a variety of Commissions and Committees and participating in congregational meetings.