Community Corner

New Head For Greater Bridgeport Church Council

The group includes churches in Trumbull and Shelton.

The Rev. Cass Shaw is the first female official president and chief executive officer of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, which includes Trumbull and Shelton churches.

Shaw was sworn in Sept. 15 at a ceremony at the First Congregational Church on Beach Road in Fairfield.

"[The] Rev. Shaw is the first woman to lead The Council in its 68-year history.  Her predecessor, the Rev. Brian Bodt, left the Council in 2012 to become pastor of Mary Taylor Memorial Methodist Church in Milford," according to a press release.

Find out what's happening in Trumbullwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Rev. Shaw is formerly the General Presbyter (director) of the Albany, N.Y. Presbytery.  Ordained in 1980, her ministry has been in various presbyteries within the Synod of the Northeast except for four years as pastor of a church and chaplain of an international school in Tamil Nadu, India

Find out what's happening in Trumbullwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"With Rev. Shaw’s installation The Council begins a new chapter in its history," according to the statement.

The Council's programs includes:

  • Bridge Building, which hosts conferences and meetings designed to unify individuals of all backgrounds and faiths
  • Co-Op Center, which provides job training and reentry assistance for men and women returning to their communities after incarceration; 
  • the Hunger Outreach Network, which supports over 35 food pantries and feeding sites citywide, Janus Center for Youth In Crisis (formerly Janus House), which provides support and temporary respite care for youth at risk of homelessness;
  • Project Learn, an after-school program held at four sites throughout Bridgeport , with a new site opening in January of 2014, designed to help bridge the achievement gap among elementary school children.

The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport is a faith-based, non-sectarian social services agency dedicated to serving all people throughout their lifespan, regardless of racial, cultural or faith background.  It was founded in 1945.

The mission of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport “to turn faith into action by enabling both congregations and community partners to combine resources and expertise to provide programs that help people at risk meet their urgent needs.”

The following churches are among its members: 

New Life Assembly of God - Trumbull

Nichols United Methodist Church - Trumbull 

Christ Church Tashua - Trumbull 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Shelton


Holy Cross Lutheran Church - Trumbull  

Trinity Episcopal Church - Trumbull

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Trumbull 

Trumbull Congregational Church - Trumbull 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here