Rev. Curt Anderson was called to First Congregational Church as our Senior Minister in August, 2000. He began his ministry with this congregation in November, 2000 and was installed on April 29, 2001. Send e-mail to canderson@firstcongmadison.org.

Curt was ordained on Reformation Day, October 31, 1971, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He served churches in Iowa, Flint, Michigan, Janesville, Wisconsin, and Auburn, California before coming to Madison this fall. Among many different activities during those years, Curt was the chair of the Interfaith Alliance in Flint from 1978 - 1980. He was a Vice President and Founding Member of Rock County Habitat for Humanity. Curt served as chair of the Southwest Wisconsin Church and Ministry Committee from 1986 - 1990 and as chair of the Northern California UCC Conference Ecumenical Concerns Committee from 1999 - 2000. He was the Wisconsin UCC representative to the United Reformed Church of England and Wales during Lent, 1989. Curt currently serves on the Church and Ministry Division of the Southwest Wisconsin Association UCC.

Rev. Anderson was raised in Fresno, California, attended and graduated from Fresno State College in 1967 with a B.A. in English. He attended seminary in Berkeley at Pacific School of religion and graduated in 1971 with an M.A. in Biblical Studies and an M.Div. In 2001, Curt earned a Ph. D. in Theology from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Donaldson, Indiana.

Curt and his wife, Joan, a librarian in Middleton schools, have been married 32 years and live in Middleton. They have two grown sons and one grandchild. Curt is an amateur photographer. He likes to hike in the mountains, to read and to barbecue outside all year long, even in the middle of winter. Joan and Curt enjoy drama and music.

Rev. Eldonna L. Hazen was called by the congregation in April, 2006 and began her ministry at First Congregational Church in September, 2006 with her installation following in February, 2007. You can contact Rev. Hazen by e-mail.

Rev. Hazen was born and raised in Sterling, Nebraska (NE) and graduated from Sterling High School. She continued her education at Peru State College in Peru, NE on a special abilities scholarship in music. She graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education. Eldonna taught vocal and instrumental music at Johnson-Brock Public Schools in Johnson, NE for ten years. During her teaching career, she attended the University of Nebraska and completed a Master of Arts degree, with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction in 1986.

Following her tenure of teaching, she and two colleagues started a deli/restaurant in Lincoln. The business flourished in the Lincoln and Omaha markets. Eldonna is most proud of the diversity of staff in her business and her activity in the community. She served on the Education Committee of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, did speaking in high schools and colleges about entrepreneurship, and was an energetic speaker and mentor for the Ventures in Partnership program of the Lincoln Public Schools – a program designed to partner businesses and schools to provide mentorships for at-risk students.

Eldonna was raised in the American Lutheran Church, and was active in the youth group at the local, conference and district level. During college, however, she discovered her sexuality and felt unwelcome in the Lutheran denomination. After a period away from the church, she found a United Methodist Church where she and her partner Cathy Noth (pronounced with a long o) could be open and rekindle her relationship with the Church. When she decided to pursue the ministry, she and Cathy chose to find a denomination where their sexuality would not prohibit them from being both open and supported in their ministry. The United Church of Christ has been not only welcoming but also matches their beliefs in other areas, such as social justice.

She and Cathy have been in a committed relationship for 13 years. They celebrated the 10th anniversary of their union ceremony this last February. Cathy is the birth mom of their five year old son, Spencer Noth-Hazen, who will be a kindergartner in the fall.

Cathy is an assistant volleyball coach at Macalester College, in St. Paul since 2002. She is in high demand as a camp instructor and clinician during the summer months. She was a two-time All-American at the University of Nebraska as a setter, and led the Cornhuskers to four consecutive Big Eight titles. In 1988, Cathy’s volleyball jersey was retired and she was named one of the Huskers All-Time Greats. She is 1 of only 5 players (and the first female) at the Nebraska to have her jersey retired.

Eldonna answered her call to ministry in 2002 and attended United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities., completing her Master of Divinity degree in May, 2005. She was the recipient of the Lydia Myrl Kapp Memorial Award for outstanding work in preaching and the Charlotte L. Matthews Community Leadership Award for graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding service within the UTS community.

Rev. Jerry Hancock, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, entered the ministry after working for more than 30 years in the criminal justice system. Here is how he explains his change in careers:

"Sometimes it is hard to understand the meaning of your own life. Sometimes it is hard to understand where God wants you to be.
I worked in the criminal justice system for more than thirty years. I started as a law student interviewing prisoners in the jail at seven o’clock every Monday morning. Since that time I have prosecuted and defended rapists, murders and shoplifters. I have written legislation. For a while I was head of the state crime labs, and we introduced forensic DNA in Wisconsin. I worked with law enforcement leaders—like David Cooper—on the development of Problem Oriented Policing. And I worked with Jim Doyle on the prosecution of Publishers Clearing House for defrauding the elderly.
It was a wonderful career, and I looked forward to going to work every day. But about five years ago, I began to think that God might be calling me in a different direction. I know that God wants me in prison. I need to be in prison to find the justice that is missing in the legal system."

In February, Rev. Hancock became the Director of the Prison Ministry Project. The Project is an outreach ministry of the United Church of Christ. Its challenge is to serve prisoners and their families, engage the wider church in prison issues and to be an advocate for prison reform.

Rev. Hancock is a graduate of Colorado College, The University of Wisconsin Law School and Chicago Theological Seminary. He and his wife, the artist Linda Hancock, live in Madison. Rev. Hancock can be reached at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1609 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53726 or send e-mail to Jerry at jhancock@firstcongmadison.org.