As a long-time New England United Church of Christ pastor, the Reverend Dr.
Carl F. Schultz, Jr. has been both blessed by and a blessing to others. The only
son of a distinguished minister on Cape Cod, Carl came to know something about
the ministry even before he could know that was his calling. Carl attended
public schools in Hyannis, Massachusetts, his home town, and college at Tufts
University where, in 1956, he graduated cum laude. He then attended Andover
Newton Theological Seminary and, at the same time, handled youth ministries for
the Melrose Highlands Congregational Church in Melrose, Massachusetts.
On October 4, 1959, a few months after receiving his Master of Divinity
degree cum laude, Carl was ordained to the Christian ministry in the Plymouth
Congregational Church in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Later, Carl went on to earn
his Doctor of Divinity degree from Hartford Seminary.
Even before he first attended seminary, Carl made another important
commitment when, on August 20, 1955, he married Della M. MacAskill. As Carl has
written of Della, "She has been a constant source of love and friendship,
support and wise counsel, inspiration and encouragement." Hundreds of
parishioners who have known them both agree. Carl and Della have three children,
Mark, Lesley, and Ruth, and ten grandchildren.
After serving for about three years at Plymouth Church where he was ordained,
Carl was called to become the pastor of First Congregational Church in Auburn,
Massachusetts, where he served from 1962 to 1968. He was part-time Director of
the Worcester Council of Churches Pastoral Counseling Center, an elected member
of the Auburn School Committee and active in civil rights and the ecumenical
movement. In 1968, Carl was called to become the Senior Pastor at First Church
of Christ, Congregational in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Here Carl was destined to
become the longest serving pastor—thirty-four years—in First Church's over
three hundred year history.
At Carl's retirement in 2002, First Church in Glastonbury was a much
different place than in 1968, when he arrived. Just physically, it was
different. In 1981, the Meetinghouse (sanctuary) was expanded significantly. In
1991, the Church was expanded by building Schultz Hall (a large gathering space
named in Carl's honor), additional classrooms, offices, and a new elevator. Each
of these expansions was preceded by a successful capital campaign to raise funds
to pay for the construction. As Carl's ministry at First Church drew to a close
in 2002, yet another capital campaign was held to successfully raise over a
million dollars for more building improvements, a new pipe organ, and to meet
various other needs.
Under Carl's leadership, Glastonbury's First Church expanded its social
outreach. It began reading in unison a text, proposed by Carl, called the
"Commissioning," whereby everyone promises, near the end of each
service, to go forth and practice specific Christian teachings. In 1994, the
congregation, with Carl's support, adopted a statement establishing it as an
"Open and Welcoming Church" particularly in terms of its treatment of
homosexuals. In 1997, the Church began using a new hymnal with more
gender-neutral language.
During Carl's pastorate, Glastonbury's First Church flourished in more ways
than can be chronicled here. It had, for instance, enjoyed an excellent music
program as well as outstanding preaching. In a way, its success is evident from
the fact that, in 1998, the ABC television network used a service at First
Church for its annual nationwide Christmas Eve broadcast. Even before that,
keeping up with new technology, First Church had already come to regularly
broadcast its services on local television and make audio recordings of Sunday
services available, particularly for those unable to attend.
During his Glastonbury ministry, Carl also was active in the wider community.
For instance, for many years he served as Chaplain to the Glastonbury Police
Department. Also, Carl was a founder and organizer of the Glastonbury Pastoral
Counseling Center, the Glastonbury Conference of Churches, and the Glastonbury
Clergy Association and several times, was president of the Clergy Association.
Since 1957, churches in the Congregational tradition have belonged to the
Protestant denomination called the United Church of Christ (UCC). Carl has
consistently been active in UCC affairs on both the state and national level. On
the state level, he has been Moderator of the Hartford East Association, Chair
of the Connecticut Conference Department of Lay Life and Works, a member of the
Hartford East Committee on Ministry, Moderator of the Connecticut Conference and
Chair of the Conference Minister Search Committee. Carl has taken an active part
in the life of the Craigville Christian Camp Meeting Association, serving as
president for 12 years.
On a national level, Carl has several times been a delegate to the UCC's
General Synod, and he was on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
of the UCC's Board of Homeland Ministries. Also, in 1994 and again in 1999, Carl
acted as Chaplain for a day in the United States Senate, each time offering the
opening prayer.
Carl's message and his preaching style are well loved at First Church. In
recognition of his wonderful sermons, Faith Faces Forward, a book of his
sermons was published through the efforts of many members of First Church.
Upon his retirement in 2002, Carl was conferred the honorary title of Pastor
Emeritus of First Church. Carl was called to serve as Interim Pastor at the Old
South Church in Boston and is presently fulfilling this call. He and Della will
continue to be treasured members of First Church.
(This history has been taken in large part from the
introduction of "Faith Faces Forward," a book of sermons by
Dr. Carl F. Schultz, Jr., introduction written by Henry von Wodtke)
