Our Staff

The Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola was called as our Conference Minister on August 6th, 2022 and began her ministry on October 26th. She comes to us via Penn Central, where she served as Associate Conference Minister, and from Vermont and Massachusetts where she served as a local church pastor. As ACM in Penn Central, Marisa helped many small churches to realize their God-given mission to be vital beacons to their greater community. Marisa has a passion for helping small churches discover and celebrate their vital role in God’s 21st century. During her time in Vermont, she helped two congregations come together as one – a United Methodist congregation and a United Church of Christ congregation. She enabled them to discover their shared ministry of mission to their community and eventually join together as one congregation, where they have become a focal point of mission to their community. Also in Vermont, she served at the conference level as chair of the Conference-wide Committee on Ministry, as a speaker for church vitality, and as a vitality coach for churches who wish to grow their ministry.

Marisa holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance and Music History from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky, and a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. She taught music at Asbury College in the 1980’s before transitioning to a career in clinical psychology. Prior to her ordination to ministry in 2009, she was a licensed psychologist in clinical practice for over 20 years. She is published in the areas of recovery from the sequelae of childhood abuse and neglect, and also on the topic of small church vitality.

Marisa is thrilled to partner with clergy and lay folk in our conference, as we discern as faith partners, the vision and mission of our ministry into the 21st century. She brings a wealth of experience and love for the United Church of Christ. She and her spouse Carol live in Augusta. They have two grown children, Kristyn and Kathryn.

Lydia is a life-long lover of all things Pilgrim Lodge. She began coming to camp as a toddler, and first joined the summer staff in 2016 as the Camp Photographer. Lydia served as the Summer Assistant Director for three years, and is thrilled to join the team in a year-round capacity. She is proud to be a pastor’s kid, has a deep love for the Maine Conference, and calls Eliot UCC her home church.

Lydia is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, called to seminary by her love of all things outdoor ministry. She finds God ‘neath the tall green trees, and in summer sunsets. Lydia believes so deeply in the power of intentional community and believes that the spirit of camp is the balm to an ever-weary world.

At camp, you’ll find Lydia in the office, serving ice cream in the camp store, swimming to the islands, and worshipping alongside the trees.

Kimberly joined the Maine Conference Staff in June of 2024 as the Office Manager.  Some of her responsibilites include- editing the Midweek Newsletter, Accounts Payables, Payroll,  the web editor for our website and maintains all church information within the Data Hub.  Kimberly is our Annual Meeting coordinator and is an assistant to our Conference Minister. 

She brings knowledge and proficiency in all facets of payroll operations including taxation, accounting, management and human resources.  In 2005, Kimberly passed the American Payroll Association exam to earn the designation of Certified Payroll Professional, which puts her amoung the top ranks of the payroll profession.  

Kimberly attended college at Mid State College in Auburn Maine and also Coastal Carolina Community College in North Carolina.

Kimberly is a native of Maine who resides in Lisbon Falls with her husband and their boxer Brody.  Dan and Kimberly have five grown sons and 11 amazing grandchildren.

Nancy Bartlett joined the Maine Conference in February of 2024. Her responsibilities as Treasury Coordinator include: Accounts Receivable, all operations of the Consolidated Trust of the Maine Conference, financial reporting for specific projects and groups within the Conference, among other duties as assigned.

Nancy has 40 years of accounting experience in both the public and private accounting sectors and brings a wealth knowledge and skills to her position at the Conference.

Nancy lives in Hallowell where she currently serves as the Treasurer for the Hubbard Free Library and is a member of South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta. Her hobbies include fiber arts, cooking, gardening, reading, traveling and attending musical events near and far.