NORWICH – Associate pastor at the Broad Street United Methodist Church for the past three and a half years, Nancy Hale has assumed the role of senior pastor, previously held by her husband, Jeff Hale.

Hale took over as senior pastor on Jan. 1, as her husband prepares for his first-ever sabbatical after 25 years with the ministry and six years in Norwich. The United Methodist Church, said Hale, allows its pastors the opportunity to go on sabbatical – a time of renewal and spiritual growth – and her husband will use the six-month break to explore new avenues of ministry. Most of his time, she added, will be spent doing mission work, volunteering in the Southern Tier region.

“I’m excited for him,” said the new pastor. “He’s getting to do some things that he wouldn’t get to do otherwise and meeting new people.”

Once his six-month sabbatical ends, her husband will be seeking an appointment to another church, reported Hale.

A graduate of Boston University’s School of Theology – she has a Master of Divinity degree – Hale has 15 years of experience to draw on as a pastor, although she admitted she and her husband have a different approach when it comes to the ministry. And while she’s served at a number of other churches across central New York, the Broad Street UMC is the largest. Her time here as its associate pastor, however, has made the transition a smooth one.