Mr. Smith Goes To Cleveland

There has not been a summer at Pilgrim Lodge without Eric C. Smith's presence in 16 years.  Eric came to his first PL camp in 1986 as a third grader and every year after until he came on board as summer store manager in 1995.  For three summers he dished the 'scream (and unofficially served as default person to deal with any other random need) until 1998 when he became the year round assistant to the director, a position he has held for four years.  Eric works an average of 15 hours per week during the off season and (much more than) full time during the summer. 

Eric finished his association with PL as a PL employee and accepted the position of  "Interim Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, Minister for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns and HIV/AIDS Ministries for Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ."   He is filling a position vacated by the Rev. William R. Johnson.  Rev. Johnson is being promoted to "Executive Associate to the Executive Minister for Wider Church Ministries" and will be serving as Eric's supervisor.  This occasion marks Eric's return to Cleveland  following his 1998 internship with the Board for Homeland Ministries.  Eric began his ministry on January 16, 2002. 

Eric has distinguished himself as a leader at Pilgrim Lodge, in the Maine Conference and in the United Church of Christ.  In his local church in Freeport, he has served on the Church Council, as Vice-President, search committee, Christian Education Committee, Membership concerns committee, Retreat Committee, Delegate to the Conference Annual Meeting and as a Sunday School Teacher. 

For the Maine Conference, in addition to his employment at Pilgrim Lodge, Eric has served as dean, counselor,  Delegate to General Synod, State Youth Council Executive committee (three years), Board of Directors, Communications Committee, Properties Committee, Youth Ministries Advisory Committee, and he participated in a Work Team in Honduras,

In addition to his internship in Cleveland, Eric has served  the United Church of Christ as a delegate for Consultation on Church Union and Churches Uniting in Christ and as a UCC representative on the National Council of Churches, Young Adult Ministry Team.  Eric also works with the UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender concerns, currently as its secretary. 

In addition he has established himself as a leader at the University of Southern Maine where he is currently a Psychology/Sociology Junior.  Last year he was presented with an award for "Outstanding Contribution to Community Service," relating to his work as Community Service Coordinator and Interfaith Services Coordinator.  Eric will be taking a semester off and plans to return to USM in the fall to complete his degree.  His plans following college include three years of seminary education. 

All of these impressive positions and achievements do not begin to describe the depth of Eric as a person.  Eric has always gone way above and beyond his responsibilities to reach the heart of ministry.  He has an abundant supply of initiative, creativity, confidence, energy, and attention to detail which combine to uplift all he does.  Eric has certainly left his mark on Pilgrim Lodge and he will be sorely missed, even as his years of work continue to bear fruit.  We all wish him Godspeed and blessings.