Carol Gossett
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Rev. Dr. Carole Barner Our Interim Pastor
Bi Rev. Dr. Carole Barner is the bridge interim pastor for St. Peter's UCC-New Haven. She began her tenure February 16, 2026.
Rev. Barner has served United Church of Christ congregations in Columbia, Jefferson City and St. Louis, with a stint in Christian Education in a United Methodist Church in Little Rock. Following ordination, she served the Missouri Mid-South Conference as Coordinator of the Congregational Vitality Initiative, working with 36 congregations across the conference to explore possibilities for new life in their settings. Participation in the wider UCC continues to be important, and she currently is Facilitator of the Minister Reflection Group for the Committee on Ministry Preparation of the St. Louis Association. She also serves on the board of Deaconess Nurse Ministry. Born and raised in the United Church of Christ, she graduated from Eden Theological Seminary twice, with a Master of Divinity degree and then a Doctor of Ministry degree following a decade of congregational ministry. Undergraduate study at the University of Missouri-Columbia (M-I-Z-Z-O-U!) yielded a B.A. in Psychology and a journey in music where she met her husband Biff. They have always shared their love of music with their daughters – Erin, who resides in St. Charles with her husband Tyler, and Kristen who lives in Corpus Christi with husband Robert, son Bobby and daughter Lindee. Erin and Tyler celebrated their wedding at St. Peter’s UCC last year and await the arrival of their first baby in late July. She and Biff live in South St Louis County. Intentional Interim Ministry training through the Center for Congregational Health and Interim Ministry positions at St. Lucas UCC and Kirkwood UCC have helped prepare her for a call to serve St. Peter’s UCC. Carole believes all congregations are in some form of interim ministry, living between the now and the not yet, discerning where God is calling them to go and seeking faithfully to answer the call. Carole believes in the value of outdoor ministry, having directed camps through our Conference Outdoor Ministry programs for 16 years. She even created an off-site Conference camp near Paris, MO, for seven of those years to offer a more accessible price for families with multiple campers. Welcome in the Church means many things. Carole enjoys time with family, playing piano, musical theater, traveling, and cheering for Cardinal baseball. Playing the organ at Busch Stadium is on her bucket list. Pastor Carole believes ministry calls us to creative collaboration, bravery in moving forward, and the openness to God’s question, “What if?” |
