Robert Hoffman Naylor
E-mail: Bob@2cc.org

Bob Naylor began his senior ministry at Second Congregational Church in December 2001 after more than 30 years of local and national service with the United Church of Christ (UCC). Bob settled on ministry early in life because, he says, “The church was always there for me.” Born in 1946, he grew up in Pennsylvania, his mother a nurturing homemaker and his father a corporate executive and social activist. After graduating from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Bob was ordained by the UCC in 1970.

Over the next three decades, Bob's career evolved through three stages, leading up to the call to serve Second Church.

For 10 years, he served First Congregational Church of Danbury – his first of three Connecticut churches – initially as associate minister and later as senior minister. Bob is still remembered in Danbury as a talented young pastor who brought healing, stability and growth to a sharply divided church.

In 1980, he was invited to join the UCC staff, overseeing and ministering to the needs of various local churches, first at the state level in Pennsylvania, and later at the national level, based in New York City.

In 1987, he was called to be senior minister of First Church of Christ in Simsbury, where he served until beginning his ministry at Second Church. The legacy of Bob's 14-year ministry in Simsbury is a vibrant, active church with 1,700 members, Bible studies with more than 150 participants, a new wing dedicated to him in recognition of his leadership of a capital campaign, and ministries from inner-city Hartford to Guatemala and Korea.

Having spent his entire career in the UCC, Bob remains a “loving critic.” His theology is moderate. He believes in knowing the congregation and preaching to meet the members' needs, and challenging them to wider witness. He believes music is an important part of worship and church life, while favoring excellence and variety. His personal interests range from the arts to basketball and other sports.

As a leader, Bob is neither rigid nor dogmatic; rather, he seeks out the gifts of staff and lay leaders and helps them build successful programs. Bob relates to members of all types and ages and has a passion for youth programs. A robust sense of humor pervades his buoyant personality. Above all, he is a true pastor to his congregation.

Bob and his wife, Gretchen, have been happily married since 1969 and have two grown sons living in the Boston area. Gretchen graduated with a master's degree in information science from Drexel University and has worked professionally in both corporate and public libraries. She is a valued partner in Bob's ministry. The Naylors enjoyed living in Fairfield County once before and are happy to be back.