NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Rev. Suzy Aja Burba, who was called to pastor by First Congregational Church in May, feels at home in both the city and the church.

 

"I'm really thrilled about being in the North Adams community," Burba said. "I just see a passion for caring for each other."

 

Burba was the minister of Pilgrim Congregational Church in Weymouth. The church was transitioning into legacy, meaning it planned to conclude its active ministry.

 

"I led the service of the conclusion of a 173-year-old institution, and … I feel blessed that I was able to be there," she said. "I wanted to stay with them until the end, but I had to have a place to go to. So it's like a weird balance, but it worked out perfectly."

 

Knowing this, Burba started the job search. She wanted to stay with a United Church of Christ congregation, and she wanted to stay in Massachusetts or Maine. She reached out to six churches and within three weeks she had six first interviews, three second interviews, and visited North Adams in person. 

 

"Once I was here I knew. These are my people," she said. "Once I met the people I knew that these were my people … even on the initial interview. It was interview one, but it felt like we were getting into interview two questions because it was such a great back and forth."

 

She replaces the Rev. Carolyn Peck, who retired last year after leading First Congregational for a decade. 

 

Burba said the church's profile really aligned with her own, highlighting a focus on social justice and preserving democracy.

 

"In my understanding of Christianity, Jesus was a radical social justice dude so that's one of the things that's very important to me," she said. "And then I saw more of that when I came and visited."

 

She liked that First Congregational was connected to other churches within the assocation.

 

"I thought that it was great that they're connected and engaged with the larger groups," she said. "That is really important to me. They go outside of themselves to gain wisdom of our other churches in the area … that shows healthy leadership and church dynamics."

 

Beyond that, she was happy to see the church's involvement in the community, including Pride Night. First Congregational is an "open and affirming" church and it also hosts the Berkshire Food Project. 

 

"They're active with social issues, and I think we have an obligation to be involved in and just have a voice," she said. "That's one of the great things about this group … they give you a sense of who they are visually outside of the church. They have a rainbow flag, Black Lives Matter. They are saying to the community this is what we stand for … 

 

"It is not like you have to come in and listen to find out, because I know a lot of people I have met in the LGBTQ community if they … don't see anything that indicates that they are welcome they are not going to stop."

 

Burba said it is important for her to lead by example but in a human way.

 

"Leadership in terms of guiding and being an example of what a life of faith is about," she said. "But I'm a human. I'm not perfect. I'm going to mess it up, but be willing to say when I mess it up."

 

Burba graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 2018 with a master's degree in divinity and a certificate in pastoral care and was ordained in January 2021. She is originally from Plymouth.

 

"My father was an independent lobster fisherman. His boat was the Suzy B. So the ocean has always been a part of my life," she said. "But on coming here, I saw the mountains, and I hike, so if I can't stay near the ocean, I want to be in the mountains."

 

Burba arrived in North Adams in June and led her first congregation on Sunday, June 15. She said she has enjoyed living and working in a smaller tight-knit community.

 

"I am very new here, and it has all been very positive. I moved in and these two delightful neighbors came over and brought me this homemade rhubarb-something with rhubarb from their garden just to say welcome to the neighborhood. It was the greatest."

 

Firstly, she wants to increase the already robust church and community engagement. 

 

"I'm wanting to talk to some of the community members. It's part of why I scheduled the meeting with the mayor, and she was awesome. We ended up having a lot to talk about," she said. "But wanting to figure out what are the needs, what are the resources that we have? How can we get plugged in and support people? That is something I want to explore and build."

 

As for future goals, Burba said she hopes to continue the partnership long into the future.

 

"I want to keep doing this until I retire … I have a three year contract, but it is their goal and mine that I am here a lot longer," she said. "So I am going with the plan that I am. I share the goal of the church. I want to be plugged into the community and be of service to others and be a palace that feels welcome and safe."