Our Team

Get to know our church leaders and staff.

The Rev. D. Mark Blank

Pastor

Raised in the United Methodist Church, Mark found a spiritual home in the UCC in 2007. Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Mark graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2017 after earning a BA from the University of Tampa in 2000. Mark draws on his background in theatre, music, and storytelling in leading worship.

Jana Lillie

Office Administrator

Jana manages the church office, scheduling, event coordination, and helps handle communication among clergy, congregants, and the public, among other things. She is the proud mother of daughter, Matana. Always with a smile, she looks forward to greeting you and helping you as much as she can.

Matt Edwards

Music DIrector

Matt is a native of Maurepas, Louisiana, where he studied at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts and at Southern University. He has been a church musician for over 30 years. In addition to being the music director for SCC, Matt is a noted band leader for the group Buck2Fifty. He is a choir director and piano teacher at Sonatina Piano Camps, an accompanist for the Bennington Children’s Chorus and the Bennington County Choral Society, choir teacher at the Mr. Anthony Union Middle School and maintains a private teaching studio in downtown Bennington. He is also an avid composer; his latest project was the score for the documentary film, The Last Man. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe as a solo performer, sideman, band leader, and choral conductor.

Boards and Councils

Board of Deacons (Worship, Pastoral Care, Spiritual Wellbeing)

Hamilton Topping (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
▪ Linda Lyons (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
▪ Carl Hubbell (24, 25, 26)
▪ Sue DeLucia (24, 25, 26)
▪ Nadine Wisher (24, 25, 26)
▪ Doug Bissell (25, 26, 27)
▪ Dara Lindley (26, 27, 28)
▪ Lorna Cheriton (26, 27, 28)
▪ Daryl Callirgos (26, 27, 28)
▪ Open
▪ Open
▪ Open

Trustees (Buildings, Grounds, Personnel, Finances)

Bruce Lee-Clark, Chair (24, 25, 26)
▪ Bruce Smith, Vice Chair (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
▪ Mike Day (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
▪ Lee Jacobs (25, 26, 27)
▪ Linda Wall (25, 26, 27)
▪ Norma McShane (25, 26, 27)
▪ Mike Matheson (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
▪ Kathy Clark (24, 25, 26)
▪ Sue Green (24, 25, 26)
▪ Mike Weber (26, 27, 28)
▪ Open
▪ Open

Administrative Council

Eric Webster, Moderator (26, 27)
▪ Henry Botzum, Vice Moderator (2026, 27)
▪ Janice Lerrigo, Clerk (2020-)
▪ Bill Lyons, Treasurer (2026-)
▪ Kristen Olmstead, Ministries Council Co-chair
▪ Sarah Blizzard, Ministries Council Co-chair
▪ Bruce Lee-Clark, Board of Trustees Chair
▪ Carl Hubbell, Board of Deacons Representative

Ministries Council (Support for Lay Ministries Groups)

Henry Botzum, Chair (2025-)
▪ Sarah Blizzard (2025-)
▪ Jana Lillie (2025-)
▪ David Haley (2017-27)
▪ Nora Parsons (2026-)
▪ Kristen Olmstead (2026 -)

Pastoral Relations Committee

Mary Lee-Clark (2022)
▪ Deb Perkins (2023)
▪ Debbie Briggs (2023)
▪ Eric Webster (2025)
▪ Maggie Briggs (2026)
▪ Ginny Ray (2026)

Conference Delegates

Delegates to Vermont Conference
▪ Eric Webster (2020-)
▪ Sarah Blizzard (2025-)
▪ Henry Botzum (2025-)
Delegates to SW Vermont Association
▪ Eric Webster (2020-)
▪ Open

Mission Team

Marsh Hudson-Knapp (Co-leader)
Grace Winslow (Co-leader)
Lorna Cheriton
Marilyn Couture
Evan Lawrence
David Haley

Officers

Moderator – Eric Webster (1 of 2 year term)
Vice-Moderator- Henry Botzum (1 of 2 year term)
Treasurer – Bill Lyons (1 year term)
Clerk- Janice Lerrigo (1 year term)