Pastor

Donna Cavedon was born into a Canadian and Italian family in Rhode Island, the oldest of three siblings. Donna felt called to ministry at the age of 12, but within the Roman Catholic system this was defined narrowly to become a nun. Married at 19, she and Ray had a son, Marc, born a couple of years later. By the time Marc was four years of age, the marriage had ended. During this time of disappointment, struggle, and hope, that early sense of “call” was reawakened.

In 1980 Donna and Marc ventured to Bangor, Maine, where she began studies at Bangor Theological Seminary, receiving a M.Div. in 1983. She also met her second husband during that time. Her first call was as minister of visitation at First Congregational Church in South Portland, Maine. In 1990 she began serving as a solo pastor at a Federated Church in Castleton, Vermont — UCC and UMC. During this time her marriage to Alan ended. She received her D.Min. from Bangor Seminary in 1994 focusing on Evangelism in Rural Congregations. The last church served in New England was as associate pastor at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.

In 2006 Donna decided to take a leap of faith and moved to Arizona — no job, no family, no friends waiting to greet her — just beauty all around. She has called Sedona home for the past 12 years. The first five years in Sedona she worked as a ranger at Red Rock State Park. This was followed by five years as associate pastor at the Church of the Red Rocks. Since then she has had training as an interim minister and served in that capacity most recently in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Donna is looking forward to a rewarding and fun time as interim minister at First Christian Church getting to know its members and friends. Please address your correspondence to pastor@fcclc.org.