Our Clergy
Rev. Scott B. Neal
The Rev. Scott B. Neal was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the oldest of three children. While he was still a toddler, his family moved to New England and by age ten, they had settled in Northfield, Vermont. He grew up as a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, serving in nearly every capacity from acolyte to Eucharistic minister, including choir director for twenty-four years. Scott's lifelong interest in nature and gardening led him to an undergraduate degree in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Maine at Orono.
Scott has had successful careers as a computer programmer/analyst and in retail horticulture and floral design. The spiritual aspect of helping people honor the memorable events in their lives eventually led him to the discernment process and recognition of his calling to the priesthood. Scott graduated from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church and was ordained in 2007. St. James Episcopal Church in Arlington, Vermont, welcomed him as their priest in December of that year. He was called as rector to St. Paul’s beginning in July 2015. In April 2023, Scott transitioned from rector to Priest-in-Partnership, and also assumed responsibility as Priest-in-Partnership at St. Martin’s in Fairlee.
Scott has served on the Commission on Ministry: Committee on Discernment for the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. In 2012, 2015 and again in 2018, Scott was elected to serve as a Deputy to General Convention, the governing body of the larger Episcopal Church, serving in 2009,2012, 2015 and again 2022. He is known throughout the diocese for his collaborative work style and for being someone who truly lives his faith.
Rev. Jennie Andersen
Jennie Anderson is the Priest-in-Partnership of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church. She is the 23rd rector or priest in charge of the Norwich Episcopal congregation since 1833. She began her ministry here on January 3, 2016. Jennie brings to her ministry a heart of compassion and justice. She is devoted to preaching the love of God within the traditions of the church, while recognizing that we must bring our faith into the world . . . and our neighborhood. She studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, graduating in 2007.
Jennie was born in Boston, Massachusetts and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the UMass-Amherst, in wood science and technology. She is a carpenter, pile driver and welder and a trade union member. At the St. James School, a faith-based middle school in the Episcopal tradition in Philadelphia, she served as superintendent of buildings and grounds and unofficial chaplain to children and staff
Upon her arrival in Norwich, she recognized the church’s special location on the Appalachian Trail, organized a hiker hospitality committee in the church, and began to provide welcome food and shelter to hundreds of hikers throughout the summer months. She connects with hikers empathically, having hiked the Long Trail through Vermont. Hearing the need of a community member to learn how to use tools, she organized and teaches carpentry classes for women. She engages with the community beyond our walls by singing in the Dartmouth College Gospel Choir.
As of April 2023, Jennie also began regular service as Priest for St. John’s in Randolph.
Rev. Geoffrey T. Smith
Deacon Geof was ordained to the deaconate in Chicago in 1996. He has since served in churches in Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York City and Connecticut before coming to serve at St. Barnabas and the three other parishes in the constellation: St. John’s, Randolph, St. Martin’s, Fairlee, and St. Paul’s, White River Junction.
Geof describes his mission as a deacon as being like a firefighter: he runs toward the burning issues of the community to build a congregational response. This has taken him into facilitating a support group for the loved ones of those with HIV/AIDS, essentials pantry, shelter and feeding ministries, Safe Church training, deacon formation, and building community awareness and engagement in recognizing and learning the history and stories of enslaved individuals in colonial Connecticut.
Geof has a BA in Economics from the University of Connecticut, and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago. As deacons are not paid by the church, he worked much of his career in the field of risk management. In 2017 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Episcopal Church, working with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. He retired from that position in 2022 and he and his wife moved to Etna, New Hampshire where they can be closer to their two children and three grandchildren.