My name is Bill Whitford, and I am a Jesus follower. That seems like a good place to begin.

I’m a lifelong learner.

I am a former M.Div student at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and a full-time employee at a Madison remodeling company.

I’m a recent graduate from UW-Whitewater where I originally started in the late 1970s. When I dropped out of school, I worked at a small R&D company, first as a darkroom tech, and over time I became a computer programmer. I spent my time from 1981 onwards working with computers in a variety of companies. The longest stretch was 17 years at Beloit Corporation, where we made paper-making machinery. I spent two years living in Germany, with trips to paper mills in Germany and France, and a month in Indonesia while working for Beloit. During that time I gained valuable perspectives on the world and on my life in Southern Wisconsin.

I started working as a pulpit supply preacher in the late 1990s at my home church, First Congregational UCC of Milton, Wisconsin. I used to fill in every month, but while the frequency of my preaching has dropped off in the last few years, I continue to feel called to a life of ministry. There have been decades in my life when I put this off, because of work, and caring for family members. Now, this call has led me to return to school, finish my undergrad degree, and attend seminary. I received some financial help from my mother when she died, and this has made my education possible today. Maybe it’s a late start but I like to think that I have been preparing for this job my whole life.

I formerly served at Immanuel UCC in Darlington, Wisconsin as a supply pastor.

I was in Boy Scouts (now Scouts BSA) as a kid, and never really left. I have been the Scoutmaster in my old troop since 1985 and I still feel renewed by spending time with kids, camping, and the movement. Scouting has also repeatedly shown me how I can love people and make a difference in their lives. It has been my secret outreach mission for many many years.

I have been a Member In  Discernment(MID) of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. I have participated in several educational opportunities including Lay Academy and The Damascus Project, under the leadership of the Wisconsin Conference UCC.

I am married to my patient wife Tammy. I have a daughter who lives in South Carolina with her husband and two adorable grandsons who call me ‘Papa’.

My resume is available for download. It reflects my technical career much more than my preaching career. I suspect after seminary there will be changes.