Rev. Joanne Thomson
Associate Conference Minister For Church Development and Renewal

Joanne started parish ministry as pastor of an urban congregation that had been in steady decline for 30 years. The congregation was housed in a historic building whose sanctuary seated 1,000, but where only 15 people worshipped on Christmas Eve. This experience launched her into the world of church vitality and renewal.

She understands her ministry now as helping churches to reclaim their original God-given call and to discern their response within their current context.

Joanne has served as an Associate Conference Minister for the Wisconsin Conference since 2001. Before that she served as pastor at Middleton Community UCC, Middleton, WI (1989-2000), First Congregational UCC, Madison, WI (1984-1989), and Prospect Congregational UCC, Cambridge, MA (1981-1984).

She has also had the privilege of working as a student in the small towns and churches of Vermont as a "summer minister" for the Vermont Conference. Prior to entering the ministry, Joanne worked in local government in the Boston area.

She is a graduate of Tufts University (BA, 1975) and the Harvard Divinity School (MDiv, 1981). She lives in Madison with her husband, Don Hausch, and has two adult children, Paul and Jessie.