About Us
Southport Congregational Church is a loving community, open and affirming of all people, and celebrates the richness and diversity of the human race while living out the joy of Christ in our every day lives.
We are a congregation filled with people who are compassionate, faithful, generous and loving. We are dedicated to living out God's purposes here on earth and following Jesus' words to "...love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind..and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mt 22:34-40)
Located in historic Southport Village, our church is large enough to make an impact on our world and yet personal enough to have the feel and energy be one of family and love. Come visit and see what we're all about!
Our Clergy
Our Clergy and Staff are here to help you find meaning and purpose in your every day life with their strong commitment to preaching, teaching, pastoral care and offering many opportunities to serve others.
SENIOR MINISTER
Reverend Paul Whitmore
Paul is a wonderfully compassionate spiritual leader, who cares for the minds and souls of our congregation. Since he began his leadership in 1994, Southport Congregational Church has experienced vibrant growth in all areas of its ministry and mission. Paul's Sunday messages are inspirational, thought-provoking, biblically-based and spiritually enriching. Drawing on real-life experiences, Paul brings the Bible to life and provides nurturing spiritual leadership which speaks to people on a personal level. Paul is married to Laura Whitmore (Associate Minister) and they have four grown children. He is an avid tennis player, cyclist, singer and guitarist.
ASSOCIATE MINISTER
Reverend Laura Whitmore
Laura is a minister whose many gifts include with working with all people: children, youth and adults. Children are naturally drawn to her and her vivacious personality, and are entranced as she brings Bible stories to life! Laura engages our children and youth in social, moral and Christian responsibility, and does it with such joy and authenticity, that adults ask for the same opportunities! Her calling to minister to the underserved includes 15 years of friendship and service to the Red Shirt Table Community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Laura is married to Paul Whitmore (Senior Minister) and they have four grown children; Scott, Aleigha, Audra and Parker as well as a Bernese Mountain Dog, Heidi. Laura is an avid tennis player, pickle ball player, cyclist, a former PTA President, Scout Leader and loves to read and tend her vegetable garden.
MINISTER EMERITUS
Reverend Loring Esign
Our Staff
Director of Administration
Paul DiPrato
Paul has been a church member for over 15 years and joined the staff in 2019. Paul supports our Ministers and boards in the operational and administrative functioning of the Church. He has been an active member of our Church for more than ten years, having served on our Board of Christian Education and Deacons, and was the Chairperson of our Mission Outreach Board. Paul’s expertise is in finance, strategic management, and general business. His experience includes working at Clairol and Unilever and business consulting. Paul’s spiritual grounding and insightful and warm interpersonal skills offer the ideal complement of capabilities, skills, and experience for his unique role.
Paul is happily married to Lisa Iaffaldano DiPrato (married here at SCC), has two wonderful children, Sydney and Aidan King, and two dogs, Billy and Bear.
FUN FACT:
Matthew’s hands are the size of a sheet of paper! Great for handling what life throws at him, not so much for finding gloves.
Seminarian
Dave Stuart
Long time church member and frequent guest preacher, Dave Stuart, will be joining our Ministerial staff on September 1 as a part-time Seminarian while a full-time second-year student at Yale Divinity School. Dave recently retired early from his law firm after 27 years of legal practice to enter Yale Divinity School and provide pro bono legal services to incarcerated victims of domestic and sexual violence. Dave has served on the SCC Boards of Deacons and Trustees, the Stewardship Committee and currently leads the Church Council as our Church Moderator.
Seminarian
Matthew Ceurvorst
Matthew currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he is pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard Divinity School to support his calling to spiritual care and counseling. Previously, he spent five years in Maui, Hawaii, working as an end-of-life caregiver for the author and spiritual teacher Ram Dass alongside Scott Whitmore. During this time, he developed a passion for fostering community through devotional music and meditation practices. Matthew is looking toward Ordination in the UCC, and to becoming a Seminarian at SCC. He is deeply grateful to his best friend Scott, and Revs. Paul & Laura Whitmore for welcoming him to the Southport Congregational Church!
Church Secretary
Pamela Poling
Pam joined us as a member 21 years ago. During those years, she has served our Church Family in many capacities; first, as our beloved Church School Assistant, then as our Ministerial Assistant, and now as our Administrative Assistant. She has served on the Board of Christian Education, Stewardship Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Preschool Board, and the Fellowship Committee. Pam is an avid photographer and enjoys modern quilting and exploring textiles and designs in new ways; this comes in handy as she helps design and sew many of our Christmas Pageant costumes! She is our warm and welcoming voice on the phone and smiling face as you enter church. Pam and her husband, Jeff, have a son Will.
FUN FACT:
Alix enjoys running and golf and looks forward to one day fulfilling her family’s dreams of running a small horse farm and traveling the world by boat (when Eleanor and Ophelia are old enough to crew)!
Director of Christian Education
Alix Morrow
Inspired by the values they wanted to instill in their daughters, Alix and her husband Patrick joined SCC in 2022. After joining the Board of Christian Education, she recalled thinking she’d finally found a place that made sense to her, where her confluence of perspectives and ideas was enriched through her faith. Laura’s pending retirement and her maxim “God is love,” made Alix feel called to the role of Director of Christian Education in a way she could only describe as confirmation of her faith. A novelist and screenwriter, Alix serves on the Board of Directors for the Westport Writers Workshop and as PTA President for her daughters’ school.
Music Director
Elaine DeGrood
Elaine has served as our delightful Music Director for the past 27 years. Elaine oversees our Senior Choir and our Handbell Choir. She is a master pianist and organist, and she teaches both piano and organ, sharing her vibrant spirit and love of music. She resides in Stratford with her Boston Terrier, Cleo. She is also an avid Boston Red Sox fan.
Youth Choir Director
Phillip Bettencourt
Phillip joined SCC in 2011 as a young section leader for our Senior Choir. His enthusiasm and spirit for youth led the church to hire him as the Youth Choir Director. Phillip’s talents in voice coaching and singing techniques has led many of SCC’s youth to earn coveted singing roles in accapella groups, local teen choirs, and lead spots in may theater productions. Phillip co-runs Broadway Bootcamp, a musical theatre experience, which runs for 9 weeks during the summer and is held at SCC. Phillip lives in New York City where he is a music teacher.
Children’s Choir Director
Marnie Kruse
Marnie and her husband, Scott, joined our church in 2000 and immediately they both joined the Senior Choir. It wasn’t long before we found out that Marnie was a children’s music teacher and we recruited and hired her to be our Cherub Choir Director. She is a wonderful, gentle teacher who believes that no child is too young to learn music theory so our choir participants learn not only proper voice technique, but also how to read music and sound out notes. Using the piano, chimes and other musical instruments, the Cherub Choir always delights when they perform and reflect the love of music that Marnie instills in them. Marnie and Scott have three children; Ben, Ryan and Maggie, all of who are wonderful musicians in their own right!
Facilities and Grounds Manager
Tim O’Neill
Preschool Director
Laura Amicucci
Laura has been a part of the Southport Congregational Preschool staff since 2017 and the school's Director since 2019. Laura is certified in grades K-6 and holds her Masters in Elementary Education. She also worked at KPMG in both the audit and consulting groups. Her education and business career paths have now come together wonderfully in this job where a typical day may include giving a tour, reading to a class or working on the school budget or enrollment. There are no two days that are alike! Laura readily admits that she is happiest when she is in the classroom spending time with the children.
Laura (a lifelong resident) and her husband Joe have three grown children, Chris, Ellie and Carrie. Some of her favorite activities include tennis, travel, long walks and reading.
Bookkeeper
Maria Bogitakova
Maria joined the SCC staff in 2020 bringing with her 20 years of successful experience in accounting and finance. Maria was born in Russe and moved to the United States to study. She received her B.S in Finance and Computer Information Systems from the University of Bridgeport as well as a five-year degree in Business Management in Russia. She lives in Fairfield with her husband, Andrei, and their two children, Artem and Alina. Maria’s part-time passion is teaching mathematics to children; she enjoys having a good laugh, spending time with her friends and family, traveling, cooking, ballroom dancing and reading a good book in her spare time.