Terry Yasuko Ogawa brings to her role as the Area Conference Minister of the Northwest Region of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) experience and passion for the ministry of the church as well as extensive experience building ecumenical relationships. Terry directly impacts 100 churches and five Associations and indirectly impacts nearly 600 congregations. Prior to this post she served as the pastor of the Congregational Church of Pinehurst, UCC, in North Carolina and as the Campaign Organizer for the Faith and Democracy 2020 Campaign of the Central Atlantic Conference, UCC. She came to that work after serving as the Associate Advancement Director of Pacific School of Religion where she focused on building relationships with alumnx, denominations, and congregations. Terry was previously the Chaplain and Community Liaison at The Institute for Human Services (IHS), the largest comprehensive homelessness services agency in Hawai‘i, where she built the foundation for an interfaith chaplaincy program.  This position drew on Terry’s gifts in networking, administration, relationship building, and resource development. As part of her work at IHS, Terry established the Hawai‘i Faith-Based Summit on Homelessness and orchestrated, in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, an exhibition of photographs by clients to reflect their first year transitioning out of homelessness. The exhibit was held at Honolulu Hale (City Hall).

While a student at Pacific School of Religion, Terry researched the legacy of missionary heritage of the UCC in Hawai‘i, its implication for the UCC’s relationship with Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) churches, and theologies of reconciliation. Terry’s experience extends to significant work in areas of economic, social, environmental, and gender justice work that has been international in scope.

Terry holds her Master of Divinity degree and a Certificate in Asian and Oceanic Culture and Faith Traditions from Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union, a Master of Science in National Resources and the Environment from the University of Michigan, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston. She was ordained at Church of the Crossroads, Honolulu, by the O‘ahu Association of the Hawai‘i Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 2018.