Pastors

The Rev. Dr. Hilary Barrett has been Senior Pastor of Pleasantville Church since 2003. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has served on several national church boards. Hilary grew up in Berkeley, California where she developed an enduring love for the place where mountains and ocean meet. Her lifelong love for story found expression in an undergraduate degree in World and Comparative Literature from San Francisco State University. She holds graduate degrees from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (M. Div.) and Pacific School of Religion (D. Min). Her Doctor of Ministry thesis was entitled, “Telling Stories: Narrative Approaches to Congregational Studies.” For the past 20 years Hilary has served in settled pastorates and interim settings in Pennsylvania.

“Worship is the center of our common life. Coming from an interfaith background (Jewish & Christian), and not growing up in the Christian tradition, deeply shapes my approach to worship. Every worship experience is an opportunity to convey hospitality to those who may be new among us (or may still feel themselves to be new to the faith); every sermon is an opportunity to teach. Here at Pleasantville, hospitality is a core religious value and we hope to express that in many ways -- through worship that is inviting to children, youth and adults; in ways that build leadership among our young people and value the wisdom of our elders; and through a warm and generous welcome to all who find their way here.”  Contact Pastor Hilary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Rev. Amelie Sell has served as Associate Pastor of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry since October, 2007. Pastor Amelie was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Truman State University, a small, public liberal arts university in Northern Missouri. Pastor Amelie earned her Masters of Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary, a seminary of the United Church of Christ located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Pastor Amelie is very proud of her UCC heritage; her ancestors were actively involved in both the German Evangelical and German Reformed churches. Pastor Amelie's call to ministry came to her when she was a junior in college and was studying world religions, and she is interested in the diversity of members of the Christian faith and Christian communities around the world. While she was at Eden, she visited our UCC partners in Haiti, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Pastor Amelie likes to read, practice yoga, watch movies, and go on walks. She was the Associate Pastor of the First Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ of Hamburg, PA before coming to Pleasantville.  Contact Pastor Amelie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Paul joined us in January, 2009, as our Minister of Visitation, assuming the responsibilities so ably carried by Evelyn Kenny these past sixteen years.

Paul came to us with over 50 years of parish ministry experience.  He was ordained in 1956 in Washington D.C. and after serving churches throughout Pennsylvania, earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1976.  Paul is Pastor Emeritus of Saint Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, where he served for 13 years.  For the past 10 years, Paul served as Stated Supply Pastor for Carversville Christian Church (United Church of Christ) in Carversville , Pennsylvania.  Paul and his wife Edith (“Edie”) have four sons.  Edie just retired from teaching Special Education with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit.  Edie sometimes joins Paul on his visits, so you may be blessed to meet both of them from time to time.  Together they live in Perkasie.