Pastor: Reverend Burns Stanfield Email

After a period of recording and performing as a professional musician, Burns Stanfield was ordained in 1991 as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) to pastor a congregation in a low-income neighborhood of South Boston. While this church was once near closing, it has since grown substantially and is now a vital community presence. It runs a community arts ministry, a large free summer day program, tutoring ministries, recovery efforts, and more. Stanfield also teaches at Harvard Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School. He continues to write music, perform and record. Family Prayers is a CD of original songs, and a follow-up is forthcoming. He also performs with “Sweet the Sound”. The church’s community commitments have been recognized by the national Presbyterian Church, Harvard University, the South Boston community and the city of Boston.

Director of Youth and Children's Ministry:

Tim Hughes

Tim grew up in North Carolina, where he attended Davidson College before trekking Northeast for a year of church partnership and Americorps service in the West Philadelphia Public Schools. This life-changing exposure to the opportunities and problems of the big city prompted him to study theology and social work in a dual Masters program at Princeton Theological Seminary and Rutgers University, respectively. During his graduate studies, Tim interned with a number of churches, schools, and non-profits, including
Fourth Presbyterian Church. Upon completing his studies, he moved to Boston, where he now serves Fourth as the Director of Youth and Children's Ministry. Tim's work includes developing Sunday School curriculum, administering a neighborhood afterschool program, and leading the youth ministry. When he's not working, Tim is happiest while drinking coffee and playing guitar, sometimes simultaneously.