2017 GBS Speaker Neely Towe

The Rev. Neely Towe was Senior Pastor of Stanwich Congregational Church in Greenwich, Connecticut for almost 20 years, and retired in 2009 to her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, with her wonderful husband of, now, 52 years Rolf.  She received her M.Div at Yale and worked closely with Duke Divinity School as a mentor to women seeking ordination.

The hallmark of Neely’s leadership is her deep love and compassion for people, a sincere and humble desire to serve God, and a gift of preaching and teaching that both inspires and offers guidance on how to apply Biblical principles to modern life.  Beginning with a small historic building holding 100 congregants, Stanwich Church during Neely’s tenure became a significant influence for spiritual renewal in both Fairfield and Westchester County.  Under her leadership the congregation quadrupled and a larger church was ultimately built at a new location, and a faith-based counseling center, The Greenwich Center for Hope and Renewal, was established in the original facility.  Neely also led Stanwich in the “birthing” of a contemporary church in Greenwich, Trinity Anglican Church, which continues to thrive.