Molly Golando

RANDOLPH — The congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of Randolph announced the arrival of its new pastor, The Rev. Molly Golando, who began her pastoral leadership July 15.

The Rev. Golando has been in the ministry for 23 years and seven out of those years she’s worked in Christian Education. She was on staff at the First United Methodist Church, in Westfield, as an ordained deacon. Prior to her ministry at that church, she served as a local pastor at the Sheridan United Methodist Church, and also briefly served at the First United Methodist Church of Fredonia.

She comes to the Randolph Presbyterian Church at a really good time because the congregation has met their goals over a 10 year period. They just celebrated paying off the big mortgage on the addition to their church and a much-needed organ was donated to the church.

“I’m looking ahead with them into the future on how we can best serve the Randolph community and look into missions. I’m big into missions with my work in Haiti and this church has a tremendous history of being involved in various missions,” she said. “Hopefully, there will be a mission trip and more mission involvement. This church will really reach out to the current Randolph, not the Randolph of the past.”

Pastor Golando received her bachelor’s degree in Music Teacher Education at Houghton College, a master’s degree in Music Teacher Education and Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Then she attended the United Theological Seminary, in Dayton, Ohio, where she majored in Theological and Ministerial Studies as well as Basic Theological Studies.

Prior to her career in the ministry, Golando was a music teacher for grades K-12 and taught at several schools including Ripley Central School. She is still a musician and plays the French horn, guitar and most other instruments.

Pastor Golando resides in Fredonia with her husband, David, a retired music teacher. They have three grown children – two daughters, Joy and Grace, who live in Buffalo; and a son, Gregory, who is currently living in Namibia, Africa where he is doing biological research.

The United Presbyterian Church of Randolph is located at 186 Main St. in Randolph. To contact Pastor Golando, call the church office at (716) 358-4255 on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, or email her at mollygolando@yahoo.com.