In the News

Westport Point United Methodist Church is pleased to welcome Pastor Heidi Fiore, a young and energetic leader whose faith, warmth, and deep commitment to community are already making an impact.
Pastor Heidi brings with her a lifelong connection to the United Methodist Church. A fourth-generation Methodist and an only child, she describes her relationship with God as something that has always been present—“God is always in my mind,” she shares. Her call to ministry emerged early and with clarity. By fifth grade she dreamed of being a singer, by sixth grade an actor, and by seventh grade, a pastor. Today, she jokes that she now has a standing audience every week.

Music and the arts remain close to Heidi’s heart. In addition to her well-known singing voice, she danced for 15 years, studying styles ranging from ballet and jazz to hip hop and musical theater. She humbly describes herself as an “OK dancer,” but those creative roots continue to shape her expressive and relational approach to ministry. Outside the church, she sings with the Taunton Civic Chorus and enjoys swimming, kayaking, and learning to crochet and knit.

Family history plays a powerful role in Heidi’s faith journey. Her grandmother, an immigrant from Austria and a Holocaust survivor, found faith for the first time after arriving in the United States through the United Methodist Church. Though considered Jewish through bloodlines and raised with little religious exposure in Vienna, her grandmother embraced a faith that was both deeply spiritual and socially conscious. Believing strongly in giving back, she devoted her life to serving others in Taunton, Massachusetts, where she helped establish the Samaritan House homeless shelter, Pine Street preschool and daycare, and served on the board of Head Start. Heidi’s parents have continued that legacy of service, both actively involved in church life and ministry teams.
Pastor Heidi’s educational path reflects her wide-ranging interests and commitment to thoughtful leadership. She graduated from Taunton High School before earning an undergraduate degree in Theater Arts with a minor in English from Gordon College. She completed graduate studies at Boston University School of Theology with a concentration in Pastoral Studies, earned a certificate in Religion and Conflict Transformation from the Boston Theological Institute, and studied Restorative Justice at Suffolk University. She is a Licensed Local Pastor and a Certified Candidate for Ordained Ministry in the New England Annual Conference.

Like many pastors, Heidi’s sense of calling was shaped by personal challenge. After college, she struggled with mental health and searched for a deeper sense of purpose. During that time, she worked as a substitute teacher in a lower-income school, where she encountered children facing significant challenges at home. One experience in particular—learning about two sisters placed in separate foster homes in different towns—left a lasting impression and strengthened her desire to serve, advocate, and build community. Around the same time, she became deeply involved in the youth group at her home church, further grounding her vocation in relationships and care.

At the heart of Pastor Heidi’s ministry philosophy is the belief that church is more than simply showing up on Sunday. For her, church is a supportive, living community—especially during difficult times. She emphasizes inclusion, listening, and empowerment, believing that everyone has a story that matters. Even when perspectives differ, she strives to hear the “why” beneath people’s views. Heidi is a strong advocate for empowering the laity, offering Lay Servant courses and encouraging church members to recognize their own voices and leadership gifts. She also hopes to deepen and expand active community partnerships, finding meaningful ways for the church to support important local ministries such as the Westport Food Pantry and Mobile Ministries. “The congregation makes the church,” she notes, “and pastors are itinerant.”

Heidi credits several mentors for supporting her journey, including Neil “Sandy” Sweet, a childhood pastor who encouraged her during her post-college transition and modeled the kind of presence she now hopes to be for others.
In addition to her role at Westport Point United Methodist Church, Pastor Heidi is also serving as pastor of First United Methodist Church of Warren and Bristol through the end of June. Recently, she began a new role as a hospice chaplain with Community Nurse, based out of Dartmouth. She sees this work as a natural extension of her ministry, walking alongside families and individuals as they navigate the emotional and spiritual challenges of end-of-life care.

Pastor Heidi describes Westport Point as a “lovely, unique community” with strong small-town connections and a welcoming spirit. She feels especially called to support the Howland Hall Renovation Project and is delighted by the church’s proximity to the water—just five minutes from Horseneck Beach.

When she’s not working, Heidi enjoys simple comforts: her mom’s stuffed peppers, mac and cheese, and peanut M&M’s among her favorites. She also spends time with her two dogs, Sir Theodore (Teddy) and Lady Roosevelt (Rosie), who are equally excited about living at the Point!

Pastor Heidi Fiore’s blend of faith, creativity, compassion, and commitment to inclusion reflects a ministry grounded in both tradition and hope. Westport Point United Methodist Church looks forward to growing together under her leadership and invites the wider community to join in welcoming her.

​

By Patricia Palmer