Woman of God

Growing up, the Rev. Rali Weaver dreamed of becoming a teacher, a minister or president of the United States.

She chose teaching because at the time there were few opportunities for a woman to become a minister and none for her to be the nation’s chief executive.

But times have changed, and Weaver, after serving as a director of religious education and as an assistant minister, was chosen in May to be the first female minister in the more than 350-year history of First Church and Parish in Dedham.

Finishing the move into her new Dedham home and preparing for the resumption of Sunday worship services at the church after the traditional summer break yesterday, Weaver said she was thrilled with her decision to make a career change.

‘‘By the time I had been teaching for a while and was studying to be a principal, I knew a few female ministers and knew it was possible,’’ Weaver said yesterday. ‘‘I decided that I could make more of a difference as a minister, and didn’t look back.’’

Weaver’s selection as minister at First Church, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, culminated a two-year search that began at the retirement of Bruce Clary, who had been minister at the church on High Street for nine years.

‘‘In some ways it is a real turning point for the church because we have never had a female minister before,’’ said church member Carol Ewing, who was on the search committee that selected Weaver. ‘‘But she comes from a another old church that has a lot of tradition like Dedham, so she knows how to deal with old buildings and old policies.’’

Before coming to Dedham, Weaver, 42, was assistant minister at King’s Chapel church in Boston for two years and a director of religious education at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in San Francisco.

A native of Alabama, she worked as a special education teacher for 12 years in Maine and North Carolina, specialized in helping students with emotional problems and learning disabilities.

Weaver said she intends to bring a focus on community service and connection with residents of Dedham and surrounding towns to her new congregation.

‘‘The church has been focused inward for some time, trying to maintain its history,’’ Weaver said. ‘‘Now we are going to be looking to be a parish church, not as concerned with membership, but with what we can do.’’

First Church was founded in 1683. It was the primary house of worship for the town of Dedham until a disagreement over the introduction of a new liberal minister in 1818 led to a split among parishioners and the formation of the Allin Congregational Church across the street. Soon after the split, First Church joined the burgeoning Unitarian Universalist movement.

Unitarian churches have been at the forefront of ordaining woman and now have a large number of female ministers.

Weaver said while she may be the first, First Church has been ready for a female minister for some time.

‘‘I think the debate about a woman minister was held here long before it got to me,’’ Weaver said. ‘‘I will do some things differently than a man, like bake scones, but it’s mostly the same.’’

The Unitarian Universalist movement supports same-sex marriage. Weaver said her experience seeing the flurry of same-sex marriages at her church in San Francisco, when they were temporarily legalized by the mayor there, strengthened her faith in the institution.

‘‘Becoming more welcoming to same-sex couples is something we are looking at,’’ Weaver said. ‘‘Some of our parishioners are not as comfortable with it, but it’s something I think is positive.’’

Weaver said she was excited about moving to Dedham after her first visit this spring, with her stops including Mocha Java and the Museum of Bad Art in the Dedham Community Theatre.

‘‘I fell in love with Dedham the first time I came,’’ Weaver said. ‘‘I like the efforts from people in Dedham Square to keep it a town and not turn it into ‘Everywhere USA.’ ’’

First Church will begin weekly Sunday worship services Sept. 9 for the first time since June.

Daily News staff writer Patrick Anderson can be reached at 781-433-8336 or panderso@cnc.com.