Pastor Cheryl earned her Master of Divinity Degree in 2010 from Boston University School of Theology with a specialized track in Congregational Development and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Services in 2007 from Franklin Pierce University. She was commissioned as a provisional member of the New England Conference in June 2013 and ordained in 2017 by Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar.

Pastor Cheryl served as secretary of the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, the Greater Concord Interfaith Council and on the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness while appointed in Concord NH. Pastor Cheryl was a firefighter and EMR with the Sunapee Fire Department and served as Secretary on the Town's Sestercentenniel Committee. She participated in the Kearsarge Area Clergy Association and Newport Area Association of Churches. She served the Brattleboro Restorative Justice Center on the Citizen Advisory Panel doing reparative reintegration work and in a Circle of Support and Accountability to provide group mentoring to help people who have committed serious and violent offenses become productive, safe citizens upon release from prison. She chaired the Vermont District Committee for Church Revitalization / New Church Starts and serves on the Conference Committee for Congregational and Community Development.  Pastor Cheryl served on the Steering Committee of the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition and taught Parenting Teens Wisely classes. She participated in the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association and Monadnock United Methodist Clergy Cluster. Pastor Cheryl was the Chaplain for the Red Knights Firefighter Motorcycle Club, NH Chapter 9 and previously served VT Chapter II, the Lake Sunapee Fire Department, Guilford Volunteer Fire Department, the Blue Knights Police Motorcycle Club, VT Chapter II, and previously served as volunteer chaplain for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Blue Knights of NH, Chapter 1. She also served as a Director of the Concord Female Charitable Society; President of the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire; Publicity Director for the Concord Chorale and Secretary of the Rumford School PTO; as well as being a member of the Board of Directors for both the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center and Brattleboro Pastoral Counseling Center.

Pastor Cheryl has a heart for passionate spirituality and inspired worship and brings musical gifts as well as technological expertise to her work.  Before her call to ministry in the United Methodist Church, Pastor Cheryl worked as a paralegal for Attorney Peter S. Wright, Jr.  at Howard & Gleason and then Wright & Cherry from 1986 – 1996, both in Henniker, New Hampshire.  She earned a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 1990.  After a few years off to raise her children, while doing tax and medical transcription work from home, Pastor Cheryl returned to working with Professor Wright at the University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord NH managing the Criminal, Consumer and Intellectual Property Law Clinics assisting indigent and low income clients with their legal needs and providing guidance to law students.

 The Work of the Pastor

 As pastor, Rev. Meachen prepares and leads worship, preaching at a casual service each Sunday at 10:30 am at Oakdale UMC. She leads  Bible studies throughout the year and presides over the sacraments of communion and baptism. She meets with church leaders and attends  committee and board meetings. She is the face of the church in West Boylston and at Commonwealth West District and NE Conference United Methodist meetings. She prays daily for each church member and constituent; spends at least one day a week visiting people in their homes, nursing homes, and hospitals and spends time in the church office and public places, available to meet. 

Pastoral Care

Please contact Pastor Cheryl when you have a graduation, anniversary, or other special event that you would like her to pray for. When you are facing a difficult decision and would like someone to discuss it with, she is here to listen and to offer prayer for wisdom and guidance. When planning a wedding, Pastor Cheryl can provide premarital counseling and planning for a Christian ceremony. When anticipating a death in the family, let her pray for you and your loved one as she or he transitions from this life to the eternal. Pastor Cheryl is here to serve you and encourage you in all of life’s situations. She is available by appointment or by chance at the church office.