A top officer of the United Church of Christ will deliver the commencement address for the 2012 graduating class of Andover Newton Theological School.

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, executive minister of the UCC's Local Church ministries and a member of the denomination's five-person Collegium of Officers will appear at the May 19 event in Newton Centre, Mass.

Guess was elected to his position by General Synod delegates in 2011. He is the first openly gay person to serve as a national officer of the church.

He has worked in the church's national setting since 200 and has held positions linked to communications, public relations, news and advocacy.

Guess received his D.Min degree in preaching from UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary in 2001. He previously served as a local church pastor in Henderson, Ky.