The United Church of Christ has issued a news release commenting on Dean's affiliation with the Congregationalist Church (which is apparently under the umbrella of the UCC, something I did not know).

The Rev. Robert A. Lee—Dean's pastor—describes Dean as a "supportive and faithful member of the congregation."

"Howard Dean is known in this community and in the church as a person with strong principled views who speaks his mind and stands up for what he believes in," Lee told United Church News, the UCC's denominational newspaper, in September.

To illustrate, Lee said that when the congregation's board of trustees suggested that members donate part of their 2002 tax rebate checks to the church to fund ministries for the poor, "One of the first letters I received in response to that appeal was from the Governor of Vermont's office, with a check for [Dean's] entire tax rebate."

Found at Alabama For Dean.