BAR HARBOR — The board of directors of the Maine Sea Coast Mission has named the Rev. Scott Planting of Farmington as the new executive director of the Mission. Planting will begin his duties in the fall, upon the retirement of the current executive director, the Rev. Gary Delong.

Planting is currently the pastor of three rural parish churches in Western Maine and the executive coordinator of the Mission at the Eastward, an organization with 18th century ties to Boothbay Harbor. The organization is a “cooperative parish” of churches that serve rural communities and has worked locally and regionally to offer programs focused on housing, health care, emergency food and heating assistance and other areas of need.

“I am excited about this opportunity to bring my skills and my passion for small communities to downeast Maine, and I look forward to fresh challenges and opportunities,” said Planting. He and his family are no strangers to Mt. Desert Island, having vacationed there frequently over the years.

Planting is a graduate of Amherst College and has a master of divinity from Harvard Divinity School. He has served on a number of boards and associations in Western Maine. He will be relocating to Mt. Desert Island with his wife, Marsha. The Plantings have two adult children.