In 1966, he received his master of divinity degree from the former Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. That same year, Rev. Fonda was ordained as an American Baptist minister in the Gaines-Carlton Larger Parish of Albion, N.Y. Rev. Fonda went on to serve churches in four states over 35 years, including Warrenville Baptist Church in Ashford, Conn., from 1966 to 1969; First Baptist Church of Youngstown, Ohio, from 1969 to 1971; First Baptist Church of Northampton, from 1971 to 1986; the Federated Church of Bolton, from 1986 to 1995; First Baptist Church of Beverly, in 1995 and 1996; and the Church of the Master in Providence, from 1997 to 2000.