This is the first of many updates on the work of your Ministerial Search Committee. The members are Rob Bertram, Elizabeth Crawford, Clint McCully, and Donna Simonton. The group has had an initial “get to know each other meeting” and a meeting with the Joseph Priestley District Ministerial Settlement Representative, John Hansman.
Mr. Hansman’s visit detailed the content of the ministerial search timeline outlined by the UNMC Board of Trustees. Our initial work is to develop a congregational survey that will tell ministerial candidates about the members and friends of this church. We started with the survey from the last search and looked at the resources available from the UUA and other congregations, and we discussed our own experiences with UNMC and other ministerial search surveys. We expect to complete survey development and distribution within the next few weeks. We hope that each person involved in the life of the church will carefully and thoughtfully complete the survey so we can identify what is important to the congregation in selecting our new minister.
Clint McCully and Donna Simonton will be attending the Joseph Priestly District Meeting on April 8th and 9th in Pennsylvania. There are workshops on congregational growth, the “vital congregations” for the Baltimore-Washington area growth program, and the UU Funding Program (plus 27 other topics). This will be an opportunity to get the word out that we’re searching. Perhaps we’ll get some leads on potential candidates.
A question for everyone to think about: How will our next minister find us? The UUA provides us with information about ministers who have expressed interest in interviewing with our committee. It is also acceptable for the Search Committee to seek out individuals and invite them to candidate – including non-UUA ministers. So, if you know someone from any denomination who you think might be our next minister, contact the committee so we can get additional information.
What can you do right now? We would like your help documenting the life of our church for a packet we are creating. The packet will let interested candidates know more about us and will include highlights of past events and social functions. Bring your cameras to church or to any event sponsored by the church and take pictures. Look through pictures from past years and loan, give or send electronically a copy to the committee. Identify other documents that reflect the history of our church. We will be establishing a Search Committee mailbox in the church office this Sunday. Information that you think should be included in our packet can be put there or given to any committee member. Please be sure you label things you wish to have returned.
Another thing you can do is to make sure that your contact information (address, phone, email) is correct in the church office so that the Ministerial Search Committee can include you in this time of transition. It will also give you a chance to meet our new administrator, Marguerite Bogle.
Posted by Mark McNabb at April 22, 2005 06:20 PM