This has been a brief and intense journey!  Late last fall, the Board reconstituted the Task Force on Future Ministry, after learning that Rev. John Buehrens wished to retire earlier than anticipated, in summer, 2017.  The members who served on the Task Force that brought us John immediately agreed to get involved again.  At the suggestion of the membership, we added a young adult member.  Two town hall meetings and one updated congregational survey later, the Task Force worked with the Board on updated developmental ministry goals (Sense of Community & Common Purpose; Membership Growth; Leadership; Institutional Operations; and Finance).  We filed our application with the UUA’s ministerial settlement office in late January.  One month later, Rev. Keith Kron, UUA’s Yenta, sent us his suggested ministerial match, who has been living in Mumbai for the past few years with her family.

The Task Force read her Ministerial Record, listened to sermons available online, twice spoke with her by Zoom across more than 12 time zones, and arranged for her to visit San Francisco.  We attended a service she led at a neutral pulpit, hearing her preach at that time, and then met with her in person for several hours.  We talked with several references.  After this due diligence, the Task Force unanimously and enthusiastically recommended that the Board hire Vanessa.  The Board did its own due diligence, and unanimously agreed with the Task Force’s recommendation.  

Vanessa’s background includes the following:

• Graduate of Stanford University, and Harvard Divinity School
• Ordained in 1995, at First and Second Church of Boston
• Author or contributing author of several books and other publications on Unitarian Universalism 
• Preached at UUA General Assembly Service of the Living Tradition
• Served Universalist National Memorial Church in Washington DC for 5 years; served as interim minister of UU Church in Cherry Hill; and served Unitarian Church in Summit New Jersey for 13 years
• She is married and has a 13-year old daughter 

Vanessa is a gifted preacher with a passion for social justice and experience in growing churches.  The term of the developmental ministry will be 5 years, but Vanessa is willing to consider becoming our called minister during that time.  More background about Vanessa may be found at vanessarushsouthern.com.   

The Board of Trustees extends a warm thank you to the Task Force on Future Ministry (Jonah Berquist, Shirley Gibson, Kurt McCulloch, Judy Payne, Margaret Pearce, and Kathleen Quenneville) – and to John for opening his home to us and for arranging the neutral pulpit.  We are full of anticipation for Vanessa’s ministry, and hope you will join the welcome party on August 6.  Please contact any of us if you have questions or comments.