Message from the President's Desk
There's a proverb that says we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children. In a similar analogy, this isn't our church. It's not yours or mine -- not really. We are merely (hopefully good and thoughtful) stewards and temporary custodians for the community that will follow us.
We all say goodbye to everyone at some point -- some of us sooner than we might like -- and our lives are all changed and enriched for the time we had together. Sometimes, if we're really lucky, we get the chance to celebrate the last milestones together. This year can, and should be, our chance to rejoice for the time we've shared with Rev. Shayna -- and have a proper send off. Maybe we can all heal a little bit, and get the closure we might have missed, when Rev. Carol left in the early, dark, scary days of COVID.
As Rev. Shayna mentioned in her announcement letter regarding her decision to retire at the end of this church year, we are at a threshold. We are ready to take the next step, to shake off the dust of the pandemic and emerge as a vibrant and vital congregation. We are ready to do great things, within and beyond our doors, in a way that the community (and future members of UUCM) cannot and will not help but notice and be drawn toward. We can do this. And now we need to find a new minister with the energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindset to help us help ourselves become the best version of the congregation we want to be.
In a way, it feels like we just finished the search process, but at the same time, "before COVID" feels like a lifetime ago. Thinking back to previous years of search, and after speaking with the UUA, their recommendation is for us to move forward with contract ministry. Luckily, this is a much less exhausting and less expensive process that gives all involved much more flexibility. And, in our favor is the fact that we are within the New England region, a highly sought after area that is home to the highest concentration of prospective ministers.
As with Rev. Carol and Rev. Shayna, a contract minister is a board hire. This is nothing new to us. Interim ministers are not allowed to become settled ministers, but contract ministers are. And, let's face it, the best interview process will not tell us as much about how well a minister and congregation will gel as spending a couple of years together will.
There will be a search committee assembled, but they will have a much more streamlined process than the one we went through last time, and without the same time constraints. You can search for a contract minister at any time of year, though winter into spring is still the best time for any search. The committee could be composed entirely of board members, we could appoint a separate committee, or we could use some combination of both. Worth noting is that search committee members do not have to give up any other positions they currently hold, so if you are interested in being a candidate for the search committee and have the time and energy to devote to the process, please reach out sooner than later, as there are lots of things that we need to get moving on.
We will keep everyone informed about the process and how it is going. There will be meetings for input and discussion. You will have questions, and we will aim to keep you as informed as we are able as we look ahead to the future we wish to make together.
Looking forward,
Scott Blanchard (president@uucm.org)
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