On behalf of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC), I am delighted to send this update on our work together and our recommendation for selection of an Associate Pastor. This letter will give you information about our process and introduce you to the candidate we have unanimously nominated to bring before you for a congregational vote on Sunday, September 6 to become our next called Associate Pastor at Church of the Covenant.
Our work as a committee: As an initial step in this 6-month process, we completed a UCC Church Profile that contained a previously congregationally approved position description for a ¾ time settled, installed pastoral position which was posted in early June, 2020. The position description included worship/preaching responsibilities, ministry with our Children and Youth Christian Education (CYCE) & 20's-40's communities and innovative outreach related to our 5-Year Missional Plan. Over the summer we interviewed 4 candidates and came to realize that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find one candidate with strengths and interests in all areas listed in the posting. During our deliberations about the candidate we are bringing forward to you, the possibility of a half-time position was raised and this led us to think about modifying the ¾ time position. We sent a request to Council asking for the flexibility to split the position, calling a half-time Associate Pastor (20-22 hours/week) and hiring a CYCE Coordinator for 10 hours/week. We also proposed to redefine the Associate Pastor position as a 2-year designated term position, acknowledging the uncertainty of church finances in the COVID-19 era. This proposal fit with our selected candidate's strengths, preferences and vocational calling, and it created a position that would be solely focused on CYCE.
On August 18, Council approved the following motion: "Council supports the APNC in having the flexibility to change the current settled, ¾ time associate pastor position, and break it into two distinct positions (should they deem it necessary): A half-time (20-22 hours/week) Associate Pastor for a designated term of 2 years, with a compensation of between $28,000-$30,000/year + benefits as specified by denominational policies; and a CYCE Coordinator (10 hours/week) to work exclusively with children, youth and families, with a salary compensation of $13-15,000/year + benefits as relevant according to Personnel policy."
Final approval of this motion will require a congregational vote on September 6. Council has also asked the APNC to take on the search process for the CYCE Coordinator position beginning in early September. It should be noted that in the absence of a CYCE Coordinator, the Associate Pastor will serve the CYCE community in a temporary "interim" capacity until the search for a CYCE Coordinator is concluded.
Now for the good news: we are delighted to introduce the candidate we unanimously nominate for the Associate Pastor position: Rev. Joshua L. Lazard comes to us from North Carolina where he was the C. Eric Lincoln Minister for Student Engagement at Duke University Chapel. He is ordained in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, and comes to us through, and with high recommendation from, Rev. Holly MillerShank, Interim Associate Conference Minister, Metropolitan Boston Association of our Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ. Having grown up at the famed Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Joshua was also a part of the UCC Member in Discernment process in the New Orleans Association (South Central Conference) prior to Hurricane Katrina.
A Chicago South Side native, Joshua is a graduate of Fisk University with a B.S. in Accounting after attending Dillard University in New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina. He went on to graduate from the Johnson C. Smith Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Church Music with a thesis entitled "The Effectiveness of Music and the Role of Preaching in the Black Church.
Early in his professional career, Joshua worked at Dillard University in the Office of the University Chaplain providing spiritual leadership and discernment to undergraduate students. It was during his tenure at Dillard that he was able to partner his vocational work in ministry and his love for education. Joshua began the work of positively influencing the next class of young minds through leading vocational leadership seminars, partnering across departments to bring meaningful and influential speakers to campus (Rap Sessions, Inc., Fall 2012) and serving as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy.
Joshua recently served as the C. Eric Lincoln Minister for Student Engagement at Duke University Chapel for the past six years. This fall he is joining the Greater Boston community at Boston University to pursue his Ph.D. in Practical Theology.
"Candidating Weekend": Meeting Joshua and voting on his candidacy: We will hold the weekend of Sept. 4-6 for the congregation to meet Joshua and to vote to call him as our Associate Pastor and approve his Terms of Call. There will be two opportunities for members of the congregation to join a group & two congregational meetings on Sunday morning to complete the selection process. The schedule for these virtual meetings:
· Saturday, September 5, 11:00 AM-12:00. Council meeting with Joshua
· Sunday, Sept. 6 church service, 10:30 AM. Joshua preaches his candidating sermon
· Sunday, September 6, ~11:45AM (following worship). Congregational Meeting to vote to approve the call to Joshua Lazard as Associate Pastor and approve his Terms of Call (same Zoom as worship)
As the process of voting on the nomination of a candidate to become a pastor is fully the work of the people ("liturgy"), we strongly encourage congregants to take part in these meetings. We also ask that you RSVP here https://forms.gle/haAyD3CdHpz3YKfi6 if you plan to join in these opportunities. A reminder that while these meetings are open to all, only full members of Church of the Covenant are able to vote in the two congregational meetings on September 6.
Finally, as way of summary:
Our Council is calling for two congregational meetings on Sunday, September 6, 2020 on Zoom as described:
1. At 10am, to vote on amending the terms of the charge to the APNC by changing the current settled ¾ Associate Pastor position to a 2-year designated, ½ time position, and create a separate 10-hour a week position to focus solely on Children and Youth Christian Education. And if this is approved, then:
2. Following worship, (nominally ~11:45am) to vote on the nomination of the Associate Pastor, and approve Terms of Call (these are currently being worked on, and will be sent out to congregation in advance of Candidating Weekend).
We hope you will join us for as many of these important events in the life of our congregation as possible. If you have questions, please be in touch.
Betsy McAlister Groves, for the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee - Kathryn Barry, Kathy Bull, Nancy Stockford, and Jonathan Schwarz / with support and input from Rob Mark, Pastor.
