Category Archives: Minister Search Committee

Website Wednesday

It’s been a long few weeks, and I got a bit behind on updates. So, there’s lots of new stuff for you this week!

  1. The newsletter has been updated, as has the upcoming events and calendar
  2. Information and a timeline for our church’s upcoming renovations are available at www.uucchc.org/facilities.html
  3. Click here to learn all about our new minister, Jenn Gray, who was unanimously called by our congregation on May 5
  4. Do you want to be in a parade? A group of Central Indiana UU Congregations are trying to expand our presence at Indy Pride. Click here to join the parade, the cheering section, or help out at the booth!

Thanks again for all your patience! See you next week!

Posted in LGBT, Minister Search Committee, Newsletter, Social Justice, Web Updates.

This Week on the Web

Wow! So many updates this week! Everyone’s been super busy. Besides the usual updates, we have major updates from both the Ministerial Search Committee and the Capital Campaign. Big news includes an invitation to the rescheduled Beyond Categorical Thinking Service and Workshop on March 23. Also, the Capital Campaign committee has been busy lately. They created a beautiful brochure, which is available on their page or which can be downloaded directly from here: UUCC Capital Campaign Brochure. Don’t forget about Committment Sunday on March 9!

Besides all that:

  1. The newsletter and events pages have both been updated, and a few tweaks were made to the calendar
  2. I’ve also added a couple more sermons to the recorded sermons page (Thanks Jim Ferrell for uploading them for us!)
  3. The upcoming services page is tentatively updated until mid-May.

Thanks again for your support and patience! As always, contact uuccweb@uucchc.org if there’s any problems, questions, or suggestions about the website!

Until next week!

Chris

Posted in Minister Search Committee, Newsletter, Sunday Sermons, Web Updates.

Website Weekly

I’m a day late on posting the newsletter, but here it is! Don’t forget about the Future Facilities Task Force meeting tonight at 6:30pm, as well as the Special Meeting next Sunday after the service! We’ll be discussing our expansion options, as well as the upcoming Capital Campaign.

Besides the Future Facilities meetings, there’s a whole bunch of upcoming events in the newsletter, including the 2nd Annual Chili Supper and Dessert auction and Parents’ Night Out. So, make sure to check it out!

Posted in Board, Minister Search Committee, Newsletter, Web Updates. Tagged with .

The Weekly Web

There’s big news on the website today! The fight here in Indiana against HJR 6 is heating up, and the Social Justice LGBT page has been updated to give you all the information you could need to help! Keep an eye out for more updates, including letter writing parties at our church!

In addition to the SJC updates, the newsletter has been updated and the latest news from the Ministerial Search Committee is available, including information on their upcoming workshop in January.

Have a wonderful week!

 

 

 

Posted in Minister Search Committee, Newsletter, Social Justice, Web Updates.

Website Weekly–Mega Update Edition

So, I have a bunch of little stuff to do this week, and some not-so-little stuff as well, so this is going to be a long list!

  1. I know it’s not on the website, but I created a bunch of @uucchc email addresses for board members and a few others. I’m also putting an email address directory on the website 🙂 If you or your committee needs a spot on the directory, or needs an @uucchc.org email address, make sure to contact me!
  2. Thanks to Jim Ferrell for uploading a whole bunch of past sermons to the server. They’re now available at www.uucchc.org/sermons.html
  3. The Worship Committee has updated their list of upcoming sermons, and so have I!
  4. The Committee pages have been reorganized to make it easier to find things.
  5. Made a few minor aesthetic changes to the website to make links easier to distinguish from topic headers.

I still have a bunch more to do, including a rework of the Social Justice Page, but I think I’m done for tonight. As always, if you run into any bugs or need help, drop me an email at uuccweb@uucchc.org!

Posted in Minister Search Committee, Sunday Sermons, Web Updates.

Website Wednesday

Oh, I am so excited! Today, I can finally unveil the “secret project” that I mentioned over the last couple of posts! Without further ado, I present the Ministerial Search Committee page, your one-stop shop to find out everything about our search for a settled minister.

Of course, that’s not all I did this week:

  1. Updated WordPress to the most recent version to make sure this blog stays up and running.
  2. The newsletter is now ready to go in your email and on the website.
  3. The events page has, of course, been updated as well.
  4. Updated the Bios page for our board members.
  5. Made a few updates on the Upcoming Services page
  6. Added April Lashbrook’s 8/4 sermon the the downloadable sermons page

And, I think that just about covers it! Don’t forget to check out the new Ministerial Search Committee Page, and, as always, if you need anything involving the website, UUCC Facebook page, or calendar, don’t hesitate to email me at uuccweb@uucchc.org.

Posted in Minister Search Committee, Newsletter, Web Updates.

Website Wednesday

Hi everyone!

Didn’t have much to update this week.

  1. The big project is the Event Form that I’ll be implementing soon on the website. It’ll be a one-stop shop to submit your events to the calendar, newsletter, order of service, etc. So, watch this space for updates!
  2. The only other big thing I had to do was add the SWIMMING POOL WITH WATERSLIDE to the retreat information page. Yep, it’s so important that I put it in all-Caps! 🙂
  3. Oh, and don’t forget, the big, huge congregational meeting to pick the Ministerial Search Committee is coming up on April 28 immediately following the Service. You should get a letter in the mail with information on the meeting and candidates. If you don’t, contact the board.
  4. Other than that, I had to fix a few bugs that I forgot to stomp last week. Sorry for the gigantic pictures on the events page!

Hope everyone has a lovely week. I’ll talk to you all next week!

Chris

Posted in Board, Minister Search Committee, Web Updates.

Ministerial Search Begins with a Phone Call

Every member of the UUCC congregation will be getting a phone call next week. The calls are being made by the UUCC Board of Directors to ask each of our members whom they would like to see on the Ministerial Search Committee.

Following the recommendations of the UUA for the formation of Ministerial Search Committees, the Board will undertake a phone campaign to all active members of the church. These calls will take place from March 11-23. Members will be asked to consider certain qualities that make for good search members and to name those they trust to serve on the Ministerial Search Committee.

Search Committee is major Commitment

Members of the Committee may well devote a minimum of 20 hours monthly for ten months or so. In addition, there is added time involved when the pre-candidating interviews get underway. Searching for a minister must be a top priority for members of the Search Committee. There are particular tasks and functions for each member of the search committee. Travel and time away from church and family will be required. Members who serve on the search committee will need to resign all other leadership positions in the church during the search process.

From March 24-30, Board members will contact the individuals who are named through the phone campaign to discuss the commitment and willingness to serve. Members who agree to resign all positions if selected to the Search Committee will be placed on the slate of candidates for consideration. Candidates will complete an Interest Form, which will be posted in the Fellowship Hall and sent with the official notice of meeting.

The goal is to present a slate of 12-14 candidates for congregational vote at a special meeting on April 28, 2013. Official notice of this meeting will be sent to all members in accordance with the bylaws. At the special meeting, each member will be given a ballot to elect four people. The board will tally the votes and determine the top four elected by the congregation. The board will appoint three additional members from the slate in addition to the four elected by the congregation. All candidates will be notified of the outcome followed by notice to the congregation of the seven members. The Board will keep strictly confidential the number of votes and which members of the final Search Committee were elected and which were appointed.

What makes for a good search committee member?

Consider qualities such as:

  • Commitment to the nature, purpose and activities of the congregation;
  • Commitment to UU pluralism in every area: theology, life styles, social concern;
  • Able to patiently work for consensus rather than insisting upon majority rule or minority tyranny;
  • Has the time to be thoroughly and continually involved;
  • Does not have rigid requirements as to a minister’s sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, ethnicity, age, etc.;
  • Constantly remembers the wishes of the congregation, who will not permit the Search Committee to become an autonomous, independent (and finally irresponsible) entity;
  • Has a history of UU involvement;
  • Can respect the confidentiality of the process, but who, nonetheless, is eager to keep the congregation informed regarding the progress that is being made; and
  • Has a cooperative disposition, not disputatious.

Qualities to avoid in good search committee candidates include:

  • Defines the congregation in narrow, exclusive terms;
  • Has rigid, authoritarian ideas coupled with little respect for differences, e.g. the militant Humanist or Pagan, the intolerant Christian, the rabid one-issue social activist, the gadfly, etc.;
  • Readily accedes to any request, but does not follow through;
  • Feels that “we know best,” thus urging the Search Committee to ignore the expressed wishes of the congregation.

The calling board member will ask “Who do you trust to serve on the Search Committee on behalf of the congregation?”

We encourage members to name at least four members for consideration on the Search Committee.

This weekend, we will send a separate email to members with email addresses and include a list of the active Members in the church. Please peruse this list as you give thoughtful consideration in anticipation of talking to a member of the Board in the next couple of weeks.

Posted in Board, Minister Search Committee.