Copyright © 2012 The Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, CT - All Rights Reserverd Privacy Policy Site Map
Seeking our next Minister. About our Search Process
Among the greatest privileges and responsibilities in a free religious community is the calling of a professional religious leader. Unitarian Universalist Churches come from the congregational tradition. In other words, the congregation is the ultimate authority on all aspects of governance, including the calling of a professional minister.
Since our founding in 1854, twenty seven ministers have served in our pulpit. Our last settled minister, the Rev. Lucy Ijams, led our congregation for 13 years and ended her ministry with us in 2010. A task force appointed by the Board of Trustees conducted a search for an interim minister to guide us through the process of transition, and in July of 2010 the Rev. Dr. Tony Johnson was hired to fill this role. Under the terms of the interim ministry agreement, Dr. Johnson may only serve with us for a maximum of two years as we prepare to call our next settled minister.
In June 2011 the congregation elected a committee of five members to conduct the search. This is an elaborate and labor intensive process beginning with a detailed assessment of the wants and needs of the congregation, and an assessment of the qualities required of our next minister. After conducting a detailed survey of the congregation, several workshops, and numerous meetings with small groups of members the committee completed a overview of our congregation and a detailed information packet for prospective ministers. The committee has received responses from over a dozen members of the clergy interested in ministry here, and is currently engaged in the interview and discernment process.
While the process of searching for a final candidate is confidential (the search committee is required to hold the identities of pre-candidates in strict confidence), HERE'S WHY the process itself is quite transparent and members of the search committee are happy to answer your questions about what we are doing. (We just can't provide any specific information about the potential ministers we're talking to.)
After meeting with the final candidates during the months of February and March, the committee will present a final candidate to the Board of Trustees. The candidate will be announced to the congregation and will spend a week with us beginning on April 15th. Following the service on the following Sunday the Congregation will vote on the selection of our new minister.
While the process of searching for a final candidate is confidential (the search committee is required to hold the identities of pre-candidates in strict confidence), HERE'S WHY the process itself is quite transparent and members of the search committee are happy to answer your questions about what we are doing. (We just can't provide any specific information about the potential ministers we're talking to.)
After meeting with the final candidates during the months of February and March, the committee will present a final candidate to the Board of Trustees. The candidate will be announced to the congregation and will spend a week with us beginning on April 15th. Following the service on the following Sunday the Congregation will vote on the selection of our new minister.
SEARCH UPDATE
We have selected our final pre-candidates!
January 24, 2012
Based on an exchange of information followed by interviews with references and telephone interviews with the ministers we were most interested in, the ministerial search committee has selected three pre-candidates. These pre-candidates have accepted invitations to spend a weekend meeting with the search committee here in Meriden over the next several weeks, and will preach at a neutral pulpit in the area at a service attended by the search committee. In early March the committee will select the final candidate.
CANDIDATING WEEK
SAVE THE DATES! April 15th - April 22nd
Our worship service on April 15th will be led by the selected ministerial candidate. During the following week there will be many opportunities for members to meet with the minister at events to be announced soon. The candidate will preach again at the service on April 22nd which will be followed by a special Congregational Meeting to vote on calling our new minister.
We have selected our final pre-candidates!
January 24, 2012
Based on an exchange of information followed by interviews with references and telephone interviews with the ministers we were most interested in, the ministerial search committee has selected three pre-candidates. These pre-candidates have accepted invitations to spend a weekend meeting with the search committee here in Meriden over the next several weeks, and will preach at a neutral pulpit in the area at a service attended by the search committee. In early March the committee will select the final candidate.
CANDIDATING WEEK
SAVE THE DATES! April 15th - April 22nd
Our worship service on April 15th will be led by the selected ministerial candidate. During the following week there will be many opportunities for members to meet with the minister at events to be announced soon. The candidate will preach again at the service on April 22nd which will be followed by a special Congregational Meeting to vote on calling our new minister.