Settled Ministry Search Information Page
NEW
We Have A Candidate!
SELECT THE LINK ABOVE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
The Northwoods Settled Search Committee will post information on this page which keeps the congregation informed of where the committee is in the process of finding a new minister for this congregation.
The Ministerial Search Committee has completed a major milestone in our work to find Northwoods a new minister. The final compilation of data based on the 2007 survey and town hall meetings has been published so that potential Ministerial candidates can get a clear picture of our church and congregation. If you would like to read what the Search Committee wrote about our church please read the Online Congregational Record. The committee is very proud of what we have written, and we believe the words portray a wonderful and very dynamic congregation that will attract many potential candidates.
The results of the 2007 congregational survey can be viewed by selecting one of the following links:
2007 Settled Minister Survey Results
No choice is more important to the
future of a Unitarian Universalist congregation than its selection of a
minister. A thorough, uncorrupted, and mutually respectful search process is the
essential first step in the hoped-for partnership of lay and ordained leaders.
For both minister and congregation, the process is strenuous, exciting, and
informative. It can also be frustrating and discouraging. But generations of lay
leaders and ministers testify that such a process, followed well, richly repays
the time and effort it requires.
Search committees do not simply choose among ministers; they engage with
ministers in thoughtful, mutual exploration. For ministry to be effective, both
the congregation and the minister must sense a "call," a felt conviction that
this match is right for both. Ministers and search committees are ideally not
adversaries in this quest, but partners.
Please consider reading a very interesting sermon
YOUR
NEXT MINISTER: SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW by Rev. John Nichols.
This sermon is a must read for every member of Northwoods. Rev. Nichols
discusses the many potential responsibilities that a minister may need to take
on during their service to a congregation. Of course it would take three
ministers to actually do everything discussed in this sermon.
Our own lay leader Rob Wiley gave a sermon here at Northwoods which discussed his experience as part of the last Northwoods Settled Ministry Search Committee. Rob sermon "Be Careful What You Wish For: Reflections on Launching a Ministerial Selection Mission" is an excellent discussion of what the new committee will be doing, particularly his Five Rules for picking a minister.
The UUA provides a Settled Ministry Handbook which outlines the procedures recommended by the UUA Settlement Office. These procedures reflect the experience of ministers and search committees over many years, and they also incorporate new ways of gathering and distributing information. One of the three major goals is to provide committees and ministers alike with the greatest possible flexibility and range of choice, and with access to as much useful information as possible.
The Search Committee will be putting together a document called the Congregational Record which is a summary our church life and our congregation. The previous Search Committee (2002-2003) prepared such a document which is available for your review (2002 Congregational Record).
March 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - Meet the MSC
April 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - How Much Is Enough
May 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - Confidentiality
July 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - All Member Survey Plans
August 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - All Member Survey Plans
September 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - All Member Survey Plans
October 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - All Member Survey Plans
November 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - Working Hard & Making Progress
December 2007 Search Committee Beacon Article - Online Congregational Record is Complete
February 2008 Search Committee Beacon Article - Committee is Reviewing Candidates