I have learned that some parishioners are concerned about the congregation’s role in selecting the new minister.
The contract minister process is very different from the settled minister process. In the settled minister process, the prospective minister meets with the congregation before the congregation votes on the new minister. In the contract process, the Search Committee surveys the congregation and has cottage meetings in the process of making our application to the UUA. The Search Committee then interviews applicants and makes a recommendation to the Parish Committee. The PC then contracts with the minister for one or two years. If, during this time, the congregation decided they would like the minister to stay with us, we can call the minister to a settled ministry. We will be well acquainted by the time we vote to have a settled minister.
Jim Bonnar
