Letter from Foothills' Committee on Ministry
We are currently involved in a process that is new to us. We have never before considered the prospect of employing two called ministers to serve our congregation.
Calling an associate minister is more than the affirmation and promotion of a well-loved assistant minister. Being called by a congregation isn’t just an expected step up the congregational ladder once a certain amount of time has passed. Calling a minister is a really big deal. It is an embrace by the congregation joining the minister into the fabric of our community. The UUA website explains it this way: “Very few things that a congregation does affect it as greatly, or are as important, as the choice of a minister. Wonderful ministerial-congregational matches provide new life and purpose to an institution and help lead both parties well into the future.”
Our congregation has not called a minister since it called Marc Salkin twenty-two years ago.
The New Year brings the opportunity for our congregation to call a second minister. In October, the Board of Trustees, building upon a recommendation from the Committee of Ministry, voted to begin the process of facilitating a congregational meeting to call Gretchen Haley as our Associate Minister. The key word in that sentence is “process.” This process involves deep conversations about what our ministry is accomplishing, our vision for the congregation and how we move forward with our goals. Now is the time to think about these questions and to discuss among ourselves so that we can determine whether there is a match between our goals, our vision, and the minister we are contemplating calling.
These conversations are set to begin in January. Small group in-house meetings (and at least one meeting at the church) will be scheduled and everyone who wants to participate in this process, in these conversations, is welcome. More information on the dates and locations will be forthcoming. Finally there will be a congregational meeting on February 2 where we will determine whether or not to call Gretchen Haley as our Associate Minister by a vote of the congregation.
Because part of this process is matching our vision and values to those of Gretchen’s, she has prepared this website for us on her background, core values and ideas for congregational life and ministry. This is an exciting time and the Board of Trustees and the Committee on Ministry are hopeful that there will be a lot of inspired conversation, deep reflection and thoughtful action.
Please keep in tune with this process and participate in our in-home meetings.
Calling an associate minister is more than the affirmation and promotion of a well-loved assistant minister. Being called by a congregation isn’t just an expected step up the congregational ladder once a certain amount of time has passed. Calling a minister is a really big deal. It is an embrace by the congregation joining the minister into the fabric of our community. The UUA website explains it this way: “Very few things that a congregation does affect it as greatly, or are as important, as the choice of a minister. Wonderful ministerial-congregational matches provide new life and purpose to an institution and help lead both parties well into the future.”
Our congregation has not called a minister since it called Marc Salkin twenty-two years ago.
The New Year brings the opportunity for our congregation to call a second minister. In October, the Board of Trustees, building upon a recommendation from the Committee of Ministry, voted to begin the process of facilitating a congregational meeting to call Gretchen Haley as our Associate Minister. The key word in that sentence is “process.” This process involves deep conversations about what our ministry is accomplishing, our vision for the congregation and how we move forward with our goals. Now is the time to think about these questions and to discuss among ourselves so that we can determine whether there is a match between our goals, our vision, and the minister we are contemplating calling.
These conversations are set to begin in January. Small group in-house meetings (and at least one meeting at the church) will be scheduled and everyone who wants to participate in this process, in these conversations, is welcome. More information on the dates and locations will be forthcoming. Finally there will be a congregational meeting on February 2 where we will determine whether or not to call Gretchen Haley as our Associate Minister by a vote of the congregation.
Because part of this process is matching our vision and values to those of Gretchen’s, she has prepared this website for us on her background, core values and ideas for congregational life and ministry. This is an exciting time and the Board of Trustees and the Committee on Ministry are hopeful that there will be a lot of inspired conversation, deep reflection and thoughtful action.
Please keep in tune with this process and participate in our in-home meetings.