Ministerial Search News
Ministerial Search News
The congregation is in the process of searching for a new settled minister. News, events and progress on the search will be posted here and every effort will be made to keep the members and friends of UUCSF informed.
The Ministerial Search Committee
On May 23 the congregation elected the search committee. The members of the committee are Patricio Guerrerortiz, Cynthia Kelley, Holly Kinley, Sherry Kraemer, Lisa Salopek, and George Weston. More information about the members may be found in this special edition of the El Centinela.
The Search Process
- The Search Committee holds a retreat to develop a good working team and to develop a strategic plan for the search process. Scheduled August 7 & 8 to be facilitated by Nancy Burgas. Done.
- The Congregational Survey prepared and distributed. The surveys have been sent out. Please take the time to complete your survey. The information will be used by the committee in evaluating what qualities the congregation needs in a new minister. Surveys need to be competed by September 7.
- Focus Groups held to enable all members to participate in a discussion about who we are and what we need in a minister. Eleven scheduled between August 31 and September 20. Please sign up for one now.
- Search committee sponsors “Beyond Categorical Thinking” workshop for the congregation. This program is designed to promote inclusive thinking and help prevent unfair discrimination in the search process for a new minister. This program includes a Saturday morning workshop between 9:00 and noon followed by a Sunday morning worship service led by the facilitators. In the workshop, UUCSF members will:
- Consider the hopes, expectations, and concerns they have for a new minister
- Learn more about the ministerial search process, and
- Explore how thinking categorically about people sometimes interferes with choosing the best candidate.
- The Search Committee will tabulate and summarize responses form the Survey and the Focus Groups to prepare the Congregational Record and the UUCSF Informational Packet for use by ministers in search. September.
- Congregational Record completed and posted online with the UUA Transitions Office. October 31.
- UUCSF Informational Packet prepared and published by November 30.
- The Search Committee begins reviewing Ministerial Records. November through January. By January 30 three or four pre-candidates will be selected.
- February through early March pre-candidating weekends will occur.
- By mid-March the Search Committee will select a candidate to recommend. The candidate will be announced by mid-April.
- Candidating week will occur in late April or May.
UUCSF Focus Group Schedule
A chance for members and friends to provide input for the ministerial search. Please attend one.
- Saturdays, September 4, 11 & 18 at 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. in the Library.
- Sunday September 5 at 11:30 to 1:00 in Fogelson; Sundays September 12 & 19 at 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in Fogelson.
- Monday, September 13 & 20 at 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. in the Library.
- Tuesday August 31, September 7 & 14 at 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. in the Library.
The Congregational Record
The Congregational Record is a description of our congregation: our history, vital statistics, strengths and weaknesses, finances, programs, hopes for our future, and a description of what we want in a future minister. This is completed using a standardized form. Much of the CR is factual data, but there are also a number of open-ended questions. The CR is posted online on the UUA settlement ministry's website. There it can be accessed by all ministers who are currently in search. It is important that the CR portrays us thoroughly and honestly, if we are to find a good match.
The UUCSF Informational Packet
This will be a larger packet containing additional information about UUCSF and the local area. This packet is made available to ministers that have responded to our CR and about whom we wish to learn more.
Confidentiality
A goal of the search committee is to keep the congregation as informed and involved in the search process as possible. There is much that members can do to help: participate in focus groups, complete a survey, review the CR and packet and offer suggestions. Please do not hesitate to approach or contact any member of the search committee with questions you may have about the search process. There is much, however, that the search committee absolutely must keep confidential. This includes all information about the ministers under consideration until we decide on a final candidate, at which time we will share as much information as we can. Confidentiality also includes committee business. It is important that as members of a team we are able to communicate openly and resolve issues among ourselves. Please be understanding if a search committee member is unable to answer your questions because of a commitment to confidentiality.
