Future Ministries at First Unitarian

January 31, 2010

Future Ministries at First Unitarian – launch report by David Spanagel

Background:

· Barbara Merritt’s call to be our 10^th minister (1983)

· Tom Schade’s call to be an Associate Minister at First Unitarian (1999)

· Tom Schade’s call to be our 11^th minister (Fall 2006)

· Barbara Merritt’s announcement of her intention to retire (Fall 2009)

The bylaw that governs our process for the replacement in the event of retirement did not anticipate our current circumstances – was designed with a one minister ministry model and what we have enjoyed these past 4 years is a two minister equally-shared ministry.

After some substantial research, Liz Gustavson and I have determined that while a few other congregations have developed some useful tools for how to move forward in a situation “like” ours, we are literally in a situation without exact precedent, not only in Worcester, but in the UUA at large. We therefore have the opportunity and the obligation to proceed with a combination of intelligence and fearless creativity. After careful deliberation, consultations, and summoning our best judgment, we asked congregation to approve the following motion:

To authorize the Prudential Committee to appoint at its next meeting (February 15, 2010) a Future Ministries at First Unitarian Task Force. This nine (9) member, broadly representative group will be asked:

- to gather and assess the congregation’s views about how best to meet our ministerial and administrative leadership needs beyond August 2010 (the effective date of Reverend Merritt’s retirement);

- to provide Reverend Schade with structured opportunities to share his ideas and develop his vision for how the church might best proceed toward the strategic planning vision for 2015; and

- to generate a recommendation(s) to be submitted to a congregational vote, at a Special Meeting to be held not later than June 6, 2010.

Guiding Principles and Priorities: Transparency, Deliberateness, Decisiveness

After some discussion, the motion was passed unanimously by those present at the Annual Meeting. We are already receiving indications from people willing to serve, if appointed to the Task Force. Please indicate your interest and availability to serve on the Task Force by contacting David Spanagel before February 10, 2010.

Email: davidspanagel@comcast.net or telephone: (978) 368-0075.

Every member, regardless of how long you have been a member, is urged to submit your name for consideration if you are able. Your willingness to serve, if appointed, will allow the strongest and most balanced group of people to be assembled, to help guide us through this critically important transitional moment in the life and leadership of our church.