This is the first of many updates for UUFB members and friends about initial steps the Board has taken to initiate the search for a new minister. The Board met in a mini-retreat on November 20 to discuss the various steps necessary and start assigning some tasks.
Mary Maifeld will head the planning of a farewell for Rev. Duffy (volunteers welcome!). There has been discussion but no decision yet as to when to begin the search for a settled minister. The Board did vote to proceed with the selection of an interim minister for one or two years. That process will be coordinated with the UUA’s Transitions Office in Boston; the official timetable begins in February, but we’ve started our work.
At its December Board meeting, the Board adopted the UUA’s covenant for congregations searching for interim ministers. This is primarily an agreement to follow the established procedures, including appraisals, to be fair and equitable in the search and compensation, etc. That covenant included this statement, which answers a question some members have asked: “We agree to not to ask the interim to be a candidate for a congregation’s settled position and understand that that the interim may not apply to a position with our congregation that starts within 3 years of their last day as interim minister.”
The Board named a subset of its members (Neil Schwarzwalder, Mary Maifeld, Peg Wherry) plus one person from the Committee on Ministry (Diane Knipfer) to be the Interim Minister Search Committee. That group has already met several times and has begun assembling the necessary information about UUFB, Bozeman and Montana.
Further communication with the Fellowship about transition matters will come through the listserv (Google group), newsletter, and eventually a dedicated portion (perhaps with a blog) on our website, uufbozeman.org. There will be time for discussion at the Annual Meeting/Town Hall on January 23 and perhaps other interactive forums early in the New Year. A short online survey of members and friends will be conducted to gather basic demographic information; please watch for it and do respond. (Another, more in-depth survey will be conducted later as part of the search for a settled minister.)
An interim minister’s success with us depends on how clearly we understand and articulate our expectations, and the early part of the Interim Search process will focus on that. The UUA sees interim ministry as a time for the congregation to take the steps to move on—from one settled minister to another, of course. But our goal for 2022-23 goal is not just “find a settled minister.” Because ministry is shared by the congregation and the minister, the interim allows us to start envisioning our next shared ministry. And ministry is not just what happens on Sunday morning! Although UUFB is not necessarily “broken,” we need to understand our goals for the interim beyond the need for a settled minister.
There is a lot of work ahead—for the Board and the search committee(s)—and for all our active members and friends as well. We need to hear from you, so start thinking about our near future and what role our next ministers will play. If you felt that our previous interim minister experience was not ideal, think about what can make the next one more successful.
There are uncertainties ahead, but this Fellowship has a habit of rising to meet them. We look forward to a year of engagement and commitment in 2022. Despite the limitations imposed by a pandemic, we are well-positioned for the coming transitions, thanks to you.
Peg Wherry, Past President
For the Interim Search Committee