Profile of the Minister We Seek

(As read by Terry Cookson at one of the Gatherings after services on Sunday, October 26, 2008)

Our next minister will understand the role and responsibilities of an after-pastor in healing a congregation betrayed by ministerial misconduct. This person will recognize and support UUCC’s system of broad based ministry – led by the minister but implemented by our pioneering Small Group Ministry program, skilled ministerial associates (confidential lay listeners), and very empathetic caring committee. In our perfect world we also want a minister to provide meaningful worship, help maintain our strong bonds of community, and encourage social activism.

Our wounds will take time to heal and the hurt will surface in unexpected ways. Our new minister will know that these experiences can be transformed into spiritual growth. S/he will connect with church members while modeling healthy boundaries. Our next minister will be a warm person who recognizes everyone’s importance in the church, who listens and communicates effectively, and acknowledges the importance of children in the congregation.
We want to leave church on Sunday energized and full of purpose, with something to think about and live on during the week. Our next minister will present stimulating and challenging Sunday services while drawing on the choir, children's story, and other strengths and talents of the congregation. Homilies and readings are most inspiring if drawn from life experiences thus we want someone who can see universal truths in daily events. Sunday's Fellowship Hour will be more alive with the inspiration of the moving services our new minister will present, which will foster community building.

Community is one of the great benefits of congregational life. Our minister will help us be a Welcoming Congregation, in all respects, while also helping us provide for our members' needs and ensure that families and friends create and maintain strong social bonds so that no one goes untended and slips away unnoticed.

S/He will be realistic about what it takes to run a church and will help the congregation be practical about our goals and how to accomplish them. We have a history of strong social action. Our entrance is adorned with a large “Love, not fear, practiced here” banner. We will benefit from a minister who advocates this message while sharing our desire to create social justice and make a difference in the world.
We are committed to a positive future. We seek to build lasting bonds and a safer world. We are looking for an optimistic minister who wants to be a part of the spiritual journey of the Unitarian-Universalist Community Church in Augusta, Maine.