Reverend Carie Johnsen: Our Candidate for Minister of UUCC

The Ministerial Search Committee
is delighted to invite you to participate in
Candidating Week: May 9 – 17, 2009
for the Reverend Carie Johnsen,
The Committee’s Candidate for Minister of our Church

With unanimous enthusiasm, the UUCC Ministerial Search Committee is pleased to present Carie Johnsen for your consideration as minister.

As a newly minted minister, the UUCC will be Carie’s first settled ministry. In June 2009, she completes her Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School and will be ordained at a ceremony jointly shared by her teaching congregation, First Parish Church Duxbury, and her home congregation, First Parish Brewster in Massachusetts.

Carie was born and raised in “a typical mid-western Lutheran family” in Huron, South Dakota. In the mid 80’s Carie moved east to the big city (Boston) for a career in social services, progressing from front-line work with clients to management positions in both private and public service agencies. Carie found Unitarian Universalism in 1993 when she joined First Parish Brewster. In the ensuing years she engaged in the life of the Brewster church as a volunteer RE teacher, as Membership Coordinator (staff position), and as a commissioned chaplain.

Carie earned a BA in Study of Religion in 2004; was accepted to Harvard Divinity School; and in the summer of 2007, her call was strongly affirmed when she received a full scholarship. Her senior thesis was entitled, “Through the Lens of Class: Who are we and how can we build beloved community rich in socioeconomic diversity.” Of her thesis work Carie writes, “I hope to bring a greater awareness of issues of class into UU communities. Through critical examination of these issues of race and class, power and privilege, oppression and injustice, I will lift up models for community partnering that bring about social change through community and relationship building, cross-class alliances and political advocacy for systems change. My childhood working class identity now straddles a middle class profession consequently providing a unique insight into the class and race work we are called to engage.” Carie is the parent of two sons Justin and Michael who are eighteen and entering their adult years.

The search committee was drawn to Reverend Carie Johnson by her array of strengths and skills. Carie is a warm person who can forge meaningful connections with individual congregants while modeling healthy boundaries. She sees universal truths in daily events, recognizing the sacred in every day. It’s important to her to be in ministry with all ages. Carie has a strong background in the area of social action and is a skilled organizer both of people and of events. Finally, Carie understands the role and responsibilities of an after-pastor. She has had training on after-pastoring and will continue to do so.

On her future in ministry, Reverend Johnson, writes “My hope for parish ministry is to be in deep relationship with members and community. To be a part of congregational life as the minister is a privilege and a joy. To be a part of the fuller lives of the members is an honor I hold with the deepest respect and seek to serve with utmost integrity.”

For more information, please check Carie’s Ministerial Packet. It will be available during Fellowship hour in upcoming Sundays.

Please join us in extending the warm hand of welcome to Reverend Carie Johnsen when she visits us in May. We encourage everyone to participate in the various opportunities which will be offered that week to meet her.



Candidate Week Brief Schedule May 9 – 17, 2009 (note the change of dates!)

May 9 Welcome activities
May 10 Reverend Johnsen will preach at Sunday Worship
May 10 – 17 Organized meetings and activities so everybody will have a change to meet Carie. Full schedule to be announced.
May 17 Reverend Johnsen will preach at Sunday Worship
May 17 Congregational Meeting after the second service. The sole purpose of this meeting is to vote on calling the Reverend Carie Johnsen to be our next minister. Those present and holding voting membership may vote.