{"id":71,"date":"2014-07-05T21:13:57","date_gmt":"2014-07-05T21:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uutampa.org\/search2014\/?page_id=71"},"modified":"2014-11-03T15:58:02","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T15:58:02","slug":"our-search-committee-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uutampa.org\/search2014\/our-search-committee-process","title":{"rendered":"Our Search Committee Process"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Where's<\/a>
Where’s Earl?
Left to right: Joan Lund, Marni Harmony, Elise Richardson, Marta Pearson, Ed Benedict, Ara Rogers, Mary Francis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has become the culture of the UUCT to be as transparent in our processes as possible, to communicate publicly, early and often about important decision points or events. Alongside that culture are bylaws which specify the process of electing members of a ministerial search committee. Our search process to date exemplifies how we typically manage such processes.<\/p>\n

\"Beyond<\/a>
Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UUCT bylaws<\/a>, Article IX, Section 3, require that the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) be elected by the congregation. An open call was extended to the church community to consider serving on the MSC through various venues: the Domelight<\/a><\/em> newsletter, UUCT email list, and Sunday Order of Service announcements. The search and selection processes were discussed at monthly Conversations with the Board<\/em> meetings for several months, and there was a well-attended Congregational Conversation<\/em> meeting held on March 23, 2014 to discuss the tasks, timelines, and talent needed for the Search Committee.<\/p>\n

A position description\/application for the MSC was shared with anyone who expressed an interest. Members interested in serving on the MSC were asked to submit a biography and explain why they would like to serve.\u00a0 Members were formally notified of the meeting and were sent the candidates\u2019 bios two weeks in advance of the election.\u00a0 On April 6, 2014 the MSC was elected at a congregational meeting; an organizational meeting of the MSC was held the same day.<\/p>\n

\"And<\/a>
And we laughed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The MSC quickly began organizing, defining roles, and taking action on necessary activities, one of which was initiating communication with our Florida District Ministerial Representative, Rev. Marni Harmony. On May 16 and 17 of 2014 the UUCT MSC met in retreat with Rev. Harmony to begin the work of the MSC and bond as a team. At the retreat the roles of the MSC were finalized.<\/p>\n

\"Joan<\/a>
Joan Lund interviews Tempie Taude<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The MSC takes seriously the representation of this community in our search. So we have attempted to be as inclusive as possible while gathering data to help us address key questions in the search: who we are as a congregation, and who we are looking for as our next minister. We were as systematic as we could be in our data-gathering process as we:<\/p>\n