Ministerial Search Committee NEWS - CANDIDATING WEEK STARTS SUNDAY!

[Toby Smith Ropeik]

Candidating Week Begins Sunday, April 28, 2013!!!

See the Schedule <http://www.firstparish.org/cms/files/transition/MinisterialSearch/Howard/Schedule_041013.pdf> and please attend as many BOLDED events as you can.

Come hear Howard’s first sermon at 9 am and 11 am entitled “Connective Tissue.”


MSC member John Boynton shares a thought about Howard:
“We discussed Howard's experience and approach to staff management, financial budgeting, and conflict resolution and I couldn't help but feel that he embodies a modern approach to church management.”


Each week leading up to Candidating Week, the MSC is sharing information about a different aspect of Rev. Howard Dana’s ministry.
This week: Staff Leadership

Taken from Howard’s Web site:  “I enjoy working cooperatively with lay leaders.  A congregation's richest work is done through a spirit of teamwork and shared ministry. I assume good intentions of others. The Board and I lead the congregation together. I report to the Board of Trustees, which supervises my work and evaluates me annually.  Under our church's policy governance-based system, I am the Chief of Staff, and I enjoy this role. One of my greatest strengths in ministry has been managing a good staff team... By having colleagues to work with, I find my work enriched by the ideas of others. I like the energy a team approach can bring to parish work. ..Our care and devotion to each other help us work well together as a team; our individual work is stronger for the teamwork.”

To learn more, visit Howard’s Web site*:
URL:  http://rhnd.uuministerialsearch.com/
User name:  congregation
Password:  fpc1636
*You must click “login” in the upper right of the screen.

Quotes from Harrisburg UU Church staff:

“He doesn’t put things off and likes to get things done, but he’s good at getting people involved and having them own it. He is good at planting a seed and then letting people run with it.”

Howard is very easy to talk to ... and to work with. He is a good listener and treats me with respect. He is empowering, encouraging, collaborative, and collegial. His door is open. He is energetic and creative.

“Howard is good at leadingl He is good at sensing that some may dominate a discussion... and draws out those who are not speaking up.”

“Howard gives the staff free rein and we get things done. I’ve never worked with anyone who gets what I do as well as he does.”


Howard was one of a handful of UU ministers selected to participate in the UUA’s 18-month long Dreaming Big Program – to train promising ministers to serve large congregations. <http://www.uua.org/careers/ministers/transitions/dreamingbig/index.shtml>. Reverend Emeritus Gary E. Smith is part of the program’s team.


Please direct any questions or concerns to members of the Ministerial Search Committee: John Boynton <j...@firehousecapital.com>, Caroline McCloy <cmcc...@aol.com>, Rhoda Miller <rhod...@aol.com>, Toby Smith Ropeik <t...@tobyasmith.com>, Terry Rothermel <ter...@verizon.net>, Mary-Wren VanderWilden <Vander...@fmail.com>, Fred Van Deusen <fredv...@gmail.com>, Alec Walker <alecw...@aol.com

See you Sunday!



Best,  Toby

--
Toby Smith  Ropeik
978.369.0007
E-mail: t...@tobyasmith.com