Ministerial Search News - Dec. 4, 2012

[Toby Smith Ropeik]

We are busy, busy, busy! As of today, we have 24 ministers who have expressed interest in the position of Senior Minister. More names may dribble in.

Right now, we are independently reviewing each one’s Ministerial Record (their first document of interest – analogous to our Congregation Record). We will meet this Wednesday evening to determine which candidates we collectively want to continue to explore by exchanging packets.

We are now operating in confidential mode and will be until next spring. We will communicate as much generic information as we can. Confidentiality is a commitment that requires the participation of our entire congregation. If you should happen to find out information about a candidate we are considering, please keep that information to yourself. The following is information from the UUA on why confidentiality is so critical during this phase of the Search process:

Confidentiality is not secrecy. The committee must publicize the process it is following and how far along it is at every point. At the same time, the committee must keep confidential both the names and the locations of the ministers under consideration and the details of committee business.
There are several reasons for the rule of confidentiality:

• Ministers settled in a congregation may not have told their present parishioners that they are contemplating a move. These parishioners are entitled to hear the news from their own minister at the appropriate time. To “leak” a minister’s name can undermine his or her ability to serve the present congregation, and will almost certainly damage a committee's chances of attracting that potential candidate.
• When the identities of unsuccessful applicants are known, it heightens the competitive aspect of the search process. This hurts collegial feeling among ministers and (when neighboring congregations compete for the same minister) also can create hard feelings among congregations.
  

It is harder to resolve differences among the members of a search committee when factions of the congregation are looking over its shoulders. It is better to resolve differences in private.


Now Consider This! (adapted from the BCT Workshop): UUA Case Study #7 (a true UU story)
Imagine a gay minister is candidating with us. He is asked if he thinks he will bring in a lot of new gay members to the church. He replies, “Would you ask a straight minister that question?” The parishioner says “No, I’m just wondering if we will become known as a gay church.” This same parishioner is also sharing this question with other members of the congregation. Is this a legitimate question? A problem? How should it be dealt with?



As always, feel free to contact any one of us:  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...@verizon.net), Fred Van Deusen (fredv...@aol.com), Alec Walker (alecw...@aol.com)



Best, Toby

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