Ministerial Transition
Your Ministerial Search Team can be reached by email at mst24@unityunitarian.org.
Cottage Meetings: We want to hear from you!
Cottage meetings are opportunities to be in conversation with the Ministerial Search Team and other members of the congregation about who we are, what we hope to become, and the qualities we will look for in a called minister who will be our partner on the journey. There are 14 meetings planned for the month of October! Some of the meetings will be general discussion, and some will have focus topics for conversation (in addition to time for general input). Please attend a meeting! All are invited, no registration is required, and child care is available with one-week advance notice to katrina@unityunitarian.org. If you have questions for the MST, please stop by their table in Parish Hall after services on Sunday or send them a note to mst24@unityunitarian.org.
Meeting details are still being finalized and dates and/or times may change.
Tuesday, October 3 | 7:00-8:30 p.m. | Foote Room
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Open to all but groups that may be particularly interested in attending include community outreach ministry teams, and members who are also community partners including Circle of Peace, One Voice, Mila, and Border CrosSing.
Wednesday, October 4 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Spiritual Leadership
What does spiritual leadership look like and how is it lived out in Unity's ministries? We'll explore the question of spiritual leadership as it relates to worship, music, children, faith formation, chalice circles and literary ministries. Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include worship associates, music ministries, religious education, teaching associates, history and archive teams, Beloved Community Staff Team, and Coming of Age and Tower Club youth.
Sunday, October 8 | Closed meeting
Religious Education and Faith Formation
This meeting will gather teens, junior high youth, and Coming of Age and Tower Club members.
Tuesday, October 10 | Closed meeting
LGBTQIA+
This meeting is for community members who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, asexual, intersex, +.
Wednesday, October 11 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
We aspire to lead lives of integrity, service and joy. How do we live out the aspiration to be of service through our community outreach ministry and justice work? What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include all members of our community outreach ministry teams.
Saturday, October 14 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Parish Hall
Topic: Congregational and Pastoral Care
What are the congregation's expectations around pastoral care? How is that different or the same as congregational care? What is the minister's role in creating a culture of care? Everyone is welcome, and groups that may be particularly interested in attending include the Congregational Care Team, representatives of our senior living communities, people involved in rites of passage.
Sunday, October 15 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
We aspire to lead lives of integrity, service and joy. How do we live out the aspiration to be of service through our community outreach ministry and justice work? What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include all members of our community outreach ministry teams.
Tuesday, October 17 | Closed meeting
Multicultural Ministries
This meeting is for community members congregants who identify as Black, Brown, Asian-Pacific Islander, Indigenous and Persons of Color.
Wednesday, October 18 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Governance and Management
Unity Church's Executive Team is accountable to the ends of the congregation, that is, a set of value statements which guide and direct the ministries of the church. What are our hopes and expectations around our current governance system and ends? How will our senior leadership be asked to engage with this important part of church life?
Saturday, October 21 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Online via Zoom
General session, open to all.
Sunday, October 22 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Foote Room
General session, open to all.
Wednesday, October 25 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Congregational and Pastoral Care
What are the congregation's expectations around pastoral care? How is that different or the same as congregational care? What is the minister's role in creating a culture of care? Everyone is welcome, and groups that may be particularly interested in attending include the Congregational Care Team, representatives of our senior living communities, people involved in rites of passage.
Sunday, October 29 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
General session, open to all.
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Open to all but groups that may be particularly interested in attending include community outreach ministry teams, and members who are also community partners including Circle of Peace, One Voice, Mila, and Border CrosSing.
Wednesday, October 4 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Spiritual Leadership
What does spiritual leadership look like and how is it lived out in Unity's ministries? We'll explore the question of spiritual leadership as it relates to worship, music, children, faith formation, chalice circles and literary ministries. Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include worship associates, music ministries, religious education, teaching associates, history and archive teams, Beloved Community Staff Team, and Coming of Age and Tower Club youth.
Sunday, October 8 | Closed meeting
Religious Education and Faith Formation
This meeting will gather teens, junior high youth, and Coming of Age and Tower Club members.
Tuesday, October 10 | Closed meeting
LGBTQIA+
This meeting is for community members who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, asexual, intersex, +.
Wednesday, October 11 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
We aspire to lead lives of integrity, service and joy. How do we live out the aspiration to be of service through our community outreach ministry and justice work? What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include all members of our community outreach ministry teams.
Saturday, October 14 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Parish Hall
Topic: Congregational and Pastoral Care
What are the congregation's expectations around pastoral care? How is that different or the same as congregational care? What is the minister's role in creating a culture of care? Everyone is welcome, and groups that may be particularly interested in attending include the Congregational Care Team, representatives of our senior living communities, people involved in rites of passage.
Sunday, October 15 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Community Engagement and Justice Work
We aspire to lead lives of integrity, service and joy. How do we live out the aspiration to be of service through our community outreach ministry and justice work? What do we expect of ourselves — and our ministers — as representatives of the liberal faith in the wider community? Everyone is welcome; groups that may be particularly interested in attending include all members of our community outreach ministry teams.
Tuesday, October 17 | Closed meeting
Multicultural Ministries
This meeting is for community members congregants who identify as Black, Brown, Asian-Pacific Islander, Indigenous and Persons of Color.
Wednesday, October 18 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Governance and Management
Unity Church's Executive Team is accountable to the ends of the congregation, that is, a set of value statements which guide and direct the ministries of the church. What are our hopes and expectations around our current governance system and ends? How will our senior leadership be asked to engage with this important part of church life?
Saturday, October 21 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. | Online via Zoom
General session, open to all.
Sunday, October 22 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Foote Room
General session, open to all.
Wednesday, October 25 | 7:10-8:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
Topic: Congregational and Pastoral Care
What are the congregation's expectations around pastoral care? How is that different or the same as congregational care? What is the minister's role in creating a culture of care? Everyone is welcome, and groups that may be particularly interested in attending include the Congregational Care Team, representatives of our senior living communities, people involved in rites of passage.
Sunday, October 29 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | Robbins Parlor
General session, open to all.
Ministerial Search Team
Roles
Chair: Angela Wilcox
Communications: Tara Romanov Messana and Jennie Smith
Negotiating Team: Richard Lau and Rebecca Flood
Treasurer: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Survey Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana
Cottage Meeting Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana
Beyond Categorical Thinking Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana and Angela Wilcox
Congregational Record Coordinator: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Documents Packet Coordinator: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Interview Coordinator: Angela Wilcox
Neutral Pulpits Coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer
Reference Checker: All
Pre-candidating weekend arrangements coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer and Jennie Smith
Candidating week arrangements coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer and Jennie Smith
Process Observer: TBA
Notetaker: Tara Romanov Messana
Communications: Tara Romanov Messana and Jennie Smith
Negotiating Team: Richard Lau and Rebecca Flood
Treasurer: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Survey Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana
Cottage Meeting Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana
Beyond Categorical Thinking Coordinator: Tara Romanov Messana and Angela Wilcox
Congregational Record Coordinator: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Documents Packet Coordinator: Kat Sherman-Hoehn
Interview Coordinator: Angela Wilcox
Neutral Pulpits Coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer
Reference Checker: All
Pre-candidating weekend arrangements coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer and Jennie Smith
Candidating week arrangements coordinator: Ray Wiedmeyer and Jennie Smith
Process Observer: TBA
Notetaker: Tara Romanov Messana
Monthly Updates
commUNITY Newsletter
September 2023
September 2023
Documents
Videos
The Interim Monitoring Team (IMT)
The Interim Monitoring Team (IMT)
Every Interim Minister is expected to create a Transitions Team, or as its called here at Unity, an Interim Monitoring Team which is composed of lay leaders who meet monthly with the Interim Minister. They have two primary areas of focus:
It is not unlike what some congregations used to call a Committee on Ministry, but it is unique to the tasks of Interim Ministry. Persons are generally recommended to the Interim Minister by the Board. They serve one-year terms, renewable for a second year.
The Interim Monitoring Team provides important feedback to the Interim Minister about how the ministry is going. They don’t bring anonymous concerns to the meeting; however, they will provide members with a supportive presence if you wish to bring specific concerns or complaints to the Interim Minister.
Members of the 2022-2023 Interim Monitoring Team are: George Anastos, Andrea Anastos, Bevery Heydinger, Peggy Linn, John Sherman, and Finn Schneider.
Every Interim Minister is expected to create a Transitions Team, or as its called here at Unity, an Interim Monitoring Team which is composed of lay leaders who meet monthly with the Interim Minister. They have two primary areas of focus:
- To understand Interim Ministry and to help interpret interim ministry to the congregation and;
- To provide insight, wisdom, advice and support to the Interim Minister so that her decisions and course of action are grounded in the congregation’s history and identity.
It is not unlike what some congregations used to call a Committee on Ministry, but it is unique to the tasks of Interim Ministry. Persons are generally recommended to the Interim Minister by the Board. They serve one-year terms, renewable for a second year.
The Interim Monitoring Team provides important feedback to the Interim Minister about how the ministry is going. They don’t bring anonymous concerns to the meeting; however, they will provide members with a supportive presence if you wish to bring specific concerns or complaints to the Interim Minister.
Members of the 2022-2023 Interim Monitoring Team are: George Anastos, Andrea Anastos, Bevery Heydinger, Peggy Linn, John Sherman, and Finn Schneider.
Board Announces Next Interim Senior Minister
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Dear Unity Church Members and Friends,
It is with great pleasure that the board announces Unity’s next interim senior minister, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz. Rev. Kathleen comes to Unity Church with more than 28 years ministerial experience and interim ministry at five congregations, having completed the highest level of accreditation for interim ministry. She has extensive experience with Policy Governance and has worked in several executive team structures, most recently at All Souls Church in Washington, DC. To learn more about Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, please visit her website at www.kathleenrolenz.com. Rev. Kathleen's contract is for one-year, renewable for a second year if the Board and the Interim Minister discern that the interim ministry is being useful and effective. Unity Church Board of Trustees |
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