Shhh... Ministerial Search Team at Work
December 2021 commUNITY Newsletter
Lia Rivamonte, on behalf of the Ministerial Search Team
Admittedly, Ministerial Search Team members have been pretty loud these last couple of months. In print, at worship, online, and in various locations throughout Unity’s sacred spaces, we’ve made a lot of noise inviting — even exhorting — congregants to participate in our survey and listening sessions. However, now the team must enter into a period of quiet retreat.
We will continue to process the findings summarized for the congregation at the annual meeting on November 20. By the time of this update, we will have conducted listening sessions with the staff and Executive Team as well as having asked ourselves, and responded to, the same questions we posed to congregants. Later this month, we welcome Alfonso Wenker of Team Dynamics, who will coach us on equitable, fair, and open-minded hiring practices. We will use this learning to inform our interactions with applicants.
In January, our time will be spent culling through applications from those interested in becoming Unity’s senior minister. Soon afterwards, we will begin conducting online interviews, after which time, we hope to move three candidates forward and invite them to meet with us in person. (Yes, it’ll be deep winter in Minnesota—surely the first test!) During this outwardly quiet period of the search process, the team asks for the congregation’s understanding concerning the confidentiality we must ensure any and all applicants for the position. Beyond the strictures placed on us by law, there are ethical considerations regarding privacy and fairness. In other words, we are doing the work we have been entrusted to do by our congregation, and we hold this work as sacred.
This does not mean dodging us in the hallway or in the street. It does mean please refrain from asking about who has applied, what we think about the prospects, and when the candidates are coming to visit Unity. We may smile, but our lips are sealed.
Lia Rivamonte, on behalf of the Ministerial Search Team
Admittedly, Ministerial Search Team members have been pretty loud these last couple of months. In print, at worship, online, and in various locations throughout Unity’s sacred spaces, we’ve made a lot of noise inviting — even exhorting — congregants to participate in our survey and listening sessions. However, now the team must enter into a period of quiet retreat.
We will continue to process the findings summarized for the congregation at the annual meeting on November 20. By the time of this update, we will have conducted listening sessions with the staff and Executive Team as well as having asked ourselves, and responded to, the same questions we posed to congregants. Later this month, we welcome Alfonso Wenker of Team Dynamics, who will coach us on equitable, fair, and open-minded hiring practices. We will use this learning to inform our interactions with applicants.
In January, our time will be spent culling through applications from those interested in becoming Unity’s senior minister. Soon afterwards, we will begin conducting online interviews, after which time, we hope to move three candidates forward and invite them to meet with us in person. (Yes, it’ll be deep winter in Minnesota—surely the first test!) During this outwardly quiet period of the search process, the team asks for the congregation’s understanding concerning the confidentiality we must ensure any and all applicants for the position. Beyond the strictures placed on us by law, there are ethical considerations regarding privacy and fairness. In other words, we are doing the work we have been entrusted to do by our congregation, and we hold this work as sacred.
This does not mean dodging us in the hallway or in the street. It does mean please refrain from asking about who has applied, what we think about the prospects, and when the candidates are coming to visit Unity. We may smile, but our lips are sealed.
Meet the MST
More introductions coming soon!
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Meet Pauline Eichten
Meet Avi Viswanathan
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Meet Marg Walker
Meet Betsy Hearn
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Meet Jake Rueter
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Ministerial Search Team Covenant
- We welcome each other with all our differences and needs, acknowledging that we all have good intentions, and always seeking to deepen our bonds.
- We will speak openly and take initiative, yet practice humility and grace.
- We will acknowledge the past, present, and future within, among, and beyond us.
- We will center Unity’s mission, values, and ends in this process.
- We will honor and abide by the wisdom of the UUA Settlement Handbook.
- We will safeguard the sacred trust of our congregation by informing as transparently as possible, listening with an open heart, and engaging broadly.
- We commit to seeking equity, justice, and inclusion throughout the search process, mindful of our own personal, cultural, and social biases and assumptions so that, to the best of our ability, they are not a barrier to a fair and fruitful outcome.
Ministerial Search Team
The Ministerial Search Team, appointed by the board and congregation in the fall of 2019, has begun the work that will result in the selection of new minister(s) in the spring of 2022. To contact the MST please send an email to mst@unityunitarian.org.
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Mary Baremore and her spouse, Bobbi Cordano, began attending Unity Church in 2001, becoming members a few years later. Upon signing the book, Mary committed herself to this place, its people, and this chosen faith. She and Bobbi raised their 2 children here, and are grateful for the blessing of extraordinary RE programming. Mary has been active at Unity for many years, singing with the Unity Singers, leading Chalice Circles, participating as a member of the Pastoral Care Associates and as a Worship Associate. But when you ask her what she misses most since the beginning of the pandemic, she’ll tell you Wellspring Wednesday meals and programming. She can’t wait to share a delicious, communal meal with lovely people in the Parish Hall, and to learn something new from the rich, informative sessions. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve on the 2021 Ministerial Search Team.
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Pauline Eichten started coming to Unity Church in the 1970s to sing in the choir. In addition to singing in the choir, Pauline was part of the inaugural group of Worship Associates, has served on the Anti-Racism Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees, and is currently a lay member of the Beloved Community Staff Team. Pauline is retired from Ecolab in 2017. Her daughter, Remi, grew up at Unity. She teaches fourth grade at the French Immersion school on the Eastside of St. Paul.
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Morgan France-Ramirez: I believe that all existence is a manifestation of the same transcendent awareness, and I am a Unitarian-Universalist because I draw inspiration from many spiritual sources. I have been attending Unity Church Unitarian since 2013. My main involvement in the church prior to being on the search committee is through volunteering in religious education. I have six-year-old and four-year-old sons who are growing up at Unity. I am educated as an attorney, and spent the last seven years working as a public defender before recently transitioning to teaching in a Spanish-immersion elementary school. I am a multicultural person, and I grew up primarily in Minnesota, though I have lived and have family in many places.
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Betsy Hearn came to Unity in 1994 as a single woman in her early 30’s and stayed because she felt a generative light and energy in the community. Since then, she has married Drew Danielson, raised two kids, Atticus and Harper, and loved two generations of family dogs—first Ringo and Gracie, currently Elvis and Yoko. Somehow, she managed to serve on the Board during the pregnancy and birth of both her kids. She has been involved in the RE program, having taught at every level and almost every junior high class, served two separate terms on the RE Ministry Team as well as been a founding member of the UU Families Group. She also provides consultative services to the Unity community around cultural competence using the Intercultural Development Inventory. Betsy works as a learning and development leader at DLR Group, an international architecture, engineering and design firm. She lives seven blocks from church, near Selby and Victoria.
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Dan Huelster grew up at Unity Church during the ministry of Arthur Foote. He and his spouse, Hope Barker—who grew up at First Universalist Church in Minneapolis—raised their children at Unity during Roy Phillip’s tenure. Their granddaughter attended Sunday school pre-pandemic, always giving a hug to Rob Eller-Isaacs on her way to the donut table! (Sorry, Janne.) A keeper of institutional history, Dan is honored to serve on the Ministerial Search Team. Unity Church has been a touchstone in his life; he has valued its support in times of need, and has actively participated in the Unity community in many ways over the decades. This is Dan’s second stint on a search team, having served 50 years ago as the youth representative on CRAM: the Committee to Recommend A Minister!
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Lia Rivamonte is a lifelong practitioner of and advocate for the arts—including but not limited to theater, visual, and literary. Most recently she served as Development Director for Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. Currently she is working on several writing projects, and dreams of cleaning out her painting studio so she can finish a portrait of her husband, Matt Brown, sitting on a favorite rock in Vermont. She has been an active member of Unity Church for over 20 years. In addition to the MST, she serves on a Sunday Welcome Team, is a facilitator for Finding Yourself at Unity and sits on the Artist in Residence Team, among others. She and Matt live at “Casa Grande” in the Little Bohemia/West 7th neighborhood of St. Paul and enjoy sailing summers on Lake Superior.
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Jake Rueter lives with his wife Amanda in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul. Jake serves as a multimodal planner with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he works in partnership with communities in Greater Minnesota to make it safer and easier for people to walk and bicycle. He enjoys cooking, hiking, camping, and working with Amanda to care for their gardens, backyard chickens, and miniature bernedoodle, Ola.
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Avi Viswanathan lives on the East Side of Saint Paul with his wife Kara and three children Harrison, Bennett, and Alice. Since his youth, Avi has been involved with racial and social justice work and has spent his professional career working across nonprofits and government to advance justice. He currently serves as the Director of Inclusion & Community Engagement at the Minnesota Historical Society where he works to ensure that the stories and history of communities of color are honored and shared. During his free time, Avi enjoys coaching youth sports, cooking, traveling with the family camper, and hiking in National Parks.
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Marg Walker was drawn to Unity Church in 2001 by the music program. She is a founding member of Unity Singers, and for many years has collaborated in the development of the annual Arthur Foote Music Sunday. Marg also has served as a Worship Associate, mentor, Board member and Board chair. During her professional career Marg provided planning, project management and evaluation services to foundations and nonprofits. Since retiring, Marg has nurtured a daily writing practice, and published her first full-length volume of poetry in 2020. Marg is married to Unity member Eric Hendrickson, whom she met in the choir.
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Transition Updates
December 2021 (MST)
Ministerial Search Team Congregational Survey Results, November 2021
November 2021 (MST)
October 2021 (MST)
September 2021 (MST)
August 2021 (MST)
July 2021 (MST)
Interim Minister Announced: Rev. Kathy Hurt (Board)
June 2021 (MST)
April 2021 (MST)
November 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
May 2019
November 2018
Announcing the Retirement of Unity's Senior Co-Ministers
Ministerial Search Team Congregational Survey Results, November 2021
November 2021 (MST)
October 2021 (MST)
September 2021 (MST)
August 2021 (MST)
July 2021 (MST)
Interim Minister Announced: Rev. Kathy Hurt (Board)
June 2021 (MST)
April 2021 (MST)
November 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
May 2019
November 2018
Announcing the Retirement of Unity's Senior Co-Ministers
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Meet The Rev. Jen CrowUnity's transitions coach from the UUA is The Rev. Jen Crow, senior co-minister at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis (and a former Unity Church intern minister!). Rev. Crow led a special meeting of the congregation to help build our understanding of how the search for our next called ministers will be conducted.
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