This page contains all the pertinent information about the Internal Candidate Search. Please see updates from the Internal Candidate Search Team each week in the Newsgram.

September 1st Update

What is a Settled vs. Contract Ministry?

SETTLED MINISTRY is an open-ended, covenantal partnership between a congregation and minister. Settled ministers are called by a congregation, usually through a 90–95% affirmative vote, and the relationship has no predetermined end date. In most cases, settled ministry is full- time with an unlimited duration.

Best for: Congregations with more than 125 members which can sustain full-time, fairly compensated ministry for 4+ years.

CONTRACT MINISTRY is a board-hired transitional ministry that can be full- or part-time. It is often used by smaller congregations, and congregations exploring contract-to-call, or congregations uncertain about the sustainability or direction of their ministry. These can be one-year, renewable agreements or a multi-year agreement when a contract-to-call process is desired. It is best for best for congregations which hope to be in a ministry partnership for a while before entering into an open-ended call, which are uncertain about the sustainability or direction of their ministry, and with fewer than about 125 members.

 Benefits of a Called Ministry – A called minister becomes a vested partner in the congregation’s long-term mission, rather than a short-term consultant. This fosters continuity in worship, pastoral care, staff leadership, and strategic planning. The congregation—not the board—votes to call the minister and can only dismiss them by congregational vote. This creates a mutual, covenantal relationship rather than an employer–employee dynamic.  Because the relationship is open-ended, called ministers often invest more deeply in: community building, multi-year program development, stewardship and membership growth, and long-term justice work.

Benefits of a Contract Ministry – this has become increasingly common, especially for smaller or financially uncertain congregations. Contract ministry allows congregations to partner with a minister for a defined term (often 1–3 years) before deciding whether to move toward a call. This is helpful when: the congregation is in transition, finances are uncertain, the congregation wants to “try out” the relationship first.

August 25th Update

Last week the ICST told you about their purpose and role. Now let’s discuss your role.

Over the next month, the ICST will be writing articles and sponsoring a sermon on 9/27 to help you understand our internal ministerial search process and the unique relationship of a UU settled minister. Please read these articles, attend the sermon and take some time to really think about what you value at UUCCH, your needs from the church’s ministry, and how you want a minister to meet those needs.

In late September we will send out a survey and start holding listening circles. We ask EVERYONE to provide feedback, whether or not you are an official member. The congregational feedback will inform the ICST’s recommendation to the Board about whether to call Rev Eric to settled ministry. If the Board’s decision is to proceed to a call, that will be in the form of a vote at a congregational meeting, likely in November or December. We need as many members as possible to attend that meeting and vote.

The ICST looks forward to hearing from YOU! If you have a special praise/concern, or individual question/comment, you may also email the ICST at icst@UUCCH.org.

August 18th Update

At our annual meeting in June, the congregation elected a 5 person ICST – the Internal Candidate Search Team.  Reverend Eric was hired 2 years ago on a 3 year contract, with the option to be “called” into “settled” ministry with us. This fall is the time when the congregation needs to decide if we want to exercise that option, and our ICST role is to gather information from the congregation about:

• their hopes and dreams for the future of shared ministry in general
• the qualities of ministerial leadership needed by the congregation for that vision of shared ministry
• whether the contract minister meets those qualities

June 23rd Update

Hello from the Internal Candidate Search Team! Sharon Hardy, Rohn Hein, Gina Hertzig, Jenn Snively and Jennie Stone are excited to begin facilitating our process of congregational discernment and decision about a settled ministry and called minister. Watch this space for coming information about the meaning of these words, the timeline of our activity, and the ways in which you will be asked to contribute your viewpoint, and ultimately vote. We hope to conduct a transparent and inclusive process that celebrates this uniquely UU process of deciding our own path to fulfill our collective vision.