Ministerial Transition

After a great deal of consideration – including multiple conversations with ministerial life and transition experts at the UUA – the Board of Trustees has made the difficult decision not to move forward with the call process to bring on a full-time minister.  Rev. Alex has been and will continue to be (until the end of their contract in June)  a valued partner to SFUU as a contract minister but will not be called to be our settled minister.

We came to this decision because the congregation has not come together in an integrated way since the pandemic.  We are experiencing challenges in congregational engagement.  What this means - is that we are having difficulty getting volunteers in many key areas of church operations.  This decrease in engagement is also making the board concerned about our long-term ability to sustain a full time minister. For example, our pledges this year did not meet the goal and we are forced to use $25,000 from our reserves.  That is not sustainable. 

Many congregations are experiencing challenging times right now.  What we as a congregation must do is come together to decide what our vision is and explore how we can sustain all the goals, dreams and ideas we have.  Your Board, appointed by the congregation, is working to do the right thing for SFUU - respecting both the hard work of past congregational founders, leaders and members and the vision and work of the current congregation. This was NOT an easy decision and is one we are all very sad we had to make.  But choosing to call a minister – to move to a full-time, settled minister relationship – is a long-term commitment that we don’t think the congregation is able to make in good conscience.

In order to move forward and develop the goal and vision of the congregation post COVID, we will undertake a process called discernment.  After that process is complete, the information gathered from the congregation will inform our search for an interim or contract minister who will start with the congregation in August or September of 2024. 

Click the link to learn more about the discernment process.

DISCERNMENT PROCESS STEPS (click to link to page)

FAQs:

Question: I thought Rev. Alex was our full-time minister.  Please explain.

Answer: Rev. Alex is a full time CONTRACT minister.  In the Unitarian faith, there are three categories of ministers.  You can see the detailed category descriptions below.

Q: What happens after Rev. Alex leaves at the end of June 2024.

A:  The discernment process (for more information see the link above) is the beginning of the process of finding an interim or contract minister.  An interim or contract minister will be hired late spring 2024 and will start in August/September of 2024.  

Q: So we won’t have a minister next summer?

A: While technically correct, the worship committee and your board of trustees (BOT) will ensure we continue to have quality worship throughout the summer. Congregation members and guest ministers will help fill in the summer Sundays.  In addition, congregation members will assist with pastoral care and administration/operational duties.  This congregation has a history of successful self-governance.

Q: Why did the board make the decision not to call Rev. Alex to settle ministry.

A: As outlined in the congregation letter, we are experiencing challenges in congregational engagement and budget shortfalls.  What this means - is that we are having difficulty getting volunteers and other resources in many key areas of church operations.  This decrease in engagement is also making the board concerned about our long-term ability to sustain a full time minister.

In addition, the UUA outlines issues that many congregations and their contract ministers face:  Deciding whether to keep a minister who already has relationships, critics, and supporters is not easy for a congregation. It is important to accurately assess the congregation's level of commitment in supporting the minister and the ministry of the congregation at-large. As stated, the BOT felt the congregation’s commitment to calling a settled minister was not where it should be for this big decision. 

Q: If lack of engagement is driving this decision, why would you part with a minister that is doing so much?

A: Lack of engagement not only means we can’t get volunteers to help run the church, but it also means our budgets are impacted due to lack of funding to support a full-time minister.  Since Rev Alex is not leaving until June, they will be around to ‘keep the plane flying’!  UU congregations are typically heavily dependent on volunteers. 

Q: Rev. Alex does so much and is so well liked, did the board take this into consideration when making this decision?

A: Yes!  As we stated, this was NOT an easy decision and is one we are all very sad we had to make it.  But choosing to call a minister – to move to a settled minister relationship – is a long-term commitment that we don’t think the congregation is able to make in good conscience.

Q: Rev Alex does so much at SFUU.  Who will do all this work when they are gone?

A: First, SFUU – and most UU congregations of our size – are accustomed to running the church operations via congregation volunteers.  Second, we will only be without a minister for 2-3 months over the summer, between Rev. Alex and the incoming interim or contract minister.

MINISTERIAL CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Contract: Often used by a congregation that is seeking less than full-time ministry, that has fewer than 125 members, or that is uncertain that other types of ministries are a fit or financially sustainable long-term. The minister(s) is contracted for a specific period of time, usually a year, sometimes with a list of specific tasks like preaching and pastoral care, especially for part-time ministries. Contracts may be renewed and modified. Contract ministers are hired by the board. 20 They may be called by the congregation, should a call be mutually desirable, after a couple of years.  Rev. Alex is a contract minister. 

Interim: A transitional ministry designed to help a congregation move from one type of ministry to another. Most interim ministries last 24 months, though occasionally the ministry may be longer or shorter. The interim minister(s) assists the congregation in moving beyond its last ministry and equipping itself for a new, different ministry. This preparation involves helping the congregation look at practices that may or may not be serving them well, assisting through the emotional process of transition, setting sights forward, and connecting the congregation to needed resources. The interim minister is hired by the board of trustees. Interim ministers may not be called the congregation. Most congregations looking to continue in full-time ministry after a settlement use this option for their transition.  SFUU had an interim minister from 2017-2019. 

Settled: This full-time minister is called by the congregation after a comprehensive search process. Ministers in search for settled ministry are rarely interested in following a settled ministry directly without some sort of transitional ministry. Settled ministry is of an unlimited duration, but both minister and congregation would do well to remember that this ministry will end. SFUU called Rev. AJ in 2018 as a settled minister.  Unfortunately, he resigned after 18 months due to a family health issue.  SFUU had settled ministers, Revs Lynn Gardner and Wendy Bartel, from 2011-2016.  They moved to a larger congregation.

Questions about the transition?? Contact a member of the Board of Trustees!