Dear Ones,
Today I am admiring the bright colors of the falling leaves and feeling grateful to be your interim minister. Over the last two months I have been swept up in your warmth, your laughter, and your passion for improving our community and wider world. What a joy it is to be a part of this congregation.
Two questions keep arising in my conversations with folks: first, how can we know you better? And second, how is an interim different from a regular minister? Allow me to tackle each one, briefly.
Question One: Thank you for wanting to know me better! I have the same wish. And it is complicated to get together with folks during a pandemic! There are a few new ways to spend time with me, courtesy of the clever folks on the Transitions Team.
Walk and Talk with Rev. Kate! Let’s get to know each other in the great outdoors. Grab a mask and a few friends and meet me at your favorite walking spot. I am new in town so you pick a location in the greater
Akron area and I’ll meet you there. Contact Carolyn in the church office to schedule. There are days, evenings, and weekends available. If we have already had a chance to get acquainted please hold off on signing up for now. More opportunities will follow, weather permitting.
Welcome parties! Remember the fantastic goodbye party you threw for Rev. Tim? Well the Transitions Team is planning a similar event so I can get to know you. The party will be outdoors and spread over three days to
accommodate the maximum number of schedules. Please sign up with Carolyn in the church office. We are scheduling entry and exit times in order to keep groups small and allow for six feet between folks. The
dates are: Oct 10th from 9-noon, Oct 11th from 12:30-4:30, Oct. 14th from 6-9
Question Two: Transitional is the main word invoked when talking about interim ministry. I am here to help the congregation transition from a long, successful ministry with Rev. Tim to whoever your next minister might be. While we are together I will help you recall, in the chaos of this time, who you are as a congregation. What makes this congregation special? What are you most proud of? What are your priorities? What do you dream of for UUCA’s future?
There are also organizational tasks to tidy up. Your co-ministry with Rev. Tim was busy! You accomplished a tremendous amount together, and it was deeply spiritual work. But often when a congregation is out making big things happen the smaller administrative tasks fall by the wayside. So the board and I are updating job descriptions and contracts for staff members and reviewing bylaws. We are taking a close look at the five-year plan, which we are 2 ½ years into, and seeing what could use attention or updating. We are considering how to best develop leaders and organize the budget and partner with the foundation. Not because anything is broken, but because it’s a good time for routine maintenance.
I’m also working with the staff to move out of pandemic-panic mode and into the normal-for-now mode. I need your help with this. When the pandemic struck your church staff members started to work a lot. They were adapting to a strange new world and accordingly were responding to calls and emails as soon as they came in. However, as the pandemic drags into its seventh month I am insisting that staff members only work the hours they are contracted for and that they only respond to communications during their work hours. Being in work mode at all times is not healthy for any of us. It takes a toll on our health, our family life, and leads to burnout. Please be patient as staff members put boundaries around their work life. It is likely that you will wait longer to receive a response to emails and texts, and phone calls may go to voicemail.
The UUCA staff is a talented and dedicated group. They are a wonderful resource that I hope will be with you for many years to come. Let’s move out of pandemic- emergency mode into something more sustainable for our treasured church staff.
I am delighted to be with you all for the next two years. Even your wonderful reputation did not prepare me for the warm, generous welcome I have received. What a gift this congregation is to our denomination. And what lucky minister I am!
Blessings,
Rev. Kate