The Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford

Proud to be a
Welcoming Congregation

   20 Forest Street, Stamford, CT 06901      203-348-0708      admin@uusis.org

Interim Minister

The Rev. Dawn Sangrey

Board of Trustees President

Bonnie Currie

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY

COMMITTEE CHAIR:

MEMBERS:  Dani Beltran

                       Julie Punishill

                       Bob Nixon

                       Tara Fleck

                       Maisie Kohnstamm

                       Nancy Furnas

                       Norrris Wakefield

NEWS

Here is the glossary to help understand the milestones towards the selection of our next minister. The Search Committee will be hosting “cottage meetings”. These are, in effect, focus groups of members of the congregation, held in our homes, to further assess each member’s preferences. The “congregational packet” is a document describing our church to be circulated to possible candidates. “Pre-candidate weekends” are occasions whereby we invite possible candidates to look over our community and perhaps provide an opportunity to deliver a sermon in a “neutral pulpit”, at a church other than ours. When we have selected a candidate, and he or she has agreed to serve us, we “extend the call”, to be our minister. We expect to have accomplished these goals in the Spring of 2012.

January-March 2011: Prepare and distribute the congregational survey. Committee to tabulate results.

March-April 2011: Organize and facilitate cottage meetings to further assess wishes of the congregation. Board will select negotiating team to recommend ministerial compensation package and draft agreement.. Search Committee will begin compilation of informational packet for exchange with interested members.

September-October 2011: Search Committee will set up neutral pulpit arrangement with nearby congregations.

October 31, 2011: Search Committee will submit application for minister to our ministerial settlement representative, along with all required materials, including the informational packet, draft agreements, survey results, compensation packet, etc.

November 30, 2011: Search Committee will meet with Ministerial Settlement Representative for the third time. Search Committee will exchange packets with interested ministers, conduct telephone interviews with possible candidates.

January 2012: Search Committee will schedule three or four pre-candidate weekends including neutral pulpits.

Mach 15, 2012: Search Committee will decide on proposed candidate and make an offer contingent on background check and references from current employer.

April 2012: Congregation extends call and minister accepts.

If you have any questions, anytime during the process, please feel free to contact us! Our committee is composed of:

Julie Punishill (jpunishill@mac.com), Daniel A. Beltran (dalexb4291@gmail.com), Norris Wakefield

(nwake65@optonline.net), Robert Nixon (rbrtnixon@yahoo.com), Tara Fleck (tarafleck@hotmail.com), Nancy Furnas (Wetherwaxn@aol.com) and Maisie Kohnstamm (Maisie96@aol.com). We are committed to finding the best Minister for our congregation!