Shoreline UU Church is Seeking a New Minister!
Shoreline UU Church has embarked on a nationwide search for a new minister who is scheduled to start August 1, 2022. The Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is responsible for organizing and carrying out the search. Below you'll find an overview of the process.
For more info, please email us at SUUCMinisterSearch@gmail.com
For more info, please email us at SUUCMinisterSearch@gmail.com
Members of the SUUC Ministerial Search Committee circle up to discuss the many steps to the process!
Left to Right: Krista Tenney, Jon Grout, Laura Banks, Michelle Martin, Karen Thompson, Carrie Cameron
Left to Right: Krista Tenney, Jon Grout, Laura Banks, Michelle Martin, Karen Thompson, Carrie Cameron
Steps Toward a Settled Minister
1. Minister Search Committee (MSC) voted in by Congregation - May 2021 (done!)
2. MSC retreat with Transitions Coach - July 2021 (done!)
3. Negotiating Team selected (Bob Beekman, Catherine Crain, and Karen Thompson) - responsible for drafting contract for settled minister - July 2021 (done!)
4. Congregational Survey - Aug/Sept. 2021. This will help ministerial candidates get a feel for who we are. The results of the survey will soon be available here on the website. (done!)
5. Small-Group Meetings (in conjunction with the Stewardship Drive) - Sept/Oct. 2021 (done!)
6. Beyond Categorical Thinking: a workshop to enhance our congregation's inclusive thinking and prevent unfair discrimination in our search - Nov. 2021 (done!)
7. Neutral Pulpits selected, where initial three candidates will preach - Aug 2021 (done!)
8. Complete Congregational Record and supporting documents - detailed summary of congregation history, features, people - Nov. 2021 (done!)
9. Congregational Record submitted to UUA for review and approval. (done!)
10. Congregational Record available for review by ministerial candidates - Dec. 2021 (done!)
11. Prospective applicants submit packets to MSC - highly confidential! - Jan 2022
12. MSC conducts reference checks, review of candidates’ websites and video or phone interviews of top candidates - again, highly confidential - Jan. 2022
13. MSC interviews three candidates and watches them conduct worship services. Highly confidential! - Feb/Mar 2022
14. Developed reference checks and potential offer by March 31.
15. Contract negotiations March 31 - mid-April 2022
16. Announcement that candidate has been found. - Early to mid-April 2022
17. Name of candidate announced after complete agreement on contract between negotiating team and candidate, candidate has signed release for further background check, and, if minister is currently serving a congregation, has advised the congregation of their candidacy.
18. Candidating week - candidate comes, preaches one Sunday, spends week meeting with Board and committees, preaches second Sunday, leaves and is voted on by the congregation. Needs at least 90% vote in favor to proceed. - Completed by May 1, 2022.
19. New minister starts at SUUC on August 1, 2022!
~~~~~~~
Members of the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC)
Krista Tenney:
I’ve been involved with SUUC since late 2009. For the first five years, I served as your part-time Membership Activity Coordinator. I joined as a member in 2014 and have been involved with many SUUC activities including the women’s circle, membership, reader’s theater, social justice, Sno-King Meaningful Movies, buildings and grounds, auction events, aesthetics, worship planning and Sunday service tech team. I am currently the acting chair of our Social Justice Committee, co-chair of Aesthetics and on the SUUC History/Archives Task Force.
Jon Grout:
A social worker and proud lifelong Washingtonian, Jon has been a member of SUUC since 2015. Serving others and reducing human suffering have been the foundation of his personal and professional life. Jon has worked in the fields of mental health, human services and health care, including serving persons with life-limiting illnesses and their families as a hospice social worker for the past 13 years. He recently ended his hospice career and is deciding what he would like to do next. In the meantime, he continues to enjoy his parallel lives as a dad and a musician. Jon plays guitar, bass, drums, and recently released an album of instrumental music as a fundraiser to defend democracy.
Laura Banks:
Raised Unitarian, I joined Shoreline UU church in 1994 at my mother’s invitation. I have chaired the RE Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Endowment Fund and served on the Board of Trustees and several other committees. I’ve attended our church’s annual Seabeck retreat almost every year. Social Justice is my passion, and I helped organize Earth Action Friday services, food-packing at Food Lifeline, and supply-gathering for people in need. The greatest spiritual gift I’ve been given at SUUC is singing harmony with the Spirit Hand group for 12 years.
Michelle Martin:
Michelle has served on the Seabeck committee and performed in Amanda Aikman’s 2020 play, “Risk Benefit.” Work life consists of freelance journalism in both radio and print as well as massage therapy. In years past she spent a year as a Rotary Exchange student in Belgium; studied biology and got to study howler monkeys in Nicaragua; and played with kids in Kosovo to attract them away from where others cleared landmines. Lately she’s been helping with a non-profit devoted to regaining public control over corporations to protect air, water and ecosystems.
Karen Thompson:
I have been a member of SUUC for over 20 years. Throughout that time, I have been on several committees including Personnel and the RE committee. I was on the Board for 5-½ years, including 2 years as the president. I also was elected to the Congregational Life Committee and helped teach RE. Currently I am on the Transition Team and participate in the SUUC book group, Owls of Minerva, and play bridge.
Carrie Cameron:
For two decades I’ve enjoyed various roles at SUUC: choir member, RE assistant, youth adviser, young adult group coordinator, coffee coordinator, author of “Carrie’s Commentaries” (a short-term substitute for “Jo’s Jottings”), office assistant, custodian, and resident cat sitter/airport chauffeur. When the pandemic hit, I joined the Tech Team and discovered a passion for video editing, especially putting nice visuals to music. My formula for a moral life is “heed head/heart (logic/love) & shine!” 🌟
1. Minister Search Committee (MSC) voted in by Congregation - May 2021 (done!)
2. MSC retreat with Transitions Coach - July 2021 (done!)
3. Negotiating Team selected (Bob Beekman, Catherine Crain, and Karen Thompson) - responsible for drafting contract for settled minister - July 2021 (done!)
4. Congregational Survey - Aug/Sept. 2021. This will help ministerial candidates get a feel for who we are. The results of the survey will soon be available here on the website. (done!)
5. Small-Group Meetings (in conjunction with the Stewardship Drive) - Sept/Oct. 2021 (done!)
6. Beyond Categorical Thinking: a workshop to enhance our congregation's inclusive thinking and prevent unfair discrimination in our search - Nov. 2021 (done!)
7. Neutral Pulpits selected, where initial three candidates will preach - Aug 2021 (done!)
8. Complete Congregational Record and supporting documents - detailed summary of congregation history, features, people - Nov. 2021 (done!)
9. Congregational Record submitted to UUA for review and approval. (done!)
10. Congregational Record available for review by ministerial candidates - Dec. 2021 (done!)
11. Prospective applicants submit packets to MSC - highly confidential! - Jan 2022
12. MSC conducts reference checks, review of candidates’ websites and video or phone interviews of top candidates - again, highly confidential - Jan. 2022
13. MSC interviews three candidates and watches them conduct worship services. Highly confidential! - Feb/Mar 2022
14. Developed reference checks and potential offer by March 31.
15. Contract negotiations March 31 - mid-April 2022
16. Announcement that candidate has been found. - Early to mid-April 2022
17. Name of candidate announced after complete agreement on contract between negotiating team and candidate, candidate has signed release for further background check, and, if minister is currently serving a congregation, has advised the congregation of their candidacy.
18. Candidating week - candidate comes, preaches one Sunday, spends week meeting with Board and committees, preaches second Sunday, leaves and is voted on by the congregation. Needs at least 90% vote in favor to proceed. - Completed by May 1, 2022.
19. New minister starts at SUUC on August 1, 2022!
~~~~~~~
Members of the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC)
Krista Tenney:
I’ve been involved with SUUC since late 2009. For the first five years, I served as your part-time Membership Activity Coordinator. I joined as a member in 2014 and have been involved with many SUUC activities including the women’s circle, membership, reader’s theater, social justice, Sno-King Meaningful Movies, buildings and grounds, auction events, aesthetics, worship planning and Sunday service tech team. I am currently the acting chair of our Social Justice Committee, co-chair of Aesthetics and on the SUUC History/Archives Task Force.
Jon Grout:
A social worker and proud lifelong Washingtonian, Jon has been a member of SUUC since 2015. Serving others and reducing human suffering have been the foundation of his personal and professional life. Jon has worked in the fields of mental health, human services and health care, including serving persons with life-limiting illnesses and their families as a hospice social worker for the past 13 years. He recently ended his hospice career and is deciding what he would like to do next. In the meantime, he continues to enjoy his parallel lives as a dad and a musician. Jon plays guitar, bass, drums, and recently released an album of instrumental music as a fundraiser to defend democracy.
Laura Banks:
Raised Unitarian, I joined Shoreline UU church in 1994 at my mother’s invitation. I have chaired the RE Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Endowment Fund and served on the Board of Trustees and several other committees. I’ve attended our church’s annual Seabeck retreat almost every year. Social Justice is my passion, and I helped organize Earth Action Friday services, food-packing at Food Lifeline, and supply-gathering for people in need. The greatest spiritual gift I’ve been given at SUUC is singing harmony with the Spirit Hand group for 12 years.
Michelle Martin:
Michelle has served on the Seabeck committee and performed in Amanda Aikman’s 2020 play, “Risk Benefit.” Work life consists of freelance journalism in both radio and print as well as massage therapy. In years past she spent a year as a Rotary Exchange student in Belgium; studied biology and got to study howler monkeys in Nicaragua; and played with kids in Kosovo to attract them away from where others cleared landmines. Lately she’s been helping with a non-profit devoted to regaining public control over corporations to protect air, water and ecosystems.
Karen Thompson:
I have been a member of SUUC for over 20 years. Throughout that time, I have been on several committees including Personnel and the RE committee. I was on the Board for 5-½ years, including 2 years as the president. I also was elected to the Congregational Life Committee and helped teach RE. Currently I am on the Transition Team and participate in the SUUC book group, Owls of Minerva, and play bridge.
Carrie Cameron:
For two decades I’ve enjoyed various roles at SUUC: choir member, RE assistant, youth adviser, young adult group coordinator, coffee coordinator, author of “Carrie’s Commentaries” (a short-term substitute for “Jo’s Jottings”), office assistant, custodian, and resident cat sitter/airport chauffeur. When the pandemic hit, I joined the Tech Team and discovered a passion for video editing, especially putting nice visuals to music. My formula for a moral life is “heed head/heart (logic/love) & shine!” 🌟