Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Always Learning

On Tuesday, May 16, I told the Board of Trustees that 2006–07 would be my last year at UUCPA. My family and I are moving to Ithaca where we will begin a new stage of our life in a place with great public schools, family around, and new possibilities to explore. It was an intense moment for me, a moment I had anticipated with a mixture of excitement, trepidation and sadness. After the discussion, when the meeting adjourned, I had the first of many conversations with you, the members and friends who I have grown to know and love and have worked closely with these past six years. It was nearly 11 pm by the time we locked up the fireside room and I drove to the post office to mail 400 letters to all the members and friends of this church.

Now we begin to wonder, what next? In a congregation where there is a clear consensus about their ministry configuration, the Board convenes a committee to hire an Interim minister who serves for a year or two until a new settled minister can be called. In our case the only thing that is clear is that no such consensus exists. Ever since Edith Parker, (our DRE who served from 1988 — 1998) ended her service, we have been in discussion about what kind of leadership we want for our congregation. Do we want a trio: Parish Minister, Intern Minister and DRE, the way we were before I arrived, or do we want to commit to the kind of partnership we have right now: Parish Minister and Minister of Religious Education. OR is there something else we have not explored? Co-ministers who share both preaching and the ministry of religious education? A Parish Minister, Director of Religious Education and Part-Time Minister of Pastoral Care?

Because we have a year to think about this transition, I hope this will be a time for extended conversation to explore these issues. And the exploration must start with the fundamental questions: What is our Mission as a church? What is our vision of Religious Education? What is our ministry? What staff constellation can help us realize our mission and vision?

These questions are no longer mine to answer. But I am here to work with Amy, the Board, the Committee on Ministry, and all who will join me in the wondering. These are some big questions we have to answer. Let’s take advantage of this time to go deeply into these questions together.