Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth 
Interim Ministry Transition Team Meeting with the Congregation: Sunday, January 13, 2008
Following the service on 1-13, a group of 25-30 people gathered to hear the report of the Ministry Transition Team, review the timelines (prepared by Judy Blanck) and hear the recommendation of the Team regarding the length of service by a second interim minister. Sally's sermon that day covered the Five Tasks of Interim Ministry so attendees were well prepared for the discussion.
Jan Magree introduced the time line that showed various congregational events and the times for selection of interim and settled ministers. She reported that it was the recommendation of the Team that our second interim minister be contracted to serve for two years to improve the opportunities for a successful settled minister selection.
Initial questions included:
- Can an interim be called to be the settled minister? No
- If we quickly select a settled minister, do we still have to keep the interim until the end of their contract? Yes – but the timeline for settled minister selection really doesn't make this an issue.
Sally explained the difference in the process between selection of an interim and selection of a settled minister. She also reported that the denomination reports that the end of a long term ministry really needs at least a two year interim.
Opting for an additional two years of interim would probably result in the selection of one person to serve for two years. We would then complete the tasks of interim ministry and begin the search for a settled minister knowing who we are, what we want, and good preparation of a search packet.
One congregant spoke of their desire to move more quickly to a settled minister. Another said that they understood the wisdom of two more years of interim. The group agreed to a straw poll and there was broad support for the two years of interim (only one person raising their hand in objection).
Marree Seitz, Recorder