TJ Connection - Spring 2004

The concept of "shared ministry" has taken root in our Unitarian Universalist movement. A congregation with real shared ministry lives out the belief that all have the capacity to minister to one another, to serve the mission of the institution, to help repair the world. There is no work of the church that can't be shared as a ministry. Shared ministry acknowledges that the ministry of a congregation is not provided solely by the professional religious leader for the membership; it is shared by the laity and the fellowshipped, ordained minister who is called by the congregation's membership to be a religious leader among them.

When a minister is admitted to fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association, this means that person has crossed critical thresholds on her or his journey toward professional ministry. The congregation that calls a minister in fellowship is assured that the minister has:
--Participated in psychological testing and counseling regarding his or her interest in and fitness for the professional ministry;
--Engaged with one of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee's (MFC) Regional Subcommittees on Candidacy beginning early in seminary;
--Received a master's degree from an accredited theological school;
--Completed supervised clinical pastoral education in a chaplaincy program;
--Experienced hands-on ministry in an internship in a congregation or community setting (or both) supervised by an experienced, fellowshipped minister; and
--Completed an interview with the lay and clergy members of the MFC, received Preliminary Fellowship, and after three years of evaluation and mentoring, received Final Fellowship.

This extensive training and credentialing has proven fundamental to a healthy and accountable ministry and to healthy and accountable congregations. This careful preparation benefits us all.

When a congregation ordains a fellowship candidate to the Unitarian Universalist ministry, it is a sacred rite. While fellowship can be revoked, ordination is permanent. The decision to ordain is one a congregation should take seriously. When congregations ordain a minister, it is a joyful event - not only for the congregation and the new ministry, but for Unitarian Universalism as well. Ordination means that another man or woman has chosen to dedicate their life's work to serving and upholding the health and well-being of Unitarian Universalism and its institutions. This means that this faith that sustains, comforts and challenges us will grow and thrive beyond our lifetimes.

Ministerial Transitions

New Ministers:

Rev. Dick Stennett, UU Congregation of the Swanannoa Valley (consulting)
Kenneth Bradshaw, All Souls Church, UU, Durham, NC (consulting)

Retirements:

Rev. Audrey Vincent, UU Church of Savannah

Resignations:

Rev. Julie Denny-Hughes, UU Fellowship of Raleigh
Rev. Enid Virago, First Unitarian Church of Richmond

Installations:

Rev. Robin Renteria, UU Congregation of Hillsborough, March 14
Rev. Jay Leach, UU Church of Charlotte, NC, March 21

Ordination:

Jeffrey Briere, Oak Ridge UU Church, June 13

All Souls Church Hires Consultant
From the All Souls Church Newsletter

The Committee on Ministry is pleased to announce that Kenneth Bradshaw has become an hourly consultant for All Souls on as “as needed” basis. His duties will involve advising the All Souls Board and committees as we strive to strengthen our community and grow our membership.

Kenneth brings to ASCUU a wealth of experience with church administration, church growth and diversity issues. He is a former Episcopal priest who founded one church, grew another church from 100 to nearly 500 members, and has overseen the finances and operations of churches as large as 1000 members. While leading the expansion of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Smithfield, NC, Kenneth diversified the church membership from nearly 100% white to about 50% Latino, African-American and African. Kenneth left the Episcopal ministry due to the resistance to the policies of inclusiveness he had introduced and changes in his personal theology that he felt were no longer consistent with those of the Episcopal Church. He also had a desire to found the Center for Economic Justice, a non-profit that he directed from November 2000 to March 2003, at which time it ran out of funding.

Kenneth spent his first months at All Souls studying Unitarian Universalism and attending services to become more familiar with the All Souls community and customs. He has also met with each committee to gain an understanding of All Souls’ goals and determine ways he can provide guidance. He helped the RE committee put together a new program for youth which includes new classes meeting weekly instead of on the old twice per month schedule. He has encouraged All Souls to consider seriously hiring a part time minister - an issue which will
be considered at the next congregational meeting. His insights on All Souls have been greatly appreciated.

If you haven't already done so, please introduce yourself to Kenneth and join us in welcoming him to All Souls!
Rich Bowen, Committee on Ministry

“Our Ministry to Death Row”
The Rev. Charles Howe lets us know that "Life goes on despite this sad time for our country and the world,." Lately, he has organized an "Our Ministry to Death Row" group at the Community Church of Chapel Hill, UU, with nine active members - letter writing, visits, financial support, etc. The state prison is nearby where he lives in Raleigh, NC.

Community Ministry Info
Jeanne Lloyd received preliminary fellowship in community ministry last September and is now working for Farmington Valley ARC as its Director of Community Services. She is doing interfaith coalition building and providing pastoral care there. Jeanne is co-endorsed by the two congregations who ordained her on May 18, 2003. Her website as a community ministry consultant is at http://home.attbi.com/~uujeanne/.

From Meadville/Lombard Newsletter, Spring 2003