1. MSR Consultation I Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church

2. Purpose: To find the minister who will best serve your congregation as you move into the next decade.

3. What is a Ministerial Settlement Representative?

4. Three Scheduled Meetings: MSR I: Presentation to congregation and board MSR II: Meet with Search Committee MSR III: Search committee after they receive a list of candidates

5. Players Ministerial Transitions Office: Keith Kron and Margaret Montore Ministerial Settlement Representative Primary Contact: Megan Foley Congregation. Ultimately, the congregation chooses the minister and is involved in various steps along the way Board of Trustees: financial decisions and contract

6. Negotiating Team: one from Search Committee, from Board, and a “senior statesperson.” Search Committee: Identifies a candidate to present to the congregation District Compensation Consultant: information on planning the compensation package Interim Minister: process consultant but does not comment on individual candidates

7. The Settlement Handbook Google: UUA Settlement Handbook Pages 4-6: Checklist Resource Guide for Ministerial Search Committees Google: UUA Resource Guide “10 C’s of Ministry” by David Pohl

8. Timeline for a September Settlement March – June, 2015: Direction Finding, selection of Search Committee June – September: Search Committee organizes, prepares background materials, schedules “Beyond Categorical Thinking” workshop September – October: Congregational self-study, Board determines compensation package, letter of agreement, Search Committee makes neutral pulpit arrangements.

9. November: Complete Congregational Record (CR), Complete Packet, Go “live” (12/1) December—January: Packet exchanges between Search Committee and potential candidates. February – March: Pre-candidating weekends First Thursday of April: Candidate choice April – May: Candidating week culminating in a vote to call

10. The Placement Scene 51 Congregations in search for ministers this current year. This is fairly typical 110 to 115 ministers in search during the past two years From 2011-2013, an average of 30 ministers retired each year. In 2014 & 2015, the average jumped to 60 per year. As a result, fewer ministers are available. This particularly impacts small congregations

11. Each congregation of more than 200 members had at least 10 different ministers express interest last year. If they were smaller, the number got down to as low as 2. Geography matters. Greater DC is prime space but no guarantee More women in search than men Age range from 25 to 70 Ministers with more experience look at fewer congregations

12. Leading Causes of High Ministerial Interest: Compensation Geography Size (300-500 most popular) Health of congregation Self-awareness of congregation and its issues

13. Leading Causes of Low Ministerial Interest Low compensation History of negotiated resignations/ambivalence about ministry Geography Lack of self-awareness Smaller size

14. The process of choosing a minister has deep roots in our history and goes to the heart of who we are as congregations. Ours is a tradition in which:  Authority to do ministry is granted by the congregation  The choice of who serves as professional minister is made by the congregation. To be so involved is a great privilege as well as an opportunity to guide the service you offer to each other, to the wider community, and to the world.