A few weeks ago, we announced that, in this year’s first round, we had not been able to identify a match to be this congregation’s next Settled Minister. However, we made a commitment to continue, by participating in the second round of this year’s search process, seeing it as our responsibility to do so. As it turned out, this year had a historically large pool of churches participating in round two. As a result, ministers who had planned to wait until next year’s search cycle decided to jump into this year’s second round. So there was also an historically large and talented pool of ministers searching in round two. Imagine our delight when our updated list of applicants included one of the most highly qualified candidates any small congregation could hope to find. We were as much surprised at our fortune as we were thrilled!
The Search Committee has spent the past few weeks interviewing this candidate, checking personal references, and negotiating the terms of the compensation package. We recently spent a weekend with this candidate in a face-to-face interview, social functions, and a neutral pulpit. In short, this search committee immersed itself in every conceivable detail regarding this candidate; we left no stone unturned.
Today, the Search Committee announces that we have identified THE match for this congregation’s next settled minister. We have made an offer, and that offer has been accepted!
Our candidate is Diana Kay McLean. Diana lives in Louisville Colorado and is currently the assistant minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greeley Colorado and the Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fort Collins, Colorado. In a moment, I will share with you Diana’s bio.
Candidating week will be taking place from June 3rd to June 12th. Diana will be preaching from this very pulpit on both Sunday June 5th and Sunday June 12th. Several activities are being planned by the search committee to allow for as much interaction as possible between Diana and you, the congregation. The Search Committee is putting the final touches on the candidating week schedule as we speak, and will be releasing it this week at the conclusion of our regular Wednesday meeting. We will post a copy of the schedule on the church’s web site and will send it out via the Weekly Bits. Paper copies will be made available to those who wish to receive them. Please make every effort to attend at least one event as well as be present in this sanctuary both Sundays so that you can get to know Diana, and she you. The vote to call Diana as our next Settled Minister will take place immediately upon the conclusion of the June 12th service.
After service today, a brief video message from Diana, to all of you, will be played in the parish hall at coffee. The budget hearing will follow shortly thereafter right here in this sanctuary. Following the budget hearing, myself, and members of the search committee will remain to answer any questions you have regarding this latest, and joyous development.
The work of the Settled Minister Search Committee is mostly complete. Now it is up to the congregation as a whole to decide whether to make the final call to ministry, and to show Diana that this is a call she should accept.
The Search Committee, to the person, is solidly behind Diana. We are convinced that we have found the right match for our church. And now we begin the process of introducing Diana to you, and are confident that you will agree with us!
