We are approaching the half-way point in our year of ministry together here at UUMAN. In the next month we will be assessing the ministry we have accomplished, and clarifying plans for the rest of the year. These past few weeks, I have been preparing by reviewing the creativity of my work to determine what may need to be changed for you to receive the best I have to offer in our remaining work. As a part of this awareness, I have been reviewing what we have accomplished in our ministry together.
The appraisal is done in a way that is particularly appropriate to ministry, and is likely quite different from the evaluations you may have experienced in other situations. It is based on the fact that ministry is not accomplished by the professional minister alone, nor only by church members, but rather by a collaborative effort shared by leaders of the church and the professional minister. This process of appraisal is stipulated twice during the interim year so that your leaders may learn how to openly and cooperatively share their appreciation and also their opinions, about how the ministry is handled---together with the minister.
Open and cooperative sharing of both the strengths and the weaknesses of the ministry? That is right. I will evaluate how I see myself doing and how I see the congregation doing. On an identical appraisal form, a group of your leaders will evaluate both the quality of both my work and the church’s work in addressing the Interim Goals of the Congregation;
Led by a facilitator, the leaders will come to a consensus answer for each question. I will be listening as they work to achieve their consensus answer. We will then compare and reflect on our answers. The final part of the evaluation will be to file both evaluation reports with John Weston, UUA Ministerial Transitions Director. The appraisal of ministry at this mid-point of the year gives a chance to re-visit the priorities set at the beginning of your interim time, and make changes or adjustments in our goals for the remaining months of our ministry.
This open evaluation is no easy task. It is not unusual for the learning curve to be very steep the first time we use it. It is not always easy to accept criticism gracefully. Nor is it easy to come to a consensus answer, or to speak generously about things that are not handled in ways that you wish. Practicing this way of appraising our ministry together will provide your leaders with practice and skills to work through the inevitable differences that arise when you settle your new minister.
Leaders who have been invited to participate in this evaluation are members of the Board, the Transitional Support Team, and the Committee on Ministry. They have been involved in our shared ministry these first nearly six months, and have skills and capabilities to help the whole congregation learn how evaluation can be an open and productive endeavor. As we approach this first appraisal of our shared ministry, I ask that you wish us well. You will benefit from these new ways.
Faithfully,
Reverend Sue Turner, Interim Minister
article submitted by Patti Langston
January 25, 2009
Get Real: The Journey to Self-Discovery - Dave Hudson (Worship Associate Miriam Bellamy)
The amazing story of Barack Obama’s path to the presidency has become one of the most compelling myths of our time. The great Joseph Campbell would tell us that it has much to say about what it means for us to become fully real human beings.Jan 30-31 Mid-South District RE Summit(MACON, GA)
Jan 30-31 Youth OWL (Our Whole Lives) Retreat
Feb 6-7 Junior Youth Mountain Con
