Update to the Hiring Process for Community Minister (August 21, 2015)
The last few weeks have created a buzz in our circles as we have sought candidates to fill the newly created Community Minister position at Sanctuary UCC. If you have not seen the job ad and description of the pastor/teacher/community organizer we seek you can find it here.
We have begun to interview our top candidates and hope to have the new person in place by October. Here is a description of the gifts and graces we are prioritizing as most valuable to our mission and our staff mix. We are very excited about the possibility this re-imagined staff role will bring to our call to be sanctuary, the community we serve and our church’s future as we continue to build out our beloved church
Fit with Sanctuary’s Ministry Model: Their call to ministry matches ours – being sanctuary, going out to serve and meet people where they are; living justice more than talking about justice; an obvious commitment to the ‘parish’ and ‘presence’ model of ministry to which we have been called; the versatility to wear many hats – a generalist; a whatever it takes attitude (moving chairs, posting signs, standing outside engaging folk); experience with border crossings: comfort with wide range of connections and cultures; comfort with working on the edges – including those who are on existential edges or mental illness, recovery, loss and more…
“Relationality” at the heart of their call: Someone whose call is about presence and building relationships with others; not a client/provider model; Someone who sees that our ministry model is not about membership, but about serving and loving neighbor; Tenacity to stick with a relationship and/or a ministry even when it is not immediately bearing fruit, someone who knows that the fruit may come much later; Pastoral Instincts – appreciates the presence and chaplaincy role of open sanctuary
A Community Organizer: Evidence of specific project/experience; Training, Instincts and Gifts for same; Able to ‘be in’ and committed to the city of Medford – does not have to live here, but we are seeking someone who sees this as inherent to their success as community minister
Energy/Passion: We seek one who is high energy, emotionally, physically, relationally; Capable of being outwardly focused; Personality to thrive in this role; Self starter ; mature self-identity; strong enough to hold own in collaboration; self differentiated; complement and compatible with lead pastor’s gifts and personality
Excellent Communication Skills: Interpersonal; Writing (a lot of content creation); Eloquence; Able to translate classic clergy role (as depicted in our UCC profile) into our ministry model and setting
Technical Fluency: Must be fluent in leading edge technology ; able to post own stuff on web, etc.; Very Social network savvy; And interested in staying on the front edge of same
Worship/Spiritual Formation Leadership: Imaginative and creative about spiritual practice and worship; Able to translate theology and faith practices to small group, not traditional models of worship; Look for unique and wide ranging answer to the question “What is worship?”
Complementary Balance of Gifts with current lead pastor: Generation; Aspirational Realism; Pastoral Instincts – passion for care and kindness
Bonus Categories of Gifts: Brings diversity to the staff team – cultural, gender, language; Music Gift; Development/Stewardship Experience; Entrepreneurial spirit/experience, Start-up experience – able to identify and pour gasoline on the little fires of success.
If you have any questions about the hiring process and our plan, please contact Rev. Wendy or Paul Roberts.
