The Interim Process

Donna is thrilled to be with us! She's met some of us, but not all.
In an effort to ensure that all Congregation members and friends are informed and updated on the process with her and the search committee, you may find that we’re over-communicating what is happening. We want to make certain that everyone feels involved, included and comfortable with the work that is about to begin.
Donna's been here since March and she is dividing her work into three phases for the year. Read below as to how that is planned out and read about our progress.
In an effort to ensure that all Congregation members and friends are informed and updated on the process with her and the search committee, you may find that we’re over-communicating what is happening. We want to make certain that everyone feels involved, included and comfortable with the work that is about to begin.
Donna's been here since March and she is dividing her work into three phases for the year. Read below as to how that is planned out and read about our progress.
March through May (complete)
- Get to know the Congregation: Donna held wellness visits to get to know you personally and pastorally. These opportunities are also called Meet & Greets or her Community Entry System, please do reach out to set up time to meet with her!
- Completed the Sundays in the Park Sessions
- These sessions were used to re-share work done through the Thriving Congregations Initiative and exercises on past, present and future eras of our Congregation.
- The information from the Thriving Congregations Study and discussions from the Sundays in the Park sessions will be leveraged in the Church Profile (see an example here).
June through September (in progress)
- Donna will work with the elected Search committee, to be appointed by the Chair of the Trustees and Chair of the Board of Deacons, as per the by-laws, to finalize the proposal and get ready for the great dating game to begin.
- Update 5/19: The Search Committee members were announced at the May Quarterly Meeting: Carter Wilkie, Cooper Thomas, Joel Maxwell, Karen Corrigan, Kelly Rebeiro-Oliveira, Lily Clark, Mark Edwards, Shirley Hardison, Susan Chase and Victoria Talbot.
- Donna will continue to get to know our congregation, lead worship, and provide ministerial support and, of course, enjoy her first Church Fair on Saturday, July 13th!
- Hopefully by September we will file the Church Profile with the UCC Conference, which will circulate it widely.
October through December
- In the final three-four months of her time with us, we will hope to find a candidate and secure a contract.
- Donna will continue to lead worship and provide ministerial support and most importantly prepare to transition us over to the hands of our new settled pastor!
Background on the Thriving Study and Committee
We understand that the purpose of the Thriving Congregations Committee was not widely understood, We are re-sharing that charge was and where in comes to play with our Church Profile.
Our charge was to evaluate what thriving meant to us and how we were effectively doing it in our Congregation and outside our community. We reviewed characteristics of thriving, surveyed and interviewed the Congregation and created not only areas of interest but acted upon them through programs such as the Church dinners in August 2020, the open nomination form and the Affordable Housing potluck and thus the creation of our Housing affordability working group. This committee sought to re-engage the Congregation during a very challenging pandemic time and put action to our Mission.
The Thriving Congregations committee of Susan Killenberg, Charlie Thomas, Carter Wilkie and Lily Clark met with consultant Jim Merhaut and through surveys, 1-1 conversations and focus groups within our Congregation we derived and developed these areas of interest (in no particular order).
Our charge was to evaluate what thriving meant to us and how we were effectively doing it in our Congregation and outside our community. We reviewed characteristics of thriving, surveyed and interviewed the Congregation and created not only areas of interest but acted upon them through programs such as the Church dinners in August 2020, the open nomination form and the Affordable Housing potluck and thus the creation of our Housing affordability working group. This committee sought to re-engage the Congregation during a very challenging pandemic time and put action to our Mission.
The Thriving Congregations committee of Susan Killenberg, Charlie Thomas, Carter Wilkie and Lily Clark met with consultant Jim Merhaut and through surveys, 1-1 conversations and focus groups within our Congregation we derived and developed these areas of interest (in no particular order).
- We are a big umbrella of faith, from many different walks of life.
- We believe that Outreach is important and we could do so much more.
- We are Open and Affirming. We have a commitment to ensure our community is safe & welcoming space for all!
- We fear that our Children & Youth population is dwindling and need help to fix that.
- We believe that everyone should have the ability & choice to live in Little Compton.
Questions? |
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the Church Office and Donna will contact you!
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