Life at First UUWithout aLeadMinister

By Nancy Fisk, First Words Editor with Robie Evans, Director of Operations
Our system of governing policies at First UU requires we have a Lead Minister at the helm, making decisions. In the past, the Lead Minister has had the support of the Associate or Assistant Minister, the Director of Operations, and a Lay Leader. This group of people is known as the Executive Team. Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube started the team in 2010, when he was our Lead Minister, to assist him with personnel matters. 

In 2021, both Rev. Kathleen Owens and Rev. Tania Márquez resigned their positions at First UU. In the absence of a Lead or an Assistant Minister, First UU entered into an interim period, which? according to a succession policy found in the Staff Limitations of our policy governance? required that an Interim Committee (Exec) be formed. The Interim Committee (Exec) includes the President of the Board (Julie Forest), the Vice President (Cora Pendergast), the Director of Operations (Robie Evans), and the Lay Leader from theExecutiveTeam (DaveHunt). 
After being formed, the policy states, "the Interim Committee shall immediately contact the UUA's Transitions Department to pursue an interim Lead Minister search. The Interim Committee shall be separate from a Ministerial Search Committee and shall serve only until an interim Lead Minister is hired upon approval of the Board of Trustees. Until such hiring, the Interim Committee may hire additional staff if necessary to ensure compliance with Governance Policies and to assist in pulpit and pastoral care responsibilities. The Interim Committee shall report and be accountable to theChurch Board of Trustees."
We weren't able to hire an interim Lead minister to be with us this year. The Interim Committee (Exec) has performed the duties that would normally fall to a Lead Minister. Here's a list of what they've accomplished this year, many along with our Board of Trustees: 

• Hired Rev. Dr. Omega Burckhardt in September as a contract Assistant Minister for the next two years.
• Hired a series of Ministers in Residence to lead services, provide pastoral care, and support the Board of Trustees.
• Contracted with Unfolding Peace, (Rev. Deanna Vandiver and Rev. Denise Graves) to lead a restorative process and begin a re-covenanting process, starting with Listening Circles.
• Encouraged the food pantry to become their own affiliate organization, per the First UU?s Constitution.
• Helped the pantry find their own space, and move out of the South Bay meeting space, so that worship services may resume there in the future.
• Helped to administer the Renewal and Growth Fund, an anonymous gift provided to First UU for various designated congregational needs over the next five years, such as the technology for the live stream service.
• Worked with the Reopening Team on resuming activities on campus.
• Been the linkage for all communications for these decisions, via e-blasts, First Words, and theWindow. 

On top of all this they've :

• Dealt with all personnel matters.
• Overseen the negotiations effort with UCSD about an easement agreement issue.
  Changed the pledge drive from year-round
• back to an annual event.
• Approved the purchase of devices that will make multi-platform meetings with Zoom easier for members whether they're in person or wish to attend from home. 

When the Developmental Minister is hired this spring to begin work in August, that person will become the Lead Minister and then this committee may go back to its original configuration of Lead Minister, Assistant Minister, Executive Director of Operations, and a Lay Leader, depending on the wishes of the new Lead Minister. Our new minister will take some time to get to know us, then will make their own decisions about how to best work with the congregation. 
The Interim Committee (Exec) is a highly confidential group. They can't always talk about their decisions until the time is appropriate for letting the congregation know what is happening next. But they've worked to be as transparent as possible. We owe them our thanks for keeping First UU operational during the pandemic and beyond.