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Unitarian Universalist Congregations Are Breaking with Traditional Leadership Models and Thriving (from UUWorld April 2024)

“The concept of shared ministry is ascendant within Unitarian Universalism today. It means sharing leadership by transcending hierarchies, and rethinking traditional divisions among the roles of ministers, religious educators, music ministers, lay leaders, and others. Shared ministry is an approach—collaborative, interconnected, less strictly hierarchical—that lives into the faith’s highest values.

"Shared ministry means sharing in the responsibilities of the community," says Dr. Janice Marie Johnson, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Ministries and Faith Development staff group.

It is about recognizing that everyone has gifts and skills to share, valuing everyone’s contributions, and realizing that while there may be different levels of authority, supervision, accountability, and reporting, at the same time, no one is more important than anyone else.”

We said farewell to Rev. Kristina in July. We look forward to Pastor Patti’s beginning with us in September. As we enter this new chapter, we look to combine our gifts in creative ways. Shared ministry is not a totally new idea to us, but we are counting on new energy to fuel our work so that our “beacon of liberal religion” may truly shine.

And the work has begun. We have enlisted a “transition team” to help Pastor Patti and our church community build a foundation for shared ministry. Patti already has sermon dates scheduled through early next year and is planning to share her availability for other duties. In our Sunday Service on September 1^st, we will introduce ourselves to Pastor Patti. On September 8^th she will have her first Sunday in the pulpit and we will get to know more about her.

We know we can count on each other for all that is needed to make this shared ministry a success. If you have any questions or ideas let us know. Please email us at bot@uutarpon.org or speak to one of us on Sundays (look for the Board Member bar on our name badge).

Holding one another in care,

Betty Clark, BettyLou Cummins, Mark Hopkins, Judy Pickett, Barbara Mellen

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