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FirstU Ottawa is excited to announce our new Settled Minister REV. ERIC METER!
We look forward to welcoming him when he joins us in August. Read about Rev. Eric HERE.
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About the Search Process
Reverend Pat Guthmann Haresch will soon be leaving our congregation after completing her 3-year term as First Unitarian’s Developmental Minister. The Settled Minister Search Committee has been tasked by the Board of Directors to find our next settled Minister, who will begin in August 2021. This year-long process started in Spring 2020, and involves many steps (see below for a list of these steps and their status).
Updates on the Search Process
On April 12, Rev. Eric H. Meter was announced to the congregation as the choice of the Search Committee.
Mar 13, 2021: The Road Ahead (Guest Minister at First U of Toronto)
April 4, 2021: Practicing Resurrection
April-May 2021
April was full of a variety of activities intended to introduce Rev. Eric to all parts of the congregation – a period known as ‘Candidating Week’ – although because all of this had to be done virtually, the period was expanded to two full weeks. We kicked off Candidating with a ‘Fireside Chat’ conversation between Rev. Eric and members of the Search Committee. This was followed by over a dozen other meetings, some with specific groups, and others which were theme-based with broad attendance across the congregation. All of this culminated on May 2, with a live Zoom Sunday service led by Rev. Eric. This was immediately followed by the vote of the membership to overwhelmingly approve calling Rev. Eric Meter to be FirstU’s next Settled Minister.
Rev. Eric and his wife, Ann De Leon, hope to move to Ottawa by mid-summer; Rev. Eric will begin serving as our minister on August 9.
January - March 2021
The 4 Pre-Candidating weekends were completed in mid-March, and the committee spent time in reflection and discernment to decide which of the ministers would be the best fit for First Unitarian Ottawa. At the same time, the minister applicants were deciding their own preferences among the various congregations where they pre-candidated. The Transitions Office of the UUA – which has coordinated the entire minister search process for both the US and Canada – received the list of preferences from both the ministers and the searching congregations in late March, and on April 1 congregations were free to make offers to ministers.
Winter 2020
During December, prospective ministers prepared their extensive applications (known as Ministerial Records). In January, the Search Committee received 14 applications, which were each carefully reviewed. The committee chose 7 individuals to interview and reference check. After reflection, the committee chose 4 of these individuals to invite to Pre-Candidating. During February and March, each pre-candidate spent a ‘virtual 3-day weekend’ with the Search Committee, which included extensive interviews, group and 1-1discussions, a virtual tour of the FirstU building/campus, several social hours, and answering questions about housing/schools/partner jobs in the Ottawa area. Sunday mornings were devoted to a ‘neutral pulpit’ sermon at another Unitarian church, that was observed by the committee and discussed afterwards with the candidate.
FALL 2020
The focus of the Search last fall was on developing and analyzing the Congregational Survey, and developing the Congregational Record. In September and October, the congregation completed a detailed survey to help guide the Search Committee in what the congregation is looking for in their next minister. The summary of the survey results is available on the members page of the FirstU website. One of the main ways for us to describe ourselves – both who we are, and what we are looking for in a minister - is a document called the ‘Congregational Record.’ On December 1, this in-depth document was made available to prospective ministers throughout the US and Canada. We believe it is important for our members to know the information we have shared, which was gathered through surveys, focus groups and interviews. The Congregational Record is available on the members' page of the FirstU website.
12 steps of the Minister Search
About the Search Committee
Selected by the Nominating Committee, the Search Committee is made up of 7 members. We are blessed to have a diverse group of women and men, younger and older, retired and working full-time, from various walks of life. The work of Search Committee has represented a team effort.
Picture taken at our weekend retreat on July 10-11, 2020.
Left to right: Phil Nagy, Mary Ella Keblusek, Mike Lloyd, Jodi McIntosh, Jane Lindsay (chair), Amy Bérubé (holding baby Evan who also attended our retreat!),
and Lena Talback
Reverend Pat Guthmann Haresch will soon be leaving our congregation after completing her 3-year term as First Unitarian’s Developmental Minister. The Settled Minister Search Committee has been tasked by the Board of Directors to find our next settled Minister, who will begin in August 2021. This year-long process started in Spring 2020, and involves many steps (see below for a list of these steps and their status).
Updates on the Search Process
On April 12, Rev. Eric H. Meter was announced to the congregation as the choice of the Search Committee.
- Read April 12, 2021 Announcement
- Read Rev. Eric Meter Bio
- Read Reflections from Rev. Eric on his ministry
- Listen to Rev. Eric selected sermons
Mar 13, 2021: The Road Ahead (Guest Minister at First U of Toronto)
April 4, 2021: Practicing Resurrection
- Watch June 2020 Tribute to Rev Eric Meter by First UU of Columbus Ohio
- Watch the April 18 2021 Fireside Chat with Rev Eric
April-May 2021
April was full of a variety of activities intended to introduce Rev. Eric to all parts of the congregation – a period known as ‘Candidating Week’ – although because all of this had to be done virtually, the period was expanded to two full weeks. We kicked off Candidating with a ‘Fireside Chat’ conversation between Rev. Eric and members of the Search Committee. This was followed by over a dozen other meetings, some with specific groups, and others which were theme-based with broad attendance across the congregation. All of this culminated on May 2, with a live Zoom Sunday service led by Rev. Eric. This was immediately followed by the vote of the membership to overwhelmingly approve calling Rev. Eric Meter to be FirstU’s next Settled Minister.
Rev. Eric and his wife, Ann De Leon, hope to move to Ottawa by mid-summer; Rev. Eric will begin serving as our minister on August 9.
January - March 2021
The 4 Pre-Candidating weekends were completed in mid-March, and the committee spent time in reflection and discernment to decide which of the ministers would be the best fit for First Unitarian Ottawa. At the same time, the minister applicants were deciding their own preferences among the various congregations where they pre-candidated. The Transitions Office of the UUA – which has coordinated the entire minister search process for both the US and Canada – received the list of preferences from both the ministers and the searching congregations in late March, and on April 1 congregations were free to make offers to ministers.
Winter 2020
During December, prospective ministers prepared their extensive applications (known as Ministerial Records). In January, the Search Committee received 14 applications, which were each carefully reviewed. The committee chose 7 individuals to interview and reference check. After reflection, the committee chose 4 of these individuals to invite to Pre-Candidating. During February and March, each pre-candidate spent a ‘virtual 3-day weekend’ with the Search Committee, which included extensive interviews, group and 1-1discussions, a virtual tour of the FirstU building/campus, several social hours, and answering questions about housing/schools/partner jobs in the Ottawa area. Sunday mornings were devoted to a ‘neutral pulpit’ sermon at another Unitarian church, that was observed by the committee and discussed afterwards with the candidate.
FALL 2020
The focus of the Search last fall was on developing and analyzing the Congregational Survey, and developing the Congregational Record. In September and October, the congregation completed a detailed survey to help guide the Search Committee in what the congregation is looking for in their next minister. The summary of the survey results is available on the members page of the FirstU website. One of the main ways for us to describe ourselves – both who we are, and what we are looking for in a minister - is a document called the ‘Congregational Record.’ On December 1, this in-depth document was made available to prospective ministers throughout the US and Canada. We believe it is important for our members to know the information we have shared, which was gathered through surveys, focus groups and interviews. The Congregational Record is available on the members' page of the FirstU website.
12 steps of the Minister Search
- Settled Minister Search Committee selected completed
- Search Committee meets with Transitions Coach and plans its work completed
- Search Committee holds retreat (this year done in combination with #2) completed
- Congregational Survey distributed and tabulated completed
- Focus Groups held with various groups in congregation completed
- Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop held with congregation completed
- The extensive Congregational Record and information packet about our congregation are completed and made available to ministers in search completed
- Search committee begins considering potential candidates completed
- Search committee interviews 3-4 “short list” candidates in more depth completed
- Search committee recommends one candidate completed
- Candidating week in which congregation meets and votes on the proposed candidate / minister completed
- Congregational vote for Settled Minister completed
About the Search Committee
Selected by the Nominating Committee, the Search Committee is made up of 7 members. We are blessed to have a diverse group of women and men, younger and older, retired and working full-time, from various walks of life. The work of Search Committee has represented a team effort.
Picture taken at our weekend retreat on July 10-11, 2020.
Left to right: Phil Nagy, Mary Ella Keblusek, Mike Lloyd, Jodi McIntosh, Jane Lindsay (chair), Amy Bérubé (holding baby Evan who also attended our retreat!),
and Lena Talback
