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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
Opportunities to Get to Know Rev. Eric Meter
On Sunday April 18, at 7:30 PM, connect as an observer to “A Fireside Chat” between Rev. Eric and two members of the Search Committee.
To Join CLICK HERE. Meeting ID: 824 8520 2855 Passcode: 742063
After that, you can play a more “active” part by participating in one or more of these open gatherings:
*To register for any of the Theme Sessions, email ministersearch@firstunitarianottawa.ca stating:
As well, those who are part of the Board, Leadership Council, Worship Associates, Chaplains, Spiritual Care Council, Caring Network, and the Choirs have already been invited to a meeting of your group with Rev. Eric. Some of you have been invited to a designated affinity group meeting by virtue of your being a congregant at Unitarian House, an RE parent or volunteer, a newish member or a long-time congregant.
While we ask you to limit the number of different meetings you attend in order that as many members as possible can participate in at least one meeting with Rev. Eric, if you believe you have been overlooked for a designated group meeting please contact janelindsay@sympatico.ca
And do remember that if you are an official member of FirstU, we want you to vote on MAY 2 about calling/ hiring Rev. Eric Meter as our Settled Minister.
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.
If you have any questions about the settled minister
search process, please email MinisterSearch@firstunitarianottawa.ca.
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
Opportunities to Get to Know Rev. Eric Meter
On Sunday April 18, at 7:30 PM, connect as an observer to “A Fireside Chat” between Rev. Eric and two members of the Search Committee.
To Join CLICK HERE. Meeting ID: 824 8520 2855 Passcode: 742063
After that, you can play a more “active” part by participating in one or more of these open gatherings:
- Sunday April 25, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Hospitality Hour. You will be in a group with Rev. Eric for one of three rounds of equally-timed break outs. No registration needed.
- Monday April 26, 2 PM – 3 PM: Theme Session # 1 focused on Worship, Spiritual Development and Lifespan Learning. Please register as below* by April 24
- Wednesday April 28, 7 – 8 PM: Theme Session #2 focused on Our Relationship with the Broader Community. Please register as below* by April 26
- Saturday May 1, 11 AM – Noon: Theme Session #3 focused on Welcoming, Engaging and Nurturing Community at FirstU. Please register as below* by April 29
*To register for any of the Theme Sessions, email ministersearch@firstunitarianottawa.ca stating:
- Which session(s) you want to attend – # 1, 2, or 3
- Optional: a question you hope might be asked of Rev. Eric in a given session.
As well, those who are part of the Board, Leadership Council, Worship Associates, Chaplains, Spiritual Care Council, Caring Network, and the Choirs have already been invited to a meeting of your group with Rev. Eric. Some of you have been invited to a designated affinity group meeting by virtue of your being a congregant at Unitarian House, an RE parent or volunteer, a newish member or a long-time congregant.
While we ask you to limit the number of different meetings you attend in order that as many members as possible can participate in at least one meeting with Rev. Eric, if you believe you have been overlooked for a designated group meeting please contact janelindsay@sympatico.ca
And do remember that if you are an official member of FirstU, we want you to vote on MAY 2 about calling/ hiring Rev. Eric Meter as our Settled Minister.
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 announcement on Monday, April 12, 2021
- Candidating week in which congregation meets and votes on the proposed candidate / minister will occur April 19-May 2, 2021
- Congregational vote for Settled Minister after Sunday service on May 2, 2021
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.
If you have any questions about the settled minister
search process, please email MinisterSearch@firstunitarianottawa.ca.
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
