Start-Up Workshop–Getting Comfortable with Our New Minister

When

11/13/2016    
12:00 pm - 4:30 pm
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Where

Starr King UU Church
22577 Bayview Ave, Hayward, CA, 94541

The entire congregation is invited to attend the Start-up Workshop, which will be led by Bob Miess. He led a similar workshop when Joy first came to us. This is designed to help Rev. Maria Cristina and the congregation get to know each other, and to clarify what and who we are as a church, where we want to be and how to get there.

Bring some food from the coffee tables. This is a great opportunity for us to touch base with each other and share our visions of who we are. Any questions? Please contact Diana Dickerson @ 786-2922 or daesworkgd@comcast.net.

Note from Rev. Maria Cristina:

The search committee has done its job and the new minister has arrived. Hallelujah! Now it is time to clarify roles, build trust, learn about our expectations, and prepare for the months ahead. Come to the start-up Workshop on Sunday November 13th right after the service and be a part of creating our future together! We’ll explore our past, look at what makes us who we are, and remember what is most important here. Then we’ll decide how we can move into the future together. Every member counts, so join us if you can!

Relationship building takes time and it is never as easy as we would like it to be. This is why the UUA offers facilitated “Start-Up” mini-retreats to congregations welcoming new ministers. The entire congregation is invited to participate in our start-up conversation facilitated by Bob Miess from the UUA.  

The goals of ministerial start-up workshops are to:
  • Help surface patterns in the congregation’s relationship with ministers and the resultant expectations of new ministry
  • Explore dimensions and challenges of shared ministry
  • Articulate structures and boundaries necessary for effective ministry
  • Identify the best ways for the new minister’s strengths to shine forth
The workshop uses a combination of group exercises and discussion to explore the history of ministry in the congregation and asks participants to identify patterns in the relationships between ministers and the congregation. The workshop facilitator will invite participants to brainstorm important priorities for the first year in the new ministry and to explore areas in which shared ministry between the congregation and its new minister needs clarification and focus.
Start-up workshops involve the telling of stories – personal and congregational stories. The congregation, as a whole, will be able to tell its “creation story” – its celebrations and disappointments. What are our strengths, values, mission? What is the purpose of Starr King Church’s existence? What are your expectations of your new minister?

We welcome your participation, so please plan on attending. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm. If you need childcare for this meeting, please contact our DRE Allison Prout at allisonprout@gmail.com as soon as possible.