First UU Hires Consulting Minister

The search for a second minister culminated in the hiring of the Reverend Eric Meter, named as Consulting Minister by the Board of Trustees at its May 28 meeting. Reverend Meter was most recently at the Rochester Universalist Church, where he was Interim Minister for the past year. He comes to First UU Columbus at the beginning of August.

With the resignation of the Reverend Wendy Fish, the congregation passed a motion at the Mid-Year Meeting in February to authorize the Board to form a search committee for a second minister to serve for an "interim period" and retaining the option to call this minister for a permanent position. As defined by the UUA, Interim Ministers cannot be called; however, a Consulting Minister can be called after a minimum of two years service with the congregation.

Members of the Consulting Minister Search Committee were Dan Hronek and Jim Bailey, both from the Board, and Beth Jewell, Nina Lewis, Carolee Noonan, with Reverend Mark Belletini as ex officio member and Alex Nash participating as a youth representative. The committee met weekly and followed the search process as defined and coordinated by the UUA. Its first tasks were to collect information that would define the position, to draft a description of the second minister position and post an on-line application by April 15.

The committee received Ministerial Records for candidates from the UUA Transitions Office and began its work of reviewing the records and contacting candidates who were considered a possible fit. Formal phone interviews were also part of the process. Reverend Meter was invited for a site visit in May, and he was interviewed by several committee chairs and Board members as well as by the search committee.

Eric Meter was minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Livermore, CA, for ten years, and he brings a wealth of experience, including organizing a work trip to New Orleans in spring 2007 for nine youths and six adults from the Livermore church. Pastoral care, an important part of the second minister's responsibilities, is also one of his strengths.

With the hiring complete, the Consulting Minister Search Committee has shifted its emphasis and is now working to plan the reception, orientation and integration of Eric into the community. Its goals are to help make a smooth transition and to introduce him to the congregation, and the congregation to him.

Looking forward: at the Mid-Year Congregational Meeting in February 2009, a search team to choose a settled second minister will be formed. This group will have the important task of selecting candidates and making a recommendation for a second minister to be called by the congregation.