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This page provides an overview and updates for the work that Rev. Liz is leading in her term as Designated Term Senior Minister.
We are now well into the designated term that we called Rev. Liz to as our Senior Minister. There are still many questions about this designated term and the discernment journey that is associated with it. We do know this is a journey of understanding our church and its (our) call as we prepare for the future. We are working together as a congregation in a climate of uncertainty and ongoing new developments in our world and for many of us navigating change is difficult. However, in spite of all of the challenges that we – like many other churches – face, we have so much to celebrate!
We have grown a whopping 10% in the last year! In addition to our rich worship in the sanctuary, our congregation includes a vibrant group of worshippers online. We have strengthened the quality of our worship services even further with our updated audio system – and we have a beautifully updated website and social media platforms to expand our reach to our community. We sustained our giving during COVID and beyond where others have seen significant decline. So we are well-positioned to move boldly forward into a future that we have designed together as a congregation. But first, let’s clarify some things…
The Discernment Design Team is a group of congregational members who have volunteered their time, talents, and gifts to help support and facilitate the discernment work that we called Rev. Liz to help us do. Our first task has been working to clarify our responsibilities, and begin training in the C.A.R.E. discernment practices.
The C.A.R.E. discernment practices are:
In addition to several meetings in fall 2024, we’re also meeting throughout January and February in preparation for the Sunday Supper: Lenten Discernment Conversations, which you can read more about in the next section.
The Discernment Design Team is led by Rev. Liz and our Moderator, Makesha Spence. The members of the Discernment Design Team are: Geneva Benoit, Denise Chiavetta, Barb Martin, Michael Ares, Mari Ann Banks, Jasyn Banks, Marion Clein, Julie McBride, Dave Spence, Karin Pendley Koser, Will Hiltman, and Rev. Thomas.
In earlier announcements, this team has been called the “CARE Process Design Team.” We hope that the new name, Discernment Design Team, more clearly illustrates and distinguishes the work that this team is doing.
In previous announcements, these gatherings were called “Sunday Suppers” and “Central NEXT: A Lenten Discernment Journey.” We hope that the new name better illustrates and distinguishes these conversations.
Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,
You’ve heard much about the Summer Church: A Season of Exploration but not yet enough. This note is to provide a clearer picture of what we have in mind, resources that may be helpful in the different explorations that emerge, and an invitation that we trust you will accept to explore where it would mean most to you and to Central.
The summer of exploration invites a different rhythm—one of slowing down enough to listen, both inwardly and outwardly. It is a time that allows us to slow down enough to hear ourselves think, to reflect not only on what we do and must get done, but why we do it and how, to reflect on the inner movements behind what we do, and to regenerate a sense of direction for the future and God’s call for how we may participate in the life-giving, life-affirming love of God in the world. It is an opportunity to revisit, rethink, and renew our work as a path to making what is good, better, looking to what the future will ask of us and how we can co-create that future at Central. (Consider swapping a business meeting or two to make time together for exploration and discovery.)
When we at Central are blessed with so many committed, gifted members and such a strong legacy, it makes sense to take an appreciative approach to our shared work. Building on the strengths of our work, we can take a close, positive look at what we do, why we do it, and how we have done as a starting point for wondering what the future may require. Among the many resources available to us, I am drawn to Appreciative Inquiry, and not just because David Cooperrider, a fellow UCC-er, is one of the founders. Some version of these “Ds” can be wonderfully revealing: Define, Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny/Deploy. The picture here provides a visual image (from whiteboardconsulting.ca) and there are lots of online resources available.
This is addressed to any board, committee, study or fellowship group, and to individuals who would value a time to take a good, long and prayerful look at their life and work at Central, the work God calls us to. Individuals or small groups who may wish to gather for this specific purpose—to explore personal vocation, for example—I will be honored to work with you to develop an approach to aid discovery. As the following list indicates, my hope is that those active in the work of Central will commit to this opportunity for reflection. If you haven’t heard from me already, expect me to be in touch. Again, the Design Team and I are available to help with a “road map” for the journey.
* have begun explorations
Along about September, all exploring groups will bring an offering to share from their discoveries into a worship service and we will give thanks to God. Groups will also be asked to prepare a “poster presentation” of their experience in a science fair-like display where we tell stories and learn with each other, all amid a potluck fellowship meal. And there shall be cake!
As you might imagine, I love to think about and talk about the possibilities and hope to hear from you with any questions or further information we might provide. Expect me to nudge you about what and how you wish to begin to explore, if we haven’t already started.
Love and hugs,
Rev. Liz
This period of intentional discernment may prompt a few questions for you! Below are answers to several immediate questions that you may have.
The congregational discernment process will help our congregation clarify who we are, understand what God is calling us to be and do, and discern the direction of our ministry. It provides a structured opportunity to reflect, evaluate, and align our vision with God’s purpose before making long-term leadership decisions. This journey will lay the foundation and help us see clearly what we want to do within our congregation and in the world. The discernment practices C.A.R.E. which will guide our work stands for:
“Designated Term” refers to Rev. Liz’s tenure with us. A designated term is a set timeframe during which the designated term minister (in this case, Rev. Liz) and the church seek to meet specific goals that our congregation will determine through the congregational discernment process. Rev Liz has particular expertise in crafting congregational discernment processes like the abovementioned CARE process.
This is an opportunity to go beyond the strategic planning processes we did in the past. In looking back at these, they provided tremendous value but did not always translate to a plan that had full congregational commitment. Through this approach, we will be able to align our individual and collective understanding of God’s call with a clear statement of who we are, what we’re called to do, and what our priorities will be. Ultimately, it will help us decide what kind of Senior Minister we want to call.
We have a rich and powerful legacy that is embedded in the knowledge and experience of our members and historical documentation. We intend to bring awareness to and build on those resources as we design and implement this process. Additionally, this legacy continues in our own stories, each of us, whether we have been at Central for a long time or a short time.
We the congregation will do the work of bringing to light/unearthing the next faithful steps for this church, all of us together. The journey begins with an inward turn to examine our hearts and minds. We will offer opportunities for each of us to engage in our own individual reflection on our histories with Central and what that means throughout our discernment journey.
Please engage! You, your voice, your gifts, your perspectives are all essential to the success of this process. Please participate in the upcoming activities, including the congregational conversations and communicate with us throughout! We anticipate a parallel individual reflection process which we hope will help you discern your own sense of call and how you will (continue to) use your gifts and talents at Central.
Our most recent search process demonstrated that the pool of Senior Minister candidates is not very large. While Central has a lot to recommend it as a congregation, one of the things that Senior Minister candidates look for is a clear sense of who we are and where we are going. It helps them determine whether there is a good fit between what we are looking for and what they bring. We are a less attractive option if we are unable to tell the story of who we are and where we want to go in a clear and comprehensive way!
More importantly, Senior Minister tenures are much shorter on average than they used to be. Knowing our identity and our direction means that we will be able to keep moving forward whether our Senior Minister is with us for 3 years (the current average) or 20! It was for this reason that we pivoted to a Designated Term with a Senior Minister who is skilled at facilitating this type of congregational awareness building.
Through communiques like this one which we will consistently share with the congregation. Also look out for updates from time to time on our website, in our weekly e-news and/or the Monthly newsletter. In the next few weeks, we will roll out other approaches to keep us informed, including visuals in the Commons. Please also reach out to Rev Liz, Makesha or other members of the team with any questions, suggestions or concerns you have!
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