MINISTER SEARCH NEWS
The meeting began with the announcement that Jeanette Monterio, our
transitional consultant and Spiritual Leader will complete her assignment at
Unity of Indianapolis at the end of her contract in February. Jeanette will
lead her last Sunday Service on February 7.  
Jeanette described ministerial search activities that will take place in the
remaining weeks of December as well as January and February of 2010.
Below is the projected time line to begin the search and prepare for
Jeanette's departure:
DECEMBER 6 COMMUNITY MEETING OVERVIEW
  • Those interested in serving on the Search Committee must have their
    application submitted by December 31.  If you were not at the meeting
    and would like an application, please see Angie Miller.
  • The Board of Trustees has/will appoint(ed) three members to the Search
    Committee.  
  • Angie Miller will receive the Ministerial Search Application from the
    Association of Unity Churches by December 15 and begin filling it out.
  • Applications for three open positions will be reviewed and filled.  When
    six committee members have been selected, they will select a seventh
    member.
  • Also at the January 3 meeting, the congregation will participate in
    developing the qualities most important to them in a minister.
  • The Search Committee will meet for the first time the first week of
    January.
  • Once the qualities for a minister have been decided and added to the
    Association of Unity Churches application, it will be sent back to the
    Association.  The Association will distribute the information to
    prospective ministers.
  • There will be an update on the search progress at another CommUNITY
    Meeting on January 17.  The timeline will also be updated if necessary.
Below are PDF
versions of the
Search Committee
Member Application,
A link to the
Association of Unity
Churches
qualifications for
becoming a Unity
Minister and the
Hiring a New Unity
Minister--Recommen
ded Procedures
Manual.
Search Committee
Application
When you see the dove
flying with minister search
news you can click on it to
reach this page!
Unity Ministerial
Search Manual
Qualifications to
 Become a Unity
        Minister
JANUARY 3 COMMUNITY MEETING OVERVIEW
1.
The deadline for applications to serve on the Search Committee has been
extended to Sunday, January 17.  Those present were assured that this will
not delay the overall search for a minister.
2.
Jeanette Monterio explained that her last official day in her current position  
will be February 9.  She stressed the importance of everyone assuming
responsibility to keep the church running smoothly until a minister is hired.  
Those who had not yet signed up to serve on a committee were asked to do
so.  Although the Board is primarily responsible for keeping things on track,
they will depend heavily on committee chairs and members to follow through
on planned activities and support fund raising events and efforts.
3.
After a brief meditation, Jeanette explained that, although the input given at
this meeting is important in defining qualifications, after candidates are
identified and recommended by the Search Committee and presented to the
Board for further review, the congregation will also have an opportunity to
hear minister applicants speak during a Sunday service and can take a class
taught by each applicant.  They will then be given an opportunity to indicate
whether they could support a ministry led by each individual potential
minister.  The results of this information will be tabulated by the
Board for a final decision.
4.
Those present were asked to shout out what qualities are important to them
for a minister.  A long list was compiled.  Then by counting raised hands it
was determined how many people felt that each quality named was important
to them.  Each person was to limit their votes to the three (3) qualities most
important.  This narrowed the list considerably.  There were four (4)
categories that emerged as most important:
INSPIRATIONAL
Is Motivational, Charismatic, Visionary
INTEGRITY
Is Ethical, Honest and Open
MUSIC
Understands the Role of a Strong Music Program as an
Important Part of Our Spritual Experience
FAMILY MINISTRY
Undertands the Role of Youth Education in supporting children, youth &  
families and positions Unity of Indianapolis as an incubator for
future Unity members.
JANUARY 17 COMMUNITY MEETING OVERVIEW
FROM ANGIE MILLER, BOARD LIASON FOR THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
Maria Burgess, the Search Committee Chair, announced that she and/or
Angie Miller would be in touch with applicants to schedule short discussions,
question/answer sessions and then name the committee members by the
following Sunday.  it’s important to review the actual responsibilities of the
committee with the applicants and ensure that the tasks are in line with what
they expect….we would like to avoid having an applicant appointed and then
find that it’s not the kind of work that they thought it would be.  Following
these discussions the list of applicants will be given to the Board ….the board
is responsible for appointing the final committee (with the exception of one
member who is selected by the appointed committee members themselves).
FEBRUARY 7 COMMUNITY MEETING OVERVIEW
Maria Burgess, the Search Committee Chair, announced the names of those
appointed to the committee:  Janell Collins, Mike Coyle, Dena Elbracht,
Mike Ferns and Jim Graber.  Angie Miller is the Board Representative on
the committee and Doris Ogborn and Stella Patrick will act as Alternates.  
Alternates will attend all meetings and take over if a someone cannot
continue serving on the committee.  There first meeting will be Sunday,
February 14 at noon.
Although the committee cannot respond to questions about specific
applicants, the number of resumes received will be communicated as the
process continues.
The committee's progress will be reported at the CommUNITY meeting on
the first Sunday of each month.