Overview:
Ministry Associate programs are common across the denomination.
The UUA even has a resource book to help churches start new ones. In a wide variety of situations, it has been found that one person is able to deal personally with only about 150 people (give or take 20 or so); i.e., know the person well enough to deal with him or her as a unique individual. MA's are a way to extend the personal ministry to more people as a church grows beyond 150. Recalling what we have talked about in terms of how church size affects dynamics, it means that MA programs are usually instituted as a church approaches or reaches "program church" size.
Functions of ministry are generally divided into three categories: 1) Priestly (worship, rites of passage, and education), 2) pastoral Care (listening to people, visiting sick, referring people to experts), and 3) prophetic (speaking truth to power). Accordingly, ministry associates are given training in these areas, although each trainee will generally choose to give more emphasis to one area. In larger churches with numerous MAs, each person may be trained exclusively for one of these areas.
The background of MA programs and a sample training program was submitted to the Board of Directors in the fall of 2003 and, following newsletter articles and informational meetings, approved at the annual meeting in June of 2003. It was formally added to our By-laws in 2004. MAs serve a two-year term with the option of one renewal.
Structurally, the MAs are accountable to the Committee on Ministry and are under the direct supervision of the minister.
The application process was advertised, some people were contacted directly about their potential interest, and applications received and reviewed by Rev. Dan and the Committee on Ministry. Five candidates were chosen. A death, a move, and the need to plan for a wedding resulted on two people, Mary Hengstebeck and Andy Reese, completing the training and being invested by the congregation.
The training program takes into account the background (life experiences and academics) of the particular applicants, the area of interest of each person, and the needs of the congregation at that time. UUCA MA training emphasizes a commitment to personal growth and awareness.
The group meets with Rev. Dan for 10-12 three hour sessions around a particular theme. All are asked to reflect on their own spiritual development and given assignments to help in that. The majority of the sessions concentrate on skills related to Pastoral and Priestly functions although the Prophetic function is discussed in terms of interacting with the media and public forums. As opportunities presented themselves, the candidates took advantage of programs available to the community; e.g., hospice training and training session for religious professional visiting people in hospitals.
Since their investiture in the fall of 2003, Mary and/or Andy have officiated or assisted at several wedding, funerals, and child dedications. They have visited the sick in hospitals and homes, visited shut-ins, given sermons, worked with committees, kept office hours while Rev. Dan was on sabbatical, etc.
The second class of MAs was selected by Rev. Dan and the Committee on Ministry in the fall of 2005. This class has had the advantage of having our ministerial intern meet with us and share her insights and recent academic training. Mary and Andy have met with the class and participated in all the exercises.
Sessions this time have focused on listening and counseling skills more than in the first class. Although schedules had to be juggled towards the end due to Rev. Dan's travel schedule, all scheduled sessions were completed.
As we move to a program church status and organization, Ministry Associates can be a source of leadership and a resource to help in the transition. Over the years, we will build up a cadre of trainees, sensitive lay leaders who will continue to serve the congregation in a multitude of ways.
Size: Participants: Gaye Ortiz, Andy Reese, Carlos J. Ortiz, Bruce Leeson, Mary Hengstebeck, Liz Goodson, Ruth Garrison
Frequency of Meetings: Twice per month; two and a half hour sessions.
Purpose of Sessions
Meeting Format
Investure
Upon completion of the training it was suggested that the MAs would spend up to ten hours a week on ministerial activities but typically it would be 3 to 5 hours per week.
Activities
CURRICULLUM: Two and a half hours sessions
Session 1. Discussed and elaborated on information that had been provided as part of the MA application process. We explored our reasons for choosing to participate in the MA training program, expectations, and our perceived strengths and weaknesses.
Session 2. Shared and discussed our spiritual development timelines and our obituaries.
Session 3 Discussed our personal theology.
Session 4 Discussed reading assignments on active listening: “What Des It Take to Be a Good Mediator?” “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People---“Habit 5 Seek First to Understand, then To Be Understood”;
Session 5 Discussed paper on “Draft Covenant” for participants.
Session 6 Discussed the necessity of establishing boundaries and maintaining confidences. In additions to discussing boundary examples, we reviewed material provided in the UU newsletter titled “Inter Connections”
Session 7 Discussed conflict management and active listening. Using material from the manual titled “Training Manual for Counseling Skills” and role playing exercises we explored different communication skills including:
Session 8 Continuation of Session 7 material
Session 9 – Discussed Reverend Dan Kings’ letter of resignation. We discussed and gave input on:
We also read and discussed “Choosing Your Next Clergy Leader.”
Session 10 Discussed our “status” as Ministerial Associates---priestly, pastoral, prophetic ministerial roles. Discussed general UU structure and function as it relates to UUCA and our roles within the structure.
Session 11 Discussed and were given information about “Being the Perfect Guest” (a book that explains different religious traditions) and received general tools for officiating at child dedications, weddings, and funerals. Reviewed available community referral literature and the paper titled “Volunteer Coordination and New Member Integration.”
Session 12 Discussed our ministerial roles. Bruce was assigned as our facilitator between the MA’s and the Committee on Ministry.
Session 13 – Met at Gaye Ortiz’s house and discussed the UUCA Executive Committee’s expectations. To assist in development of job descriptions and covenants, reviewed and discussed reference materials: “Ministry Letter of Agreement”, “Congregational Expectations of Our Minister,” and “Interim Minister Questions”. Rhonda Johnson, President of the Board, gave individual and collective assignments.
Session 14 – Reflected on what we have gained from our MA training and identified areas that we thought should be explored further.
Submitted by Mary Hengstebeck, Andy Reese, and Carlos Ortiz