Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

PASTORAL TRANSITION

2008 is a year of transition for our Congregation. Well-earned retirements from active congregational lives are in store for all three of our Pastors in 2008. We have known about this for years since we structured an outstanding working arrangement where all three Pastors were involved working three-fourths of the year. Yet it is hard to imagine the time is here.

Ran's last sermon will be May of this year. Sandy and Jim Boler will also begin a new adventure when they leave our congregation at the end of November, 2008.

My focus throughout 2008-2009 will be a successful transition to a strengthened congregation. Below are frequently asked questions about our transition. If you have a transition question please email me at mike@sanibelucc.org and I will post your question below.

Blessings,
Mike Vargo, Moderator

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's are ordered by date modified.

7/17/08	Question:	We hear (7-16-08) that there is good news?
	Answer:	Yes there is! The interim search committee is pleased to announce the calling of two outstanding pastors. Dale Kent has agreed to become our senior interim pastor beginning September 1, 2008. Dale has served a congregation in Jensen Beach Florida for many years. In the team’s opinion, Dale has the training and experience to guide us in our search for a permanent senior pastor while maintaining the qualities of our church that make us special. Denise Terry has agreed to become our acting associate pastor beginning October 1, 2008. Denise is from Sarasota and brings a unique variety of skills and talents. Dale and Denise are in the process of preparing their biographies for us at this time. We will have the information on our website by early August. The interim search committee interviewed several outstanding candidates. Our time spent with Dale and Denise revealed vibrant, enthusiastic and dedicated pastors with special talents. We are blessed by their acceptance. Please welcome them into our congregation.

7/1/08	Question:	Question: What progress is being made (7-1-08) on our search for a senior interim pastor?
	Answer:	Answer: 7-01-08. Team members are in six different states. They are working via email, using teleconferencing and traveling to meet our target of 9-01-08 for a senior interim pastor start date. The interim search team has reviewed ten profiles of senior interim pastor candidates. The review resulted in a several preliminary calls to discuss our situation and determine a match. From those preliminary calls, three candidates were selected for an in-depth conference call with the entire team. There were two sessions of conference calls. Four members of the interim team and Paul Roth (chair of pastoral relations committee) met with two candidates in Tampa on June 24-25th. From these interviews the team has focused on one candidate. The team is conducting interviews with references for this candidate at this time.

5/12/08	Question:	What criteria are being used for selecting the Acting Associate Pastor (AAP)?
	Answer:	Each candidate is reviewed for educational qualification and UCC certification credentials. In addition, each candidate must pass a background check. Once these basics are covered, the main criteria for AAP candidates are: A ten-year work horizon, TLC, Preaching, education-youth experience and communications skills. The interim search team is planning on an AAP being on board by December 1, 2008.

5/12/08	Question:	What criteria are being used for selecting the Interim Senior Pastor (ISP)?
	Answer:	Each candidate is reviewed for educational qualification and UCC certification credentials. In addition, each candidate must pass a background check. Once these basics are covered, the main criteria for ISP candidates are: Positive interim experience, TLC, Preaching and Communications skills. The team has conducted telephone interviews with several candidates. The interim search team is working toward the goal an ISP being on board September 1, 2008.

5/12/08	Question:	What is the current status of our search?
	Answer:	Answer: The interim search team* has developed a set of criteria for our Interim Senior Pastor (ISP) and Acting Associate Pastor (AAP). The team has received approximately a half a dozen resumes to date through our Florida UCC conference for each category. The team is focusing on ISP candidates at this time. *(Team consists of moderator Mike Vargo, vice moderator Barbara Cavanaugh, clerk Ellen Yorke, treasurer Doug Dietrich, chair of trustees John Ake and chair of deacons Fred Gobel)

3/31/08	Question:	What is the best way to say good-bye to Ran before he leaves in May?
	Answer:	Ran has indicated he does not want any testimonials or public goodbyes. He welcomes a private conversation.

3/31/08	Question:	Is Ran required by UCC rules to move away from the immediate area of the church?
	Answer:	No. Our denomination believes in local autonomy so that our congregation has the means to do God’s work as the Holy Spirit moves them. There are no directives regarding living arrangements for retired pastors. Ran and Marilyn will continue living on Sanibel and maintain their Florida residency.

3/30/08	Question:	We just received your letter regarding the Niehoff fund. Is our donation tax deductible?
	Answer:	Yes. Your check will be made out to Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ. Mark the memo line “Niehoff Fund”. The funds will be included in the continuing oversight of our endowment committee.

3/30/08	Question:	How are we going to survive the double hit of our pastors leaving, first Ran in May and then Jim and Sandy in November 2008?
	Answer:	Fortunately a large percentage of our congregation is equipped to handle change as result of their life experiences. Coincidently, one group in our congregation has been meeting to discuss transitions (not prompted by this transition) and our SCWIM group discussed life’s changes in their latest retreat. The transition group has used a book entitled Finding Yourself in Transition-Using Life’s Changes for Spiritual Awakening. By Robert Brumet. That said, we will develop special programs with our interim pastor to care for our congregation during this withdrawal period.

3/30/08	Question:	Is there any preference to the gender of any of the new pastors?
	Answer:	No. We are developing skill sets (portfolios) required for our interim period and our permanent situation in 2010. We visualize a vibrant congregation in 2010 with enthusiastic pastors leading our congregation in worship, fellowship, education and service to others. The combined portfolios consist of preaching skills, congregational care, communication skills and educational capabilities. These combined skills sets are unlikely to be found in one gender.

3/30/08	Question:	What is the current plan for staffing pastors?
	Answer:	Based on transition team interviews with the conference staff and our pastors we are in the process (3-2-08) of developing a plan where the senior interim pastor arrives in September 2008. We believe the second full time pastor should be an associate pastor role. Since a permanent senior pastor will not arrive for a year or so, this associate position will be temporary, so the position will be an acting associate pastor. We are planning for the acting associate pastor to begin by November 2008.

3/30/08	Question:	Who will search for the senior interim pastor and what role does our conference play?
	Answer:	The senior interim search will begin this spring. Three to four lay members of the executive committee (consists of moderator, vice moderator, clerk, treasurer, chair of trustees and chair of deacons) will make up the search team. Our conference minister, Kent Siladi, and regional conference minister, Jean Simpson, will assist and review applicants for education and backgrounds. The search team makes the decision on the senior interim pastor.

3/30/08	Question:	When should we expect the senior interim pastor to arrive?
	Answer:	We are planning on the first of September 2008.

3/30/08	Question:	Who will be our pastors during the summer?
	Answer:	Either Jim or Sandy (or both) will be here during the summer.

3/30/08	Question:	I thought we had a five-year deal with our pastors. Are they retiring early?
	Answer:	No. While is seems just yesterday a deal was put together for our congregation and approved five years ago that provided for our pastors to retire in 2008. The plan was also unique in that it included each pastor working ¾ time.

3/30/08	Question:	Does our congregation have any experience with interim pastors?
	Answer:	Yes. Seventeen years ago Dick Stein retired. Many of you may have met Dick recently at our open house. Dick was loved by the congregation and was instrumental in our early successes. We had interim pastors and conducted a search that brought Ran into our congregation.

3/30/08	Question:	Will Ran perform any special pastor work after his retirement?
	Answer:	No. Ran will not be available for any pastoral work after retirement.

3/30/08	Question:	Is the office up for a transition?
	Answer:	Yes, our office is running very well. We have invested in training in critical software, resources for accounting information and adopted practices that are serving the congregation well. Our staff is experienced and our volunteers are a meaningful part of our office operation.

3/30/08	Question:	How big is the search committee?
	Answer:	It’s up to the church council, usually 3-6 people

3/30/08	Question:	How many search committees will we have?
	Answer:	At least four, one for each interim position and one for each permanent position.

3/30/08	Question:	Do we pay into interims pension?
	Answer:	Yes

3/30/08	Question:	Is the search national?
	Answer:	Yes

3/30/08	Question:	Does the interim pastor get a housing allowance?
	Answer:	Yes, it’s part of the package.

3/30/08	Question:	What is the pay package for an interim pastor?
	Answer:	The interim pastor gets same pay package as the pastor they replace.

3/30/08	Question:	Will the congregation have input into the selection process?
	Answer:	Yes. Much more detail on input will unfold as we develop our transition plan. We are dedicated to providing information as it is available in several forms such as The Light, our website (www.sanibelucc.org) 2008 transition section, mailings and the bulletin board in fellowship hall.

3/30/08	Question:	Will the interim slot be tough to fill?
	Answer:	Yes and No. We have been blessed with three outstanding pastors, each with a different skill set that will be tough to replace. There is a group of Pastors in the country that seek interim positions and have been specially trained. With the help of our conference ministers, we will seek the optimum fit. Our congregation has many special blessings. Our church is solvent, our congregants are sophisticated and our location is attractive. We are expecting to attract the best interim available.

3/30/08	Question:	Do we have money in the budget to handle the transition?
	Answer:	Yes, our 2008 budget includes expenses related to recruiting an interim Pastor beginning in the fall.

3/30/08	Question:	Will our current pastors be part of the transition plan process?
	Answer:	We have interviewed each pastor to get his or her inputs on the transition. Our current pastors are not a part of the search process.

3/30/08	Question:	Is the transition team a search committee?
	Answer:	No, the transition team will meet with our conference ministers and develop a plan for our council to review. Part of the plan will be the timing and goals of search committees.

3/30/08	Question:	Who works on the transition?
	Answer:	Our Florida conference staff will work with a SCUCC transition team. Our conference minister, Kent Siladi, and our regional conference minister, Jean Simpson, have xperience in guiding congregations through the process. A transition team has been formed to develop a plan for our council to review. Members of the team include Barbara Cavanaugh, Don Hunter, Patti Sousa and Mike Vargo. The transition team will prepare a plan for presentation and approval by council in 45-90 days. After feedback from council, the plan will be ready for implementation and the transition team will be disbanded.

3/17/08	Question:	What is the process for replacing our pastors?
	Answer:	When a pastor leaves a congregation there is a period of mourning and uneasiness. An interim pastor will be recruited to serve our congregation for a reasonable period of time (i.e., a year). The interims skill sets will include experience in this type of situation. During that time a search committee will be formed to call a pastor for a permanent position. Our preliminary plan is to have an interim pastor on site in the fall of 2008 and a second pastoral staff member by the end of the year.