UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SARASOTA, 3975 FRUITVILLE ROAD, SARASOTA FL 34232, TEL. 941-371-4974
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Search Committee Report to the Congregation:
Summary of 18 Focus Group Meetings

Q 1.  We are looking forward to people, community, face to face interactions, music and memorial services in person.  We want to restart programs and groups such as Get Together Dinners, coffee hours, and Potluck Sundays.  We want to continue Zoom and YouTube.  We need intellectual and emotional stimulation of live services and the return of Lakewood Ranch services. 

Q 2.  Our measures of success after a year would be membership growth with engaged new members.   Success would be shown by new variety in music, the minister feeling comfortable, continuation of Zoom, an emphasis on RE and youth attendance, and greater ethnic, racial, age, and ability diversity.  Lakewood Ranch should feel supported, the minister should know the names of the children, and there should be evidence of activism. 

Q 3. We would feel comfortable expressing our concerns if the minister were open, compassionate, empathetic, humble, curious, a good listener and responder, approachable, and knows members personally.  The minister should have an open-door policy or office hours and a ministerial committee or access group.  Being able to connect to our age group, being comfortable with Interweave and supportive of LGBTQIA+ people, and having a partner who is part of our community would also make us feel we could express our concerns.

Q 4.  Our expectations and priorities for the new minister are awareness of our range of beliefs and demographics, fitting in with the sophistication and intellect of the congregation, managerial leadership, more provocative and inspiring sermons, dedication to our community, and a diversified music program.  Being engaged with youth and families, interfaith outreach, and participation in a broad range of church activities are also important.  We would also like to see a person with strong pastoral care skills, support for community and national issues, including political discussion, and a sense of humor.   The person should be experienced and skilled with social media, the press, and technology. 

Q 5.  Our new minister could effectively address our wide range of beliefs by showing spiritual awe and experience, giving sermons reflecting our wide range of beliefs, celebrating all holidays, including pagan, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian, and including great ideas from the secular realm.  Our new minister should use inclusive language, focus on our 7 principles, invite non-minister sermons, develop adult RE, and share their own beliefs and point of view.
​

Q 6.  Final thoughts:  the new minister should be experienced but still growing and learning.  The church is financially stable and has a strong administrative staff and we realize the new minister may have CEO expectations.  The Search Committee should not feel pressured to select any certain type by sex or culture nor feel that we cannot continue the search if we have not found a great candidate.  The Arts Council wants to be consulted on church matters with art integrated into the church.  Lakewood Ranch wants to remain a satellite and to have ministerial and administrative services from Sarasota.  The Membership Committee wants to have the Discovering UU program continue and more “Meet the Minister” type events.  Interweave wants an annual Interweave Service.  RE wants the minister to come to RE events and provide minister-led programming and education.  Social Justice suggests a designated Volunteer Administrator and someone dedicated to Social Justice issues.

​

Survey Report to the Congregation

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Congregation survey as part of the search for our new minister.  We had 301 responses, including 32 from Lakewood Ranch, and all were full of valuable thoughts, insights, hopes, and suggestions.  

The survey gave us your thoughts in several areas.  On how we perceive our church, respondents consistently agree that the Congregation is focused on our principles, emphasizes care and support of its members, and is held together by mutual trust and support.  Respondents agreed  that the church is financially stable.

There was somewhat less agreement on whether the Congregation is good at having difficult conversations and is open to change.  There is strong trust in our church leadership, but somewhat less belief that they lead the church to take risks and try new approaches.

Music, welcoming new members, adult programs, and social activities consistently ranked as important to you for the future of our church.  Equally important are financial health, emphasis on community service and outreach, and social justice advocacy.  Our close-knit family feeling, openness to innovation and change, and the physical conditions of our buildings and grounds also made the “Important” rankings, along with effectively addressing and resolving conflict.  

There is, however, less across-the-board agreement on the importance of membership growth, on being a moral beacon in the community, and on interfaith connections. Views are somewhat more dispersed on the importance of family programs, personal spiritual practices, and inspirational worship.  

What strengths do we most need to continue?  The most common themes were welcoming, strong community, and social justice focus.  On issues and challenges for the new minister, you frequently cited multicultural inclusiveness and diversity, growth including attracting younger members, maintaining a strong sense of community, and support for Lakewood Ranch.

Finally, you told us about the characteristics and skills/competencies you want in a new minister. The minister needs to be caring, compassionate, spiritual, and exhibit energy, dynamism and intelligence. He, she or they must also give great sermons, share humor, relate well with members in an older congregation, and be both experienced and inspirational.    

The survey review will be part of the Congregational Record for potential minister candidates and be used by our Board for their strategic planning discussions.

Thanks again for your time and perspectives. Your views have given us valuable guidance in presenting our Congregation to candidates and for the selection process this Spring.  
​

Search Committee
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3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
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