On April 18, the Board announced “a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 18, 2025, for the purpose of seating a Ministerial Search Committee. This is an important step on our path to moving into settled ministry,” President Eileen McCormack and Secretary Linda VanLigten wrote. “We’d like to express deep gratitude for our Leadership Development and Nominating Committee (LDNC), who have taken such a thoughtful and thorough approach to the process. Many thanks also to the members of the Board and Membership Committee who helped canvas the Congregation for recommendations for the Search Committee, and to the overwhelming number of congregants who participated in the canvass and took the time to share their thoughts.
“And so many thanks to the seven people who the LDNC named for the slate. Susan Hendricks, Chela Metzger, Beth Rendeiro, Norm Richey, Shanna Shaked, Cassie Winters, and James Witker all received many recommendations from their fellow congregants, and engaged in discussions with members of the LDNC before agreeing to take on this important work for the community.”
On May 2, the Leadership Development and Nominating Committee (LDNC) emailed an update “regarding the formation of the Search Committee for a Settled Minister — an incredibly important step in guiding the future of our beloved congregation.” The LDNC members are Chair Erik Paesel, John Zinner, Wendi Gladstone, Haygo Salibian, and Robbert Schalekamp.
The letter continues, “From the beginning, the LDNC committed to a process that would be transparent, inclusive, and grounded in the values we hold dear at UUSM. We are pleased to let you know that this careful and intentional process has led to the selection of a strong, diverse, and thoughtful group of individuals who are well-prepared for this important responsibility.
“Our work began with a comprehensive canvassing of the congregation to gather recommendations for the Search Committee. Every individual ultimately proposed received a significant level of support during congregational interviews. The LDNC focused only on the top recommendation recipients who also indicated their willingness to serve.
“We evaluated each nominee through the lens of the core qualities identified in the questions posed to the congregation during the interview process. These qualities shaped and guided our discernment at every step.
“After meaningful deliberation, the LDNC adopted the final slate of committee members by full consensus. We believe this outcome reflects not only the strength of the individuals selected but also the effectiveness of the process — one aligned with the recommendations of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
“We are confident that the selected individuals bring the integrity, dedication, and vision needed to serve in this sacred role. We are grateful to every member of the UUSM community who participated in this process — your voices and engagement made this a truly congregational effort.”
Here are the bios of the Search Committee Slate:
Susan Hendricks
Dr. Susan Hendricks is a passionate educator and Unitarian Universalist who brings intention, justice, and deep care to every space she inhabits. A member of UUSM since 2011, Susan has served on the Religious Exploration committee, raised her daughter in our congregation, and currently serves as a Worship Associate. Additionally, she chairs the congregation’s IARAO (Intersectional Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression) commission, where she leads with a deep commitment to the UU shared values of love, equity, generosity, pluralism, interdependence, justice, and transformation.
Professionally, she is a dedicated early childhood educator with a particular love for Reggio-inspired, project-based learning. Dr. Hendricks teaches Developmental Kindergarten at a private school in Los Angeles, where her work centers children’s voices and identities through inquiry-driven exploration. She holds degrees from the University of Virginia (B.A. in Black Studies and English), the University of Pennsylvania (M.S.Ed. in Reading/Writing/Literacy), and Cal State LA (Ed.D. in Educational Leadership).
Susan is a reflective practitioner who values stillness, story, and the wisdom of children. She finds spiritual nourishment in yoga, deep conversations, and nature, and she brings her whole self to the work of collective liberation. Whether in the classroom or in the sanctuary, she walks a path of curiosity, compassion, and courageous faith.
Chela Metzger
I grew up in a UU fellowship, and have joined UU congregations all over the US as I have moved from place to place. I have been part of UUSM since 2015 or so, and have been on the Coffee committee, Camp de Benneville Pines committee and the Worship Associates committee. I am a rare book conservator, and was a full time book conservation faculty at the graduate level for 14 years before taking a job at UCLA 10 years ago. I have been on many search committees for work over the years, and on graduate admissions committees. I hope to bring humility, compromise, and curiosity with me. The new minister search committee has a scary and important charge—I am honored to be considered for it.
Beth Rendeiro
Hi Everyone! I’m Beth Rendeiro. We came to UUSM in 2005 as we wished to find a community for our family that shared our values and would support our children’s up in this church for which we are very thankful. Thank you to all of you reading this who supported their journey.
Twenty years on, I am still deeply involved and hope that my service on the Ministerial Search Committee will help our community continue to develop in a robust and fulfilling manner. With many years of experience on the Board, Membership Committee, Stewardship Committee, Right Relations Task Force and Youth and Adult RE committees, I bring multiple perspectives on the needs of our community. Additionally, I served as an RE, Coming of Age and O.W.L. teacher so have seen firsthand what a meaningful difference growing up in this church can make for youth and families.
My goal and dream is to work collaboratively with all of you and the members of the search committee to hire a settled minister who can meet our needs and help us to fulfill our goals so that we may realize our tremendous potential as an agent for social support, change and well-being.
Norm Richey
My wife Bev and I moved to California 18 years ago from Connecticut to be near one of our sons and support our two grandchildren. After a few years in Malibu, we settled in Santa Monica. Not knowing anyone we visited UUSM seeking community and were warmly welcomed. Ten years later we’ve made good friends and have become deeply involved in various church activities.
Together, Bev and I co-led two Heart to Heart groups, and I served as H2H coordinator for two years. I was elected to the Board of Directors, first as Member at Large, later as Secretary for three years, Vice President for one year, and am now completing my final year at the Annual Meeting in June after eight years of service. I also co-chair the Membership Committee and led the Faith Forward Leadership Training Series as Project Manager.
I would be honored to serve on the Search Committee to help find a new Settled Minister. Our work will be to define the qualities we seek, but for me, that includes someone who delivers thoughtful and inspiring sermons, embodies warmth and energy, is contemplative, and has good administrative skills and experience. That is a lot in one package but I believe such a person is out there, and I look forward to working with the Search Committee to find that person.
Shanna Shaked
I first started attending UUSM in 2019, drawn in by how strongly I resonated with the UU principles and feeling like my family and I were so welcome; my kiddos are the very-vocal Zia and the excited-to-stack-up-cans Quin.
In 2022, I was invited to participate in UUSM’s year-long leadership development program and since then have taken a leadership role in the Children and Youth Religious Exploration Committee, becoming a Youth RE teacher, a trained OWL facilitator, and currently a co-chair of that committee. I’ve gotten to engage with so many aspects of UUSM in my time here, including Beloved Conversations, being part of UUSM’s Intersectional Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Commission, the UUSM meditation group, Soul Collage, and now taking more of a co-leadership role in UU the Vote. I’ve found it especially meaningful to engage in a range of social justice and environmentally related events, such as various protests, beach cleanups, and a range of Green Living events.
Since 2024, I’ve been serving as a “Member-at-large” on UUSM’s Board, through which I’ve learned so much about the history of UUSM, and increased my understanding about the congregation as a whole. I very much look forward to working with fellow search committee members to keep listening to all of you – congregants with an array of perspectives and wishes – and working to recruit, select, and welcome a minister that can best work with congregants toward continually creating a more nourishing, reflective, supportive, and inviting community.
Cassie Winters
Having been an active member of our UUSM congregation since 2016, I have cherished the opportunity to engage deeply with our beloved community. From participating in the Right Relations Task Force/Healthy Congregation Team, the Intern Minister Committee, Worship Associates, Leadership Development, Heart to Heart Circles, Building Your Own Theology, Beloved Conversations, and now the Board, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of collective action and shared values.
Being chosen to serve on the ministerial search committee is both an honor and a
profound responsibility. I am dedicated to ensuring our next settled minister embodies the spirit, compassion, and vision that define our congregation. I believe in fostering open dialogue, listening deeply to the needs and aspirations of our community, and upholding the principles of equity and inclusion throughout this process.
As we embark on this journey together, I am hopeful that we will find a minister who will not only guide us spiritually but also inspire us to continue growing as a vibrant, inclusive, and justice-centered congregation. It is my commitment to approach this work with integrity, transparency, and a heart full of hope for our shared future.
James Witker
James grew up in New York City and the hills of Western Massachusetts, graduated from Northwestern University (near Chicago), and then left harsh winters behind and headed West, calling LA home for most of the time since. He works as a freelance editor-producer of mainly documentary content for film, broadcast and streaming including shows, shorts and movies in a range of genres.
He sort of stumbled upon Unitarian Universalism the way many others have, and has been a member of this amazing community since 2010. In that time he’s been most involved with Faith in Action and Adult Programs (RE), which have helped him cultivate and expand an interest in social justice, big questions, theologies, Humanism, UU history, and how they all intersect and connect. He has also served on the Intersectional Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression Commission (IARAO), Nominating Committee, Worship Associates, Right Relations Team, and delivered an occasional Summer sermon. His son, Emerson, 5, is now attending Children’s RE. He has also been a board member of the UU Humanist Association.
He looks forward to the work of the search committee, with a great team of friends and colleagues, in helping to begin the next exciting chapter of our congregation.
A few housekeeping items about the Special Meeting:
-
Please prioritize attending the meeting in person. Although absentee ballots are available by request, we need a quorum of 25% of the voting members of our congregation (approximately 64 members as of 4/16/25) to be present at the meeting in order for this important vote to take place. The Board of Directors hopes all Church members will share in the participatory democracy of this Congregation.
-
Non-members are welcome to attend, but cannot vote. Childcare will be available.
-
For absentee ballots, please email the office at admin@uusm.org. Ballots must be submitted by May 15, 2025, at noon, at the Church Office.
-
Amendments shall be adopted if they receive a two-thirds majority of the total votes cast (including absentee ballots).
-
Since we wanted to give ample notice for the Special Meeting, we haven’t had the opportunity to connect with potential meeting officials yet. If you’d be interested in counting ballots, keeping time, or checking people in, please contact Eileen at president@uusm.org or Alfie at admin@uusm.org. We’d really appreciate your help during this exciting moment for our community!
Thank you again to everyone who participated in the process of finding the search committee slate! We hope to see you all at the Special Meeting on May 18th. Contact Eileen or Linda for the meeting agenda or with questions.
This is the moment!
