On Sunday, May 18th at 12:33 pm, Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae opened the Special Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Monica with a Chalice Lighting and a Reading.
The Special Meeting was called to order at 12:35 pm by Eileen McCormack, President, to vote on seating the Ministerial Search Committee. A quorum of 71 members present was announced by Eileen.
Meeting officials were: Hand Counters: Karl Lisovsky and Laura Carlson-Weiner; Inspector and Counters of Ballots: Cathie Gentile, Gar Allen, Wendi Gladstone and Alfie Wilkerson; Check in: Anne Bridgins, Brian Kenyon, Linda van Ligten and Alfie Wilkerson; Timekeeper: Larry Weiner; Parliamentarian: Norb Gallery.
It was moved by Audrey Erbes and seconded by Pat Gomez to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order for this meeting. The motion passed without objection.
It was moved by Alison Kendall-Bar and seconded by Gar Allen to elect a Ministerial Search Committee to go into search for our next settled minister, with terms to begin immediately following adjournment of the Special Meeting. The motion passed with 71 yea, 0 nay, and 0 abstentions.
Candidates for election to the Ministerial Search Committee were: Susan Hendricks, Chela Metzger, Beth Rendeiro, Norm Richey, Shanna Shaked, Cassie Winters, and James Witker. See their bios and candidate statements in this news article.
Members marked their ballots, checking yes or no for each candidate for the Settled Minister Search Committee. Ballots were collected and Vote Counters retired to the office to tally the results.
After about 20 minutes, Eileen announced that all candidates were elected by overwhelming majority to the Ministerial Search Committee. Installation was followed with a responsive reading by all the members present. Cassie, Chela, and Beth represented the Committee.
Charge to the Ministerial Search Committee – Responsive Reading
Do you, the members of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Monica, hereby charge the members of our Ministerial Search Committee to carry out the search for our settled minister?
We do
Do you acknowledge that the search process requires the congregation to engage in the emotional process of change and to move toward a new future together?
We do
Do you promise to be patient and to understand the need for fairness and confidentiality throughout the search process?
We do
With gratitude for the task they have undertaken, do you offer your full support and pledge to participate, to the best of your ability, in the opportunities the Ministerial Search Committee provides for us to voice our individual thoughts about the future of the congregation and the gifts and talents of the settled minister?
We do
All: We call on you to represent, to the best of your ability, our entire congregation, including the children and youth, and our vision for the future of this beloved community.
Ministerial Search Committee Acceptance of the Charge
We, the members of the Ministerial Search Committee of UUSM are honored to have been chosen to represent you in the search for our next settled minister.
We recognize, both as a group and individually, that we represent the face of our congregation and community in the ministerial search process.
We accept your charge and we will endeavor, to the best of our ability, to represent the vision for the future of our beloved community, including the children and youth of our congregation.
We commit ourselves to keeping you informed about our process to the extent allowed, to listen deeply, and, above all, to be worthy of the responsibility with which you have entrusted us.
We covenant to conduct an inclusive search process and to represent our congregation and its members with honesty, care, compassion, and respect as we engage in this challenging and vital work.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 1:13 pm by acclamation.
Draft minutes respectfully submitted,
Linda van Ligten, Board Secretary
