Interim Minister Search Town Hall Information
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
Interim Minister Search Town Hall
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 12:00-1:00pm
Meeting led by the Interim Search Committee (Courtney Anderson, Surina Jindel, Pat McKenna, Sanjiv Sarwate, Caroline Shadle)
In attendance: 32 members of the congregation in person and on Zoom
Introduction
Courtney introduced the members of the Interim Search Committee. She outlined the purpose of our meeting as both sharing information about the search, as well as gathering information from the congregation regarding the current needs and wishes of 2U.
Ways to Give Input into the Search
Described the multiple additional means by which congregants can give input into the ministerial search. These include responding to a survey emailed last week (ideally by March 15 in order for responses to be most fully used in creating our congregational profile), commenting on poster board questions hung in the Palmer Room and Loft this Sunday and next, as well as reaching out to the members of the Search Committee.
What is an Interim Minister
Described the unique role of an Interim Minister, and how this differs from a Settled Minister’s role. An Interim Minister usually stays with the congregation for two years, and specializes in helping the congregation in it’s time of transition from one settled minister to the next. This includes processing the ending of the previous minister’s time, as well as helping the congregation self-reflect on what work needs to be done to be ready to welcome a new minister.
The Interim Minister Search Process and Timeline
The tight timeline is one dictated by the UUA. By the end of this month, the Committee will have created a congregational profile on the Ministry Search website which ministers can begin to view in early April. In early May, applicant ministers submit their rankings of congregations, and from May 6-17 the search team will review applicant materials, check references, and conduct applicant interviews. There is then a matching process conducted by the UUA using rankings provided by applicants and search committees, resulting in a match on May 21. If there is no match, the search team works with the UUA to secure a contract minister. The Interim Minister will begin at 2U on August 2.
How The Committee was Formed
An Interim Minister Search Committee is formed by the Board, and is often made up exclusively of Board members. However, in this instance the Board chose to widen the membership of the Committee to include non-Board members with a variety of perspectives. This is a different process from a Search Committee for a Settled Minister, which involves the Nominating Committee making nominations to the Search Committee that the congregation then votes on.
Questions from Attendees
Kate Friedlob asked when in the two years of the Interim Ministry does the search for a Settled Minister occur. Courtney responded that it is in the second year that this happens.
Jill Althage shared her experience working in both Interim and Settled Minister Search Committees, and commented on the considerable difference in the searches, particularly with regard to evaluating ministers’ sermon performance and style. In a Settle Minister Search, committee members attend sermons of applicants in person at nearby churches, whereas in the Interim Minister Search evaluation of sermons is limited to viewing videos provided by the applicants.
Alana Roman asked what are the criteria for ministers. Courtney responded that there are many that the UUA uses to clear ministers broadly, and then our job today is to understand what the congregation’s criteria are in order to direct the Committee in it’s search. Courtney added that the Committee is in part guided by the knowledge that a commitment to Music, Religious Education, and Social Justice Ministries are very important to 2U.
Small Group Breakout Time
The attendees broke into 5 small groups, each led by a Committee member, to discuss the following questions from the :
How is the congregation doing with this time of transition? What momentum would you like to maintain in the next ministry?
How does the congregation handle conflict? How well does the congregation handle conflict?
What work is slow, stuck, or left undone within the congregation?
How is trust in your congregation right now? Historically? Do people trust the leaders to lead? How can the minister best build trust with the congregation? How could a minister break trust in your congregation?
How have you seen the church changed since COVID began? Where do you see decline? What have you let go of? Where do you see fresh energy?
Large Group Conclusion
Attendees came back together as a whole and heard brief summaries from each of the Committee members about what they had heard from their small group discussions. The Committee thanked congregants for their involvement in the process.
