First Universalist Church of Denver                                        

Interim Assistant Minister


First Universalist Church of Denver is seeking an interim Assistant Minister to begin July 1, 2008. While the position is for one year, it is likely that this interim position will continue for at least a second year.

Interested candidates should submit a letter describing their interest in the position, a resume, copies of three sermons, a list of references, and any other materials that the applicant feels are relevant. Materials should be submitted no later than January 25, 2008 to the attention of the Search Committee at First Universalist Church of Denver, 4101 E. Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO 80222. Materials can also be submitted electronically to kirk@firstuniversalist.org
 
Members of the Search Committee are Board of Trustees’ members Jeff Baldwin, Bill Butler, and Ann Stone. Senior Minister Kirk Loadman-Copeland is an ex-officio member of the committee. Interested candidates are invited to contact Kirk at 303-759-2770 ext 26 or 303-949-6393 (cell) to discuss the position further.

Job Description: Assistant Minister (interim)                                                Full-Time for 12 months
First Universalist Church of Denver is seeking an interim Assistant Minister who will be responsible for several key program areas within the church under the direction of the Senior Minister. 

The Assistant Minister’s qualifications should include the following:

  1. Education and experience in and commitment to pastoral care, social justice, and youth ministry.
  2. Honesty, integrity, and discretion.
  3. Strong interpersonal skills.
  4. Motivation to be a self-starter, the discipline to follow-through with assignments and commitments, and the expectation to be accountable for his/her performance.
  5. Ability to work collaboratively with staff and members of the church as well as independently.
  6. Ability to utilize supervision effectively.
  7. Strong written and oral communication skills.
  8. Respect for the living tradition of the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
  9. Preliminary or Final Fellowship with the UUA is preferred.

The principal responsibilities of the Assistant Minister include:

Pastoral Care

  1. Assist in strengthening the pastoral care program through direct service and by involving volunteers in providing pastoral care.
  2. Provide training and support to pastoral care volunteers.
  3. Liaison with the Caring Community Committee.
  4. Provide short-term pastoral counseling for immediate support and referral for longer-term counseling.
  5. Visit people in the hospital, shut-in, or restricted in their ability to participate fully in the life of the church.

Social Justice

  1. Provide coordination and program support for Social Justice at First Universalist in collaboration with the Social Justice Council, Task Force Leaders, and Social Justice Project Leaders. Initiatives include Habitat for Humanity, Environmental Justice, Universal Health Care, End of Life Choices, Gay Rights, support of refugee families, GED tutoring for Native Americans, support of UUSC, and anti-racism.
  2.  
  3. Youth and Young Adult Ministry
  4. Provide leadership and program support for the high school youth groups (e.g., YRUU, Ninth Grade Trip, etc.) which includes recruiting and working with adult advisors and working directly with youth.
  5. Provide support to leaders of young adult programs.
  6.  

Additional responsibilities of the Assistant Minister include:

Education

  1. Teach adult RE courses through the Denver Center for Spiritual Renewal.
  2.  

Rites of Passage

  1. Provide rites of passages especially as they relate to people from the community who are un-churched.

Worship

  1. Preach several times a year in consultation with the senior minister and Worship Committee.  
  2. Serve as a worship leader on an occasional basis and participate in special worship services (Ingathering, All Souls, Christmas Eve, Easter, etc.)

Communication

  1. Write articles for the newsletter, the Unigram, as needed.
  2. Provide input for the monthly Executive Report to the Board of Trustees.
  3. Attend bi-weekly staff meetings and monthly meetings of the Board and Committee on Ministry.

 

Professional Connections

  1. Maintain membership in the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and the MDD UUMA chapter.

Other

  1. Assist in supporting members and programs of the church in other ways as directed by the senior minister.
  2. Assist First Universalist in achieving its vision: First Universalist Church will be a powerful center of transformation, committing us to find more meaning and purpose, to act with integrity and compassion, and to serve the wider community by pursuing justice and by living and promoting the principles of our Unitarian Universalist faith.
  3.  

Reports to:                                Senior Minister
Education & Experience:           Master of Divinity Degree & Clinical Pastoral Education
Salary:                                      $40,000 + benefits (Note: Funds are not available for relocation to Denver.)
Professional Exp.                      $  1,000
Position starts:                           July 1, 2008

A Brief Introduction to First Universalist Church of Denver
First Universalist Church, founded in 1891, is a dynamic, growing large church located on the southern edge of the city of Denver with an 18,000 square foot facility and an operating budget of close to $600,000. Worship and music, lifespan religious education, social justice, small group ministry, and pastoral care are all prominent in the life of the church. There are two worship services on Sunday morning (September through May) and a community forum. We have over 900 adults, youth, and children. Combined attendance (children and adults) on Sunday morning ranges between 450 and 600. In the summer there is one service and a community forum. The church is committed to excellence in every aspect of congregational life and therefore incorporates continuous quality improvement in pursuit of its vision.

For 2008-2009, the Ministry Team will consist of the Senior Minister, the Interim Assistant Minister, and a Ministerial Intern. Staff members include a Director of Religious Education, RE Assistant, Director of Music (who directs two adult choirs and three children choirs), Pianist/Accompanist, Director of the Denver Center for Spiritual Renewal, Business Manager, Office Manager, Volunteer/Fundraising Coordinator, Connections Coordinator, Facility Manager, and Assistant Custodian. The Mountain Desert District (UUA) office is located a few blocks from the church as is the Iliff School of Theology, which has a significant enrollment of UU theological students who First Universalist is helping to support through a new campus ministry program. Current program initiatives include small group ministry, young adult ministry, developing a pastoral care associates program, the Denver Center for Spiritual Renewal (an educational outreach program, see www.DenverCSR.org), and a significant social justice program with over 20 ongoing projects and a social justice fund to support task forces within the church and grants to organizations in the community. In addition, the church is implementing new church ministry software (ConnectionPower) and a corresponding program to better welcome newcomers and involve members.

The church has operated under a policy governance model since June 2003. The Board of Trustees will formally launch a long-range strategic planning process in May 2008. The congregation is committed to interfaith cooperation and to active participation at all levels within the UUA. First Universalist has been a Welcoming Congregation since 1996 and is in the beginning stages of seeking certification as a Green Sanctuary. For more information about First Universalist, visit our web site at www.firstuniversalist.org.

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