ASSOCIATE PASTOR: Montpelier, VT
SUMMARY:
The long-time associate pastor, David Connor, at the Old Meeting House is retiring. The major challenge facing our community is exploring what our need will be as David takes on his new role as lay community member. We hope that this year we can explore what the role of assistant pastor can and should be and what our needs will be going into the future.
The Associate Pastor is, as stated in the bylaws of The Old Meeting House, “a generalist position and will be guided and directed by the Senior Pastor. The Associate Pastor will provide spiritual guidance to the best of their ability, generally adhering to the theological philosophy of their own denomination.”
This is a quarter time position, with the understanding that 40 hours a month should be sufficient to fulfill the duties and responsibilities outlined here within. The Associate Pastor will report to the Senior Pastor, and receive evaluative input from the Spiritual Life Committee.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
We believe God is calling us to find someone who can help us explore what shape the role of an assistant pastor might take. We have identified three areas of our congregational life that are growing and in need of support. Candidates should express strong interest in one (or more) of the following three areas:
- Youth and youth programming
- Pastoral care
- Local and world-wide missions
We believe God is calling us to find someone who can be a good listener in addition to being discerning, reflective, flexible, and open-minded. It is expected that the Associate Pastor will be involved in occasional worship leadership and staff and committee discussions.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
- a Master of Divinity completed, or underway, at an accredited seminary
- strong Christian commitment and spiritual depth
- a passion for and commitment to pastoral ministry
- a teachable and teaching spirit
- a team spirit and desire to be part of a vital staff and community
COMPENSATION:
Salary and housing is in the range of $12,000
TELLING OUR STORY:
WE ARE A COMMUNITY WITH A PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
The Old Meeting House of East Montpelier
East Montpelier Center, Vermont
SECTION ONE:
“Meeting Our Church Again for the First Time”
The Old Meeting House is a vibrant and engaged community. It has a total membership of 217, and 266 active participants, including children, confirmands, and adults. There are 46 children and youth who have not been confirmed, who participate in our Christian Education programs. Overall, there are 133 households with at least one active participant.
SECTION TWO:
“Be Not Afraid to Enter the Future”
Our History:
Our church was originally organized by a group of Methodists, although it was non-denominational. Our sanctuary was built in 1823 and is the oldest standing church constructed by the early settlers of Montpelier. The church community as we now know it was established in the late 1960s, and has continued as a vibrant and engaged community through the present day.
Challenges:
We encountered challenges with an ambitious fundraising goal during 2000– 2002 capital campaign to build our new Parish House. There was concern about meeting our goal and there was also disagreement about the scope of the project and whether the planned building was too extravagant. Ultimately, we raised $100,000 more than our goal.
The process through which the Old Meeting House decided to be an Open and Affirming church was an opportunity for introspection and frank discussion of who we wanted to be as a church. It was both challenging and rewarding, and our Inclusiveness Statement was adopted in 2003.
Not surprisingly, these changes and initiatives involved conflicts in priorities and personalities, but ultimately the joy, wonder, and faith of these experiences have strengthened our community.
Our present challenges include addressing issues of accessibility in our sanctuary and replacing a beloved associate pastor.
The OMH Values:
We are blessed with a vibrant church community composed of people of different backgrounds and beliefs. The congregation values its commitment to social justice and has appreciated that the preaching styles of the pastor and associate pastor have been different while their messages have been complementary. Other important elements of our church’s essential character include our stated and intentional inclusiveness, strong children’s programs, music traditions, and involvement with the arts. These defining cultural characteristics are at the core of The Old Meeting House congregation. The Old Meeting House believes that these characteristics deepen our spiritual mission: through inclusiveness we better reflect the teachings of Jesus; by providing spiritual direction to our children we nurture the entire congregation; through music we lift and unite our souls; and through participation in the arts we are able to create and strengthen ties that enhance our personal, social, and spiritual lives. We do not take these gifts for granted, however, and recognize that to preserve them we will need to continue to nurture them.
Needs:
Our long-time assistant pastor, David Connor, is retiring. The major challenge facing our community is exploring what our need will be as David takes on his new role as lay community member. This year, we hope to explore what the role of assistant pastor can and should be, as well as what our needs will be going into the future.
We believe God is calling us to find someone who can help us explore the shape and role an assistant pastor might take. We are in search of someone who might share expertise and enthusiasm for one or several of the following areas: youth group and youth programming, pastoral care and church fellowship, local and worldwide missions, and/or periodic sermons. We believe God is calling us to find someone who can be a good listener in addition to being discerning, reflective, flexible, and open-minded.
SECTION THREE:
“Who is Our Neighbor?”
Community Description:
East Montpelier is historically a farming community and still has several farms and open landscapes. it also serves as a bedroom community for Montpelier, Vermont’s capital city. Montpelier is a vibrant community that offers an abundance of outdoor, recreational, and cultural activities. The population tends to be civically engaged, socially active, and environmentally aware. Social capital is enriched by numerous nonprofit organizations and activities, including various music, dance, and theater organizations, an alternative movie theater, active library, and a wide variety of political/social advocacy and service organizations.
Future Challenges:
Our imminent challenge is replacing a well-loved associate pastor. We will need to explore what we need in an associate pastor and adjust to David Connor’s new role in our community.
In the next few years, we anticipate that the increase in the number of families with young children will continue. We expect transitions in committee membership and among those who are particularly generous with their time and efforts in the church community; this transition is vital to our continued well-being and growth. We intend to continue to focus on our strengths, especially in areas of music and the arts, education, and inclusiveness. We will need to continue to address issues of annual pledging and support and also encourage bequests and other planned giving in order to cultivate an endowment.
The Church Building and Parish House:
The Parish House is used regularly for Sunday school, Sunday coffee hour, choir practice, church meetings and the Parish House Café. Other uses include church workshops, funeral gatherings, wedding receptions, family reunions, musical group rehearsals, home-school gatherings, community potlucks, and occasional talks.
The church building itself is used for Sunday worship, of course, and also for concerts and occasional plays. These performances are primarily church fundraisers or fundraisers for various charitable organizations. There have also been recording sessions and community performances held at the Old Meeting House.
Missions:
The Old Meeting House is involved in a number of mission activities within the church and local community, including:
* PINS (Partners in Service), a partnership with a local children and family services agency – providing Christmas and Easter gift cards
* The Good Samaritan Haven (a local homeless shelter) – providing meals twice monthly and occasional overnight volunteers
* Onion River Food Shelf – gathering food weekly for a local food shelf and occasionally helping with sorting food at the state Food Bank
* Parish House Café – a weekly luncheon served in our Parish House at which all are welcome
* The Circle of Care – a very active group whose members provide help to members of the church community during times of crisis and special need, including providing meals for those recovering from illness, visiting the elderly and shut-ins, sending cards and flowers upon deaths, helping new mothers, providing rides to appointments, etc.
* OMH Youth Group – prepares meals for the Good Samaritan Haven on occasion; trips to worship with and serve lunch to the homeless at the Common Cathedral on the Boston Common.
Phone references:
Rona Kinsley, former interim pastor currently at The First Congregation in Thetford
PO Box 72 Irasburg 05845
home (802) 525-4652 cell (760) 8456
ronakinsley@myfairpoint.net
Susan McKnight, United Church of Christ, Warren
495 Burnt Mtn. Rd Warren 05674
work (802) 496-2713
cell (516) 589-3701
SECTION FOUR
“Following Jesus Forward”
Education:
The children’s educational program in our church is a Sunday School model; the children leave part-way through the service and attend Sunday School for 20 to 30 minutes each week. Our teachers are volunteer church members. Our Sunday School uses the Power Xpress curriculum. The focus is on following the lectionary and making the teachings of that week accessible to the children. We also like to focus on the Missions work that the church is involved in to help the children feel that they are—and have an obligation to be—part of the solution to local and global problems. Our OMH Youth Group offers young people a way to give back by cooking food for those in need. Our third focus is providing each child with a group of peers who share their faith and with caring adults whom they can count on and talk with.
The Christian Education Committee and Spiritual Life Committee have developed and defined the confirmation process. Youth are notified about the confirmation process in 8th and 9th grades. They are asked to choose a mentor from the church to guide them through the process. Various opportunities are provided to help these youth examine their beliefs and the message and mission of the Old Meeting House, to explore other belief systems, to connect with their mentors in meaningful ways, and to develop a relationship with their pastors and the leader of the confirmation class.
Although there are areas in which the church could grow in ongoing educational opportunities for all, particularly adults, we have had a variety of valuable and interesting discussion groups, arts activities, workshops, and classes. Some of these have been led by members of the congregation, such as knitting groups, painting classes, and Hospice training. Pastor-led groups have included discussions on aging, advanced directives workshops, current affairs discussions, spiritual journey groups, book groups, and Marriage as Ministry classes. Family opportunities include Old Meeting House Arts Ministries performances and church/community theater productions.
Sermons:
Members of the congregation have come to expect substantive, thought-provoking
sermons that may move or inspire us emotionally, spiritually, or intellectually, or that may challenge us. We want to be moved to reflect on our personal faith and to increase our social awareness in order to live that faith in our lives. We are often touched by sermons that relate personal stories and in so doing remind us of our common humanity, cast light on scripture, and connect the personal with the profound and the sacred.
Qualities We Value in Our Pastors:
We value an ability to listen deeply and compassionately. We value flexibility and inclusivity. We value someone who is able to reflect and share insights based on his or her observations and experiences.
Pastoral Evaluation:
Pastoral evaluations are based on Completing the Circle, and are ongoing.
Hymnal:
Our congregation uses The New Century Hymnal (The Pilgrim Press, 1995) for most services. We decided to purchase this hymnal very soon after it was published because of its gender-neutral and inclusive language and its multicultural approach. We occasionally include hymns in our worship services and hymn sings from the Pilgrim Hymnal (The Pilgrim Press, 1958) and the Church Service Hymns (Sacred Music Publishers 1964) to cover a wider range of favorites and meet the needs of all.
Worship Service:
There is one service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome, including children. Sunday school starts after the first part of the service, and most children choose to attend. There is also a Children’s Service at the conclusion of the Sunday School year. Nursery care is provided.
Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Baptisms take place during regular Sunday services. There are supplemental services during Lent; usually there have been Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services.
On Christmas Eve there have traditionally been two services: an earlier service for families with children, and a later, candlelight service that includes special music by the choir.
Music:
Music is an important part of the regular Sunday service. The choir sings on Sundays, accompanied by a piano. In addition, we often enjoy individual and small-group vocal and instrumental music offerings.
SECTION FIVE
“Discerning Our Purpose and Identity”
Conflict:
We approach any conflict as a process, with the intention of improving ourselves and our congregation. Although we have navigated conflicts and lost some members in the process, on the whole we have approached these conflicts as opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen our community.
Open and Affirming:
The OMH is an Open and Affirming church and the members take this aspect of their mission very seriously.