The Ministerial Search Committee is honored to present our Candidate for your consideration: Brian Chenowith

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1 The Ministerial Search Committee is honored to present our Candidate for your consideration: Brian Chenowith Our UU tradition calls us to create real change in our lives and in our wider communities - Brian Chenowith As part of the Ministerial Search Committee s announcement on April 5 th, 2015, here is the greeting Brian sent to UUCL: Dear Members & Friends of UUCL, I am beyond excited to be your candidate for the next Settled Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, Kentucky! Very early on, I was drawn to Lexington for the warmth, excitement, and many possibilities I saw and heard about from your Ministerial Search Committee. My partner, Dan, and I fondly remember driving around Lexington with members of the committee, enjoying po boys and other amazing food, and simply taking in a joyful experience. Our weekend with the Search Committee was one to remember! My interest in UUCL centers around building upon the strengths that are already present and using them to foster new and enriching endeavors. Whether it is Religious Education, Music, Worship, or Social Action, UUCL has a solid foundation that we will work to nurture, grow, and carry into our future. UUCL strikes me, and everyone I ve talked to, as a healthy, close-knit, and dedicated community that cares for one another, our UU faith, and Kentucky as a whole. There is good and holy work for all of us to do. 1

2 I invite you to bring your curiosity and questions with you when we are together for Candidating Week (May 10th to May 17th). It ll be here before we know it! With humility and great joy I look forward to seeing where our shared ministry will take us. In Faith, Brian Here is Brian s video message to UUCL (shown on April 12 th ). Brian Chenowith has been a UU for over 15 years, and an intern minister at two large congregations (membership > 500) for the last 3 years. He currently serves the 797-member First Parish in Concord, MA. Brian s Path to Ministry grew up in Catholic and Episcopalian faiths became a UU at Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, IL ( I always knew I wanted to be a minister ) graduated in Honors Program with Bachelor s degree in Theology & Religion (Elmhurst Coll.) received Masters in Divinity from Meadville-Lombard Theological School (Chicago) received highest rating from UU Fellowship Committee (not an easy thing to do!) This will be a new and exciting chapter for myself and the community to which I m called. - Brian C. 2

3 Skills Brian brings to UUCL community organizing, lobbying, social justice work strong worship presence - people come just to hear his sermons small-group organizing and leading love for Religious Exploration and children s role in the church experience in Coming of Age and Our Whole Lives programs conflict mediation presiding at rites of passage (weddings, memorial services, child dedications, others) writing prayers and meditations working with Annual Pledge Drives inclusion of different spiritual paths in UUCL life recognition that lay leaders have something to offer has ideas for organization of UUCL (e.g. Pastoral Care team, Social Justice council, Volunteer coordinator) realizes importance of Mission, Vision, and Goals in church life - will revisit them regularly understands when to push for new initiatives and when to drop them great sense of humor, personable, fun to be with One thing s certain - at my next church, there will be a Maypole! - Brian Chenowith Brian s Theological Outlook loves Unitarian Universalism identifies strongly with UU value of diversity in theological opinions believes we aspire to same ideals finds meaning in Jewish & Christian teachings draws on sources from Emerson to Ursula Goodenough to Gandhi charmed by beauty of worship as well as meaningful committee meetings knows importance of joining congregants in fellowship In our diversity we often find we aspire to the same ideals. - Brian Chenowith 3

4 Brian the Man age 30 partnered with Dan, attorney in tax publishing will have Ordination and Installation at UUCL if called enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, exploring new places supports local museums and arboretums likes minor league baseball Dan and I are excited for the possibilities that ministry will bring! - Brian Chenowith Brian s involvement in the UU Community Commission on Appraisal candidate Member, Massachusetts Bay UU Ministers Association Allied Whites Aspiring to Racial Equality Chicago Area Liberal Ministers Community Renewal Society DuPage Public Action to Deliver Shelter Membership Committee, Unitarian Church - Hinsdale IL Spiritual Life Council I will ensure the management of the congregation is smooth and transparent - Brian C. 4

5 But Brian s so young - how can he lead a church our size?? He s interned with the best and brightest UU congregations He was entrusted to be sole minister on call while only an intern He doesn t pretend to have all the answers He understands importance of listening to us He knows he has to meet us where we are He recognizes the importance of other leaders in UUCL He will provide Pastoral Care to older members by hearing and walking with them During my years serving large UU congregations, I ve found that work as a minister engages me in all aspects of congregational life - Brian Chenowith What others say about Brian His homilies are excellent - personal, but grounded in research. - Rev. Alan Taylor Has the potential to be a GREAT minister. - Rev. Alan Taylor If we could have kept him, we would have. - Tina L., membership director He s sort of a superstar UU leader on the way up. - Tina L. Brian is very resourceful, full of good ideas, and meets with me every week. - Merrill C., DRE Handles difficult situations with common sense and sensitivity. - Merril C. Brian is upbeat, approachable, and optimistic. - Steve C., Board President MORE QUESTIONS? CHECK OUT BRIAN S WEBPAGE. 5