MINISTERIAL EXCELLENCE, SUPPORT and AUTHORIZATION (MESA) Ministry Team

Transcription

1 MINISTERIAL EXCELLENCE, SUPPORT and AUTHORIZATION (MESA) Ministry Team The Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization Ministry Team (MESA), located within the Local Church Ministries Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ, focuses specifically on supporting authorized ministers in the UCC. Minister and Team Leader: Rev. Holly MillerShank Rev. MillerShank comes to this position with a deep love of the United Church of Christ and a passion for institutional excellence. She has worked on areas of economics and public policy with both the UCC office in Washington DC and the faith-based non-profit Witness for Peace. Additionally she has served as a local church pastor, member of the LCM board of directors, a Global Ministries Volunteer in India and on the UCC Ministry Issues Implementation writing team. Holly s husband, Jonathan, is a Terrazzo floor specialist; together they enjoy working on construction projects including building a home in their native Pennsylvania. As Minister and Team Leader of MESA Holly works to: Vision and articulate the changing needs of authorized ministers & leadership development in the United Church of Christ and ecumenically Build ecumenical and denominational partnerships to support and resource authorized ministers, conference staff and Committees on Ministry Provide leadership, oversight, and development of the Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization Ministry Team Serve as a connectional voice between the Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization Ministry Team and various settings of the United Church of Christ Minister for Members in Discernment: Rev. Kathy Clark Rev. Kathy Clark is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ who most recently served as Associate Conference Minister for Ministry Formation and Leadership Development for the Southeast Conference. She was the developer and dean of the on-line regional education program, PATHWAYS: Theological Education for a Changing World, and is strongly committed to excellence in ministry, both lay and authorized. Kathy has a deep love for the church and a passion for lifelong, transformative learning.

2 Kathy holds two master s degrees, an M.Ed. from the University of Georgia in Adult Education and an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology of Emory University. She has over 30 years of experience in theological and higher education and has served as an adjunct faculty member of Lancaster Theological Seminary. She also served on the Ministry Issues Pronouncement Implementation Committee in the national setting of the UCC and was part of the original writing group. Her areas of expertise include adult and collaborative learning, small group dynamics, faith development, lay theological education and ministry formation. Her hobbies include reading and writing, fabric arts, travel, and Scrabble. Kathy comes to the national setting from northeast Georgia where she has served on her hometown city council; she is the grateful mother of four grown children, and the proud grandmother of three grandchildren. As Minister for Members in Discernment Kathy works to: Foster a Culture of Call in the United Church of Christ Develop and oversee policies regarding authorization in the United Church of Christ Equip Committees on Ministry to work with Members in Discernment Engage partners in researching, developing and disseminating resources on call, discernment, educational and spiritual formation for ministry Encourage the development of authorized ministers in the United Church of Christ through resourcing and networking Members in Discernment Minister for Chaplains and Specialized Ministers: Rev. Stephen Boyd Rev. Boyd brings a lifetime of experience in specialized ministry to the MESA team. Ordained in 1985 he has served as a local church pastor, was deployed to the Middle East to serve as an Army installation chaplain and worked three years in the Pentagon managing chaplain candidates for the Army Chaplaincy. Stephen brings a strong understanding of what needs to happen in order to effectively minister to those serving in ministries outside of the local church. He and his wife, Roberta, are located in Southern California. As Minister for Chaplains and Specialized Ministers Stephen works to: Recognize and honor the diverse calling bodies within the United Church of Christ Support bi-vocational authorized ministers and those serving in settings outside of the local church including but not limited to chaplains, educators, counselors, community organizers, ecumenical ministers, and denominational ministers Support authorized ministers serving in chaplaincy positions including but not limited to: Hospital Chaplaincy, Military Chaplaincy, College Chaplaincy, and Prison Chaplaincy Provide the voice and perspective of the United Church of Christ in commissions and organizations related to specialized ministry Serve as the denominational endorser for government and professional chaplains Resource Committees on Ministry on authorizing and supporting specialized ministers

3 Minister for Ministers in Local Churches: Rev. Elizabeth Dilley Rev. Elizabeth Dilley comes to Cleveland after serving for nine years at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Red Oak - a small, thriving, Open and Affirming congregation in rural Iowa. She received her M.Div. from Pacific School of Religion in 2003 and her B.S. in Educational Theatre from New York University in In addition to her church work, Rev. Dilley has worked for five years as a part-time health educator with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, promoting healthy life and sexual choices to people of all ages. She has been active in many local ministries, serves on the Red Oak School Board, and participates in wider settings of the United Church of Christ - including membership in the Southwestern Association's Committee on Ministry, the National Planning Team of the 2030 Clergy Network, the UCC's Presidential Fellows, and the Iowa Conference General Synod Delegate team. Elizabeth and her spouse, Paul Richardson, welcomed their first child, Meredith, in April As Minister for Ministers in Local Churches Elizabeth works to: Embody the on-going covenant between authorized ministers, associations, conferences and the national setting of the church Strengthen a culture of lifelong learning and continuing education among authorized ministers Equip Committees on Ministry to work with local church ministers Work with partners to name and develop materials for boundary training and continuing education Articulate guidelines for covenant and mutual accountability for authorized ministers including programs of oversight and fitness Minister for Ministerial Transition: Rev. Malcolm Himschoot When he began in ministry at the Denver Inner City Parish, one of the first things Malcolm did was help develop a jobs program for exoffenders. "If God can do that, God can do this!" he says of the new challenges and opportunities for authorized ministry in the 21st century. With ten years of experience in UCC settings as a transitional pastor, Malcolm now looks to support clergy and covenant partners during significant seasons of change: interims, retirements, denominational journeys, and search and call processes. He will also focus on research to show vocational trends and adaptations with Associations and Conferences. Malcolm was ordained in Four Way Covenant with Washington Park UCC, and then served in transitional capacity for Plymouth Church (Minneapolis), the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, First United Church of Arvada, Parker UCC New Church Start, and Boulder Community UCC. He has served on the Metro Denver Association's Ministry Council, the Rocky Mountain Conference's Clergy Care Committee, and currently teaches UCC Polity at the Iliff School of Theology.

4 As Minister for Ministerial Transition Malcolm works to: Engage partners in researching, developing and disseminating resources on ministerial transition in the United Church of Christ Support of interim ministers in the United Church of Christ and the UCC interim minister s network Resource and support ecumenical transitions including Ministerial Partnership Standing with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Formula of Agreement Partners and ministers authorized by other denominations Resource authorized ministers and Committees on Ministry regarding privilege of call, dual standing, and discernment status for leaders of new, renewing or multiplying congregations Develop and maintain a listing of all ministry opportunities for both employment and volunteer needs in the United Church of Christ Resource and support ministers transitioning between calling bodies or into retirement Minister for Committee on Ministry Resources and Conference Support This position is not yet filled. The job posting will be re-opened in fall of Once called, the Minister for Committee on Ministry Resources and Conference Support will work to: Coordinate major MESA events which support Conference Staff, including New Conference Staff Orientation and Authorizing Ministry for the 21 st Century: AM21 Coordinate MESA communications including newsletters, Glasscubes, social media and websites Regularly review and develop resources for use by Members in Discernment, authorized ministers, and COMs. This includes the Manual on Ministry (or its successor resource) and Search and Call resource materials Coordinate on-line learning opportunities for MESA to connect with and support its constituents Administrative Assistant for MESA and CVD: Ms. Karen Koza Karen has traveled the world with the US Navy. After returning to her native state of Ohio she used her significant data skills at NASA doing computer programing related to Y2K. Karen loves camping with her family and has been busy helping with National Youth Event. As the Administrative Assistant to both MESA and CVD Karen works to: Provide administrative support the Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization and Congregational Vitality and Discipleship (CVD) Team Leaders Coordinate calendars for MESA and CVD teams Provide technical support for webinars, video chats and other electronic communications

5 MESA Administrative Secretary: Ms. Kathleen Sattler Kathleen serves as the endorsement secretary. She brings an incredible eye to detail to her work and is invaluable in keeping official records and processes for endorsement organized. Kathleen s interests lie in landscaping and gardening, spending most of her vacation days in the yard. Her many flowers attract finches and butterflies. She is constantly checking her bird and butterfly reference books to identify them. Besides gardening, she is fond of all types of movies but especially the classics from the 40 s and earlier. As the Administrative Secretary in MESA Kathleen works to: Provide administrative support to members of the Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization Ministry Team Profile & Ministry Opportunities Administrator: Mr. Darrell Ludwig With over twenty years experience working in the national setting of the United Church of Christ Darrell brings a trained technical eye to the ministerial profiles department. He has previously worked in the UCC Yearbook Office, was registrar of the General Synod and has 14 years previous experience in banking. Darrell is a steward of creation, riding his bike and exploring Cleveland and its neighboring communities on his Vespa scooter. Darrell also has two spirited Chihuahua terrier mixed rescue dogs which keeps him busy and enjoys traveling to Michigan and surrounding states. As the Profile and Ministry Opportunities Administrator Darrell works to: Resource authorized ministers and conference staff in the completion of on-line documents relating to MESA including the ministerial profile and ministry opportunities listing Secretary for Profile Support: Elizabeth Hosbach Elizabeth is currently on disability leave and is not present in the office. All inquiries regarding ministerial profiles should be directed to Darrell Ludwig.