POSITION POSTING LISTING INFORMATION SCOPE OF WORK COMPENSATION & SUPPORT WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US? LISTING INFORMATION Church name: Trinitarian Congregational Church Street address: 54 Walden Street, Concord MA 01742 Supplemental web links: www.triconchurch.org Additional ecumenical affiliations (e.g. denominations, communions, fellowships): None Conference: Mass Conference of UCC Association: Metropolitan Boston Association UCC Conference or Association Staff Contact Person: Reverend Wendy Vander Hart, Association Conference Minister, 781.369.1396, vanderhartw@macucc.org Summary Ministry Description: Trinitarian Congregational Church is a dynamic, intergenerational community of faith striving to reach its potential. We seek to remain relevant to ourselves, to each other, and to our neighbors. Our priorities for the future include a vibrant and thought-provoking Sunday service, increased hands-on mission opportunities, fostering community and social justice, as well as continued and expanded spiritual nourishment outside of our Sunday service. We desire increased collaboration in all aspects of our organizational structure, continued caring for those in need in our congregation, and further support of our highly regarded church school and youth programs. 1
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Minuteman National Park Old North Bridge Concord River (left) Battle Road (below) Walden Pond 5
What we value about living in our area: We are active caretakers of our open spaces and value our accessibility to the natural environment in a historic community that offers close proximity to a major urban area (Boston). We are thankful that our citizenry is interested, engaged, active, well-educated and committed to maintaining the quality of town life we are so blessed to have. We also appreciate living in a safe and secure environment in which to raise our children. Current size of membership: 592 members; 400 non-members, of which 200are youth (0-17years old) Languages used in ministry (other than English): None Position Title: Position Duration: Compensation Level: Minister for Congregational Life Settled Full Time Does the total support package meet conference compensation guidelines? Yes SCOPE OF WORK Reporting The Minister of Congregational Life will report to the Senior Minister and will collaborate with the Senior Minister in defining specific responsibilities within the framework described below. Worship Lead 10 am worship services with the Senior Minister. Preach at least one Sunday a month, on average. Participate in or lead special services as need arises such as Christmas Eve, Lenten, memorial services, weddings. Children s Ministry Supervise and advise the Christian Education Director Participate in Seekers (grades 7/8) and Voyagers (grades 5/6) events as needed Youth Ministry Provide spiritual direction for the Youth Program Support and supervise the Youth Leader Plan and lead the Confirmation Program with lay volunteers Plan and lead the annual Senior High Mission Trip with the Youth Leader Oversee and attend, as needed, Wednesday night Discussion Group Pastoral Care Assess and assist with pastoral care and assist with hospital and homebound visitation 6
Spiritual Development Work with the Christian Education Committee on content for small group series and help facilitate lay leaders Support the spiritual needs and growth of parishioners by developing and executing opportunities for education and service Administrative Weekly meeting with Senior Minister Staff meetings Monthly Prudential Sub-Committee meetings Monthly Diaconate meetings (evenings) Church Council meetings (5 evenings annually) Christian Education Committee monthly meetings, as needed (evening) Other Community, Ecumenical and Denominational participation as time and interest allow COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT Salary Basis: Pay will be consistent with UCC guidelines and will be commensurate with the experience level of candidate. Benefits: Comprehensive benefits Expected living situation: Live nearby with a housing allowance Residential/commuting expectations: To live within close proximity to our congregation, enabling him/her to be involved in our community State any incentives: To be negotiated Describe peer/professional supports available for ministers in your association/conference: There are numerous clergy resources available to ministers through the MACUCC, including Communities of Practice, retreats, and continuing education events. Please see http://www.macucc.org/clergyresources for a detailed list of opportunities. 7
WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US? Describe the ministry goals you envision your next minister with the congregation to achieve. Our Congregation, while proud of its mission giving, has expressed a strong desire to put its spirituality into action and to expand service opportunities for hands on mission in a way that builds community among our participants but also creates a restorative relationship with those whom we serve. We would like to develop a more open collaboration between the ministerial staff, office staff, lay leaders, and the congregation. We would like to maintain our vibrant church school and youth programs. We feel it is important to embrace outreach to the elderly, sick, and homebound among us, as well as reach out to those enduring difficult circumstances. Additionally, we would like to continue and expand opportunities for spiritual nourishment outside of Sunday morning service, i.e. Lenten and Advent series, Small Groups, Anchor Group, etc. Finally, we would like to move forward, with intention and determination, to achieve our vision and our longer-term priorities, as identified below. VISION STATEMENT for Trinitarian Congregational Church: God is calling us to be a nurturing community of faith that honors God through service and mission. THREE PRIORITIES identified by Trinitarian Congregational Church: 1. Create vibrant worship through a spectrum of opportunities, including Sunday Services, small group gatherings, church school, youth, and adult programs. 2. Live out our faith through caring for one another and hands on service and mission, including youth, family, and adult mission opportunities. 3. Cultivate our church community to grow and thrive through increased collaboration, communication, and harnessing our collective talents. Describe how your vision of the minister you are seeking will assist the congregation in making an impact beyond its walls. Our church is seeking a minister who will actively expand our spiritual awareness and support spiritual needs and who will provide vibrant support and oversight of our youth programs, enabling all those in our congregation to gain further awareness of the greater world around them. Specify language requirements or culturally-specific capacities: None Based on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The 8
Marks of Faithful & Effective Authorized Ministry that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation s ministry in these areas. In addition to the following four areas of excellence that stand out to us at this time in the life of our church, as described in The Marks of Faithful & Effective Authorized Ministry, we assume that our minister will be an active member in the United Church of Christ. Further, we look for a minister who will enthusiastically work across all generations of our congregation, including the sharing of pastoral care visitations, who will inspire and support our laity in achieving our vision for increased hands on mission as well as our three priorities, and who will have enough of an understanding of financial matters to contribute to conversations regarding the maintenance of our church s overall fiscal health along with increasing stewardship. EXHIBITING A SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION AND ONGOING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Loving God, following Jesus Christ, and being guided by the Holy Spirit; living a life of discipleship. Praying actively and nurturing spiritual practices. Being called to ordained ministry by God and the Church. Continuing discernment of one s call in community. Understanding the power of the Holy Spirit at work through the elements of Christian worship to nurture faith. Exhibiting a commitment to lifelong spiritual development and faithful personal stewardship. BUILDING TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS Empowering the Church to be faithful to God s call, reflective of Christ s mission, and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit. Strategically creating the future of God s Church. Performing necessary and appropriate executive tasks. Working collaboratively with intercultural awareness and sensitivity. Encouraging leadership development of self and others through continuing education and lifelong learning. Energizing the congregation and creating ways to enact hands-on mission. ENGAGING SACRED STORIES AND TRADITIONS Exhibiting knowledge, understanding, and continuing study of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Displaying maturity and effectiveness in preaching and proclaiming the Word; delivering inspirational / aspirational sermons that, through the minister's insight, stretch the congregation; applying Biblical and Gospel teachings to life today. Understanding the history of the Christian Church, from biblical times forward. Bringing life to sacred stories and traditions in worship, proclamation, and witness. Leading faith formation effectively across generations. Holding the Holy with integrity especially as represented in the Sacraments. 9
Creating fulfillment in living out God s teachings. CARING FOR ALL CREATION Nurturing care and compassion for God s creation, including environmental care and awareness of global warming. Practicing self-care and life balance. Providing hope and healing to a hurting world. Maintaining a basic understanding of mental health and wellness. Attending to one s own spiritual and pastoral care, including engagement in supervision as appropriate. Stewarding the resources of the Church. 10