Massachusetts Conference Edition

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November, 2004

What’s Next?
The process for finding the next Minister and President has already begun

Article V, Section 2, of the Bylaws of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ states:

In the case of a vacancy in the office of Minister and President, the Board of Directors shall appoint a search committee to nominate a candidate for election at the Annual Meeting. The Board shall appoint an interim Minister and President to serve until a candidate is elected by the Conference. While the interim Minister and President is being selected, the Board will make arrangements for carrying out the duties of this office.

According to the Rev. Mr. Donald Remick, Chair of the MACUCC Board of Directors, the search for a new Minister and President has already begun.

At an October meeting, the Board of Directors authorized the Executive Committee to act as a search committee for the Interim Minister and President. The Executive Committee began conversations with Lorin Cope, Minister for Conference Relations at the national setting of the United Church of Christ. Remick explains, “We will begin reviewing profiles and interviewing prospective candidates in Novem-ber and we are confident that we will be able to have an Interim Minister by January.”

“In addition, both the Executive Staff and the Board will join together for a retreat under the guidance of Gil Rendle, senior consultant with the Alban Institute,” explains Remick. “He will guide us through the initial stages of reflecting on a clear and concise focus for the mission and ministries of the Conference, and the position of Minister and President.

The formal search for a settled Minister and President will include a more elaborate process of receiving input from Associations and Churches and all aspects of the Conference regarding both search committee membership as well as the job and person of the Minister and President.

Duties of the Minister and President are outlined in the bylaws as follows:

The Minister and President shall be the chief corporate and executive officer of the Conference and shall, subject to the direction of the Conference and the Board of Directors, have general charge of its mission and activities. The Minister and President shall be an ex-officio member of the Annual Meeting Planning, Business, and Credentials Committees of the Conference. The Minister and President shall be the representative of the Conference among all the churches and in denominational and ecumenical
bodies. The Minister and President shall direct the staff and employ and release all non-appointed employees in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.