Sign up for Beyond Categorical Thinking!

“Will the new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met?  Will the minister understand what I’m living with? How will the community respond to our minister?’

In answering these questions, a picture of the “ideal minister” (categorized by age, gender identity, nationality, physical or cognitive ability, race, sexual orientation, etc.) comes to mind. With this picture in place, it can be easy to unintentionally exclude ministers who fall into certain categories. At times, as we get caught up in comparing candidates to our “picture,” we can even forget what it is we hoped for in a minister.

On Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th, UUCUC will participate in the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for congregations involved in the search for a new minister. The Settled Search Team invites all congregational leaders, members, and friends to participate in this workshop.

The Beyond Categorical Thinking program is designed to promote inclusive thinking and help prevent unfair discrimination in the search process for a new minister. This program consists of a three-hour BCT workshop with facilitators trained by the UUA. In the workshop, UUCUC members and friends will:

  • Consider the hopes, expectations, and concerns they have for a new minister
  • Learn more about the ministerial search process, and
  • Explore how thinking categorically about people sometimes interferes with choosing the best candidate.

Come on Friday, November 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM and Saturday, November 19th from 10:00 to 11:30 AM on Zoom to participate in this UUA-sponsored workshop, led by Rev. Donna Dolham and Gil Guerrero.  The workshop is in two parts, both of which are critical to our understanding of the subject matter, so please plan to attend both sessions if at all possible.  That said, if you can only make it to one of the sessions please plan on doing that.  To register, fill out our quick online form (https://tinyurl.com/UUCUC-BCT).   

The selection of a minister is important. The Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop is another opportunity for everyone in our congregation to be a part of that process, and to demonstrate to potential ministers that we are serious about the work of seeking the best candidate for our needs.