Search for a Conference Minister

With the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree in May of 2010, the Connecticut Conference has moved into a period of discernment and transition. The Board of Directors has appointed a Conference Minister Search Committee to solicit information from the Conference membership about the talents, skills, and priorities the next leader of these churches should have, to review potential candidates, and recommend a final candidate to the Board and to the Conference.

During the period of this work, the Conference is led by Interim Conference Minister the Rev. Charles L. Wildman, senior pastor for twenty years of Rock Spring United Church of Christ in Arlington, Virginia, and now a member of West Parish UCC in Barnstable, Massachusetts, where he makes his home.

Phase One: Listening

Phase One involves listening to the various constituencies that make up the Connecticut Conference as to the priorities and dreams for the Conference and how these can best be embodied in the leadership of a Conference Minister. The Conference’s Fall Annual Meeting on October 22nd provides an opportunity to do such listening. But that will be far from the only listening session the Committee has planned. Members believe it is imperative that they listen to all segments of the Conference, from our delegates and authorized ministers who have offered leadership to the Conference for years, to some of our local churches’ newest members who may not have even heard of the Connecticut Conference yet. To accomplish this, the Committee plans to offer multiple listening opportunities using a variety of methods. The Committee hopes to make an announcement before the end of the summer about the events to take place throughout the fall.

All the gathered information will need to be distilled into a couple important documents. First, a Conference profile must be developed that will attract the most qualified candidates to apply for the Conference Minister position. Additionally, the Committee will collaborate with the Board of Directors to draft a new Conference Minster job description that meets the needs of the current day and will lead well into the future.

The Search Committee's goal for completion of Phase One work is being revised. They will confer with the Board of Directors in February, and should be able to set a new target date after this.

Phase Two: Searching

Phase Two of the process will involve the formal search. During this time the Committee will publicize the position, review candidate profiles, conduct interviews, check references and ultimately recommend a candidate to the Conference Board of Directors. The Board will in turn recommend this candidate to a meeting of the Conference. While committee members hope to begin Phase Two before the winter has ended, they believe it is too early to set any type of realistic timeline for the conclusion of this work. The Search Committee intends to maintain an appropriate momentum to the search process.

The Search Committee

The Search Committee Chair is the Rev. Gordon M. Rankin, senior pastor of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck UCC. He has served as Moderator of the Conference and as chair of the Silver Lake Conference Center Board of Directors. His church is hosting the meeting at which the committee will be commissioned.

Members of the Search Committee

The members include:

The Rev. Ann Aaberg

Rev. Aaberg is pastor of the Mystic Congregational Church UCC. She is a member of Connecticut’s 2011 delegation to General Synod.

Ms. Olga Agosto

A member of New Hope church in Hartford, Ms. Agosto is a public school teacher. Among her many services to the Conference has been a seat on the Board of Directors.

Ms. Peggy Anson

A member of the Bridgewater Congregational Church UCC, Ms. Anson is retired from a career in human resources. She serves on the Conference Personnel Committee.

Ms. Susan Butler-Woodward

A member of the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury UCC, Ms. Butler-Woodward co-chaired the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2007 General Synod in Hartford, and has served on the Board of Directors for Silver Lake and the Now, for the Future Campaign committee.

Mr. Cameron Hines

A member of the United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Mr. Hines is a high school student and a junior member of the church’s Stewardship and Outreach Committee.

Ms. Ann Jennings

A member of Faith Congregational Church UCC in Hartford, Ms. Jennings is retired from a career in human resources. She was one of the facilitators for the Sacred Conversations on Race at the fall 2009 Conference annual meeting.

Ms. Ginny Miller

A member of the Gilead Congregational Church UCC in Hebron, Ms. Miller is Vice Chancellor of Personnel at the University of Connecticut. She has served the Middlesex Association in several leadership roles.

The Rev. Erick Olsen

Rev. Olsen is pastor of the Norfolk Congregational Church UCC. He has served on the Conference Resolutions Committee, and is a 2011 delegate to General Synod.

Ms. Susan Babcock

A member of the First Church of Christ UCC in Simsbury, Ms. Babcock is a practicing attorney. She has served as her church’s moderator.

The Rev. John Selders

Rev. Selders is pastor of Amistad United Church of Christ in West Hartford, a new church start. He has served several years on the planning team for the Conference annual meeting and for its worship.

The Rev. Jay Terbush

Rev. Terbush is transitional senior pastor at the North Madison Congregational Church, UCC. He recently served as a member of the Special Commission on Conference Sustainability.

The Rev. Jennifer Whipple

Rev. Whipple is associate pastor at the Congregational Church of Brookfield, UCC. She has served as a leader for the Conference's confirmation retreats program and as a dean for summer conferences at Silver Lake.