As we celebrate the cultivation of relationships this month, it is my great pleasure to let you all know about two wonderful new relationships for this congregation: Affiliated Ministers! Affiliated ministers are different from called ministers (like me). They are not interns, they are board approved, and generally they are not paid for the covenantal work they offer. They are ministers who would like to affiliate with a congregation for a variety of reasons. Rev. Judy (who you all know) would like to be affiliated as she continues her ministry into retirement. Affiliation provides her with some legitimacy and sense of ministerial connection. As part of her covenant with us, she will be offering a workshop and preaching once a year (this is on top of her volunteer work in religious education – she rocks!).
Rev. Liz is different. She is a newly minted minister who will be serving as a chaplain at the VA hospital. All UU ministers start their first three years in “preliminary fellowship.” This means that they need support through a Committee on Ministry (COM) as they navigate their calling. We will be providing 2-3 people for her COM and Rev. Liz too will be providing a workshop and preaching here once a year in return.
It’s an incredible boon to our congregation and I invite you to come meet them on Oct. 10th when they will be introduced to the congregation in their new role. You can also reach out to them at revjudy@ocuuc.org and revliz@ocuuc.org.
With Love,
Rev. Sian
Rev. Sian Wiltshire is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's minister. Please feel free to reach out and say hello! She can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302).