FIRST PARISH CHURCH
INTERIM MINISTER TRANSITION

From the Transition Team

The Transition Steering Committee continues to seek qualified candidates for an interim minister. We appreciate input from the congregation on qualifications and priority skills sets for the interim pastor.

We thank everyone who participated in the small group discussions facilitated by Larry Peers, the Alban Institute consultant. His report collected our thoughts and feelings on the transition that is taking place in our congregation. Individuals are in different places on the timeline of change, and we need to take the time to listen and understand differing perspectives and needs. He identified some specific issues to address during the interim period:

  • Explore and define church leadership roles and ministerial staffing.
  • Develop a communications policy to clarify what and how information is shared in the congregation.
  • Develop a regular staff performance evaluation process that is understood by the congregation.
  • Educate ourselves about Congregational polity and discernment processes.

    Larry Peers also made the following recommendations to the congregation to understand and support one another as we move forward:

    CONGREGATIONAL EFFORTS DURING THE INTERIM

  • Use this time of the interim as a congregation to get to know who you are as a community and as a community of faith. This may mean that you intentionally will spend time with others outside of your primary subgroup (e.g. choir, church school, etc.) in the congregation in order to knit yourselves together as a community that has diverse interests, perspectives and experiences.
  • Intentionally speak to someone who you know has a different perspective than your own about recent events within the congregation. If reconciliation is needed, then be proactive with asking for assistance, if desired, in having the conversations that will promote understanding and potential reconciliation.
  • Become informed about and practiced in the responsibilities of Congregational polity. This means learning some of the spiritual disciplines related to discernment that are part of the Congregational way, the importance of dialogue, and of being informed on matters about which you are being asked to make a decision.
  • Recognize that in a large congregation you will have to be more intentional about connecting with others either in small groups or some other program or ministry of the congregation. If you want to be involved in some of the leadership of the congregation, communicate that with the appropriate person(s).
  • There are occasions when members of the congregation or their family members need pastoral care. Inform yourselves even before the need arises what the resources are within the congregation. Communicate or have someone communicate your need directly.
  • There are no bystanders. Think about how you will proactively engage as a member during the interim time to make this church into the community that you can continue to cherish and support.

    Your Transition Team at First Parish Church

    Bill Ferdinand
    Bill is an attorney with Eaton Peabody in Brunswick and Augusta, specializing in environmental and land use law. He is a lobbyist in the Maine legislature. He has attended FPC for 10 years and became a member in 2003. He is vice chair of the church council and the outreach committee. He regularly teaches church school with the 3rd-6th grades. Bill is married to Catherine and they have two daughters, Anna & Sarah.

    Jo Bradley
    Jo and her husband, Ed, moved to Brunswick from Tennessee. At FPC, she is a member of the Parish Ringers and the Senior Choir. She also volunteers in the library at Woolwich Central School. Ed is a member of the stewardship committee and adult ministries team at FPC.

    Ron Kurtz
    Ron is a retired UCC Minister and lives with his wife, Elaine, in The Highlands in Topsham. Both Ron and Elaine volunteer at the Mid-Coast Hunger Soup Kitchen. Elaine is on First Parish Church's Earth Care Team. Ron is on the Nominating Committee. After serving Churches in Vermont and Connecticut, Ron served as Conference Staff to ministers and churches, particularly in times of change. Reading, travel, fishing and refinishing Ogee Mirrors are among Ron's interests. Two daughters, their husbands and three grandsons keep Ron and Elaine in touch with some of the challenges of this new century.

    Mary Melquist
    Mary is a clinical psychologist who works for Spurwink helping abused and neglected children. She co-chaired the Christmas Far, has taught several Sunday School sessions, and has a wonderful husband (who does not have the weekends off) and an amazing daughter, Samantha, 4, who sings in the cherub choir. The thing she appreciates most about FPC is the intergenerational fellowship opportunities that are available.

    Carol O'Donnell
    Although Carol grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts she spent summers in Pemaquid Beach, home of her maternal ancestors, and has lived in Maine since graduating from the University of Maine in 1970. Carol is the Director of Finance at the University of Maine at Augusta. In her spare time she enjoys Bowdoin basketball, Harvard football, the Boston Red Sox, music, theater, and film. She has also been actively engaged in many projects in the town of Brunswick. She has been attending First Parish Church for several years and currently serves as a head usher.

    Tom Weddle
    Tom and his wife Susan have been members of First Parish for 22 years. He currently is chair of the Deacons and represents them on the Church Council, and also serves on the Nominating Committee. Their daughters Becky, Hannah, and Emily share one common bond beside their last name; all three have played the part of Mary in the Christmas pageant. Tom works as a geologist for the state with the Maine Geological Survey, a bureau of the Department of Conservation. During this year's field season he will be mapping the glacial deposits in the Kenduskeag quadrangle.

    Len Westra
    Len, and his wife Beth Thompson, have been attending First Parish for over 20 years after building their house together in Brunswick. Their three children have been through Confirmation and have participated in the music programs. Len has taught Sunday School and has served on the Deacons and Christian Ed., Renovation, and Preservation Committees. He has also been on five of the mission trips to Honduras and El Salvador and has participated in Habitat builds. Len has been active for many years with the Brunswick Youth Soccer League. In the past Len has worked as an Industrial Engineer and residential Building Contractor and is currently a self-employed Home Inspector. He enjoys kayaking and sailing and continues to struggle with learning to play the fiddle.

    Contact Information:

    Bill Ferdinand, Chair
    725-8367
    bferd@gwi.net

    Jo Bradley
    729-0305
    jobradley@suscom-maine.net

    Ron Kurtz
    729-1186
    rgkurtz@gwi.net

    Mary Melquist
    443-2626
    mmelquist@spurwink.org

    Elizabeth Newman - ex officio Council Chair
    729-4987
    Newman@suscom-maine.net

    Carol O'Donnell
    725-7357
    codonnell@suscom-maine.net

    Tom Weddle
    729-6122
    weddle@suscom-maine.net

    Len Westra
    729-6365
    bthomp61@blazenetme.net

    In the coming weeks - stay tuned to the website and other church communications for more information.