THE ECLECTIC CLERIC - “Who ARE all these Preachers, anyway? (and what are they doing here?)

I know it’s been written about many times before, but now that we have our entire team in place, it bears repeating.

Last summer, when it became obvious that I would not be able to resume my ministry full-time in September, I applied for the Long Term Disability insurance benefits provided for me under the terms of my compensation agreement. Once those benefits had been approved, money that had originally been budgeted to pay my salary again became available to the congregation, allowing First Parish to hire additional staff to assist me in the performance of my duties here.

We call these ministers “the Ministerial Support Team,” and as a team we hope to create a much more exciting and dynamic ministry here at First Parish than any one of us might have hoped to create alone.

The Rev. Elizabeth “Kitsy” Winthop was ordained in 1982 , and has been a resident of Maine for more than a decade. In that time has served numerous congregations up and down the Maine Coast and in Canada, including one in New Brunswick (where she continues to visit once a month). Kitsy’s main responsibilities are for Pastoral “Care Ring” and to the Life Long Learning Council, although as a resident of Portland she is also often available to respond in an emergency if none of the other team members are available.

The Rev. Dr. William Saunders was ordained in 1972 (when I was still a sophomore in High School!), and began his ministry up in Brunswick in 1976, while still completing his PhD in American History at Columbia (does any of this sound familiar?). Will recently retired and was designated Minister Emeritus by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Portsmouth, New Hampshire (South Church), although he continues to serve the UUA actively in other ways, most prominently as the Trustee from the old NH/V District (which has now been consolidated with our district here in Maine). Will’s primary responsibility has been to work with me, the rest of the staff, and our deeply devoted lay leadership group in order to develop a set of working “Standard Operating Procedures” that will allow us to grow from our current size of approximately 100+ households into a 550+ member “Program-sized” church like the one he just left in Portsmouth. His experience and expertise in this area make him a valuable “coach” to our entire congregation, but it should also be said that Will is here to serve as my “back-up” in the event that my own health should suddenly take a serious turn for the worse, like it did last spring.

Also serving on the team is our newly-ordained (and much revered) Charlie Grindle, who has been designated now as “Minister of Music” in recognition of the completion of his course of study at the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. As part of his expanded role here at First Parish, Charlie is responsible for coordinating our new Wednesday evening “Eventide” service, which is already beginning to develop its own dedicated (and growing) following.

Despite the many limitations imposed upon me by my cancer, I plan to continue to fulfill my principal responsibilities as the called, settled and installed Minister of this Parish by preaching approximately every other Sunday, and by being in church to lead the worship service even in those weeks when I’m not preaching. I will also, of course, continue to write this monthly newsletter column, and to keep up with my semi-consistent internet “blog,” (which I know many of you have grown to appreciate ALMOST as much as my Preaching).

As my health allows, I likewise hope to continue to attend the monthly Executive Committee and Governing Board meetings, as well as meetings of the Trustees, the Worship Committee, and the Membership Committee, and our weekly Tuesday afternoon Staff meeting. And I remain committed to being available by phone, e-mail, or in person (if necessary), to any church member who really feels that I’m the only one who will do. Just please be aware that this will not be nearly as easy for me to do as it has been in the past, and that we have many other fine people for you to talk with, who will probably do just as well as me.

Throughout my illness, I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity and support of the members of this congregation, as you have cared for me and shared with me in my battle against this disease. And just as you have ministered to me, I invite you now to share with me and Kitsy and Will and Charlie and Sally and Sue and so many others (should I try to name them here?) as we work together to create and re-create “A Warm & Welcoming Place in the Heart of the City.” This is our mission, and our ministry both to one another and the larger Portland community.