pastoral search committee

• Cresson Slotten - Chairperson
• Harriette Ehnis – Vice Chairperson
• Cathy Jaskiewicz – Secretary (Summer)
• Lynelle Morgan – Secretary (Fall)
• Tom Ziesemer - Chaplain
• Roy Muir – Public Relations
• George Pritchitt – Public Relations

SEARCH COMMITTEE POSITION INFORMATION

The Position
Our welcoming congregation in an historic downtown building seeks a warm, outgoing senior pastor who will bring us into a closer relationship with God and an understanding of God’s word through energizing, down-to-earth preaching and inspirational worship services. Our new senior pastor will also help us continue to develop our lay leadership and our congregation so that we may worship and serve God in a changing world. Visit us at www.bethlehem-ucc.org .
The Church
Although Bethlehem Church was founded 175 years ago by German immigrants, the majority of our members today do not come from that background. Bethlehem comes to the UCC through a longstanding Evangelical and Reformed Church tradition. Today we respect, but are not actively involved in, the activities of the UCC at a national level, except through annual special offerings. Thirty years ago the church membership exceeded 1,500, but today it has declined to approximately 750, with a regular Sunday attendance of around 200. We are, however, a resilient congregation with an intensely involved core group of members who will welcome our new pastor’s leadership, and who seek advice and support as we clarify and strengthen our mission, vision, growth and service. Our history includes years of strong leadership by strong pastors. In the past decade we have sought to move to a more participatory style of leadership. This has not come naturally, but it continues to be the goal of the congregation. Bethlehem has a wide range of programs and services both for our members and for the wider community, nation and world. Most recently, we have become even more involved with ministries for the homeless and others who are less fortunate in our community. This interest was stimulated by an extraordinary bequest from one of our members. Our sanctuary was last remodeled in 2007/08 and a new organ installed at that time. The building has plenty of space for a wide range of programs and activities, including a sanctuary seating 500+, a chapel seating 100, kitchen and dining facilities, a gymnasium, plus offices and a Christian education wing. We also own a parsonage a few minutes’ drive away.
The Community
Bethlehem is located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, just blocks from the main campus of the University of Michigan, which defines much of the nature of our vibrant and diverse community. Ann Arbor offers a wide range of cultural, intellectual, recreational and educational resources, as well as excellent public and private schools and premier health care. Although Michigan’s economic problems are well known, Washtenaw County is the most economically stable county in Michigan. Visit www.annarbor.org for further details.

WHAT PROGRESS ARE WE MAKING IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW PASTOR ?

Step 1 We have appointed a Search Committee.
Step 2 The congregation took part in:
          ~ Leadership Expectation Exercise
          ~ Congregational Surveys
          ~ Open Forums to review the profile
          We are now accepting applications.
Step 3 The Search Committee will consider all potential candidates.
Step 4 The Search Committee will select possible candidates.
Step 5 The Search Committee will interview the candidates.
Step 6 One candidate will be recommended.
Step 7 We will vote on the recommended candidate.
Step 8 We will join in worship to install our new pastor.

Search Committee Prayer

Almighty, God, we give you thanks for all the blessings of this life and especially for our lives and witness in this church, Bethlehem United Church of Christ. Look with favor and guide the members of the Search Committee to discern by the power of the Holy Spirit your will for this place. Guide our search for a new pastor who will be our shepherd, teacher, and friend in proclaiming of the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ through Word and Sacraments. Open our hearts to this process that we may always remember that Your will be done in all things. All this we ask through the same Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit now and forever, Amen.