Now that the UUCC Search Team has selected the candidate for our next Settled Minister, you may have questions about how we got here and your role in the process of calling a minister. The team announced on April 7 that our candidate is Rev. Amanda Weatherspoon, who’s currently Associate Minister at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland. Before Rev. Amanda comes here at the end of the month, the Search Team is taking your questions and comments. We have set up two opportunities for you to meet with the team in the coming days:
- Thursday, April 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m – Zoom Q&A with Search Team (RSVP) bit.ly/SearchTeamQandAviaZoomApril18
- Sunday, April 21, after 10:00 a.m. service – In-person Q&A with Search Team and Board members
Rev. Amanda’s biography, sample sermons, and much more information about her background and ministry are available through a dedicated page on our UUCC website. We hope you get the chance to learn more about her before she comes to Charlotte for eight days, beginning Sunday, April 28.
During that time known as Candidating Week, she will lead services and meet with members, congregational leaders, and staff, leading up to a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 5. At that time, we will ask you to affirm the Search Team’s choice by calling Rev. Amanda to serve us. Under our Bylaws, a 90% affirmative vote is required to issue the call.
Our Board of Trustees is publishing information separately about how you can cast your vote – in person, online during the Congregational Meeting, or absentee. Balloting will be in writing and confidential.
In consultation with the Board and Rev. Amanda, the Search Team has developed a schedule of events for Candidating Week. This is intended to give members multiple opportunities to hear from and interact with her ahead of the vote.
We are asking for signups for some of these events, so we and the UUCC staff can be prepared to set up for in-person meetings and send Zoom links to those interested in a Zoom event. See the schedule below.
Candidating Week Events for Members:
- Sunday, April 28 – Service at 10 a.m. with reception to follow in Freeman Hall.
- Monday, April 29 – Brown Bag lunch at 12:00 p.m. in Freeman Hall, please RSVP bit.ly/BrownBagLunchApril29
- Tuesday, April 30 – Open Forum in Bernstein Room at 7:00 p.m., please RSVP bit.ly/CandidateForum-April30
- Thursday, May 2 – Potluck dinner for families in Freeman Hall from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday , May 2 – Zoom meet and greet, open to all members, at 7:30 p.m., please RSVP bit.ly/CandidateMeetandGreetMay2
- Friday, May 3 – Reception at 6:00 p.m. in Freeman Hall and Music Celebration at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
- Sunday, May 5 – Service at 10:00 a.m. followed by Special Congregational Meeting and vote (members can participate in person, by Zoom or vote by absentee ballot)
If you have questions or comments about our search process or our events schedule, please contact the Search Team via email: ministersearch@uuccharlotte.org.
Your UUCC Minister Search Team,
Barry Ahrendt
Althea Clark
Mic Elvenstar
Ellen Holliday (co-chair)
Rebekah Visco (co-chair)
Dave Warren
Kathryn Whitfield