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Update from the Associate Minister Search Team

After 22 months without an Associate Pastor, we want to share with you the good news that David Beck, who chairs the Associate Minister Search Team, shared with our congregation on Sunday, April 27, 2025. 

Thank You

Before sharing the details of our process, I’d like to express gratitude to Barb Clayton, Lonnie DeMarco, Martha Palmer, Diane Bailey, Steve Case, and Kirk Carr for their tireless efforts and support over the past seven months. Their diverse skills, unique perspectives, and decades of devoted service to our church were invaluable.

Our Process

Our goal was to remain open to God’s plan for our church, allowing His word to guide us in selecting our new Associate Minister of Children, Youth, and Family. Here’s an overview of our process:

  1. Job Description and Profile: We finalized the job description and updated our church’s UCC profile, which was reviewed and approved by Chapin, Dionna Carlson, and Amy Werner.
  2. Job Posting: We posted the Associate Minister role at UCC seminary schools, including Yale Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary, as well as on job boards at the UCC, Methodist, and Presbyterian sites.
  3. Résumé Collection and Vetting: We collected and vetted résumés between January and March, reaching out to church members and friends for advice, including UCC church ministers Kent Saladi, Skip Masback, Allen Hilton, and Eric Dupee. The Search Committee also conducted two in-person and one Zoom session with about thirty church members interested in providing feedback and getting more information on our search.
  4. Interviews: We conducted introductory interviews with four applicants, followed by in-depth individual interviews with the top two candidates.

Recommendation

After careful consideration, we recommend Kelly Antonson for the Associate Minister position due to her:

  • Unmatched experience, passion, and talents for leading our youth programming
  • Deep commitment to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  • Trusted colleague with our church leadership
  • Ability to step in and sustain our youth and children’s programs during unexpected leadership transitions
  • Demonstrated leadership in all aspects of our Sunday services, including preaching, communion, and prayers for the congregation

Conclusion

Congratulations to Kelly, and thank you, Chapin, for the opportunity to serve and for the trust placed in our committee.