For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Transition Timeline
November 14, 2021 Congregational meeting will be held at 10 AM in person and on zoom where a vote will be held on the call of Rev. Anna Kreisle as Senior Pastor.
October 31, 2021 The members of the Pastoral Search Committee would like to thank you all for the trust you have placed in us and let you know we have now concluded our process and are pleased to present to you our final candidate for Senior Pastor. The last year and a half has afforded us all the opportunity to witness the ministerial leadership, artistry, and pastoral care of Rev. Anna. Through this experience along with Holy Conversations with the congregation, study and amendment of our church profile, and a series of in-depth interviews with UCC staff, Rev. Anna, and others outside our church, we reached our decision. The vote was unanimous. So, with the affirmation of UCC’s Executive Council, it is with great joy and supreme confidence in her ability that we present Reverend Anna Kreisle as our final candidate for Senior Pastor of United Christian Church of Austin. A vote on her call as Senior Pastor will be held as part of our congregational meeting on Sunday, November 14. An email will also go out today to the whole church family announcing Reverend Anna as our candidate for Senior Pastor..
August 22, 2021 The Search Committee is pleased to announce that we are ready to accept applications for our Sr. Minister position from internal candidates only. Per our discussions with both DOC and UCC conference ministers, internal candidates must be vetted before external candidates are to be considered. An internal candidate is defined as a staff member and/or congregant who is in good standing with an affiliated denomination and has a Masters in Divinity from an accredited university. Profiles should be sent to the search committee at [email protected]. The opportunity to apply will close at midnight on September 5, 2021 with interviews to begin the week of September 13th.
June 27, 2021 Congregational Meeting was held via Zoom where the consultant's proposal was proposed along with the Holy Conversation on Vision summary as well as the plans for coming together in-person. All were approved unanimously. The Search Committee is now able to officially go into active search. Their first step is to complete the congregational profile with the new information on the staffing structure.
May, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble presented to Church Council and the Search Committee in 3, 2-hour meetings, her assessment and recommendations for our congregation.
April, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble began her extensive interviews of church leaders, staff, and congregation members.
March, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble, a church consultant, was hired by the executive committee of the church council to assess our church staffing structure and to advise us of our next best steps. Rev. Nikki Stahl, Executive Minister, resigns. Rev. Anna Humble continues as Acting Interim Minister.
January, 2021 Holy Conversation #3 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of January where we discussed our identity in conversations, activities, and polls. A report on our identity has been created but is on hold to include with a report from a church consultant at our spring meeting.
December, 2020 Holy Conversation #2 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of December where we discussed our identity in conversations, activities and polls. A report on our history was published here: https://conta.cc/3omVjzH
November, 2020 Holy Conversation #1 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of November where we discussed our history in conversations, activities and polls. A report on our history was published here: https://conta.cc/3rdKzGl
October 7, 2020 Practice Holy Conversation on Hymns published by Search/Interim Committee: https://conta.cc/2GLrxEs
October 2020 Holy Conversations on History completed. Search/Interim team continuing during this phase include Cherie Hinch, Bryan Thornhill, Miguel Flores, Clark Thompson and Chase Larson.
August 1, 2020 In coordination with a sermon series on hymns, our first Holy Conversation on Hymns is published paired in our strategic planning process as a fun entry into group discernment and to begin discerning our theological grounding as a congregation.
July 22, 2020 Council supports Pastoral Search Committee's recommendation that we suspend profile preparation and search as we continue to engage in the Interim Tasks. This process will probably take about a year. Leadership assessment from various polls and intensive pastoral care that we are currently at Step 2.
April 29, 2020 What Next? Pastoral Letter (includes Road Map of Interim Tasks)
April 21, 2020 Pastoral Letter from Rev. Nikki Stahl and Rev. Anna Humble
The one-year contract with our Interim Minister, Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes expires at the end of the month. Rev.s Stahl and Humble on staff begin bridging.
March 10, 2020 Letter from Andrea Larson, Council Chair
February 1, 2020 Newsletter Update
First, the Senior Pastor Search Committee appreciates your thoughts and prayers for the thoughtful progress on the selection process for our next pastor. Your written and spoken prayers, words of encouragement, and enthusiasm around this process have been helpful and life giving.
Secondly, we have had some wonderful feedback to our December survey, follow-up Pastoral Questions, and the eight Discussion Group. We had around 85 responses and the discussion groups are giving us both a great feel about what we are and our priorities as a congregation. With the completion of our survey and discussion groups, we are beginning to turn our focus to the church profile, which will reflect our priorities, church makeup, and core values.
Finally, thanks to the leadership of Bryan Thornhill, the work to remove the trailer is underway and will lead to a more appropriate storage space. Tim Collins is preparing an outdoor work day for us all to do winter cleanup and if you can participate, we can start to prepare for some of the changes that are in the works.
Thank you for your continued patience and support and we will provide an update soon to what we have learned and what will emphasize in the profile.
December 13, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee January Meetings Invitation
During the month of January, the Search Committee would like to invite the congregation to participate in conversations to talk about the past, the present, and the future of our church. Your input will guide the Committee as we build our church profile that will be shared with potential candidates for our new Senior Pastor. There will be two one-hour conversation times scheduled each Sunday, one during the 10 a.m. Faith Formation hour and one after the 11:00 a.m. worship service. All meetings will be in the Fellowship Hall. Sign-ups are available for these times on January 5, 12, 19, and 26.
We would like to offer the following questions as "conversation starters." While we know not all these questions can be discussed in an hour long session, we are asking that you think about them all and see which ones feel most important to you. Our time together in January will give us the opportunity to hear what you are thinking.
We would also invite you to answer any or all of these questions in writing and share them with us in that way. You can email us at [email protected] or drop a physical copy off in the box located in the Fellowship Hall.
We are looking forward to hearing from you and hope you will join us for time together in January.
Also, if you haven't yet participated in our online survey, you can until the end of December. Just click here.
The Senior Pastor Search Committee
November 26, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee Survey
Link to survey was sent out to the congregation via Constant Contact and through the In-House FB Page. Information about survey will be included in December Newsletter and Worship Bulletins in the month of December. Hard copies will be made available for those who prefer not to use the internet. If you would like to complete online, you may access the survey here.
November 3, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee Announced
At the November 3rd Congregational meeting the following members of the Sr. Pastor Search Committee were announced: Mike Crane (chair), Bryan Thornhill, Miguel Flores, Cherie Hinch, Chase Larson (youth rep), Lydia Verosky, Kate Ricter, Letty Tomlinson, and Clark Thompson.
April 2019
Rev. Dr Laura Barnes begins a one-year term as Interim Minister.
November 2018
Settled minister Rev. John Gage accepts a call to a new congregation in Massachusetts. Rev. Nikki Stahl and Rev. Anna Humble on staff begin bridging until an Interim Minister con be found.
October 31, 2021 The members of the Pastoral Search Committee would like to thank you all for the trust you have placed in us and let you know we have now concluded our process and are pleased to present to you our final candidate for Senior Pastor. The last year and a half has afforded us all the opportunity to witness the ministerial leadership, artistry, and pastoral care of Rev. Anna. Through this experience along with Holy Conversations with the congregation, study and amendment of our church profile, and a series of in-depth interviews with UCC staff, Rev. Anna, and others outside our church, we reached our decision. The vote was unanimous. So, with the affirmation of UCC’s Executive Council, it is with great joy and supreme confidence in her ability that we present Reverend Anna Kreisle as our final candidate for Senior Pastor of United Christian Church of Austin. A vote on her call as Senior Pastor will be held as part of our congregational meeting on Sunday, November 14. An email will also go out today to the whole church family announcing Reverend Anna as our candidate for Senior Pastor..
August 22, 2021 The Search Committee is pleased to announce that we are ready to accept applications for our Sr. Minister position from internal candidates only. Per our discussions with both DOC and UCC conference ministers, internal candidates must be vetted before external candidates are to be considered. An internal candidate is defined as a staff member and/or congregant who is in good standing with an affiliated denomination and has a Masters in Divinity from an accredited university. Profiles should be sent to the search committee at [email protected]. The opportunity to apply will close at midnight on September 5, 2021 with interviews to begin the week of September 13th.
June 27, 2021 Congregational Meeting was held via Zoom where the consultant's proposal was proposed along with the Holy Conversation on Vision summary as well as the plans for coming together in-person. All were approved unanimously. The Search Committee is now able to officially go into active search. Their first step is to complete the congregational profile with the new information on the staffing structure.
May, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble presented to Church Council and the Search Committee in 3, 2-hour meetings, her assessment and recommendations for our congregation.
April, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble began her extensive interviews of church leaders, staff, and congregation members.
March, 2021 Rev. Diane Wieble, a church consultant, was hired by the executive committee of the church council to assess our church staffing structure and to advise us of our next best steps. Rev. Nikki Stahl, Executive Minister, resigns. Rev. Anna Humble continues as Acting Interim Minister.
January, 2021 Holy Conversation #3 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of January where we discussed our identity in conversations, activities, and polls. A report on our identity has been created but is on hold to include with a report from a church consultant at our spring meeting.
December, 2020 Holy Conversation #2 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of December where we discussed our identity in conversations, activities and polls. A report on our history was published here: https://conta.cc/3omVjzH
November, 2020 Holy Conversation #1 consisting of three questions ran throughout the month of November where we discussed our history in conversations, activities and polls. A report on our history was published here: https://conta.cc/3rdKzGl
October 7, 2020 Practice Holy Conversation on Hymns published by Search/Interim Committee: https://conta.cc/2GLrxEs
October 2020 Holy Conversations on History completed. Search/Interim team continuing during this phase include Cherie Hinch, Bryan Thornhill, Miguel Flores, Clark Thompson and Chase Larson.
August 1, 2020 In coordination with a sermon series on hymns, our first Holy Conversation on Hymns is published paired in our strategic planning process as a fun entry into group discernment and to begin discerning our theological grounding as a congregation.
July 22, 2020 Council supports Pastoral Search Committee's recommendation that we suspend profile preparation and search as we continue to engage in the Interim Tasks. This process will probably take about a year. Leadership assessment from various polls and intensive pastoral care that we are currently at Step 2.
April 29, 2020 What Next? Pastoral Letter (includes Road Map of Interim Tasks)
April 21, 2020 Pastoral Letter from Rev. Nikki Stahl and Rev. Anna Humble
The one-year contract with our Interim Minister, Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes expires at the end of the month. Rev.s Stahl and Humble on staff begin bridging.
March 10, 2020 Letter from Andrea Larson, Council Chair
February 1, 2020 Newsletter Update
First, the Senior Pastor Search Committee appreciates your thoughts and prayers for the thoughtful progress on the selection process for our next pastor. Your written and spoken prayers, words of encouragement, and enthusiasm around this process have been helpful and life giving.
Secondly, we have had some wonderful feedback to our December survey, follow-up Pastoral Questions, and the eight Discussion Group. We had around 85 responses and the discussion groups are giving us both a great feel about what we are and our priorities as a congregation. With the completion of our survey and discussion groups, we are beginning to turn our focus to the church profile, which will reflect our priorities, church makeup, and core values.
Finally, thanks to the leadership of Bryan Thornhill, the work to remove the trailer is underway and will lead to a more appropriate storage space. Tim Collins is preparing an outdoor work day for us all to do winter cleanup and if you can participate, we can start to prepare for some of the changes that are in the works.
Thank you for your continued patience and support and we will provide an update soon to what we have learned and what will emphasize in the profile.
December 13, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee January Meetings Invitation
During the month of January, the Search Committee would like to invite the congregation to participate in conversations to talk about the past, the present, and the future of our church. Your input will guide the Committee as we build our church profile that will be shared with potential candidates for our new Senior Pastor. There will be two one-hour conversation times scheduled each Sunday, one during the 10 a.m. Faith Formation hour and one after the 11:00 a.m. worship service. All meetings will be in the Fellowship Hall. Sign-ups are available for these times on January 5, 12, 19, and 26.
We would like to offer the following questions as "conversation starters." While we know not all these questions can be discussed in an hour long session, we are asking that you think about them all and see which ones feel most important to you. Our time together in January will give us the opportunity to hear what you are thinking.
- What does being a progressive church mean to you? Do we want to be more than a progressive church? What would that mean?
- Our website currently says we are a “new fangled, old fashioned church”. What does that mean to you?
- What does it mean to you that UCC is a congregational church? What are our responsibilities as members of a congregational church?
- What are our current biggest challenges? How do you think they should be addressed?
- What were the strengths and challenges with our former pastors? What have we learned from these experiences and relationships?
- What lessons have we learned from our other pastoral transitions and how do we prepare for a successful transition this time?
- What activities/programs from the past do you miss? Which ones would you bring back? What new ones do we need to add?
We would also invite you to answer any or all of these questions in writing and share them with us in that way. You can email us at [email protected] or drop a physical copy off in the box located in the Fellowship Hall.
We are looking forward to hearing from you and hope you will join us for time together in January.
Also, if you haven't yet participated in our online survey, you can until the end of December. Just click here.
The Senior Pastor Search Committee
November 26, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee Survey
Link to survey was sent out to the congregation via Constant Contact and through the In-House FB Page. Information about survey will be included in December Newsletter and Worship Bulletins in the month of December. Hard copies will be made available for those who prefer not to use the internet. If you would like to complete online, you may access the survey here.
November 3, 2019 Sr Pastor Search Committee Announced
At the November 3rd Congregational meeting the following members of the Sr. Pastor Search Committee were announced: Mike Crane (chair), Bryan Thornhill, Miguel Flores, Cherie Hinch, Chase Larson (youth rep), Lydia Verosky, Kate Ricter, Letty Tomlinson, and Clark Thompson.
April 2019
Rev. Dr Laura Barnes begins a one-year term as Interim Minister.
November 2018
Settled minister Rev. John Gage accepts a call to a new congregation in Massachusetts. Rev. Nikki Stahl and Rev. Anna Humble on staff begin bridging until an Interim Minister con be found.
