Pastoral Search Committee

With the Church Profile completed in May 2008, the Committee was then ready to begin advertising for the position of pastor for our church. The primary advertising medium was through the VT Conference-UCC [VTC-UCC]. We also placed ads in selected denominational newsletters/magazines and sent copies of the announcement to several divinity schools. In early July, Rev. Pam Lucas, VTC-UCC, met with the Committee to help us effectively read and evaluate the applicants’ Ministerial Profiles. She brought with her the first set [9] of applicant profiles.

Including the first set of 9 profiles, and over the course of the rest of the year and through March 2009, we received a total of 29 Ministerial Profiles. There were 15 female applicants and 14 male applicants. Surprisingly, there was only one Vermont applicant. There were 10 other New England applicants and 5 additional Northeast applicants. Rounding out the applicant pool: Midwest – 7; South – 3; and West – 3. Each Ministerial Profile was very thoughtfully and carefully read and evaluated by each member of the Committee. The profiles were then reviewed and discussed by the full Committee, and a decision made whether or not to consider each applicant further. This process, over a period of 10 months, led the Committee to select 6 applicants with whom we would conduct telephone interviews. From these, we identified 3 candidates we wished to observe further in a neutral pulpit.

You now are all aware of the final outcome of this effort. On April 6, 2009, the Search Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Church Council extend a Call to Rev. Sandy Daly. Monday, April 13, 2009, the Council unanimously voted to affirm the recommendation. Following Rev. Daly’s acceptance of the Call, the Moderator, Treasurer, and Search Committee Chair met with her to work out the details of the Call Agreement. Saturday, May 30, 2009, Rev. Sandy Daly, with her husband, Rev. Roger Daly, joined church members and friends for a potluck get-acquainted supper. The following Sunday, May 31, 2009, Rev. Sandy Daly conducted the worship service, and directly following the service, the church members present unanimously voted to accept Rev. Daly as our new settled pastor. She officially begins her pastoral duties on Sunday, June 14, 2009.

The Pastoral Search Committee is especially grateful to members and friends of the Newfane Congregational Church for their prayers, patience, and support during this process. We are also deeply appreciative of all applicants’ interest in our church and wish them success in their respective searches.