The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton has a legacy approaching 200 years. The first woman minister ordained in the USA, Universalist Rev. Olympia Brown, preached from our pulpit while a student at the St. Lawrence Theological School. We are excited to welcome the next generation of ministerial leadership who will work with us as we approach our bicentennial.
The Unitarian-Universalist Church of Canton is seeking a minister (or co-ministers) who can work in a shared ministry environment with a congregation of talented people to sustain and engage a community of seekers and reach out to those who do not yet realize they possess UU values. The minister will do this work by being a visionary – a spiritual and intellectual leader who can inspire people to become involved in the life of the church and act on their convictions. The minister will be engaged in church activities and will evidence this engagement by overseeing pastoral care and personal counseling and participating in a reasonable number of committee meetings and church functions.
The minister, through the media of the Sunday morning Worship Service, and through an active presence in the larger community, is the public face of the Canton Church. Therefore, it is important that the new minister is an excellent speaker and preacher, has character, integrity, compassion, professional competence, and a good sense of humor.
The minister’s responsibilities will also include such things as church administration, supervising staff, guiding committee work, working with the larger UU community, and facilitating adult religious education. The minister must be cognizant of the church’s financial health. The minister consults and works with Church Council in doing the work of the church.
Religious Tone
The congregants of the Canton Church represent a diverse mix of religious traditions. Some church-goers prefer an intellectually-stimulating sermon, while others seek a more spiritual experience. We have learned from Cottage Meetings and the Congregational Survey that sermons that demonstrate the relationship between the topic, UU principles and values, and our individual and collective lives are what our members and friends seek.
