Why interim ministry?

Interim ministry is all about helping congregations navigate the time between settled ministers. It is however important to recognize that what happens during the interim ministry can also mean the difference between a smooth transition and a time of anxiety. One of Reverend Julie-Ann's greatest gifts in ministry is to help reduce anxiety through knowledge, personal experience and pastoral presence.

Interim ministers can help congregants deal with the departure of the previous minister, and prepare to welcome a new minister. They can help make critical changes that will allow a new minister to succeed, simply because the congregation has had a break and is no longer comparing the incoming minister to the departing minister. More importantly an interim minister can help a congregation recognize its successes and chart a course for the future so that they are ready and able to partner with the incoming minister.

Why Rev. Julie-Ann?

A life long Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Julie-Ann has experienced congregations of all sizes and theologies, and has found something wonderful about them all. No matter where she has traveled on her spiritual journey there has been a place for her in Unitarian Universalism.

Following five years as the ministerial settlement representative for the Clara Barton District, in which she helped numerous congregations negotiate the search process, Rev. Julie-Ann has decided the time has come to get more directly involved in helping congregations negotiate transition by serving as an interim minister. The transition process for individual congregations is always somewhat unsettling. Reverend Julie-Ann  wants to make this transition time as smooth and comfortable as possible. Rev Julie-Ann knows that an enormous part of the interim minister's job, and the interim work of the congregation is examining where the congregation has been, where they are in the moment and where they might want to go in the future. As an interim, Reverend Julie-Ann is excited about helping individuals, congregational leaders and the congregation as a whole make that psychological and emotional shift, so that when the new settled minister arrives you are ready to partner with them on a journey into a shared future.  Reverend Julie-Ann's greatest gift is to help individuals understand that as difficult as transition may be, the outcomes can be every bit as rewarding.