by Kitty Merrill | May 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
Rev. Dana Worsnop accepts the UUCV congregation’s call to become their minister.
Sunday, May 1, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura voted overwhelmingly to call the Rev. Dana Worsnop as their new settled minister. The 96.4 % favorable vote was the culmination of Candidating Week, during which Rev. Worsnop led services on April 24 and May 1, and met with numerous groups and committees, in order to begin to get to know members of the congregation.
The congregation celebrates the call.
The vote was taken during a special congregational meeting, and tallied immediately after. Following announcement of the 166 to 5 vote, the Rev. Dana Worsnop came to the dais and accepted the call.
Rev. Worsnop expressed her hopes for this shared ministry with UUCV. “Together, we will grow and build this new connection into a tapestry with shining thread, creating the bonds of community with intricate pattern.”
Board Secretary Joe Hutchins announces the results.
Search committee member David Henkel found Rev. Worsnop’s views on collaboration important for the church. “As we were getting to know Rev. Dana early in the process, I was heartened to learn that it has been her practice to collaborate closely with all the paid staff in creating a unified ministry. As she explained, the entire community joins in crafting a ministry that becomes our common identity and each person has a role to play that adds to the sacred whole.”
Rev. Worsnop brings a wealth of experience with her. She has been a parish minister for 13 years, 10 as the settled minister at Atkinson Memorial Church in Oregon City, Oregon and 3 years as an interim minister in Calgary, Alberta and Boise, Idaho.
Rev. Worsnop will begin her ministry with UUCV on August 1st, 2016.
UUCV Board Members tally the vote.
The Reverend Worsnop was chosen by the Ventura church following a nine-month search conducted by a seven-member settled ministerial search committee. In-depth research into the needs and desires of the members of the congregation began the process through surveys and focus groups. By the end of December, over a dozen candidates put their names forward to UUCV. After much scrutiny, three finalists were invited to come to Ventura for a pre-candidating weekend, during which the applicants and committee held deep conversations to determine their compatibility. Rev. Worsnop was notified that she was the committee’s chosen candidate on April 7.
Search committee member Gretchen Buck explained one factor in the decision, “Respect for diversity is critical for a Unitarian Universalist minister, but diversity has many facets. With Rev. Dana, I didn’t even have to ask the burning question ‘Are you a cat person or a dog person?’ because her website told us that she has one of each. I think that’s when I knew she would fit right in with our congregation.”
Rev. Dana hugs Search Committee Member Gretchen Buck after the meeting.
Photos by Neal Ortenberg.
by Kitty Merrill | May 1, 2016 | About Us, News (home)
Rev. Dana Worsnop accepts the UUCV congregation’s call to become their minister.
Sunday, May 1, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura voted overwhelmingly to call the Rev. Dana Worsnop as their new settled minister. The 96.4 % favorable vote was the culmination of Candidating Week, during which Rev. Worsnop led services on April 24 and May 1, and met with numerous groups and committees, in order to begin to get to know members of the congregation.
The congregation celebrates the call.
The vote was taken during a special congregational meeting, and tallied immediately after. Following announcement of the 166 to 5 vote, the Rev. Dana Worsnop came to the dais and accepted the call.
Rev. Worsnop expressed her hopes for this shared ministry with UUCV. “Together, we will grow and build this new connection into a tapestry with shining thread, creating the bonds of community with intricate pattern.”
Board Secretary Joe Hutchins announces the results.
Search committee member David Henkel found Rev. Worsnop’s views on collaboration important for the church. “As we were getting to know Rev. Dana early in the process, I was heartened to learn that it has been her practice to collaborate closely with all the paid staff in creating a unified ministry. As she explained, the entire community joins in crafting a ministry that becomes our common identity and each person has a role to play that adds to the sacred whole.”
Rev. Worsnop brings a wealth of experience with her. She has been a parish minister for 13 years, 10 as the settled minister at Atkinson Memorial Church in Oregon City, Oregon and 3 years as an interim minister in Calgary, Alberta and Boise, Idaho.
Rev. Worsnop will begin her ministry with UUCV on August 1st, 2016.
UUCV Board Members tally the vote.
The Reverend Worsnop was chosen by the Ventura church following a nine-month search conducted by a seven-member settled ministerial search committee. In-depth research into the needs and desires of the members of the congregation began the process through surveys and focus groups. By the end of December, over a dozen candidates put their names forward to UUCV. After much scrutiny, three finalists were invited to come to Ventura for a pre-candidating weekend, during which the applicants and committee held deep conversations to determine their compatibility. Rev. Worsnop was notified that she was the committee’s chosen candidate on April 7.
Search committee member Gretchen Buck explained one factor in the decision, “Respect for diversity is critical for a Unitarian Universalist minister, but diversity has many facets. With Rev. Dana, I didn’t even have to ask the burning question ‘Are you a cat person or a dog person?’ because her website told us that she has one of each. I think that’s when I knew she would fit right in with our congregation.”
Rev. Dana hugs Search Committee Member Gretchen Buck after the meeting.
Photos by Neal Ortenberg.
by Kitty Merrill | Feb 12, 2016 | Adult Programs
About four times a year, UUCV invites members and friends to share their talents on a Saturday evening– whether as musicians, singers or spoken word artists — a chance to perform in front of a supportive and non-critical audience while providing a nice evening of entertainment and fellowship for members, friends and family.[spacer height=”20px”]
Contact: Kent Brinkmeyer, 818-281-6245
For me, these nights have helped me to develop enough confidence to go on to perform at a Sunday church service, something that had been a goal of mine for quite some time. For all of us, it provides an evening of music of many varieties and lots of fun and fellowship. — Kent Brinkmeyer
by Kitty Merrill | Feb 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
Settled Ministerial Search Committee Report – February
The SMSC received names of 12+ applicants at the beginning of the year. We carefully read about the personal and professional experiences that led them to the ministry, examined their education, viewed and listened to them leading services and delivering sermons, read about their work experience and about their hobbies and passions.
We selected seven with whom we had 30-40 minute conversations that further elicited what their ministries with us might be like. We discussed how they would respond to congregation issues and concerns, how they might help us to build on past accomplishments, and how they might inspire and guide us to achieve our goals for the future. When you read this we will have chosen three or four ministers to pre-candidate with us:
They will come to Ventura for a weekend, see what the church and surrounding community is like, participate in a detailed interview session, and conduct a Sunday worship service, attended by the search committee, somewhere in Southern California.
Then the hardest part: selecting just one of these talented ministers to do a candidating week in Ventura. The minister will be with us for two Sunday services and participate in meetings and activities with the committee, board, lay leaders, and entire congregation. This culminates in a congregational meeting with the sole agenda of voting whether to call the selected minister.
The whole process is an awesome responsibility, and the committee is taking that responsibility very seriously. We are having deep sharing about what qualities in a minister would be the best match for our congregation and give us the best chance of going forward with joy and confidence.
by Kitty Merrill | Jan 12, 2016 | Adult Programs
Every Friday, watch a superb but little-known movie with a fun group while you enjoy popcorn and snacks.
Meet Friday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Green Room (Enter at rear of church through Berg Hall)
Current movie schedules are available in the church newsletter, On Common Ground. All are welcome.
For more information, contact: Julie Moore, 653-6296
