News: October 11, 2024
Dear Members and Friends,
I’ve mentioned several times about my growing up in the Methodist Church in Kentucky. This meant that we would, every several years, be assigned a new minister. That man (it was always a man) would move from somewhere else in Kentucky where his last church was, and bundle his long-suffering wife and kids to a new town. I always felt sorry for the kids, who seemed to know any friendships formed wouldn’t be long lasting.
The Methodist bishops would have determined, somehow, that certain churches needed the talents of someone new, and shuffle ministers. Congregations were reliant upon the bishops’ ability to determine who would best serve which church. I went to seminary with Methodists who didn’t want to be ordained because of the strain moving often would have on their family. One man who became ordained because he wanted to become a chaplain was assigned a church, “for just a while, until someone else is available.” You can imagine how that went.
I understand the Catholic church is similar, with Bishops moving and placing priests where they best see fit. At least there are no families to uproot.
I’ve sometimes joked that one of the few ways we are similar to most Baptist churches is that they, too, independently call their minister. Like us, they form search committees to help congregations find a minister who will provide spiritual leadership, guidance with wisdom, pastoral care with compassion, and the preaching of uplifting and challenging sermons.
Some pastors, through the sheer force of their personality, grow large congregations – seemingly especially here in Texas. Sometimes, their son inherits the pulpit once the pastor has retired. I went to seminary with some of these sons. They had a church, and were now trying to figure out what they were doing.
The calling of a minister is an exciting time for a church. The UUA website tells us, “Very few things that a congregation does affect it as greatly, or are as important, as the choice of a minister. Wonderful ministerial-congregational matches provide new life and purpose to an institution and help lead both parties well into the future.”
We are currently in such an exciting time. On Sunday, October 20, at 1:00 PM, after the second service, there will be a Congregational Meeting to vote to call a Senior Minister. The Search Committee has put forward a candidate and all members (who have been a member for at least 60 days) may vote, so please plan to be there.
That candidate is the Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with for 5 years. And before the vote, THIS Sunday at 1:00 PM after the second service, the Search Committee is hosting a curated Q&A session with Dr. Bossen. To keep within the prescribed time, the Search Committee will select from questions previously submitted. We hope you plan to be at both events.
On a different topic, the ministers and staff want to warn you about those not a part of the church asking for money. We appreciate your kind and generous nature, but two important things:
We’ve become aware that some individuals from the neighborhood have been asking congregants in Channing Hall for money on Sundays. We welcome many people to our church, and the unsheltered from the neighborhood are no different. We are happy to provide them with a bit of food and conversation, but they have been told our hospitality ends when they begin asking people for money. If you are asked, please let Tawanna or the security guard know immediately, and don’t give them any money.
And please never send money or gift cards to anyone who contacts you via text, social media, or email claiming to be Dr. Bossen or me. The email is always from some look-alike address, and insists they need the money immediately. When in doubt, contact the office before you respond to them at all.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
With much love and appreciation,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
I’ve mentioned several times about my growing up in the Methodist Church in Kentucky. This meant that we would, every several years, be assigned a new minister. That man (it was always a man) would move from somewhere else in Kentucky where his last church was, and bundle his long-suffering wife and kids to a new town. I always felt sorry for the kids, who seemed to know any friendships formed wouldn’t be long lasting.
The Methodist bishops would have determined, somehow, that certain churches needed the talents of someone new, and shuffle ministers. Congregations were reliant upon the bishops’ ability to determine who would best serve which church. I went to seminary with Methodists who didn’t want to be ordained because of the strain moving often would have on their family. One man who became ordained because he wanted to become a chaplain was assigned a church, “for just a while, until someone else is available.” You can imagine how that went.
I understand the Catholic church is similar, with Bishops moving and placing priests where they best see fit. At least there are no families to uproot.
I’ve sometimes joked that one of the few ways we are similar to most Baptist churches is that they, too, independently call their minister. Like us, they form search committees to help congregations find a minister who will provide spiritual leadership, guidance with wisdom, pastoral care with compassion, and the preaching of uplifting and challenging sermons.
Some pastors, through the sheer force of their personality, grow large congregations – seemingly especially here in Texas. Sometimes, their son inherits the pulpit once the pastor has retired. I went to seminary with some of these sons. They had a church, and were now trying to figure out what they were doing.
The calling of a minister is an exciting time for a church. The UUA website tells us, “Very few things that a congregation does affect it as greatly, or are as important, as the choice of a minister. Wonderful ministerial-congregational matches provide new life and purpose to an institution and help lead both parties well into the future.”
We are currently in such an exciting time. On Sunday, October 20, at 1:00 PM, after the second service, there will be a Congregational Meeting to vote to call a Senior Minister. The Search Committee has put forward a candidate and all members (who have been a member for at least 60 days) may vote, so please plan to be there.
That candidate is the Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with for 5 years. And before the vote, THIS Sunday at 1:00 PM after the second service, the Search Committee is hosting a curated Q&A session with Dr. Bossen. To keep within the prescribed time, the Search Committee will select from questions previously submitted. We hope you plan to be at both events.
On a different topic, the ministers and staff want to warn you about those not a part of the church asking for money. We appreciate your kind and generous nature, but two important things:
We’ve become aware that some individuals from the neighborhood have been asking congregants in Channing Hall for money on Sundays. We welcome many people to our church, and the unsheltered from the neighborhood are no different. We are happy to provide them with a bit of food and conversation, but they have been told our hospitality ends when they begin asking people for money. If you are asked, please let Tawanna or the security guard know immediately, and don’t give them any money.
And please never send money or gift cards to anyone who contacts you via text, social media, or email claiming to be Dr. Bossen or me. The email is always from some look-alike address, and insists they need the money immediately. When in doubt, contact the office before you respond to them at all.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
With much love and appreciation,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
Where are the Ministers?
Rev. Colin will be leading services on the 13th and 20th of the month. On the 27th he will be leading the 9:30 a.m. Spanish language service and participating in the 11:30 a.m. service. From October 3rd to 5th he was in South Carolina, attending the final rites of His Royal Highness Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, King of Yoruba people of North America.
Rev. Scott will be attending a Faith and Affordable Housing Summit this Saturday, then joining Rev. Colin on the chancel on Sunday. He’ll again be on the chancel on Sunday, October 20th, the day of the Congregational Meeting. He’ll be preaching at the 11:30 All Souls’ Day service on Sunday the 27th, as well as being at the Inquirers’ table to talk about UU History and Values. He then heads back to Dallas for Halloween and the Election.
Rev. Colin will be leading services on the 13th and 20th of the month. On the 27th he will be leading the 9:30 a.m. Spanish language service and participating in the 11:30 a.m. service. From October 3rd to 5th he was in South Carolina, attending the final rites of His Royal Highness Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, King of Yoruba people of North America.
Rev. Scott will be attending a Faith and Affordable Housing Summit this Saturday, then joining Rev. Colin on the chancel on Sunday. He’ll again be on the chancel on Sunday, October 20th, the day of the Congregational Meeting. He’ll be preaching at the 11:30 All Souls’ Day service on Sunday the 27th, as well as being at the Inquirers’ table to talk about UU History and Values. He then heads back to Dallas for Halloween and the Election.
