On May 1, Reverend Dowdy had an exit interview with Council facilitated by Reverend Longfield, Presbytery Executive and Reverend Mike Denton, UCC Conference Minister.  The exit interview has insights for us as a church, which we will consider as we move through the transition period and engage in holy conversations. 

Questions asked during the exit interview are italicized.  Revered Dowdy’s responses are paraphrased below the question.  Not all are included.

Describe what you see as the changes in the congregation and its mission and ministry over the course of your time with us.

·         Emergence of lay leadership.

·         Decrease in size of the congregation.  The mission of the congregation is still strong and viable. 

·         Dealing with Open and Affirming. 

·         The Family Worship Experience.

In the context of the current, external religious environment, what do you see as the primary challenges to the life and ministry of a mainline church like our own as we proceed into the future?

·         Ministry to the aging while welcoming newer, younger families.

·         Respect and support for the two denominations.

·         Finances, in the context of demographic change and greater economic pressure on young families.

·         Tension between orthodoxy and progressive theology in the life of this church.

·         Taking risks and working through differences of opinion.

What particular strengths and gifts should we be looking for in your successor?

·         Boundaries around work and rest.

·         Appreciation of the variety of music and worship styles.

·         Ability to nurture and encourage staff.

What have been the satisfactions and disappointments you have experienced in your relationships with us?  

·         Tension caused by differing expectations of the pastoral role. 

·         Limited acceptance of new ideas for program or worship or outreach. 

·         Working with Stephen Ministry and Caring Friends.

·         Still unresolved expectations of the relationships between ministries and staff.

Are there ways in which we might have been more supportive of you and your ministry and which you would urge us to consider for our relationship with your successor?

·         Clarify expectations of the role of the Council, the ministries, and the pastor.

·         Personnel could have been more supportive, especially at the beginning.

What, in retrospect, do you wish you might have done differently in your ministry with us?

·         Be less impulsive, more aware of listening to the other side.

What things do you like to think of as your legacy to us from our ministry together?

·         The involvement of Stephen Ministry and Caring Friends.

·         Nurturing seven or eight people into ministry.

·         Nurturing staff and allowing each of them to thrive and succeed.

·         Being known as a loving person.

·         Being involved with the interfaith and secular community.

·         Being open, vulnerable, and sharing of myself.

What “out of the box” thinking would you prescribe for us?

·         Be willing to modify worship space, if needed.

·         Eliminate the Sunday School for kids and do Family Worship Experience each week throughout the year.  Have Sunday School be a time of worship.

·         Have kids in youth choir.  Dump regular choir two of the four weeks in the month.

·         Do something with the Sunday School space.