This morning my congregation took on vote on whether to call the candidate for minister that our Search Committee recommended. Our board president just sent an e-mail out saying that the candidate has accepted our call!
YAY!!
I wanted to jump for joy and do a happy dance. I didn’t really expect to be so happy about it, but this morning they told us that she could take 24 hours to decide whether to accept our call or not. I had forgotten that not only do we have to decide if we want her as minister, but she has to decide if she wants us as a congregation. So I left church this morning worried that she’d say no, and then we’d have to start all over again. That, and I couldn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t be a good minister to us. I didn’t get to know her very well during candidating week, and I was unable to engage in lengthy conversations with her. However, what I did see I liked. I was impressed by her sermons – she’s thoughtful and inclusive, and that’s important to me.
Right now I am feeling happy and relieved. My church had a rough a time and we’ve been healing, but after going through a failed ministry and recovering it feels as though the wind was taken our of our sails. I’m looking forward to next year when we get to know her better, and perhaps things can begin to settle in our congregation as we find our way again.
On the flip side, I will miss our current interim. I suppose it’s natural, but I also wonder if the sadness I feel over him leaving is some sort of residual adoptee separation anxiety. It’s hard to tell sometimes.
