[Fuusm-l] Our New Minister

[Darryl Ting]

FUUSM Family,



Happy 2026!  I am pleased to announce that Rev. Evan Young will be our
minister for the next year, on a half-time basis beginning January 1.  We
are excited to begin his ministry with us.  Please join me in extending a
warm welcome to Evan.



This is the first time that FUUSM has had a part-time minister, and we’ll
all be learning how to adjust to the boundaries and limitations of a
part-time ministry.  Let’s begin with a common understanding of what the
Board expects of Evan and how that fits into his available time.



Our highest priority area is worship services.  Evan will be responsible
for preparing and leading 26 services per year.  This is a high service
load (about three fourths of a full-time minister’s load).  We (and Evan)
estimate this will take up roughly half of his available time.



Our second highest priority area is pastoral care.  While the Caring
Committee continues their current scope of activities, Evan will be
supporting their efforts with visitations and with counseling for those
times when we need help and support.  We estimate this will average roughly
a quarter of his available time.  But we expect it will vary quite a bit
with the circumstances.



The remainder of Evan’s time will be used for our lower priority areas as
time permits.  Those areas initially include congregational development (in
areas assigned by the Board) and community outreach.  Time availability is
expected to vary depending on the congregation’s pastoral care needs.  Evan
has no responsibilities for staff administration.



There is also the limitation of distance, and it will affect Evan’s
availability for face-to-face interaction.  Evan lives in Glouster, Ohio,
about an hour’s drive from Marietta.  To maintain appropriate boundaries
between his ministerial work and his family and personal life, Evan will
keep the following weekly schedule.

   Monday       home       noon - 3:30pm           office hours by
phone/zoom.

   Tuesday       Marietta   10am - 3:00pm         office hours by
appointment.

   Wednesday  Marietta   10am - 3:00pm         office hours by
appointment.

   Thursday      home       noon - 3:30pm           office hours by
phone/zoom.

   Friday           home       10am - 3:30pm          interruption-free
time for sermon/worship prep

   On those Sundays when he is leading worship, Evan plans to attend the
coffee hour.

We will be making arrangements for backup pastoral care for situations
where Evan is not available.



Here are some the adjustments that we can all make to respect the limits
and boundaries of part-time ministry.

   * Continue to use our office assistant as an initial contact point and
information resource.

      Dawn is the most informed about what is going on in the
congregation.  If she doesn’t know,

      she’ll have a good idea of how to find out.

   * Plan ahead and schedule appointments so that your interactions with
Evan can occur within

      his office hours if possible.  That will make the most effective use
of his time.

   * Use the phone/zoom office hours option when face-to-face interactions
are not needed.

      That will increase the flexibility of Evan’s Marietta time.



2026 will be a significant year for FUUSM.  We are embarking on our first
part-time ministry.  We have a good starting point, and I am confident of
FUUSM’s ability to learn and adapt along the way.



Vic Elam

President, Board of Trustees
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