[Fuusm-l] Our New Minister

[Joyce]

 Will we still continue to look for a full time minister?Thanks Joyce
    On Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 09:42:51 AM EST, Darryl Ting via Fuusm-l <fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:  
 
 
FUUSM Family,

 

Happy 2026!  I am pleased to announce that Rev. Evan Youngwill be our minister for the next year, on a half-time basis beginning January1.  We are excited to begin his ministrywith us.  Please join me in extending awarm welcome to Evan.

 

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

 

Our highest priority area isworship services.  Evan will beresponsible for preparing and leading 26 services per year.  This is a high service load (about threefourths of a full-time minister’s load). We (and Evan) estimate this will take up roughly half of his availabletime.

 

Our second highest priorityarea is pastoral care.  While the CaringCommittee continues their current scope of activities, Evan will be supportingtheir efforts with visitations and with counseling for those times when we needhelp and support.  We estimate this willaverage roughly a quarter of his available time.  But we expect it will vary quite a bit withthe circumstances.  

 

The remainder of Evan’s timewill be used for our lower priority areas as time permits.  Those areas initially include congregationaldevelopment (in areas assigned by the Board) and community outreach.  Time availability is expected to varydepending on the congregation’s pastoral care needs.  Evan has no responsibilities for staffadministration.

 

There is also the limitation ofdistance, and it will affect Evan’s availability for face-to-faceinteraction.  Evan lives in Glouster,Ohio, about an hour’s drive from Marietta. To maintain appropriate boundaries between his ministerial work and hisfamily 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 byappointment.

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

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

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

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

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

 

Here are some the adjustmentsthat we can all make to respect the limits and boundaries of part-timeministry.  

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

      Dawn is the most informed about what isgoing on in the congregation.  If shedoesn’t know,    

      she’ll have a good idea of how to findout. 

   * Planahead and schedule appointments so that your interactions with Evan can occurwithin 

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

   * Usethe phone/zoom office hours option when face-to-face interactions are notneeded.  

      That will increase the flexibility ofEvan’s Marietta time. 

 

2026 will be a significantyear for FUUSM.  We are embarking on ourfirst part-time ministry.  We have a goodstarting point, and I am confident of FUUSM’s ability to learn and adapt alongthe way.

 

Vic Elam          

President, Board of Trustees
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