[Fuusm-l] Our New Minister

[Rebecca Phillips]

SO glad to hear that Evan will be back! I may have to play hooky from the Toledo service on occasion to hear him preach.

Rebecca

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."-- Cicero
________________________________
From: Fuusm-l <fuusm-l-bounces at fuusm.org> on behalf of Joyce via Fuusm-l <fuusm-l at fuusm.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2026 10:40 AM
To: Darryl Ting via Fuusm-l <fuusm-l at fuusm.org>
Cc: Joyce <joyceoando at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Fuusm-l] Our New Minister

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 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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