Nashua UU Church: Teaching Parish Committee
Our
support for the larger UU movement by providing the opportunity for a new UU
minister to gain experience leading services and working with a UU congregation
on a day to day basis is an honor and privilege. By now almost all of you have
met Jackie Clement and have heard her sermons, readings, and her leading of
joys and concerns. It has been a joy working with Jackie and we all look
forward to next year!
What
follows is the body of our report to the UUA and Andover Newton in May 2004.
Jackie
Clement is a wonderful UU minister. She will bring meaning, comfort and
happiness to every UU congregation she leads.
It
is a joy to work with Jackie on the TPC, we observe many golden qualities:
Jackie is centered, comfortable in her
own skin, has a delightful sense of humor, responds well to criticism, is a
good listener and responds thoughtfully and with compassion to all. The view
from the pew is of a warm person who delivers a sermon, or a service for that
matter, that serves the best traditions of our UU movement. Jackie connects
intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.
The
TPC met once a month except for February – snowed out!
In
September 2002, the Steve Edington & the TPC negotiated a five page
Learning Agreement with Jackie. The agreement touched on several areas of
ministry through out the church for Jackie to experience. And, we think,
represented a rather full schedule for Jackie to pursue. We had our
reservations about the amount of work she was committing to with respect to the
time allotted; we need not have worried. Jackie honored her commitment to the LA in
full.
Also,
we conducted four
written surveys about Jackie’s work in the Sunday service, two qualitative and
one quantitative. All revealed a congregation that is engaged when Jackie
speaks and enthusiastic about Jackie’s style and depth of caring.
The
first three surveys
were qualitative and asked open-ended questions to solicit the widest possible
range of responses. The overall reaction to both these surveys was very
positive and representative comments are included below.
The
quantitative survey asked respondents to rate various aspects of an entire
service designed and delivered by Jackie. The survey was comprised of 19
statements for which a response of 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree)
was requested. This survey also asked two questions – how can Jackie improve
and what are Jackie’s golden qualities. The surveys were included in the Order
of Service. Typical attendance on Sunday is 75 to 100; we received 74 surveys
from 96 attendees!
All were very positive in tone and comment!
Respectfully
submitted,
Ruth
Cannava
Doug
Philbrook
Barbara
Spitz
Kim
Steele
Steve
Ladew