Search for next UCC leader moves to interview phase

The United Church of Christ General Minister and President Search Committee is confident it is on the right path, and will identify the next potential leader of denomination by next month.

After two days of telephone interviews with a pool of candidates, the search committee will decide today, Tuesday, Jan. 20, who will be invited to the next round of in-person interviews.

“We feel strongly that the next general minister and president is in our pool and we are excited about continuing the process,” said the Rev. Kent Siladi, conference minister of the Connecticut Conference of the UCC and co-chair of the search committee.

On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17, the 18-person committee met with candidates during initial online interviews. Siladi added, to maintain confidentiality, the committee will not share the number of applicants, or how many were interviewed. He did say the applicant pool reflects the UCC’s commitment to diversity.

The process to seek out a general minister and president to succeed the Rev. Geoffrey Black began in September, with the selection of the search committee, after Black’s decision to retire was announced in mid-August. He will step down at the conclusion of General Synod 2015 (June 26-30).

In mid-February, the committee will hold face-to-face interviews with, ideally, the top three candidates. The selected candidate will be introduced to the United Church of Christ Board at its spring meeting on March 19 for confirmation. The General Synod will vote in late June on that candidate, who, if elected, will take office to guide the national setting of the church shortly after that vote.