Transition

Thank You for Your Participation

As our Congregation-wide Survey and Listening Sessions have now been completed, the transition study team would like to thank everyone who facilitated, hosted or participated in these seminal exercises.  As previously mentioned, this research is being conducted for three reasons:

  1. To develop an informed, congregation-driven view of our ministerial wants and needs.

  2. To understand you, the First Parish congregation, more thoroughly.

  3. To improve the quality of the ministerial profile we develop.

While the Survey information provides us with solid, quantitative data, the Listening Sessions present us with information of a qualitative nature, offering an understanding of the passions and emotions that underlie the “why” of our congregation's attitudes and behaviors, and help us to appreciate the reasons behind your thinking. Both tools work in concert to present a complete picture of who we are as a congregation and each will help us to create the most accurate ministerial profile possible.

Here's what will happen next:

  • Mid June

    Findings from the Demographic information, Listening Sessions and Survey data were presented to the standing committee and First Parish staff.  This information is available here at the First Parish site under the Findings tab.  Please note that you will need to register Login Form, in the lower left hand corner of your screen in order to have access to the Findings tab.

    In addition, a short presentation on the results of this meeting was presented at the First Parish Annual Meeting.  This presentation can be found at the Planning tab, under Ministerial Transition on the Main Menu to the left of your screen.

  • July/August

    Jeff Greene, chairman of the transition study team will hold two survey conversation meetings, one in July, one in August, to review the Survey findings with those who are interested.

    Conversations will also take place this summer between members of the standing committee and Jenny Rankin to discuss her potential interest in the senior minister's position.  This decision will be resolved on or before Opening Sunday, 12 September. 

    A First Parish profile, senior minister job description, and financial package will be prepared in the event that we need to begin a search process.

The First Parish Transition Study Team

Formed to begin the process of determining our ministerial leadership once Senior Minister Gary Smith retires, it is our mandate to keep everyone informed throughout the process, and we invite you to watch for updates in The Meetinghouse News, The Sunday News, FP Announce and at our table during coffee hours.  Questions can also be addressed to Jeff Greene at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

  • Jeff Greene (Chair)
  • Jamie Atkins
  • A. Bigay
  • Val Holt
  • Rhoda Miller
  • Winslow Pettingell
  • Sue St. Croix
  • Eloise Smith
  • Fred Van Deusen