The churches in eastern NC have long had to share
ministers
and at times had part-time ministers.
At present Outlaw's Bridge has a part time minister
who also works part time teaching at the local community college.
He teaches World Religions via internet and Bible classes on campus.
The minister at Red Hill works with the prison system
and serves part time as minister.
In the past Outlaw's Bridge has shared a minister
with the former Kinston church and also with Red Hill.
Kinston shared a minister
with the UU church in Wilmington for several years.
There have to be definite agreements reached about
which Sundays each church will have the minister
and the days that office hours will be held at each place, etc..
This should be agreed upon before beginning the search
with adjustments to be negotiated with the minister when hired.
It can be a very good arrangement when two churches work together
as both congregations can connect
and begin to feel kinship with each other
in addition to the growth of the feeling of being a part of a larger
group.
This is especially true if the groups begin to have joint activities.
It all depends on the attitude of the congregations!
Certainly sharing a minister or having only a part
time minister
is better than not having one at all.
Both Red Hill and Outlaw's Bridge are quite fortunate
to have nice churches and parsonages
which contribute to the appeal for the minister.
Carol Simmons <csimmons@eastlink.net>
Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church
March 2001
Go to the Profile of Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church.
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