New Minister Hired

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From the Board of Trustees - June 2011

The UCN Board of Trustees is pleased to name Ms. Cyndi Simpson as our new minister. She will be joining us in August, and we hope to arrange an early visit. We are very excited to have Cyndi coming here to share her energy, enthusiasm and expertise. Cyndi brings to us:

UCN Developmental Minister photo
Minister Designate
Cyndi Simpson
  • 37 years of commitment to Unitarian Universalism as a lay leader
  • lifelong dedication to social justice activism and civic participation
  • 30 years of professional human service work with skills in organizational management and development, including budgeting, staff supervision, grant writing, community organizing and strategic planning
  • 800 hours of supervised experience as a hospital chaplain
  • Master of Divinity degree
  • preaching and worship leading in various UU congregations since 2003
  • a year-long internship ministry with First Unitarian Denver, with five months as solo minister there

With this background and Cyndi’s personal aspirations to launch a new ministry, we believe we have found the right person at exactly the right time to be our minister. We, of course, are more than ready to establish long-term ministerial stability at UCN. With Cyndi’s help and her eagerness to immerse herself in our community, we look forward to a partnership that will endure and serve to strengthen the presence of Unitarian Universalism in the Hampton Roads region.

An additional component of this fresh beginning is the flexibility of a new approach to ministry. Cyndi has accepted the position of Developmental Minister, a UUA designation that replaces the previous title of Consulting Minister and one that seems tailor-made for us. The developmental contract specifies tasks that we -- Cyndi, the Board and the congregation -- will work on together. It is a five-year covenant with the possibility of yearly extensions by mutual consent. Unlike an interim, a developmental minister is eligible for a call to permanent settlement at the church, although conceptually this would not happen for at least 2 to 3 years. Although we would be pleased if this relationship evolves into a settled ministry, Cyndi’s near term focus will be working with us on our key goals.

Truly, this is a fresh beginning. As we mark the end of a period of interim ministries that have served us well, we have found a new spirit and vitality in our church community that allows us to embrace expanded possibilities. For Cyndi, this is the beginning of a new career, one that will embody her passion, dedication and commitment. Our history and her life and faith experiences have lead to the opening of a door that we shall walk through together. We look forward to welcoming Cyndi to our pulpit knowing that the future of UCN is bright and full of promise.

Click here to read Minister Designate Simpson's Letter of Introduction and Life Summary. (This will open in a new window requiring a PDF reader.)