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The United Church of Christ (UCC) Board has announced that the search for an Associate General Minister for Love of Church will be relaunched following the upcoming General Synod 35. The decision comes after the search committee, which began its work in August 2024, did not identify a suitable candidate during their meetings from March 6-8 in Cleveland.
Committee Chair Rev. Jasmine Quinerly reported that despite conducting thorough online and in-person interviews, no candidate was deemed appropriate for the role. UCCB Chair Julia Gaughan acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, “Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to say, ‘No, we have not yet found the right nominee for this time and this place.’”
With General Synod 35 scheduled for July 11-15 and given time constraints and upcoming changes in board membership, UCC General Counsel Heather Kimmel indicated that a new search would commence post-Synod. The goal is to present a candidate at a special online meeting of the General Synod in early 2026.
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC's General Minister and President, emphasized the importance of this role: “This role on the staff is essential as we focus on the ministry and mission of the church in all its settings and especially our congregations.” She expressed confidence that a suitable leader would emerge from future efforts.
The existing Search Committee plans to review their process with insights shared with incoming members to refine future searches. Gaughan noted that timing could impact search processes significantly: “Timing can be as much of an issue for search processes as anything.”
Currently serving as transitional executive for Love of Church, Rev. Bentley de Bardelaben-Phillips will continue his duties until a new candidate is elected through a special election process rather than appointing an acting minister immediately.
In addition to searching for candidates, amendments are proposed at General Synod 35 regarding how Associate General Ministers are appointed—shifting from elections to staff roles if approved by two-thirds of Conferences over three years.
Thompson concluded with reflections on divine timing: “I believe the timing of the Holy Spirit is not always in line with our planning and expectations."
