Search Committe Updates
Recent updates to keep you in the loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our current minister, Rev. Lynn Hopkins, joined our congregation as an “interim minister” for two years, to help us prepare for calling a new “settled” minister. Unitarian Universalist congregations choose their ministers through a congregational vote, rather than having ministers assigned to them. Through the national Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) process, each congregation that is looking for a minister, often described as being “in search,” forms a Ministerial Search Committee of seven people from the congregation who look for a candidate that will meet the needs of their whole church. All UU churches seeking a settled minister search at the same time, using the same system.
No, according to UUA guidelines an interim minister cannot be a candidate for a permanent position until they have been gone from the congregation for at least three years. The goal of this restriction is to provide "truth without fear or favor" during a transitional time, allowing the interim minister to focus on assessment and preparation rather than currying favor for a permanent position.
Our congregation voted to approve our Search Committee at our Annual Meeting in May 2026. The Board selected the members of the Search Committee slate by asking all members of the congregation who they would trust to do the work that’s required. Then they compiled the names and picked a balanced group of committee members who had the collective trust of the congregation and met the UUA guidelines for Search Committee members.
The members are: Whitney Baker, Kent Fisher, Matt Holladay, Lisa Jennings, Laura McArtor, and Rod Starns (Chairman). You can read their bios elsewhere on this page.
The numbers vary year to year. But the number of congregations in search over the last decade or so has ranged from 21 to almost 70. An average year has about 30 congregations in search. Over the last decade, the number of ministers in search has ranged from 58 to 130.
While there are aspects of the search that require confidentiality among the search team, the congregation participates in and drives the search process in many ways. The search team will initiate a congregation-wide survey to ask ministry-related questions, emphasizing what the congregation needs and wants. The survey results may then be used to spur conversations in small group meetings and focus groups hosted by search team members to provide an opportunity for people to hear and build on what others say. The results from the surveys and meetings also become part of the packet the search team prepares for candidates to view. Finally, the congregation will be encouraged to participate in a weekend workshop facilitated by UUA staff to examine the current and possible biases in our congregation. Completing the workshop sends a message to all our members and potential applicant ministers about our commitment to full equality and ongoing learning about anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism.
No, the search team will be expected to keep the names of all applicants confidential from the congregation and its leadership. If a minister is currently serving a congregation, their search for a new ministry may not be public to their congregation. Breaches of confidentiality have led ministers to withdraw their consideration from congregations and have even ended the search process for rare congregations with poor confidentiality practices. For this reason, the search team only announces the name of the final candidate, whom the congregation will then get to meet and hear preach before voting on whether to call the candidate as settled minister.
During Candidating Week toward the end of April or early May 2027. The candidate usually arrives a day before the first Sunday and spends the week leading two services, meeting with leaders, talking with members, engaging staff, searching for housing, and starting to learn the ins and outs of the congregation. A variety of events will be scheduled during the week to allow all congregation member a chance to meet the candidate, ask questions, and hear them preach.
In the UUA Settlement Handbook.
The search begins shortly after the Search Committee is chosen, as the team meets with UUA representatives and begins assembling the necessary applications and documents during the summer. You can see the full search calendar here. Here are some key milestones:
- September--November—Conduct a congregational survey, a congregational self-study workshop, small group meetings and focus groups, to build a congregational profile for candidates to view.
- December 1—Congregation profiles are published for ministers in search.
- January 4-16—The search committee receives applications from interested minister and begins conducting initial video interviews.
- January 25—The search committee invites “pre-candidates” for private, personal interviews (typically 3 pre-candidates, but could be fewer or more).
- Feb. 5-Mar. 14—Pre-candidating weekends in Memphis
- March 22—Pre-candidates confirm whether they are interested in further consideration, and the Search Team indicates which candidates they are interested in giving further consideration.
- March 23-24—The UUA Transitions Team distills and confirms desired matches between churches and candidates.
- March 25—The Search Team can make an offer to a candidate, and begin negotiating an employment agreement and performing background checks.
- March 28-April 11—If an employment agreement and background check are accepted, the Search Team will announce the candidate and plans for Candidating Week.
- April or May—Candidating Week, with multiple opportunities to meet the minister and hear sermons over two Sundays. On the second Sunday after the service, the congregation will vote whether to call the minister, whose term would begin in August.
Because the entire congregation has a part in selecting the next settled minister, the process to get the entire congregation ready takes careful thought, time, and care. Each step is an important part of a tried and tested system that, although lengthy and detailed, is designed to help find a good “fit” between a minister and the congregation.
In the last several years, the average has been 80-90%.
The Board recommends a candidate, but only the voting members of our church have the authority to call a settled minister. If the congregational vote is affirmative, and the candidate accepts, they become our settled minister. The search concludes upon the signing of an employment contract.
According to our Bylaws, anyone sixteen years of age or older who is in sympathy with the purpose of this church shall become a member upon (a) signing the Membership Book or other designated document with approval of or in the presence of the minister or a person or persons designated by the Board of Trustees, and (b) making within the next ninety days, or having made within the preceding twelve months, a financial contribution of record toward the support of the church (the contribution may be of any size and may come either from the new member or their immediate family members living in the same household). Ninety days after both conditions have been met, the new member shall be entitled to vote.
The Board of Trustees will publicize a congregational meeting announcement in advance of the Meeting, which will likely be at the end of April or early May.
A quorum of 40% of the voting membership of the congregation must be present for the vote. The motion to call a minister requires a four-fifths vote (4/5) vote of those present and voting affirmative. Most ministers see at least 90% as a successful call and will not agree to go with less. If more than 5-10% of the members of the congregation vote against the minister, that constitutes a significant group within the congregation—enough to be very problematic were the minister to accept the call. The UUA reports that the vast majority of Candidating Weeks culminate in a successful call, however. On average, over the last two decades, there has only been one unsuccessful vote every other year.
A failed search is disappointing and rare when it happens, but far better than choosing a minister who is not a good fit. Successful searches, in the experience of the UUA, happen when congregations and ministers are both self-aware and patient. If the Search Committee does not find a good match candidate, or if the Candidating Minister is not approved by a four-fifths vote of the congregation, then church leaders and the UUA will meet to discern the next step. Options include continuing with an interim ministry for another year or two, or hiring a minister on short-term contract. The congregation can choose a new search team and search for a new minister the next year, or later.
The UUA states that ministers should not commit to a settled ministry unless they are prepared to stay at least four years. The employment contract does not have a renewal or expiration date, but the minister and Board are expected to review the contract annually. While some ministers stay with congregations a decade or more, many tenures now fall within the 5-7 year range. According to the 2023 Fact Survey on Unitarian Congregations, the average minister was in their position for 6 years.
At the annual Congregational Meeting in May, the congregation unanimously approved the Board's recommended members for the Ministerial Search Committee.
Lisa Jennings
Current Treasurer Lisa Jennings has worn several hats at The Church of the River since she and her husband, David, started attending church in 1976 and joined in 1983. Lisa served previously on the Board of Trustees as Vice President for two years and as President for three 3-year terms. She was UUA Southwest District Vice-President and President before the District merged as part of the UUA Southern Region. On occasion, she has served as a pulpit guest for Sunday church services at our church and nearby fellowships and congregations. Lisa serves as one of the Worship Associates at Sunday services. Over the years, she co-facilitated the AYS course (now known as OWL) for the junior high class and has served as chair or co-chair for various efforts, such as the annual Canvass, the Spring into Action Mini-Capital Campaign, a congregation-wide Vision Process, and the Growing Brighter Capital Campaign. Lisa served previously on our Ministerial Search Committee in 2017 and on the Committee for our 2025 Interim Minister search. She is currently a volunteer Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and former CEO of CirQuest Labs, now MLM Medical Labs. She recently graduated (May 2024) with a Certificate in Theological Studies from Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL. Hobbies include cooking, traveling, and gardening. David, a member of our choir and a past board President, and Lisa have two married children, Ian Jennings (Johanna) and Laura Yacoubian (Paul), and 6 grandchildren.
Matt Holladay
Matt Holladay grew up at Church of the River. He has been an OWL facilitator since 2008. He has served as a Middle School Adventure Club leader and has taught RE classes over the years to all ages. He has been active in church leadership for the past 15 years, including serving on the previous settled minister’s search committee and as President of the Board. He has led or supported the church’s annual Canvass fundraising efforts for most of the last eight years. Matt has been an Exceptional Children Teacher for the last 10 years and has been teaching at Ross Elementary for the last 8 years. Prior to teaching, he was a manager at FedEx and worked in the hub. He enjoys board games, traveling (has been to Brazil, Japan, Australia, Sweden to name a few places), audiobooks, and trying new coffee shops.
Rod Starns (Search Committee Chairman)
Rod Starns has been a member of The Church of the River for more than 20 years, along with his wife, T.Leigh, and daughter, Chloe. He spent two terms on the Board of Trustees, where he served as Secretary and Vice-President. He has also chaired the Governance Committee and served on the Nominating Committee, Capital Campaign Committee, COVID Task Force, and Interim Minister Search Committee (2015). He is currently active in several other roles, including Supper Club, the A/V Team, the Membership Team, playground development planning, and as a volunteer who re-launched and runs the church website and handles church advertising, publicity, social media, and digital archives. Rod is semi-retired and winding down a long career in television and video production.
Laura McArtor
Laura McArtor joined the Church of the River in 2013 while she was living in San Francisco. She wanted her daughter, Virginia, to be dedicated in the church where her own grandparents had found friendships, community, and inspiration. Laura and Virginia moved back to Memphis in 2014 and started attending services with Virginia’s grandmother, Lucy. Laura eventually joined the family ministry team and trained as a Spirit Play storyteller and OWL facilitator. She credits COR with connecting her with Moon Mullins, who would become a beloved friend and mentor. Moon was the catalyst for creating a social justice ministry at COR, and it is in his memory that Laura continues to be involved with Team Upstream as a meeting facilitator and introverted activist. Laura is a freelance web designer and marketing partner. As a trained labyrinth facilitator, she recently founded 901 Labyrinths to connect Memphians to local labyrinths and the practice of labyrinth walking. She and Virginia enjoy curating a Free Little Art Gallery in their Joffre neighborhood (@MemFLAG) and arranging an art-filled home for them and their 2 cats.
Kent Fisher
Kent Fisher has been with the Church of the River for over 18 years and joined with his children to have a safe, loving place to help raise his family in a church home that supports diversity. Both of his sons have been active in the youth ministry and completed the OWL program, which was one of the features that helped draw Kent to this sacred place. Through the years, he has been part of various groups and committees at the church and is glad to continue our work. He has been a member of the Awesome Little Choir for over 12 years and loves bringing the gift of music to our congregation. Kent has recently completed a term on the Nominating Committee to help provide new Board members and Nominating Committee Members. For several years, he has been on the Pride Committee to help represent our church at Pride Festivities. In the last year, he has become a regular Worship Associate during our Interim Minister time and looks forward to helping where he can. Kent has been a Memphian for over 30 years and calls Memphis his home. He runs a counseling practice in Midtown and is committed to healing the world, one person at a time. Kent loves music, University of Memphis sports, and caring for his family.
Sarah Sakaan
Sarah Badiyah Sakaan began attending The First Unitarian Church of the River regularly at the age of 7 and enjoyed growing up in the Religious Education program, then directed by Sue Fergason, followed by Kayleigh Donnelly. She has been a member of The Church of the River since 1999, when she was confirmed as a youth under Rev. Burton Carley. She was an active YRUU member in the 90’s and early 00’s, and found her upbringing as a Unitarian Universalist to be a vital part of her formative years. She obtained a B.F.A. in Acting from Emerson College in Boston and spent 2005-2019 living and working in NYC as an actor, playwright, theatermaker and Artistic Director of theater company Polybe + Seats. She has written and produced two plays, Anna Asli Suriyah(I Come from Syria) and The Art of Hijab, Kohl Black and the Right Way to Pray, and acted in numerous productions in the independent theater of Brooklyn and NYC, and more recently performed at Playhouse on the Square in Murder on the Orient Express and Tennessee Shakespeare Co. Saint Joan and R&J Project. In addition to her work in theater, she spent 8 years in event management at Brooklyn Winery, a premiere wedding venue and winery. Sarah and her husband Charlie Davis were married at The Church of the River by Rev. Sam Teitel in March of 2018,(the same month that her parents Walid and Cindy were married at COR in 1981) and returned to Memphis in November of 2019 with their then 6-month-old daughter, Margot (now 6 years old), and soon realised that baby number 2, Phoebe (now 5), was on the way. Sarah sings in the Awesome Little Choir and served on the Nominating Committee in 2024.
Whitney Baker
Whitney has been attending Church of the River off and on for many years (since around 2012), always thinking that if she had kids, she would take them to church there someday. Then one day she had a kid to take to church, so she did. Sometime after her second child was born, someone told her she should sign the member book, so she did. Over time, she found a lot to do at The Church of the River. PIE. Balloon arches. Cupcakes. Stone Soup. Royal icing sugar cookies. Trunk or Treat. Coffee hour. Soup kitchen. Mulch. Unpack boxes. Assemble furniture. Organize storage. Clean out cabinets. It turns out there was a lot she could do at The Church of the River, so she did. As one of our most avid and ambitious volunteers, Whitney and her family’s impact at CoR can be seen and felt in nearly every Faith Development classroom and social gathering at our church.
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