Dear Church People

I have a thing or two to say to the people who decide how UCC job searches proceed. I get the length of time they can take. You've got a group of volunteers who all have busy lives and finding times to get everyone together can be a challenge. When you then also have to interview multiple candidates, it can easily become 9 weeks between interviews.

I wish there were some standards beyond the ones that exist. If I were in charge, there would be periodic contact with candidates between week one and week nine when you call the candidate to tell them you want to interview them again. I would add that interviewing the minister's wife is completely archaic and so not necessary.

However, what I really, really take issue with is that you expect a minister to say yes to a job WITHOUT TELLING HIM THE SALARY. That is so freaking beyond ridiculous. Not a single person on the search committee would ever agree to do a job without knowing the salary. No person should have to do that! All the minister knows is the range of pay which can be as much as a 30,000-40,000 spread.

Really, I get that ministers are supposed to be called to do the work they do. Hopefully everyone finds their calling in life and pursues it. But, no matter how much you are called, you have a family that has financial needs and you need to know what you'll be paid. Bills don't go away just because you are a minister.

So, note to thee UCC, start making job offers that come with salary offers before you waste anyone else's time.