Candidating Week, beginning May 8th and ending May 15th, is the opportunity for our congregation to spend time with and get to know our ministerial candidate, The Reverend Matthew McHale, before voting on whether or not to call him as our new settled minister.

Rev. Matthew will be preaching from our pulpit on Sunday, May 8th and Sunday, May 15th.  It is highly recommended that all available Emersonians attend both services in order to see him in action.  For those who cannot attend, we will be posting audio and video recordings of the services.

During the intervening week, he will be attending several committee meetings and social functions (accompanied by members of your search committee), providing everyone the opportunity to meet and chat with him, as well as giving him the chance to get a sense of our church’s inner workings and begin to experience the rhythms of our vibrant congregational life.  All candidating events will be posted on the main church website calendar as they are confirmed.

We strongly encourage everyone to attend at least one event with Rev. Matthew, and take the time to say hello.  We know he’s incredibly excited to meet you all.  Feel free to ask any member of the search committee for more information.

After the service at 12pm on Sunday, May 15th, we will be holding a special congregational meeting.  The sole purpose of this meeting will be to vote on whether we should call Rev. Matthew as our new settled minister.  The meeting will be open to all, though only eligible members will be able to vote.  To be considered eligible, one must have been a member for at least 30 days prior to the meeting.  The vote will be conducted by secret ballot, and proxy voting will not be allowed.

It is very important that all members understand what will happen after the vote, depending on the outcome.

If we vote to call Rev. Matthew, he will have the opportunity to accept or decline that call.  If he accepts, we have a new minister!  While only a 2/3 majority is required for the vote to pass, it is important to note that most ministers will not feel comfortable accepting the call of a congregation if the “yes” vote is less than 95%.

If the vote fails, or if Rev. Matthew chooses not to accept the call, then the search process will end and Emerson will proceed forward without a settled minister.  A search for a new interim minister will be convened, the current search committee will be disbanded, and a new search committee will eventually have to start over from the beginning.

Your ministerial search committee has spent the last year in a deep and diligent process of discernment, and it is our sincere hope that upon getting to know Rev. Matthew, you will come to share our profound enthusiasm for the prospect of his ministry at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church.