We’re on the home stretch of our ministerial search process, which culminates this coming Sunday, April 26, in a congregational vote on whether to call Rev. Chad Snyder to be our next minister. The Board of Trustees is excited to bring the congregation together for this meeting at 12:15 in the Upper Assembly Hall and on Zoom.
There is a lot of joy and anticipation in this moment, but there is also a lot of gravity in it. We are making a big decision together on whether to enter into a long-term relationship with Rev. Chad. And just like in any other relationship, a ministerial relationship is a two-way street. Not only are we deciding whether to call Rev. Chad as our minister – Rev. Chad is deciding whether to commit to us.
That’s why neither the Board of Trustees nor Rev. Chad is looking for a simple majority of yeses from our members. Most Unitarian Universalist congregations and ministers look for a threshold of at least 90 percent approval within the congregation before they commit to each other.
Why is that?
In short, congregations have learned over time that a minimum requirement for a minister’s successful tenure is overwhelming support from the congregation at the outset.
So when we vote, a yes does not mean we think Rev. Chad is perfect, because there is no perfect candidate. A yes vote means that you trust that the Ministerial Search Team engaged in a fair and inclusive process – and that they found the best candidate for FUS among the pool of candidates who wanted to serve FUS. Voting yes does not mean you believe there will never be any problems during Rev. Chad’s tenure. Voting yes signals simply that you are willing to enter into a relationship with him for the foreseeable future and to see what that relationship grows into.
Sometimes, though not frequently, a vote on a ministerial candidate does not result in calling that minister. If that occurs, the search process must be started again from the beginning. The Board of Trustees would find another interim minister (usually for one year) and appoint a new Ministerial Search Team to begin the new search.
Given the nature and importance of this vote I encourage FUS members to take full advantage of the many opportunities to get to know Rev. Chad this week. (To find your spot on his schedule, click on this link.) This week is the time to think deeply about this decision and discuss it with others, so that you are clear in your own mind before the congregational meeting. Because when we come together on Sunday to vote, there is only one thing on the agenda: The vote (by secret ballot). Unlike many Unitarian/Universalist meetings, this one doesn’t include a discussion period before the vote. There will be time to chat while the votes are being counted and before the results are announced, of course.
What if you can’t attend the meeting in person?
Here is how you can vote by absentee ballot online:
Voting will be open from noon on Saturday, April 25 until noon on Sunday, April 26 (CDT). To request a link to vote absentee, please contact the office at office@firstunitarian.org or by calling (612) 377-6608 by 3 pm on Friday, April 24. The link for absentee voting will be open from noon Saturday, April 25, 2026 to noon Sunday, April 26, 2026.
If you can’t be at the meeting in person but would like to observe it and learn the outcome in real time, you may observe the meeting on Zoom. The Zoom link will be in the Friday Update and can also be obtained from the office. The Zoom meeting will not begin until 12:15 and absentee voting closes at noon, so please make sure you vote absentee by noon!
This week we will be discovering together, dreaming together, and thinking about what is possible for FUS. May this week be rich with conversation and deep reflection as we prepare ourselves and one another for the journey ahead.
With joy and gratitude,
Heather Martens
Chair, Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees.