Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church

It is common practice for Ministers, Interim and Settled, to create a covenant with a former Minister or Minister Emeritus of any congregation. A covenant is used in many of our Unitarian Universalist congregations going through Ministerial transition, and emerges after the Ministers have several transition conversations on topics of leadership, needs, and congregational health. Your former minister, the Reverend John Corrado, and I have been in conversation since last September. Below is the covenant we created together. I am including it here so our community may know what John and I expect from each other as well as what the congregation can expect from us. My hope is that the covenant will be helpful for the whole community. I welcome conversation and questions, as needed. Please read on, knowing GPUC is deeply loved.

The purpose of a covenant of professional relations is to offer explicit and detailed clarification of responsibilities and roles of ministers in relation to the congregation. As fellowshipped Unitarian Universalist Ministers the Reverends Mitra Rahnema and John Corrado currently adhere to our professional code of conduct. In addition to those professional guidelines, with several months of conversation, below is a specific covenant.

A Covenant between the Reverends
Mitra Rahnema, Interim Minister and John Corrado, Minister Emeritus

In 2009 the Reverend John Corrado retired after serving the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church for twenty-five years. John is no longer the minister of the congregation. He is now serving our Unitarian Universalist movement in new capacities; therefore his attention is required elsewhere. John will remain living in the larger metropolitan area with his wife Barbara. The congregation can be assured that John continues to love GPUC members and is committed to the health and future of the church. Therefore, Mitra and John agree:

All ministerial roles or duties with any congregant, and their families are the responsibility of Mitra, the congregation's current Interim Minister. John will not offer or be available to accept any ministerial requests. All services, such a weddings, memorials, worship, blessings, pastoral care or pastoral counseling will be directed to Mitra. We recognize that there are times in which John's ministerial services might be needed. These unique situations will be jointly assessed followed by an invitation from Mitra, if needed.

Mitra and John will consult openly about congregational dynamics, as needed. In the effort to maintain our professional care for the congregation, John will share with Mitra, all information about interactions with congregants. In addition, John will not initiate contact with members, friends, or staff of the congregation. Individuals contacting John will be encouraged to speak with Mitra. John will not be available for pastoral services. When members are faced with needing ministerial conversation or assistance they will be directed to the current minister serving the congregation.

Allowing time for an adjustment to the layers of transition, John will not return to the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church facility throughout the interim period. Of course there may be unique times in which it is appropriate for John to return to the congregation, and he will do so only upon the explicit invitation of the current minister of Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church. Additionally, John may choose to send a note of condolence to families, as appropriate.

We agree that all ministerial authority and decision making is the responsibility of the current minister. We both agree that Mitra has no obligation, nor should she have any pressure to extend an invitation for John's return to the congregation at any time.

As Minister Emeritus, John will be listed in the Unitarian Universalist Directory under Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church and is a voting delegate at the Unitarian Universalist Association annual General Assembly and District Conference. John’s vote in both national and district governing bodies will not represent GPUC. Additionally, as Minister Emeritus, John will be listed in the GPUC directory with address but not telephone number. John will receive the GPUC newsletter at his home address. The congregation is encouraged to add “Minister Emeritus” wherever John’s name is listed in church information, including on historical photographs.

This covenant comes with deep and caring recognition of the needs of a congregational community facing a ministerial transition. These needs include:
Community time to experience and mourn the loss of a former minister
Space to consider the new identity, direction, goals, and purposes of the congregation's future by recognizing the congregation as part of a larger movement
Welcome shifts of decision making process, as members discover what they want for the congregation
To reconnect with a larger movement of congregations and ministers
To welcome new ministerial (pastoral, administrative and prophetic) leadership, beginning with the Interim Minister and continuing by building deep trust with a newly settled minister
The ability and time to have an authentic bond with a settled minister is essential to a healthy ministerial call.

Our covenant will remain intact through the length of the interim ministry. Following the interim period John will continue to defer any ministerial relationship with the congregation to the called minister. The called minister's settlement period is likely to be at least two years after arrival.

(original document has been signed by Rev. Mitra Rahnema and Rev, John Corrado)