Lead Minister Search

October 31, 2025

Search Team Update

The Search Team reported to you before the summer break that the job description had been approved by the Regional Council. Since then we’ve met regularly to work on preparing the interview questions that reflect our community values using the UCC Pastoral Relations Manual as our guide. We also consulted regularly with our Pastoral Relations Liaison, Rev. Joëlle Leduc, for advice and clarification on procedure.

We took the opportunity to talk to the staff and Compass Team leads to understand their views on what would constitute an ideal new Lead Minister and to better understand their vision of how the team works best to fulfil the goals of the Community Compass.

We were hopeful we had found a good match on Church Hub, and proceeded to interview a candidate in mid-September. Unfortunately, the candidate decided to withdraw their candidacy. The Search Team quickly searched out various candidates through other connections and referrals. Through this exercise we found several promising candidates and are once again well into the interview process—and hopefully well on our way to calling the minister who will be the best fit for Cedar Park United.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers! We will continue to update you as we move forward.

Search team members

Christine Scholes

Jim Gates

Nancy Walsh

Richmund Ninson Abeka-Afari

Samantha McLaren

Tara Ramiengar

Vincent Randy

August 22, 2025

Search Team Update

The Search Team has received applications for the Lead Minister position and will be starting interviews shortly. This is an encouraging step forward in our search process, and we are hopeful as we engage with candidates who feel called to serve our community.

May 30, 2025

Search Team Update

Dear Community Members,

We’re excited to share an update from the Search Committee!

Our biggest task so far has been writing the job description for our new minister. We carefully reviewed the elements from our community compass and the Church Hub platform to ensure we had all necessary details. After making some refinements, we presented the job description to the board, who approved it with only a few small changes. On Thursday we received final approval from the regional council. We are now in the process of officially posting the job onto Church Hub.

We were also awaiting the updated  financial statement, which is required for our Church Hub submission. With this step completed, we’re getting closer to meeting all of the requirements.

Now, we’re focusing on preparing interview questions for potential candidates. To make sure the process truly reflects our community’s values, we’re talking with staff and members from various church groups. These conversations help us clarify the qualities we’re looking for. Emerging as central themes in these conversations are the values of genuine listening, authenticity, and integrity—characteristics that resonate deeply within our community.

We appreciate the insights shared so far and will use them to help us find the best leader for our church.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers! We’ll keep you updated as we move forward.

January 30, 2025

Search Team in Place

The Cedar Park United board wishes to thank everyone who put forward a name to be considered for the search team for our next lead minister. We had more nominations than we could reasonably use for the team, which gave us the enviable, and difficult, task of choosing a group who could best represent the broad variety of people who call CPU their church. The following people will be the CPU search team:

  • Richmund Ninson Abeka-Afari

  • Chris Clement

  • Jim Gates

  • Vincent Randy

  • Nancy Walsh

  • Tara Ramiengar

  • Samantha McLaren

  • Christine Scholes

Again, thanks to all those who volunteered or nominated someone!

Margrét Kristjansson, Recording Secretary

Cedar Park United Congregational Board

November 26, 2024

Nominations for Search Team Members

The Governing Board has started the process of forming a search team, which will take on the task of finding the next lead minister for the CPU community. The procedures and policies we are following are set out by the United Church of Canada.

We are asking for suggestions as to who from the Cedar Park United community might be good to have on this search team. Maybe you, or someone you know, could help with this important work as CPU continues to participate in living the Dream of God.

People with these qualities would make good team members:

  • They have the confidence of the community. 

  • They are engaged with aspects of the community’s life and work (Sunday worship, study groups, Mini Connections, Supper. Together, etc).  The team should represent the diverse inclusiveness of the CPU community.

  • They are able to listen, consult, and discern with people;

  • They are able to gather and analyze data; 

  • They are willing to talk about faith and what they believe.

  • They are able to maintain strict confidentiality.

  • It will be helpful to have someone with a background and skills in human resources management.

  • We need a few people who can write clearly and follow through with paperwork.

The search team will start their work in early January and over the next 4-6 months, they will receive applications, do interviews, negotiate terms and make a recommendation.

December 17, 2024

Thank you for your nominations—the Board will share more information soon about the formation of the search team.