Developments in our Developmental Ministry

By Rev. Laura Thompson

Beloveds,

Having spent the last couple of months settling in and getting to know you, I am now ready to begin leading us on our shared Developmental Ministry journey.

What is Developmental Ministry?

Developmental ministry is a time of intentional reflection and action — a sacred period in which a congregation takes stock of its life, renews its sense of purpose, and strengthens the structures that support its mission in ways that are meaningful and sustainable. It is both a spiritual journey and a practical one, inviting us to discern who we are, what we are called to do, and how we will move faithfully into the future together.

How is a Developmental Contract Minister different than a called minister?

Contract ministers are hired by the Board of a congregation for a set period, while called ministers are voted on serving in a more permanent role by the entire congregation. I have been hired as a 5-year contract minister, with a Developmental Ministry focus. At the end of my contract the congregation may choose to extend my contract, call me on a more permanent basis or we may decide to go our separate ways. But for now, we are focused on developmental goals.

Our Developmental Goals

To guide our work, the board has identified five developmental goals that will help us live more fully into our purpose and strengthen our capacity for the years ahead:

1. Understand and update our Mission, Vision, and Purpose. We will listen deeply — to one another, to our history, and to the needs of the world — as we discern who we are called to be at this moment in time. This work will likely begin in year 2.

2. Bring programs into alignment with our Mission, Vision, and Purpose. Once our shared calling is clear, we will bring every part of congregational life — worship, learning, justice, and community — into harmony with that vision. This work will begin in year 3.

3. Staff programs with paid professionals and effective volunteer leaders. We will strengthen our ministries by ensuring that both professional staff and lay leaders are supported, empowered, and working together in shared purpose. This may involve some redesign of current staffing structures to make sure that our staff continue to serve UUSM in the best ways possible while being in line with sustainable stewardship goals. This work is already beginning.

4. Update governance models and systems.We will review and renew how decisions are made and how communication flows, seeking systems that embody transparency, accountability, and mutual trust. This work will likely begin in year 3.

5. Strengthen our Sustainable Stewardship to fund our programs and systems. We will deepen the spiritual practice of generosity, building a culture of stewardship that sustains our shared commitments with joy and abundance. This work will be ongoing throughout our developmental ministry.

   
   

Each of these goals will take time, care, and the participation of our whole community. This is not simply administrative work — it is the living out of our faith. As we move into this ministry together, I am deeply grateful for the openness, resilience, and love that define this community. The Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo have long been a congregation rooted in compassion and committed to justice. Now we have an opportunity to build upon that foundation, aligning our shared ministry with clarity, intention, and joy.

A Blessing for the Journey

May we walk this path with open hearts, trusting in the wisdom that arises when we listen deeply to one another. May our work be guided by love — steady, courageous, and kind. And may we remember always that the future we build together is itself an act of hope.

With deep gratitude and faith in our shared ministry,

Rev. Laura Thompson, Developmental Minister

Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo