Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM)

What is COSM?

The Committee on Shared Ministry helps the congregation live into shared ministry. That is, it helps members recognize and improve the contributions we each make to UCE. Shared Ministry has a sacred quality to it: it is not just “what we do” but also “how we do it.” As both the “great covenant” that we say each Sunday and the Covenant of Engagement state, we agree to engage with each other with compassion and respect as we strive to carry out our mission.

COSM works to communicate, evaluate, and make accessible the interconnected ministries of membership, stewardship, worship, faith formation, and social justice; and to monitor how we are doing as a congregation at being in right relationship with our principles, values, covenant, and each other. This supports our mission and achieving our Values Statements.

What are the Committee on Shared Ministry’s Goals?

COSM’s goals are to achieve:

Greater Transparency: identify groups contributing to UCE’s shared ministry, share information about them, and provide additional channels for congregants to offer feedback on our shared ministry.

Greater Accountability: work with the ministers, staff and Board to assess how well the congregation is meeting its goals and identify needs we should address.

Greater Partnership: serve as a sounding board for the senior minister and support their continued development.

 What does the COSM do? How does it fulfill its Goals?

Inform and Educate on Shared Ministry – We will be the voice within UCE for communicating and educating about shared ministry and its role and importance to achieving our mission as a beloved community.

Monitor and Evaluate Congregational Efforts Towards Our Mission and Values – how are “we” doing as a congregation as reflected by how UCE groups are engaging in self-evaluation and reflection on their work towards our mission and support of shared ministry.

Support UCE Groups’ Conversations for the Annual Program Review Process – COSM representatives are available to meet with various groups to facilitate discussions about purpose and shared ministry. Making time for reflection during the first six weeks of the church year, coupled with the annual program review in the last six weeks provides some structure that supports living into our shared ministry.

Provide Feedback and Support to the Senior Minister – COSM serves as a sounding board for the senior minister on issues of a non-governance nature and provides honest and constructive feedback on the seven areas of ministry in which professional ministers are expected to be competent, specifically worship and rites of passage; pastoral care and presence; spiritual development for self and others; social justice; administration; serving the larger UU faith; and leading the faith into the future. The Committee and minister strategize on ways to support the minister’s continued development in striving to fulfill the responsibilities and expectations of the congregation.

Why was the COSM formed? Living the mission of this church is a shared endeavor, a shared ministry. That means, each of us, whether ordained minister, staff or lay leader, newcomer or long-term member, has a part to play and important contributions to make.

During the fall of 2019, as part of our interim process Rev. Karen Gustafson led us through a series of conversations. One of the things that came up repeatedly was a desire for greater transparency, accountability and communication related to our shared ministry. Some felt blindsided by changes in staff that had occurred. Some expressed concern that there was no clear way of communicating with ministers and offering feedback. Some felt unclear about what constitutes reasonable expectations for our ministers, how to evaluate whether those expectations are met, and what to do when they’re not. In response to these concerns and to grow greater transparency, accountability and communication into our shared ministry, a Committee on Shared Ministry was formed in 2020.

The initial focus was to complete the evaluation report for the third and final renewal toward full fellowship of the Acting Senior Minister. Once that was completed in the Fall of 2020 the Committee shifted its focus to developing a process for supporting areas of ministry as they are fulfilled by the Minister(s), staff and the congregation as a whole.

COSM is composed of six members, appointed by the Board of Trustees for two-year terms, and a Board Liaison: Jessica Tomell-Presto, Dan Lawrence, Jeanne Kerl, Annette Wallace, Linda Herreid, Tom Beck, and Board Liaison, Joe Romeo. Committee members have a collective understanding of the mission of UCE, the structures of governance and organization of programs.

How do I contact the COSM

You may contact any member of the COSM in person, by email or by telephone through REALM or email the chair, Jessica Tomell-Presto through the church office at admin@ucevanston.org.