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“Elizabeth has a respectful, empowering demeanor and a passion for ensuring that the spirit of those she works with shines through. She lends support and can gently provide structure when necessary. She also shares her well-earned knowledge of UU history and practice as a resource but never imposes it on their process.” "Elizabeth provided much needed structure and leadership in her administrative role. Emulating her performance made me a better and more confident leader. She helped us solidify our weapons policy using research data rather than the focusing on emotional opinions of a few congregants. She taught us how to keep on task. She played to people’s strengths. She helped us see the holes in our organizational structure without coming across as critical; her listening skills are amazing." |
leadership
Each year at the annual kick-off to the Pledge Drive at Hope Unitarian Church there is a skit to encourage generous giving. In my first year there the pledge drive theme was “There’s No Place Like Hope” and the skit became a Wizard of Oz parody. When asked to play Dorothy, I was overjoyed. I found out later that I was the first minister to participate fully in the skit and this fostered a feeling of trust and camaraderie among many. This remains one of my favorite memories of my time with the congregation.
Sometimes, ministerial leadership is merely about being willing to be a part of the team and help determine the next play. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty or wear a silly costume. I do not lead from above, but from within and among. Building relationships of trust is essential.
My leadership style is collaborative and facilitative. While I might facilitate and sometimes gently guide the process, it is the lay leadership that really determines the vision and mission of the congregation. I appreciate the value of questions in such processes as it can bring us in a new direction while still allowing the leadership to determine the answers.
Once we have articulated our vision and mission, my role is to help foster what is necessary to reach our goals and carry out our mission in the world. Vision casting is a large part of how I lead. It is a continual reminder of the course we have set out on and more importantly, the values that have determined that course. This is an ongoing practice of reminding us all of the theological underpinning or our vision and mission. When we are weary or veering off track, a rousing sermon can keep us going in the direction we have set out on. When questions are raised, a careful newsletter article can reframe the situations that we are facing. In a meeting where we are going around in circles, raising a thoughtful question can reframe the entire issue. I enjoy how this process calls on my intuition and creativity.
As a supervisor of staff, I begin with the foundation of team building. Communication must flow freely among church staff for us to be as effective as possible. We all must trust each other and have the best interest of the church as a priority over our particular areas or agendas. I must prove myself to be trustworthy and supportive so that members of staff feel safe being honest with me. A supportive staff environment geared to bring out the best in everyone is my priority. I empower people to share their gifts in the ways that work best for them whenever possible and I must put the health of the system before each individual. If we can communicate openly and with trust, all of the ministries of the church will benefit.
Shared ministry is essential to the well-being of our congregations and has deep roots in our history. The ministry of the church is not defined by the minister. We believe that each person in our congregations is empowered to be prophetic, to lead from within and to carry out the ministry and mission of the congregation.
Sometimes, ministerial leadership is merely about being willing to be a part of the team and help determine the next play. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty or wear a silly costume. I do not lead from above, but from within and among. Building relationships of trust is essential.
My leadership style is collaborative and facilitative. While I might facilitate and sometimes gently guide the process, it is the lay leadership that really determines the vision and mission of the congregation. I appreciate the value of questions in such processes as it can bring us in a new direction while still allowing the leadership to determine the answers.
Once we have articulated our vision and mission, my role is to help foster what is necessary to reach our goals and carry out our mission in the world. Vision casting is a large part of how I lead. It is a continual reminder of the course we have set out on and more importantly, the values that have determined that course. This is an ongoing practice of reminding us all of the theological underpinning or our vision and mission. When we are weary or veering off track, a rousing sermon can keep us going in the direction we have set out on. When questions are raised, a careful newsletter article can reframe the situations that we are facing. In a meeting where we are going around in circles, raising a thoughtful question can reframe the entire issue. I enjoy how this process calls on my intuition and creativity.
As a supervisor of staff, I begin with the foundation of team building. Communication must flow freely among church staff for us to be as effective as possible. We all must trust each other and have the best interest of the church as a priority over our particular areas or agendas. I must prove myself to be trustworthy and supportive so that members of staff feel safe being honest with me. A supportive staff environment geared to bring out the best in everyone is my priority. I empower people to share their gifts in the ways that work best for them whenever possible and I must put the health of the system before each individual. If we can communicate openly and with trust, all of the ministries of the church will benefit.
Shared ministry is essential to the well-being of our congregations and has deep roots in our history. The ministry of the church is not defined by the minister. We believe that each person in our congregations is empowered to be prophetic, to lead from within and to carry out the ministry and mission of the congregation.
“Elizabeth is well aware of organizational development and family systems theory as it applies to congregational life. She has been careful to establish a caring relationship with her congregation. She has educated and encouraged. Inviting leaders to learn, experiment and integrate some of these gifts of organizational insight. Elizabeth is able to work well with Boards and volunteers, lead and accept input from her members.” |
"From the very first meeting of the worship committee it was evident that we were in capable hands. Rev. Elizabeth immediately assessed our strong points and weaknesses and guided us in a direction that promised a more organized meeting structure with a mind to both long and short term goals. She helped us clarify our needs which in turn allowed us to move forward on issues which had previously left us either stuck or divided for some time. She kept us on track, held us to task and kept asking the hard questions." |
spiritual leadership
I am deeply committed to thoughtfully walking my own spiritual path. I have developed spiritual practices that feed me. I reflect theologically on my life both within and outside of the congregations I serve. In all of the ways that I communicate with a congregation as their minister, I attempt to bring us back to what makes this religious work that we are doing together. As a spiritual leader, my commitment serves as a model to others. While I consider myself wise, I know that our congregations are made up of wise people who are also committed to their spiritual journeys.
In our free faith, we have always been clear about the simple and small distinction between professional ministry and lay ministry. There is but one. Professional ministers have a degree. Our faith has always stressed that all have the same access to Truth. Ministers are not necessarily more enlightened or attuned with the sacred. We may have more time or resources set aside to develop our spiritual capacities, but they are the same capacities that we all share.
Everyone has the same access to Truth. We all share the same ability to grow spiritually. We have the same calling to share our wisdom and our gifts with each other. This brings a special humility to my role as minister. This is amplified by the fact that we attract such intelligent and well-educated people to our congregations. I strive to be a spiritual leader with intellectual prowess, knowing that there will be many people in congregations that I serve who will know more than I do. We attract people who have spent your lives learning and gathering vast knowledge. I find this to be a gift.
It is freeing to know that I am not called to dictate Truth from on high, but that I am called to walk with those who seek their own Truths and to speak the Truths that I have gathered along my way. We value shared ministry because we all are just as capable of spiritual wisdom as anyone else. Each of us is here to give something of ourselves to a congregations’ ministry. Each of us has unique and special gifts that we are called to share with each other, within the church and beyond those walls.
In our free faith, we have always been clear about the simple and small distinction between professional ministry and lay ministry. There is but one. Professional ministers have a degree. Our faith has always stressed that all have the same access to Truth. Ministers are not necessarily more enlightened or attuned with the sacred. We may have more time or resources set aside to develop our spiritual capacities, but they are the same capacities that we all share.
Everyone has the same access to Truth. We all share the same ability to grow spiritually. We have the same calling to share our wisdom and our gifts with each other. This brings a special humility to my role as minister. This is amplified by the fact that we attract such intelligent and well-educated people to our congregations. I strive to be a spiritual leader with intellectual prowess, knowing that there will be many people in congregations that I serve who will know more than I do. We attract people who have spent your lives learning and gathering vast knowledge. I find this to be a gift.
It is freeing to know that I am not called to dictate Truth from on high, but that I am called to walk with those who seek their own Truths and to speak the Truths that I have gathered along my way. We value shared ministry because we all are just as capable of spiritual wisdom as anyone else. Each of us is here to give something of ourselves to a congregations’ ministry. Each of us has unique and special gifts that we are called to share with each other, within the church and beyond those walls.
“Elka’s ability to reflect theologically, in her sermons, in our supervisory conversations, and even in meetings is one of her strengths. She has an understanding of a wide range of spiritual and theological traditions, both within and outside of Unitarian Universalism. She is theologically multi-lingual.”
-Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego