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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
700 Marion Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
http://www.uccsalem.org

Please describe your site.
First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, celebrated its 154th year of life and service in 2006. Located in downtown Salem, just 4 blocks from the Oregon Capitol, this historically progressive church of over 400 members is experiencing a period of growth and vitality in every aspect of its life. We are an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, as well as a Just Peace Church. Those aspects of our theological understanding help create a diverse and tolerant congregation, in which acceptance of diverse theological understandings and spiritual journeys is respected and celebrated. Our staff typically includes two pastors, choir directors, organist, custodian and office team reflect diversity. We are currently in a search for a new associate pastor and a director of education (children and youth focus). We are a church of open doors, open minds, open hearts and open hands. There is a vital and loving spirit here, in this multi-generational congregation. And we also have a sense of humor!

Please describe the scope of the internship.
Goals
Our overarching goal would be to provide an intern with a diverse and well-rounded experience in ministry, including worship, education, youth activities, mission and administration. Within each of these areas, there would be specific goals appropriate to the project assigned. The particularities of each project will be negotiated with the intern. The objective would be to give the intern a sense of the minister as "generalist."

Tasks we would suggest:

• Education - the intern will be put in charge of our Summer Sunday program, developing themes, choosing resources, recruiting and equipping lay leaders. Summer Sunday is what we call our activities for young children (up to grade 5), after they leave worship, part way through the service. This is usually a 30minute activity, and supplants their regular church school education, which takes place in fall-winter-spring. Also, we have a 5-day Summer Day Camp for age 3 to 5th grade. This day camp, (3-hour morning time) has focused on themes such as diversity, peace making, freedom. It is highly activity based, but includes scripture and music with tons of opportunity for creativity. The intern would take part of the responsibility in this.
• Worship - the intern will attend and occasionally participate in, and observe the preparations for worship; will be asked to design a summer worship service; will be asked to preach if that is deemed appropriate by both parties. If the intern brings a special gift (music, drama, art, dance) to worship life, opportunities will be sought for the expression of that gift in worship.
• Youth Activities - The intern will work with our volunteers in youth ministry - with likely assistance from an associate pastor or other staff member. These activities might include youth group meetings, special summer events, and chaperoning the summer work service trip. It could also involve planning some camping and hikes, etc.
• Curriculum Development- This summer, we will call an educator as a new member of our staff. Our goal during the summer will be to shape and outline a curriculum in the broadest sense of that word that describes and defines our goals and objectives with children and teens, birth to teens. This would present a Lilly intern with an excellent opportunity to work with the Educator and Pastor, as well as our Christian Education Board, in thinking about developmentally-appropriate goals, topics, biblical content, experiences, etc. Involvement in this project might be of interest to students who are thinking about becoming a teacher, psychologist, etc.

Typical week
We aren't exactly sure how to describe what a typical week for a minister looks like. The needs and demands of the parish ebb and flow, and the shape and content of each week vary somewhat with the program or activity immediately before us. We would like the intern to work on Sunday, since worship is the centering force of the congregation... the place where we connect to the Spirit and one another. We will insist that each week include a generous amount of time off for rest, re-creation and reflection.

Supervision
The intern will be supervised in 2007 by the Senior Pastor - Gail McDougle - with likely assistance from an associate pastor who may be arriving to be on our staff at that time. The presence of an associate pastor does depend on the search and call process and / or the continued presence of the current interim associate.

Theological and Vocational Reflection
Both pastors, will provide theological and vocational reflection time. The Church Council voted unanimously to seek this internship placement, and expressed clearly their concern that we "do it right"... knowing that the entire church has the responsibility to covenant with this person in this learning/discerning process. If the intern requests a broader support group, it would be possible to add laity to the reflection time with the ministers.

Vocational Questions
· Is parish ministry what I seek?
· Do I sense that I am a generalist, or a specialist?
· Where am I on the theological spectrum?
· Where is my comfort zone?
· How much guidance do I seek?
· Am I a team player? To what degree?

Gifts, Skills, and Experience
We seek an intern who really wants to explore church life and her/his relationship to it as a "staff" person... who brings enough maturity to the task and the questions to be able to give leadership to teens and children... who is not afraid to try new things or make mistakes... who likes questions... who is confident enough to be flexible and creative... who is a team player... who can tolerate two fairly hard-working pastors who enjoy their work... who is a person of faith with a sense of humor.

Logistics
Driving would likely be helpful. If housing is needed, we could certainly find some options. We would like the internship to begin June 1 and end August 15, 2007.

The above description has played out differently with each of the five Lilly interns we have been privileged to have here at First Congregational Church, Salem. What we have learned is to meet with and discern the gifts and interests of the intern; and then sculpt his/her particular portfolio of responsibilities and experiences accordingly. For example, if an intern is interested in a social issue, we find a way to allow him/her to pursue that interest in the context of this faith community. Or, if an intern is interested in teaching adults, we work to set that up in a summer schedule. So, FLEXIBILITY is a way of life that we value and practice... especially when we are negotiating a job description with a Lilly intern. We believe that when the intern is happy about his/her focus, the church ends ups being happy as well!
Gail McDougle, Pastor

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