When to Call the Minister

The reality is that, unlike some ministers I have made my home phone number and my cell phone number and my email address widely available. You can call or email me anytime.

I tend to stay up late and sleep late, due to a schedule that involves lots of night meetings and activities. If you don’t catch me in person, leave a detailed message, and also alert me if it is a time sensitive emergency.

Having said that, it seems like a good idea to remind you of some times when you should definitely get in touch with me.

Many years ago UU minister Peter Lee Scott wrote a column called "When to Call the Minister." In the intervening years, his column has been adapted, messaged and added to by others. Here’s the latest version:

CALL THE MINISTER WHEN...

• When you don’t know me, but would like to.

• When you have problems you would like to discuss with your job, children, marriage, or anything else where a sympathetic ear might help.

• When you are going to the hospital or know of someone else in the congregation who is.

• When someone close to you has died or is critically ill or you’re dealing with a significant loss of some kind.

• When you are planning to be married or divorced.

• When you would like your child dedicated.

• When you are pregnant and glad you are or wish you weren’t, also if you want to be pregnant but aren’t.

• When you feel ready to join the congregation.

• When you have concerns or suggestions.

• When you have religious or spiritual questions.

• When you are seeking to deepen your spiritual life.

• When you are upset with me or would like to express appreciation.

• When you have won the lottery and want to make a large donation to the church.

To add a little humor, Rev. Marilyn Sewell (minister of First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon) adds several reasons NOT to call the minister:

• When you want to giver her "the real scoop" on another member.

• When you want to explain that you’ll have to cut your pledge in half because you are spending the summer in the south of France.

• When you want to tell her you didn’t like what she wore in the pulpit last Sunday.

• When you want to tell her that one of the reasons you are a UU is that you have always distrusted organized religion. (Our church is, after all, a part of organized religion).