Dear UUCH Member,   This Saturday morning, from 9 am to noon, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in a workshop that will address the ideals and biases that we may have related to our next settled minister. This workshop, called Beyond Categorical Thinking, will be led by the Rev. Keith Kron who is the head of the UUA’s Ministerial Transition Office in Boston.   Beyond Categorical Thinking is a highly recommended part of the search process for our congregation. In finding the person who would be the best match for our minister, we could potentially overlook, or even let biases keep us from knowing, that a particular person would be the best match for us.   Other congregations have assumed that their ideal minister looks a certain way, and often ministers who are not white or male or heterosexual or able-bodied or of a particular age or class are discounted and seen as “less than” in some ways. Credentialed ministers in our faith who are People of Color, LGBTQ+, disabled, young, old, working class, etc. still face discrimination as part of the ministerial search process.   In our efforts to find the best match, our congregation will host a Beyond Categorical Thinking worship service and workshop on Saturday, August 17th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. We will have a chance to examine how we can avoid letting prejudice become a part of our search process. This is yet another way for us to put our faith into lived experience and improve the odds that regardless of identity, we will find the minister who is the best match for us and who will serve us well.   This opportunity allows the entire congregation fuller participation in the search process.  It will allow us to explore our hopes and concerns for a new minister, learn more about the search process, and see how our own history (both personal and congregational) might interfere with our efforts in this search.  So, come on Saturday to participate in this service provided by the UUA.   If you have any questions, feel free to contact Brad Korb  or your Ministerial Search Committee.   I look forward to seeing you Saturday!   In faith, Brad Korb, Chair Ministerial Search Committee