The interim ministry search is complete! Read on for info about the process, learn about our candidate, and watch her video introduction!
Interim Ministry and the Hiring Process
Interim ministry is typically a two year period. It is a time for reflecting on our history, developing our mission and vision, and strengthening our connections. Our goal was to find the best guide for the journey.
We had 6 applicants (the maximum allowed by the UUA). They were all excellent. They represented all genders, sexual orientations, ages, multiple racial / cultural backgrounds, and are currently living in a diverse spectrum of the country. They all gave great sermons, had strong pastoral skills, a passion for social justice, and all the other characteristics we would want in a minister.
We reviewed their applications, interviewed them all, and heard from 30 references. While we believe that all 6 candidates would have served Northlake well, we are especially thrilled that we “matched” with this candidate. At the end of our interview with her, we all felt soothed, healed… wrapped in a warm spiritual embrace. We are excited to introduce her.
Brigitta has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology from Westminster College and received a MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University in 2013. She has over ten years of experience in higher education and regulatory affairs, including as Director of Compliance and Ethics.
Brigitta’s inspiration for considering ministry began at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lafayette, Colorado, where she served as a lay leader. Brigitta completed a chaplaincy internship at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission hospital and was a faith-organizing intern for Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) where she led community safety training and contributed to The Word Is Resistance podcast.
She has additional trainings and certifications in many topics, including: psychological first aid, suicide prevention, cultural competency, chaplaincy and the environment, spiritual care for people with disabilities, bystander intervention, decentering whiteness and UU Youth. She has particular expertise in community safety activities, congregational safety, and de-escalation.
After graduating with a Masters in Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in May 2023, Brigitta was the ministerial intern for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix. She then continued work there as a spiritual wellness chaplain.
Brigitta’s time at UU Phoenix was quite eventful. There were 13 funerals in 12 months, some that were incredibly tragic. The church was a target of alt-right harassment and threats. Their congregation was a hub for collection of petitions to protect and expand abortion access, which often brought pro-life protestors to their sidewalk – Brigitta’s role was to maintain safety and prevent harassment between protestors and congregants. One of her methods was to ask the protestors open-ended questions to redirect attention away from conflict towards compassionate, non-judgmental listening.
A story from a reference about Brigitta’s first day at UU Phoenix: The lead minister had been asked to attend a school board meeting where they would be discussing no longer working with a private teaching school that required an anti-LGBTQ commitment from its student teachers. The lead minister sent Brigitta. A bunch of Proud Boys were there to protest. The reference said “I was immediately impressed with how unflappable Brigitta was… She had prepared a 3 minute speech and showed up in her collar” to talk about how important it is that LGBTQ children feel safe in our schools. Brigitta continued to show up to support them and chaperoned GLSEN’s Pride Prom. That same reference says that she told “a beautiful [Time for All Ages] story about, instead of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, embracing a 5th option: Flock. . . getting grounded to co-regulate and support each other.” Watch it here.
A colleague says “Brigitta has a beautiful worship presence. When she gets to the pulpit, people’s heart rates slow down and you know that you are ready for a grounding, spiritual process. … Brigitta has infused spirit and heart and healing into [our services]. From her improvised prayers that weave in the joys and sorrows just spoken to her somatic body practices to [using] bells and singing bowls to create sacred space… she has taught us how to be more spirit-led.” See a sample sermon here.
“Brigitta has a really sharp theological mind, observing how people are making meaning in their experiences and contexts and pulling together threads of stories to … what is happening in the broader world.”
Meeting Rev. Brigitta
Her work with us will begin in August. We are hoping to have either a Zoom or in-person meet and greet before then, but plans are still to be determined. Stay tuned.
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who helped – the Board, staff members, congregants who responded to our survey and shared their thoughts in conversation with us. Thanks also to the Committee on Ministry for its independent work conducting listening circles; planning for those discussions was not related to the search process, but the rich, positive feedback folks shared was very helpful when compiling our outreach packet and when talking with candidates. We kept all your input firmly in mind throughout the process.
Your Interim Search Team – Janelle D, Sarah G, Chris K, Janet K, and Des P
