Leadership Council October Update
Over the past year, representatives from the McDougall Leadership Council have participated in meetings with the Joint Vision and Planning Group that was created under the 2025 MOU for our Shared Ministry Team collaboration with Red Deer Lake and Ogden communities of faith. At McDougall’s October 8th Leadership Council meeting, council members approved the following recommendations from that joint leadership group on behalf of McDougall United Church.
That the name of the “Joint Vision and Planning group” be changed to “Joint Advisory Council” with the mandate to make recommendations to the three boards/councils related to the vision and direction of the Shared Ministry team collaboration.
That we create a Joint Hiring Team to proceed with the search for a 20 hours per week First Third Connector for the Shared Ministry Team with the goal of hiring by January 1, 2026. The First Third Connector will primarily serve the demographic of children, youth, young adults, and families with young children.
That Rev. Danah Cox’s hours be reduced from 30 hours per week to 20 hours per week effective January 1, 2026. This returns Rev. Danah to his original 20 hours per week Call to McDougall United Church at the end of the end of the 2025 MOU. Rev. Danah has been consulted extensively on this change and proposed this timeline to make way for the hiring of 20 hour per week First Third Connector for the Shared Ministry Team.
Council also agreed with the recommendation from the Joint Advisory Group that we use the funds made available through the UCC Restorative Care Program to hire a temporary minister for 30 hours per week during Rev. Joanne’s projected 12-week medical leave in early 2026.
McDougall Council Co-chairs are planning to hold a Town Hall meeting sometime in late November or early January to share more detailed information regarding these updates. In the meantime, if you have any questions or are looking for further information/clarification please contact Daren Patterson (daren.denise@gmail.com) or Joanne Pritchard (jmpritchard@shaw.ca)
To learn more about Leadership Council, please visit our webpage.