The two-year search process that led to the Rev. Allison Palm cost the church $18,518, compared to the $24,000 that the congregation budgeted. The search committee spent $7,596 during our first "year" (from March of 2013, when the search committee was elected, through May of 2014). During our second year (June of 2014 through May of 2015), we spent $10,922.

The cost of the eight neutral pulpits was 64 percent of the total, or $11,784. Candidating week represented 18 percent, $3,387. The Beyond Categorical Thinking (BCT) workshop and search committee retreat were each 8 percent, $1,566 for the BCT workshop and $1,470 for the retreat.

Details

The BCT workshop was a facilitated, one-time, church-wide event that helped us identify and explore the inherent biases we hold about those who are different than we are. It was held in November of 2013.

The search committee retreat was a one-time event, held in April of 2013, when the newly-elected search committee met with our Ministerial Settlement Representative (MSR), Olav Nieuwejaar, to learn about the search process and organize ourselves.

The majority of the expenses we incurred for the BCT workshop and candidating week were for catered meals.

The cost of the neutral pulpits consisted of the travel expenses for the ministers and their families and two restaurant meals with the search committee: dinner Friday evening and lunch after the neutral pulpit service on Sunday.

The travel expenses were approximately three times higher during the second year of search, due largely to additional airline flights. The first year, we needed only one reservation; the second, we booked four (two ministers and spouses). Also, one of the pre-candidates the first year did not require a hotel.

Additional Costs

The above summary represents the expenses that were charged to the church. However, there were other out-of-pocket and indirect costs that the members of the search committee and other congregants donated:

• Saturday breakfast and lunch with the pre-candidates on the neutral pulpit weekends,
• gifts for the pre-candidates and our candidate,
• gas to and from the neutral pulpits for the search committee,
• hosting fees for the congregational website and search committee blog,
• refreshments and meals during the cottage meetings, candidating week, search committee meetings, and other events.

Carol Houde donated the use of her comfortable office — with Wi-Fi — which was our "home away from home" during the many hours of collaboration and deliberation, our Skype calls with ministers, and our meetings with the pre-candidates.

While the cost of our ministerial search was nearly $20,000 — higher because it extended from one to two years — the expenditures were prudent. We strove to balance New Hampshire frugality with graciousness and hospitality, as we represented this church to the ministers who were interested in serving us.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to any one of us.

Laurie Goodman, Kathy Grossman, Steve Hedges, Carol Houde, Donna LaRue, Gary Lerude