The board voted to create a congregational task force, which is still forming, for ministerial application review. That group will consist of four congregants and three board members, and will be finalized by the board of trustees in mid-November.

Board of trustees member Sea Raven explained that the congregation is not looking for what's known as "settled" or permanent minister, at this time, but rather a "consulting" minister in UUA terminology. A consulting minister, she said, often hired on a part-time basis, first spends time working with the congregation on various issues the congregation may be struggling with -- and possibly could become the congregations "settled" minister, if both parties agree.

Stockman, following two, one-year "interim" ministers -- purely temporary positions, unlike consulting minister -- replaced the Rev. John Morehouse, who led the UUCF for 11 years.

Reached at her home in Vermont, Stockman declined to comment on her departure or the search for a new minister. Stockman resigned without pressure, Raven said, but nonetheless it comes at a difficult period in the Universalist Unitarian Association calendar, with congregations typically launching searches in the spring and summer.

Meanwhile, lay leaders, invited clergy, guest speakers and the Rev. Ron Graham, a former pastoral minister at UUCF will be handling sermons, Raven said.

Lora Powell, the UUCF director of religous education, said she believed the search process would not be disruptive for the congregation because many of the families have been through this process previously.

She stressed the most important thing at this point is to locate a consulting minister who can help the congregation -- which she said has strong lay leadership -- focus on establishing their vision and direction.

For example, she said, will the congregation focus on growth, ministry or outreach work?

"We're searching for a minister who will be a partner in that process," Powell said.

Powell said various programs at UUCF are expected to continue without interuption. Nor are services expected to suffer in attendance without a full-time minister.

"The santuary is still full, or near-full on Sundays, and the hallways are crowded afterwards with people gathering and talking," she said.

But, she said it could be 18 to 24 months before a decision on a settled minister is finalized.

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