Rev. Arif departing from First U
News –
Rev. Arif will be leaving First U, and we extend our gratitude to him, and warmest hopes for what comes next on his journey
From Rev. Arif:
Dear First Universalist Church,
I’m writing to let you know that over the course of my time away, I realized that the time has come for my ministry with you to come to an end. My time with you has been so many things. When I began as Assistant Minister in 2019, who could have known all that was ahead. COVID, racial justice uprisings, a time of change and trauma. Together, we’ve moved through many staff transitions – people leaving, and new people joining the team. We showed how “we’ve got this, together” during Rev. Jen’s time caring for family. We have experienced a lot with each other, and while I may have appeared steady on the outside, inside, it was taking its toll.
I’ve also come to realize that moving from member of the congregation to being one of your ministers has come with particular challenges – in particular, significant challenges for me in maintaining the required distance that helps to prevent heartbreak and burnout. Best practices in our association recommend against this movement from member to staff or minister. While I and we set forth on this path with the best of intentions and every reason to believe we could find a pathway through, what I’m more and more realizing is that I’m not able to create that essential distance and that without that distance I can’t be effective in my role with you.
I’m proud of the work that we’ve done together, and while I’m sad to leave, I know that this is the right choice for me and for any future ministry I might have. I look forward to an opportunity to wrap up my service to the church and hope to have some time with any of you who’d like in the next few weeks. I’ll be in church Sunday morning starting on Sunday, April 27th, so we’ll have a chance to connect then, and if you’d like to connect one on one, please just let me know.
With gratitude for our shared ministry,
Rev. Arif
From Rev. Jen:
Beloveds,
I am arriving at this moment with you with all kinds of mixed emotions. There is gratitude for Rev. Arif’s clarity, for his self-awareness and care for himself and the congregation with this decision. There is gratitude for a congregation that has offered this time and space—and the compensation that goes with it—for the care and discernment of its leaders. There is gratitude for the chance to be on the journey of leadership with Rev. Arif for these last almost six years, and there is grief that we won’t be on the journey together in the same way going forward. There is also a pause in me, stopping to bear witness to someone so wise taking the time to reflect and be open to the change that is natural and needed. I’m grateful for Rev. Arif’s continued ministry among us, even and especially as he prepares to leave this role. I invite you to join me in the mixed emotions I imagine you must be feeling, too.
And there are some things I want you to know.
This has not been a hasty decision. Rev. Arif and I, along with David Pyle, our regional UUA support, and Jeff Snyder, President of the Board, at points, have been in conversation about what Rev. Arif and the congregation need over the last several months. We come to this moment with hours of care-full consideration and shared discernment and we are moving forward through this change together.
Being a religious professional and being a person who heard their call to ministry as a member of the congregation they are now serving comes with particular pressures, especially in this moment. Rev. Arif has been listening deeply to the call on his spirit, and he is following it with courage.
Rev. Arif will be around! He will be in worship with us on Sundays starting on April 27 and going through May 11, 2025. You can schedule time to meet with him individually or as part of a group. We will celebrate his ministry and send him off into this new chapter with our love at Community Dinner on May 14th, and in worship on Sunday, May 11th. Each of us has our own way with goodbyes. Whatever your way is – a quiet conversation, a note, a party – lean in and join us as we say thank you and goodbye.
Rev. Arif will follow best practices, and after his departure will not be in contact with the congregation for a period of 3 years. Rev. Arif’s family will remain a part of the congregation. As they navigate this new reality, you can support them by honoring both their privacy and their own individual needs and independent relationships with the congregation.
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie, Minister Emerita, used to say at memorial services here: Each new loss rings the bell of every loss we have ever known. The echo sounds in our souls, and the pain of old losses can emerge again when the new ones come. This hurts, and it also gives us a chance to heal. May this time of transition, this time when the cycle of life is turning for Rev. Arif and for this congregation, be a time of healing and gratitude and care, even as we grieve.
Thank you for your care of this congregation, of Rev. Arif, and each other, in this time of transition. Each day and each way we choose is an opportunity to build and practice being the Beloved Community of transforming love and justice we dream about.
In gratitude,
Rev. Jen
From Jeff Snyder, Board President:
Beloved Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I write to add our voice to the conversation about Rev. Arif’s upcoming departure from First Universalist. While we receive this news with mixed emotions, we hold deep gratitude for Arif’s ministry among us.
Those of us who have served on the Board during Rev. Arif’s tenure have benefited immensely from his presence. His skill in framing complex issues brought clarity to our discussions and decisions. His extensive knowledge of governance principles strengthened our work as a board and helped us navigate challenging situations with thoughtfulness and integrity. We particularly valued how Rev. Arif helped us grow as leaders committed to racial justice.
Board members often remarked on Rev. Arif’s sharp wit and good humor, which lightened our meetings while keeping us focused on what mattered most. His generosity with his time…whether in board meetings, committee work, or individual conversations… demonstrated his deep commitment to this congregation and its mission.
We join with Rev. Jen and the entire congregation in celebrating Rev. Arif’s ministry and supporting him in this transition. We invite you to participate in the upcoming opportunities to express appreciation for his contributions and to wish him well in his future endeavors.
In gratitude and service,
Jeff Snyder
President, Board of Trustees
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
Q: Will Rev. Arif be following the no-contact rule for departing ministers?
A: Yes, Rev. Arif will refrain from contact with congregants for three years, until June of 2028.
Q: What about Rev. Arif’s family? Will they still come to church?
A: Rev. Arif’s family are welcome to continue to participate in the congregation as members of the church. Church membership and participation is an individual commitment, not a familial one. We ask that you respect these boundaries and not inquire with Rev. Arif’s family about his choice to leave his ministry with First Universalist.
Q: Why are so many people leaving the church? It feels like we’re losing staff all the time!
A: Staff transitions are a normal part of church life. People conclude for all kinds of reasons that their time with the church has come to an end. The church is not the staff or the ministers of the church, it is the congregation. Just as members come and go, so do staff and ministers. Departures give us an opportunity to practice gratitude for the time that we’ve had with people, and to practice release as we let them go.
Q: What is Rev. Arif’s last day at the church?
A: His last day of work will be May 14. He will be at worship every Sunday between April 27th and his last day—please come and wish him well!
Q: What happens next?
A: Rev. Arif is available for one-on-on conversations, and will be at church on several upcoming Sundays (4/27, 5/4, 5/11). He is looking forward to connecting with you, and to this time to share gratitude and goodbyes. Plans for his gratitude and goodbye gatherings are still underway, and will be shared with the congregation as soon as they are in place. We do know that on Sunday, May 11, the congregation will formally release its call of ministry with Rev. Arif, and we’ll also have a chance to celebrate with Rev. Arif at Community Dinner on Wednesday, May, 14th.
Q: What happens next with staffing, and who will lead our ministry of pastoral care?
A: We are grateful that Rev. Laura Smidzik will stay with us, supporting and leading our ministries of pastoral care as we make this transition. It will take some time to assess our congregation’s needs and resources for ministry, and we are grateful for Rev. Laura’s ministry among us during this time. Thank you for welcoming her into the congregation and to your hearts.
Q.: Will Rev. Arif’s departure change our fundraising needs for the fiscal year starting in July?
A: No. We still need staff to cover many parts of Rev. Arif’s ministry portfolio. Even as opportunities for shared ministry continue to expand, we continue to need ministerial leadership in pastoral care, faithful action, governance and staff leadership.
Q: Where should I bring questions or concerns I have about this transition?
A: You can reach the Board here: boardchair@firstuniv.org and Rev. Jen Crow here: jen@firstuniv.org. We’re here to listen and move through this time together.