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Blogs:
Ohio Politics/Elections:
Boccieri Shows Up at Renacci Town Hall, Engages in Impromptu Debate
Cleveland Browns:
Nothing new on Wednesday's Browns/Bucs injury report
Marla Ridenour on Sports:
Browns find plenty of good men
Varsity Letters:
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The330:
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Tribe Matters:
Monday’s Tribe lineup
First Bell - On Education:
Report is filed on bus incident
The Heldenfiles:
TNT Orders "Dallas" Pilot
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PAWS Pet of the Week: Meet Autumn!
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Scott believes Cavs can still win
Akron Zips:
No. 1 UA secures 2-0 win over No. 3 Wake Forest
Kent State Sports:
Around the MAC–Week 1
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Orphans in Fondwa
Buckeye Blogging:
‘The Shoe’ is Open for Business
All Da King's Men:
"They Talk About Me Like A Dog"
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Endangering U.S. Troops To Regain Power?
Akron Law Café:
Losing Common Ground
Car Chase:
Free Glenmoor Gathering Tickets
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Gossip Girl
Sound Check:
Robert Wilson, Gap Band bassist, dies
See Jane Style:
Making It Up
HRLite House:
From the White House – New Federal Approach to Hiring
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 04:10 p.m. EST, Mar 12, 2010
When the Rev. Timothy Temerson completed seminary last May, he began searching for a job as a pastor.
The newly ordained Unitarian Universalist minister figured he would limit his search to the Boston area, where he lived with his wife of 22 years, Carol, and their 11-year-old daughter, Carissa. Their son Christopher, 20, was about to enter his junior year at Amherst College, a two-hour drive away, and Carol Temerson was comfortable in her job as an administrator at an engineering firm.
It just made sense to look for a church near home. As Temerson explored the profiles of churches looking for a pastor, he settled on six near Boston. Then, he and his wife decided to read some of the other profiles — and one jumped out at both of them.
''After we finished reading it, we looked at each other and I said 'That minister that they're looking for sounds like me'; she nodded and said 'Yes,' '' Temerson said. ''So we added Akron to the list of churches I would apply for.''
On Sunday, Temerson, 45, will be installed as the 20th settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. The special service is at 4 p.m. at the church, at 3300 Morewood Road in Fairlawn, across from Summit Mall.
Carol Dobbins, who chaired the search committee, said the congregation is excited about moving into the future with Temerson as leader. She said he has the ability to help the congregation live out its values.
''He has such a maturity about him and gentleness about him. He has a big heart and is so generous and thoughtful,'' Dobbins said. ''He's clear-sighted and articulate and he's very strong in social action. His sermons are inspiring and he is already helping to guide us in a direction that focuses on taking care of each other, the larger community and the world.''
Temerson was chosen by the local congregation last April, after a two-year period with an interim pastor. He began working there on Aug. 1; Sunday's service will confirm him as the permanent pastor.
Since then, he and the congregation have been getting acquainted with each other and exploring the church's mission and vision.
''I think we're going to do great things together. There is a thirst for spiritual growth in this congregation and a desire to reach beyond the walls of this church into the community and into the world to help others,'' Temerson said. ''I feel called to deepen and broaden the good work that is already being done here and I want to help create opportunities for everyone to live out their spirituality.''
Temerson was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fla. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science from Grinnell College in Iowa and MIT in Massachusetts. While studying for his doctorate in political science at MIT, he experienced a calling to the ministry. He left the doctorate program in 2004 and began his studies at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass.
While in seminary, Temerson interned with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and First Parish in Lexington, Mass.
''I was very active as a lay person at my home church [First Parish Church UU in Duxbury, Mass.] when I realized that I had been looking for a way to make a difference and I felt a connection in the church community that I wasn't finding in the doctorate program,'' Temerson said. ''I came to the realization that I could make a difference in the lives of others by leading them to this wonderful connection that I had found in the Unitarian Universalist Church.''
Unitarian Universalism encourages a wide spectrum of belief and includes a variety of religious and philosophical traditions, including atheism, agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, humanism, Judaism and paganism. Many members believe in God, but because Unitarian Universalists do not believe Jesus was divine, they are not considered Christians. The denomination employs a congregational form of government.
The local congregation, which traces its roots to 1835, established Buchtel College, the forerunner to what is now the University of Akron. Under Temerson's leadership, the congregation is focusing on its mission ''to promote religious freedom and social justice, celebrate diversity, provide a caring community and nurture lifelong spiritual development.''
Rich Roberts, director of religious education, said he believes Temerson's welcoming presence will help the church grow spiritually and in numbers. Since August, the church has welcomed 20 new members. It attracts about 250 people on Sunday mornings.
''He does little things that go a long way, like greeting people at the door when they arrive and letting them know that they are welcome,'' Roberts said. ''He knows how to bring people together and has done a great job integrating the children and youth with the entire congregation. He challenges us to bring the best that we have in service to each other, the community of Akron and the world.''
Temerson credits the congregation with his initial success, saying its quest to embrace diversity and its desire to become more engaged in the community (two of the things that attracted him to the church) make his job easier. His plans include expanding and strengthening adult religious education, pastoral care, social justice and community outreach programs.
''This is a wonderful community. We are a community of many paths and a community of seekers of love, justice and peace,'' Temerson said. ''I am looking forward to living out my calling as a caregiver here. I'm confident that we can work together to reach for spiritual depth and to live out our faith.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
When the Rev. Timothy Temerson completed seminary last May, he began searching for a job as a pastor.
The newly ordained Unitarian Universalist minister figured he would limit his search to the Boston area, where he lived with his wife of 22 years, Carol, and their 11-year-old daughter, Carissa. Their son Christopher, 20, was about to enter his junior year at Amherst College, a two-hour drive away, and Carol Temerson was comfortable in her job as an administrator at an engineering firm.
It just made sense to look for a church near home. As Temerson explored the profiles of churches looking for a pastor, he settled on six near Boston. Then, he and his wife decided to read some of the other profiles — and one jumped out at both of them.
''After we finished reading it, we looked at each other and I said 'That minister that they're looking for sounds like me'; she nodded and said 'Yes,' '' Temerson said. ''So we added Akron to the list of churches I would apply for.''
On Sunday, Temerson, 45, will be installed as the 20th settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. The special service is at 4 p.m. at the church, at 3300 Morewood Road in Fairlawn, across from Summit Mall.
Carol Dobbins, who chaired the search committee, said the congregation is excited about moving into the future with Temerson as leader. She said he has the ability to help the congregation live out its values.
''He has such a maturity about him and gentleness about him. He has a big heart and is so generous and thoughtful,'' Dobbins said. ''He's clear-sighted and articulate and he's very strong in social action. His sermons are inspiring and he is already helping to guide us in a direction that focuses on taking care of each other, the larger community and the world.''
Temerson was chosen by the local congregation last April, after a two-year period with an interim pastor. He began working there on Aug. 1; Sunday's service will confirm him as the permanent pastor.
Since then, he and the congregation have been getting acquainted with each other and exploring the church's mission and vision.
''I think we're going to do great things together. There is a thirst for spiritual growth in this congregation and a desire to reach beyond the walls of this church into the community and into the world to help others,'' Temerson said. ''I feel called to deepen and broaden the good work that is already being done here and I want to help create opportunities for everyone to live out their spirituality.''
Temerson was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fla. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science from Grinnell College in Iowa and MIT in Massachusetts. While studying for his doctorate in political science at MIT, he experienced a calling to the ministry. He left the doctorate program in 2004 and began his studies at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass.
While in seminary, Temerson interned with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and First Parish in Lexington, Mass.
''I was very active as a lay person at my home church [First Parish Church UU in Duxbury, Mass.] when I realized that I had been looking for a way to make a difference and I felt a connection in the church community that I wasn't finding in the doctorate program,'' Temerson said. ''I came to the realization that I could make a difference in the lives of others by leading them to this wonderful connection that I had found in the Unitarian Universalist Church.''
Unitarian Universalism encourages a wide spectrum of belief and includes a variety of religious and philosophical traditions, including atheism, agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, humanism, Judaism and paganism. Many members believe in God, but because Unitarian Universalists do not believe Jesus was divine, they are not considered Christians. The denomination employs a congregational form of government.
The local congregation, which traces its roots to 1835, established Buchtel College, the forerunner to what is now the University of Akron. Under Temerson's leadership, the congregation is focusing on its mission ''to promote religious freedom and social justice, celebrate diversity, provide a caring community and nurture lifelong spiritual development.''
Rich Roberts, director of religious education, said he believes Temerson's welcoming presence will help the church grow spiritually and in numbers. Since August, the church has welcomed 20 new members. It attracts about 250 people on Sunday mornings.
''He does little things that go a long way, like greeting people at the door when they arrive and letting them know that they are welcome,'' Roberts said. ''He knows how to bring people together and has done a great job integrating the children and youth with the entire congregation. He challenges us to bring the best that we have in service to each other, the community of Akron and the world.''
Temerson credits the congregation with his initial success, saying its quest to embrace diversity and its desire to become more engaged in the community (two of the things that attracted him to the church) make his job easier. His plans include expanding and strengthening adult religious education, pastoral care, social justice and community outreach programs.
''This is a wonderful community. We are a community of many paths and a community of seekers of love, justice and peace,'' Temerson said. ''I am looking forward to living out my calling as a caregiver here. I'm confident that we can work together to reach for spiritual depth and to live out our faith.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
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