Help Wanted:
Sabbatical Minister
(from Jan 2, 2026 to May 31, 2026 – five months)
Position Summary: First Parish Church in Weston is looking for a half-time Sabbatical Minister for the first five months of 2026 while their minister is away on leave.
This professional will provide spiritual leadership, lead worship on a regular basis, articulate the church’s vision, and provide some oversight of the congregation’s programs in collaboration with the Standing Committee (our board), staff, and other officers.
The Sabbatical Minister will host and lead worship, preach 2x per month, and respond to ongoing pastoral needs and requests. They will attend the monthly Standing Committee meeting (by Zoom if need be), meet with core staff 1x per week, and provide feedback, direction, and perspective to the congregation while Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell is away on sabbatical.
First Parish Church in Weston identifies as a Unitarian Universalist church in the liberal Christian tradition. We are a congregation anchored in the Biblical tradition but open to many forms of inspiration. We have a small but growing religious education program and are engaged with a variety of different ministries and charities in the Boston area. We have our own covenant (listed below) and say the Lord’s Prayer during most of our Sunday services.
Reports to: Standing Committee Chair and Standing Committee (our board)
Directly supervises: Parish Administrator, Associate Minister, Youth Coordinator, Director of Music and Organist.
Status: Part-time, 15-20 hours / week; Jan 2 – May 31, 2026 (five months)
Salary: $25,000 – $32,000 or approximately $65-75/hr, depending on experience.
Essential Functions:
- Provides worship coordination, advice, and leadership to guest preachers, while personally preaching and leading worship approximately 2x / month.
- Provides support to our Pastoral Callers group (our lay ministry team) in their pastoral care work, offering personal care in acute situations that require ordained ministry (such as death and dying).
- Advises the Standing Committee (our board) as a non-voting staff member, and meets with lay leadership to provide strategic oversight and priority-setting.
- Reports regularly to the Chair of the Standing Committee and Treasurer on matters relating to congregational health and cohesion, as well as relevant personal and personnel matters.
- Collaborates with the primary staff listed above on a weekly basis.
- Officiates at any memorial service or funeral that may arise during this time, especially if the Minister is out of the country.
Other Responsibilities
Office hours as needed. Staff meetings scheduled for Fridays at noon or another time. Standing Committee meetings on third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. Pastoral Callers meetings on Wednesdays once a month. Other committees as needed and interested.
Core hours suggested: Sundays 9 am-1 pm; one day at home or church for worship preparation; one day in the office. Hours scheduled to accommodate and best utilize sabbatical minister’s time. Two Sundays off during the term of employment.
Provide feedback, observations and any recommendations to Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell and lay leadership re: programs and congregational dynamics at the conclusion of their work in Weston.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree and Masters of Divinity (MDiv) degree.
- Ordained Unitarian Universalist minister or a minister ordained from a comparable denomination.
- 5+ years of parish ministry experience, including experience working with families experiencing the death of a loved one.
- Demonstrated preaching, leadership and interpersonal skills.
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Interested colleagues should call or email the Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell, Senior Minister:
jeffbarzsnell@firstparishweston.org
781 893-7798
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The Covenant of the First Parish Church in Weston, UU:
(a version of the Ames Covenant)
In the love of truth and the spirit of Jesus Christ,
We join for the worship of God and service to humankind.
First Parish Church in Weston, U.U. is an equal opportunity employer and a great place to work. We are a Welcoming Congregation.