New Minister Search Success

Welcoming the Rev. Matthew Funke Crary

July 2022

MVUU is pleased to announce our next settled minister Rev. Matthew Funke Crary. Rev. Matthew will join MVUU on July 15, 2022. He will begin preaching August 7, 2022. Get to know Rev. Matthew through his personal website by clicking here.

With Rev. Matthew as our new minister, we turn our eyes to the bright future that is in store for MVUU. We have welcomed a skilled leader, begun life in a beautiful new building, are hosting in-person and virtual services, completed a highly successful stewardship campaign, and are embracing all of our new visitors and members.

We also acknowledge the hard work of so many people who made this Minister Search and our celebration of Rev. Matthew possible. Three cheers for the Search Committee, the Hospitality Team, the Board members, the Greeters, the Pastoral Associates, and everyone else who had a part in this endeavor.

Welcome, Rev. Matthew Funke Crary!

Rev. Matthew

Sharing our visions together.

Welcome!

Celebrating our future together.

A Celebration

Expressing our joy together.

Stronger Together

Sharing this ministry together.

MVUU New Minister Search (2021-2022): Let’s Share Our Calling

Summaries from Our Congregation: Surveys and Focus Groups

From September to November 2021, our Ministry Search Team conducted a congregation-wide survey, as well as several focus groups, to better understand ourselves and our longings for shared ministry with a future minister. Over 70 people participated in our survey process and we hosted 9 different focus groups, including affinity groups for those who identify as LGBTQ+, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and for those actively parenting/families.
Overall, we recognize these themes in our longing for shared ministry together:
  • At MVUU, people value the experience of meaningful personal connections  as part of a liberal religious community that actively promotes self-growth and development. We are a people who change each other through our relationships and care for one another.
  • The story of us is balanced with who we currently are (a welcoming and loving congregation) with our willingness to grow into more (new building, new programming, continued excitement over potential growth as a liberal religious leader in Northwest Tucson).
  • In our future shared ministry, we want to build upon our deepened relationships and continue feeling valued by one another and our minister. We also look forward to building our organization on our shared values: open-hearted engagement, courageous love, and inspiring transformation. We want to be effectively engaging and transforming people in activities and programs, welcoming new members and growing in diversity and numbers, and finding financial balance and wholeness to sustain our mission.

Congregational Record

These insights, along with more information, are available in MVUU’s Congregational Record. An electronic version of this record, available for public viewing, can be found by clicking here.

Our Search in Videos: About Our Congregation

See us in action! The videos below provide a glimpse into life at MVUU. 

  • Blessing for the Search Committee (Click for video) – This blessing, given by Rev. Samantha Wilson, for our Search Committee invites us to remember to hold the whole, trust the process, and choose love.
  • Our Shared Calling: Ministry at MVUU (Click for video) – This service was led by our Search Committee, and reviews the themes of our congregational survey and cottage meetings through story, song, prayer, and reflection.
  • Meet Our Former Ministers! – Throughout January, Rev. Samantha interviewed each of MVUU’s three former ministers, inspired by our three new congregational values. The links below include the option to view the full service (with edited interview) or the full interview.