A Welcome Message from Rev. Anastassia
Dear UUCA,
I am so honored and delighted to be called as your minister with co-equal standing to Rev. John Crestwell. It isn’t lost on me that this is a historic moment: you have your first “senior” minister who is African American; your first “senior” as well as a settled minister who is a woman; the first time UUCA is engaging in formal co-equal ministry; the first time in Unitarian Universalism that this type of shared ministry is created by one new minister joining an already settled minister. As Rev. Fred told me, this is another moment when UUCA is the trailblazer congregation for our larger faith.
That acknowledged, to me this moment seems more intimate than historic. I appreciated our open, heartfelt conversations last week. The large, present hope that was so palpable and joyous; as well as the trust you demonstrated in talking about your frustrations and pain points. This is the ministry that drew me in: relational. I, too, am looking forward to the future we will create together, in *covenant*. There will still be a period when I am settling in, but your ministerial transition period is almost finished and the next chapter shall begin.
I begin with you on August 1. In the meantime, I will be working to have a good goodbye with my current congregation and to help my family and children move and adjust to our life in D.C. and Annapolis. While my UUCA email, azinke@uuannapolis.org, will remain active, I will not be responding to any emails, though I will read them in August. I will be in periodic correspondence with Rev. John and the staff so that we can begin work smoothly once I start.
Thanks so much for this great joy and opportunity.
Yours in ministry,
Rev. Anastassia Zinke
To schedule an appointment with Rev. Anastassia Zinke, click HERE.