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“It is a good time to come because you will have a hand in beginning to formulate the next 10 to 20 years out. It’s an opportunity to have a voice in what’s going to happen. Our vision is to reformulate what we’re going to do and where our involvement is going to be.” -E. Neil Hunt, Interim Senior Minister, United Church of Marco Island

Whether you’re new to the island or just visiting and looking for a worship service that fits your needs, United Church of Marco Island could be right for you.

Last summer, E. Neil Hunt’s phone rang in Nobi, Michigan. When answering the call, he had no way of knowing that on that day, he would be helping to lead a once very comfortable, extremely “settled” church in Marco Island, through a time of healing and change.

“I had served at a church up North, in Michigan, for 20 years,” Hunt says. “I was their first full-time senior minister.”

Hunt knew the pastor of the United Church of Marco Island (UCMI), Joy Baumgartner, because they had worked together in the past.

“At one point, I had mentioned to her that if I ever retire and her seasonal associate wasn’t working there anymore, she should give me a call,” Hunt says. “What’s wrong with that? Up north in the summer, down here in the winter!

Hunt had retired in Michigan on May 21, 2006 and Baumgartner called soon after.

“Joy asked me if I would be the seasonal associate here,” Hunt says.

HARMONY OSWALD / Eagle staff

Marco Island Church of Christ welcomes back seasonal members and invites newcomers and visitors to “Catch the Spirit,” which describes a spirit of change at the church this year.

So, last October, Hunt made his way to the island, agreeing to serve alongside an old friend. All went as planned, until shortly after the first of 2007, when long-time Reverend Joy Baumgartner made an announcement that would bestow an “awakening” upon a congregation that up until that moment, was so comfortable, so set in it’s ways, that perhaps, perhaps ... it really was time for a change. Ten years after she took the position, and without further ado, Baumgartner announced that she would retire in April. Feelings of confusion and uncertainty set it.

“Anytime a minister leaves like that, there are a lot of feelings that go along with it and the congregation needs time to heal,” Hut says. “When she announced she was going to retire, the church knew they were going to need an interim.

Members of the church began to look at resumes.

“I had done the first week of the necessary two week ‘interim training,’ already,” Hunt says. “The church asked me to do it. I said yes.”

Since May 1, 2007, in addition to helping members cope with the loss of a trusted pastor, Hunt’s duties have included working with members to establish “who they are” as a church and “where they are headed” in the future. The final step will eventually be the search for a new face — a pastor to lead the way for UCMI. According to Hunt, there’s plenty of work to be done before getting to that point.

Submitted photo

Women from the Marco Island Church of Christ work at the Christmas Bazaar in December 2005.

“We’re waiting for some seasonal folks to get back,” Hunt says. “In the first part of November we’re having leadership retreat for a couple of days and we will begin to look at our history as a church and get congregational input as to who they want to be.”

Hunt explains that every church has a different flavor and different ministries that they do, which are vital to their congregation.

“We just want to pick those out,” Hunt says. “A minister can have the best idea in the world, but if it isn’t where the church wants to be, it’s not going to fly.”

Currently, Hunt says he is dealing with changing attitudes and the different spirit of the church.”We have to integrate those who’ve been up north and have not participated with us since May,” Hunt says. “Our theme for this fall is ‘Catch the Spirit.’ So as folks return, getting back into life at UCMI, we’ll help them catch the new spirit that’s here.”

Submitted photo

Marco Island Church of Christ Easter sunrise service in 2004.

According to Hunt, in the last decade United Church of Marco Island seemed to have become very comfortable with it’s way of doing things. The activities, the ministry, the schedule became all too familiar. Looking back, he says day-to-day business seemed to have become exceedingly “predictable.” But where there was nothing, now there is something. And Hunt says, the transformation taking place at UCMI is nothing less than extremely exciting.

“The church is beginning to catch that vision of what change can do and they’re getting excited about who they are, Hunt says. “That’s where that theme is coming from, ‘Catch the Spirit!”

One change that Hunt plans to implement is more involvement by members of the church.

“I am not a minister that’s “top heavy; I want the congregation’s input and they have to be involved in the process,” Hunt says. “Are we going to just reach out, sending checks out there or do we want to get the congregation involved? And if we do that, what do they want to be involved with?”

UCMI’s goal is to take 340 ideas from 340 members and create one vision. They hope that discussions and meetings will help them to arrive at a variety of options where people can serve. The idea, Hunt says, is to offer people things they are interested in so they can feel good about getting involved. He is trying to match people’s interests to various activities.

One example he gives involves a group of men who meet periodically to build a Habitat for Humanity house because that is what they are interested in.

“They don’t want to be preparing a meal in a soup kitchen — that’s not their thing,” Hunt says. “They’re into cutting lumber and hammering nails — that’s what they want to do.”

Hunts goal is to have something for everybody so that they can all be a “vital part” of the life of the church.

“That’s what we’re doing.” Hunt says. “A new pastor will have their hands full, but it will be exciting.”

UCMI currently reaches out to the community through the Bargain Basket thrift shop, offering those in need an opportunity to purchase donated items for sale at discounted prices. Members are also working on their 10th house for Habitat for Humanity. UCMI’s Stephen Ministry offers Christian care to anyone who may be grieving, under tremendous stress or in any other type of crisis situation. Church ministries also support Adopt a Family Christmas Tree, Global Ministries in Afghanistan, Immokalee Child Care Center, Pace Center for Girls and many others.

Hunt says that this leaves a wide horizon for a new minister.

“They should help the congregation further narrow their vision, and perhaps find other ways to get involved,” Hunt says. “Someone new to the island, new to retirement and new to Southwest Florida, might feel they’ve had quite enough ‘new’ and would like something permanent they can count on.”

Hunt says that they offer both things.

“We offer a fresh perspective on being a mainline Protestant church,” Hunt says. “We are a place for everybody, a melting pot. We’ll help you understand what it is you believe.”

•••

United Church of Marco Island

320 N. Barfield Drive, 394-6572

www.ucmarco.org

Sunday service: 10 a.m. (adults and children)

Sunday school: 10:15 a.m.

Baby room available in Sanctuary

Communion: First Sunday of each month

Interim Senior Minister: Dr. E. Neil Hunt