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Pullman congregation officially installs first settled pastor in nearly 5 years
After years of searching, Pullman’s Community Congregational United Church of Christ formally installs the Rev. Mike Bass, celebrating a new covenant between pastor and congregation.
By Megan Guido | FāVS News Reporter
Main Points
After being on the job for more than a year, the Rev. Mike Bass was officially installed as the minister of Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Pullman in May.
In the Christian tradition, after a period of discernment, the official installation ceremony indicates that there is a good fit between the congregation and their spiritual leader.
“Personally, and I think for CCUCC as well, installation culminates the long process of seeking a faith community to partner with,” said Bass.
It’s been a journey for Bass and the members of CCUCC to find this fit. After nearly five years of interim pastors serving at CCUCC, the search committee found Bass. This is the first “settled” pastor position for Bass, who prior to finding his call to ministry, worked in the environmental and air quality field.
Most recently, he served as the pastor of church administration at First Congregational United Church of Chris in Fort Worth, Texas. He was ordained in 2021 after receiving his Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University.
“My journey began long ago in discerning a divine call to pastor a particular congregation,” said Bass. “CCUCC’s journey began through the formation of a team to search for the next pastor to lead and guide CCUCC in its particular mission.”
Although the United Church of Christ does not have as many formal rituals as other Christian traditions, it does hold public ceremonies for ordinations and installations, said Sandy Evenson, CCUCC member and council moderator.
Unlike an ordination that only happens once in a minister’s career, an installation can happen every time a minister moves to a new church.
“The installation of a pastor is a ritual of exchanging promises,” said Evenson. “It’s a recognition that we all want to be part of a thriving community, committed to each other and supporting each other.”
The act of “installing” a minister can be traced back to ancient church traditions in which a minister is leading a cleric to their physical “stall” or seat in a choir or sanctuary. Some theological traditions trace back to farmstead or agrarian roots, in which the minister finds their home or place to care for their specific family or flock, a sacred or safe space.
Some pomp and circumstance marked the installation ceremony for Bass. Pastors from around the Pacific Northwest were invited to the ceremony and walked in procession into the sanctuary in their robes and stoles, Evenson explained.
She said that leading up to the day of the installation the congregation had been talking about the original covenants in the Bible.
“It was important for the congregation to experience creating a covenant together,” Evenson said.
The rituals of covenants to support one another as part of the body of Christ were displayed through promises made by the Acting Pacific Northwest Conference Minister Phil Hodson, who made a promise to Bass, along with the other area ministers to be in community and support him.
Bass then verbally made a covenant to the congregation that he would join in ministry and service together. Finally, the CCUCC congregation made a new covenant among God, God’s people (the congregation) and Bass. This included a “laying of hands” on the minister, which is a common tradition, said Evensen.
“We each put our hearts out there and a sacred wind brought us together,” said Bass. “It took a lot of time, energy and discernment to get to this point, yet I couldn’t be more thrilled to know this wonderful group of people and be a part of their lives on the Palouse.”
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