Ministerial Search Committee News
Cottage Meetings have changed. The available times are now: Sun, 9/17: 8:45 – 9:45am (Sun, 9/24: 11:15 is full, not cancelled.) Thurs, 9/28: 12-1pm Sat, 9/30: 2-3pm Sun, 10/8: 8:45-9:45am & 11:15-12:15 All meetings are one hour long and will take place at Bowman Hall. If you have not signed up yet or need to change times, contact Liz Volz at: warmandwise@gmail.com. Share your opinions! Be a part of this important Search! UUFD members and friends make a difference in our Ministerial Search process. During September and October, please participate in the following upcoming opportunities, to ensure your voice has been heard: FOCUS GROUPS/COTTAGE MEETINGS You will be encouraged to share more deeply your thoughts related to selecting our new Settled Minister. The Focus Group/Cottage Meeting schedule is as follows: All Focus Groups and Cottage Meetings will last one hour and will be located in Bowman Hall. Cottage Meeting sign-ups will be available after Sunday services. OCTOBER OPPORTUNITY/HEADS UP We will be hosting a workshop facilitated by a UUA trainer – either “Beyond Categorical Thinking” (BCT) or “Breaking Barriers, Building Beliefs” – to be scheduled one of the final two October weekends. Issues around race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, disabilities and health concerns, and sexual orientation will be addressed. The whole congregation is encouraged to participate; MSC members are expected to attend; and congregational leaders are strongly encouraged to attend. Hosting the workshop signals to members and potential ministers alike our commitment to full equality and ongoing learning about anti-racism and anti-oppression. We are committed to this thorough process with transparency throughout, in covenant and with confidentiality when necessary. We take this mission seriously and look forward to sharing this continuing sacred journey. Your MSC members: Allison Andersen, Bonnie Miller, Connie Jacobs, Lisa McCorry, Liz Volz, Sheryl Guy, and Tim Miller Two significant opportunities are coming up in August and September for UUFD members and friends to provide important information to the Ministerial Search Committee. In August you will be invited to complete a Congregational Survey and answer questions that will uncover more clearly who we are, what we value, and what we see as our challenges and opportunities. The survey results will be shared with the congregation and will be included in our ministerial search packet. In September the MSC will be hosting Cottage Meetings (open to all) and Focus Groups (invited participants connected to specific responsibilities e.g. Board, staff, worship team…) where you will be encouraged to share more deeply your thoughts related to selecting our next Settled Minister. This information will also be shared and will be included in the ministerial search packet. Later in the Fall, on an October date to be determined, we will be hosting a program facilitated by a trainer from the UUA. We will be assigned either “Beyond Categorical Thinking” (BCT) or “Breaking Barriers, Building Beliefs,” the latter an update to BCT that includes some learnings from the UUA Commission on Institutional Change. Issues around race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, visible and invisible disabilities and health concerns, and sexual orientation are addressed in the workshop. The whole congregation is encouraged to participate; members of the MSC are expected to attend; congregational leaders are strongly encouraged to attend. Potential ministers are encouraged to seek out what a congregation learned. By completing the program, congregations send a message to all their members and potential ministers about their commitment to full equality and ongoing learning about anti-racism and anti-oppression. Watch for more details in coming: Each person makes a difference in this search process as you fully participate in opportunities to make your voice and perspective be heard.