In case you've been asleep for many months, our country is now officially in a presidential election year.  One thing that we're sure to hear about from now through the general election in November is voter turnout.  If Iowa was a trend indicator, we may be experiencing a resurgence of democratic behavior among citizens of this birthplace of the modern democracy.

Unitarian Universalists claim a proud heritage in democratic ideals, as reflected today in our 5^th principle.  Boards of trustees elected by the members govern each of our congregations, and delegates from member congregations elect the governing boards of our associational bodies - districts and UUA.  What might voter turnout suggest about the health of the democratic institutions of our faith? 

Figures from the last two District Annual Meetings suggest we are a far cry from a vibrant democracy, although the recent year-to-year trend is encouraging.  44% of member congregations had delegates at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Little Rock - up from 36% at the 2006 Meeting in Fort Worth.  Yet, total delegates in attendance versus total allowed were a significantly smaller percentage: 25% in 2007 and 20% in 2006.      

And, who actually represents the member congregations when we meet to conduct the business of the District and Association?  It is reasonable to expect that congregations should be represented by settled ministers and elected lay leaders.  There were a number of settled ministers at last year's Annual Meeting, but only three congregational presidents among the 76 delegates representing member congregations.  I strongly encourage our congregations to help their elected leaders, particularly congregational presidents and/or incoming presidents, attend the District Annual Meeting and UUA General Assembly as delegates.

There's another dimension of delegate turnout that may be more indicative of the vitality of our Unitarian Universalist movement.  We not only exercise democratic ideals, we are a covenantal faith.  Our UUA covenant is grounded in the expectation that the leaders of our member congregations will come together regularly to provide mutual support and to chart our mutual course.  We find that the benefits to all multiply when congregational leaders gather and share together.  Congregational presidents surveyed at the UUA General Assembly have expressed great satisfaction and inspiration when provided the opportunity to interface with colleagues.  Invariably they find that their congregation's challenges are not unique and that other's experiences can often apply to their own situations.

Let's see whether we can match the spirit of this election year with an unprecedented turnout of congregational leaders at our 2008 Annual Meeting.  First UU Church of Austin will host our 2008 Annual Meeting & Spring Conference on April 25-27.  In addition to stimulating theme speakers and workshops, your SWUUC Board will host a forum for congregational leaders to listen and share views on the future direction and priorities for our District.  Your Board is engaged in the work of discerning the high level priorities or "ends" that should guide the focus of resources, programs and services of the District, and we intend for this work to be informed by dialogue with congregational leaders.

Have you heard the truism that when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail? I find an alarming number of folks walking around with their hammers and an inordinate amount of holes in congregational sheetrock. The most common example of this in my work is finding folks who believe that they have an answer to "fix" the congregation's problem. Because congregations are human systems, how could it be that simple? Even if you have a slide rule, a crosscut saw, and a food processor in your toolbox, chances are that actually identifying the "problem" is even trickier than finding the "answer."

            Few things in congregational life are as simple as problem/solution. In those cases, we have a clearly identified problem (the roof leaks) and some options to choose between for answers (fix it or get it fixed or buy a larger bucket). Other problems are easy to identify, but we (as leaders or an entire congregation) are going to have to learn something to find the answer. Still others are so challenging that we will have to learn new things to identify the problem properly before we begin our studies to find the solution. We call these scenarios "adaptive challenges" which sounds suspiciously like someone or something might have to change.

            In my experience, the real issues that nag at congregational leaders are usually what we call "polarities." They are not either/or propositions from which we are expected to make a selection. They are two ends of a continuum with each end having its own strong merits and serious drawbacks. I often find congregations trying to "decide" whether to grow or focus on the current membership, whether to appeal in worship to the head or the heart, whether to maintain the traditions of the past or try new things, whether to be led by clergy or laity. These are not either/or matters really.

            Our challenge as leaders is to get folks to put down their hammer long enough to see that we have to pursue the best of both and avoid the pitfalls inherent in each. When we explore polarities, we find that sinking into the less positive side of one end of a polarity is remedied by the positive aspects of the other pole. If we are so focused on ourselves that we have become unwelcoming, the joys of hospitality offer themselves as the solution. But if we fail to care for our current membership in the desire to get more names in the book, focus on community building will remedy this imbalance.

            I didn't have to tell you that leadership is a balancing act. I just want to remind you as we embark on a promising new year that the balance is not between those who want one thing and those who want another. Our congregations are not wishbones to be picked to the bone and pulled apart but bountiful banquets to be savored and cherished. It serves us well to call to mind the yin and yang of the Tao - neither driving out the dark or the light but holding them in perfect equanimity.

Mike is the new Executive Director of U-Bar-U.  He brings 15 years of UU retreat center leadership from Minnesota, Maine and the Council of UU Camps and Conferences.  He says, "The UU retreat experience is for the whole person, the whole family, and the whole congregation for their whole lives.  Come on down to the simple common good of the country."

At the present time, we meet for worship service two times a month.  We also have a large discussion group that meets twice a month as well as a book club, women's group, and have one or two social actives per month. 

We are actively working to find a permanent location and increase our worship service time.

For more information please Roe Mackey, 127 Stetson Trail, Georgetown, Texas 78633; 512 864 7948; roemackey@verison.net

Fourteen years after a few Unitarian Universalists began meeting in homes in west Fort Worth, Westside Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Worth announces the Building Dedication of the property they recently purchased at in south-central Fort Worth.   The dedication will be held Sunday, March 2, at 4:00 pm, and you are cordially invited to share in this celebration.

The Westside Story -

In March of 2005, fire destroyed the rented space Westside had leased for 9 years.  Westside met at Temple Bethel for the balance of 2005 and began sharing space with then building-owners Angel of Hope Christian Church at 901 Page Avenue in January of 2006.   In March of 2007, with the support of NTAUUS and Westside's members and friends, Westside accomplished a "first" with the purchase of real estate at 901 Page Avenue in historic Ryan Place.  As Westside approaches the one-year anniversary of closing on the purchase of 901 Page Street, they are dedicating their building and celebrating both the calling of a full-time minister and a more than 25% membership growth in the past year. 

Westside's new property was the home of Unity Church of Fort Worth for many years.  Angel of Hope, a progressive and welcoming Disciples of Christ church, bought the property from Unity and later provided a new home for a Montessori Pre-School previously housed at the adjacent St. John's Episcopal Church.  The Montessori Pre-School remains at Westside as a tenant and a fulfillment of Westside's mission.  Westside has worked on repairs and improvements to the interior of the building for the past year, and they will begin exterior repair and improvements this calendar year with the assistance of a Chalice Lighter grant.  

Westside had been served by one part-time and one full-time minister during two periods before calling Dr. Russell Elleven to part-time ministry in 2005.   The congregation is pleased to announce that Dr. Elleven has now been called to full-time ministry.

Westside has experienced membership growth in excess of 25% in the past 11 months.  In 2007 Westside reported 84 members and in 2008 will report 108.  Newcomers are plentiful at Sunday worship.  The warm welcome provided by the minister and congregation has encouraged many to return, and membership numbers have increased accordingly. 

Westside is poised to continue steady growth.  Please show your support of their efforts and celebrate their success Sunday, March 2, at 4 pm.  For more information, please call 817-924-6988 or go to www.westsideuu.org.

President: Joe Sullivan,

jesul96@aol.com, 281-342-8133, Thoreau UU, Stafford, TX

Vice-President: Lisa Jennings, lhkj@aol.com, 901-682-7838, First UU, Memphis

Secretary: Arlene Dormio, adormio@gmail.com, 870-935-9249, Jonesboro, AR

Treasurer: Donna Harrison, dmhfam@swbell.net, 210-804-0099, First UU, San Antonio

Director: Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, jonaluj@cs.com, First UU, Oklahoma City

Director: Ginny Gregory, ginnygreg@cox.net, 405-748-8690, First UU, Oklahoma City

Director: Ron Suiter, jrons2@sbcglobal.net, 817-858-0229, Horizon UU, Carrolton, TX

Director: Nathan Ryan, nathantheuu@yahoo.com, 214-236-4827, First UU, Dallas

Director: Lori Lass, loridouglaslass@yahoo.com, 214-826-8139, First UU, Dallas

Director: Rev. Craig Roshaven, First Jefferson, Fort Worth

Trustee: Rev. Burton Carley, uubdc@aol.com, 901-759-1848, First UU, Memphis

Youth Director: Miles McCullough; Little Rock, AR

Lifespan Faith Development: Jennifer Nichols, jnichols@uua.org

Administrator: Connie Nolen, swduua@aol.com

Please send electronic entries to brenda@firstuu.org and other submissions to 6720 Brentwood Stair Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76112 or fax to 817-446-1505.

Southwestern UU is published by the Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference, 6720 Brentwood Stair Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76112.  Issue Number: 2008, No. 1.