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Expressions

From Rev. Eric Posa

"So who's in charge around here?" Good question!

Actually, it's a tough question for any Unitarian Universalist to answer about one's church. We have a tendency within Unitarian Universalism - NOT intrinsic to our religion, but widespread in our church culture - to "question authority." While that can be quite appropriate, sometimes we engage this tendency so intensely, that our potentially-healthy critical view of authority figures - minister, staff, board, significant givers, long-time leaders - devolves into a shrill, knee-jerk anti-authoritarianism. This rush to reject any appearance that one person/group in a church has any authority over another, is an emotional reaction to "being told what to do" that inherently loses its supposed critical rationality. Such knee-jerk anti-authoritarianism also plays into any number of control issues that some folk in any church may have: preventing someone disliked from influencing church life, and/or keeping open space to "have a say" on church matters that may not directly influence these folk, etc. These controlling behaviors do not just illuminate a lack of trust in a congregation; they prolong and magnify the mistrust, by blocking us from acting trustworthy with one another.

This is the bad news about leadership in a UU church - and (sometimes) it really is this bad. But the good news is it is not always, nor necessarily, like this. At our best, we UUs practice a healthy balance of leadership among minister(s) and various lay leaders. We most often refer to this as "shared ministry," where ordained and lay people come together to lead the ministries of the church, and each respect the leadership offered by the other. Part of what this means is that lay leaders share much of this work among themselves, and open leadership opportunities to participation from other people in the church. During the interim ministry period, one of the congregation's tasks is to "navigate changes in lay leadership." Roles tend to shift and change during an interim period; this is usually healthy, so long as a church allows for it: experienced leaders let go of their long-held positions; newer people are encouraged to come into positions for which they have particular gifts, skills, and interests; and the roles and expectations of various leadership positions are clearly articulated & communicated.

Here at UUCG, some wonderful work toward this goal is already beginning. A new Leadership Development Team has formed, a sub-group of the Nominating Committee. This team is working to encourage a more intentional and focused development of our lay leadership. Possible activities for this group range from offering lay leadership training workshops, to exploring ways to match individuals to lay leadership opportunities based on the unique strengths and passions of each member. This marks an important move for any church, away from an anxious scramble to fill open slots with warm bodies (a trap many churches fall into), to deeper discernment of how individuals, their leadership gifts and callings, and the whole church can come together to offer not just leadership development, but spiritual development as a leader. A brief introduction to this team can be found in this newsletter. I am excited to work with this new team, and this shared ministry we enter together, that truly can serve to help us navigate changes in leadership with grace and intentionality during this interim time.

From the Board Vice President Vance Archer  

Adult Religious Education

Donate Peanut Butter

Leadership Development

Leadership Development Team Startup

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro has started a leadership development initiative at the request of The Board of Trustees. The team has met several times and is planning a pilot to develop a training initiative for those interested in leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro. The team includes:

Rev. Eric Posa
Katie Klod
Abby Donnely
Lonnie Houck
Jac Grimes
Steve Pearsall

This team has committed to:

Develop key resources to nurture the long-term health and vitality of the congregation's leadership pool through developing the critical behaviors and qualities of good leadership and the development of leadership competencies toward our mission and covenant.  

If you have any questions or comments, please speak with any of the team members.

Standing on Ceremony: the Gay Marriage Plays 

Thanksgiving Dinner 

Breakfast with Santa

Join us for a scrumptious breakfast and a chance to hang out with Santa! Bring Mom, Dad, all the kids and oh yes, Grandma and Grandpa too along with your camera. Why stand in line at the Mall when you can get fed and visit with Santa in a casual relaxed atmosphere!

Adults $7.00
Kids 12 to 4 $4.00
Kids 3 and under FREE.

This is a fund raiser for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro general fund.

New Member Signing Opportunity 

Denominational Affairs 

1. Collaborate with Policies and Procedures Committee to complete relevant sections about church self-governance and management policies and practices for the Policy Book. This would include consulting with Rev. Posa and church staff as they prepare a Personnel Manual that would include current job descriptions, planning/goal-setting procedures, supervisory lines, responsibilities for key standing committees and an annual performance appraisal process to assess outcomes and recognize staff contributions to church mission.
2. Continue work with the Vice President and Council of Committees, and Rev. Posa to develop an integrated church organizational chart with clearly defined roles and boundaries in terms of authority and accountability to effectively and efficiently fulfill both Governance and Ministry functions. We consider it vital to establish a clear and accepted definition of "reporting" as unclear lines of authority for staff, committees, groups and the Board have been identified as structural and communication problems at UUCG in the past. This structural work will include examination of other UU church governance structures and the role and responsibilities of the Minister (as CEO, Chief of Staff, Consultant or other role) in preparation for a future search for a Settled Minister. Interviews with past board members and representatives of other churches and UUA "Best Practices" are part of this work.  Rev. Posa, Hope McLean and I attended a workshop on Nonprofit Governance led by a Wake Forest law professor which was very informative.
3. Gather suggestions and make recommendations for changes to UUCG Bylaws for consideration by the Congregation in 2012. In addition to the indemnification/liability statement for Board members already proposed, we will ask the board to issue an invitation to other committees, task groups and church staff and congregants to recommend areas of the Bylaws where they think additions, changes or clarified language would improve organizational effectiveness in accomplishing UUCG's mission. Next spring we plan to hold open discussions on the proposed Bylaws changes and on the meaning and expectations of being a UUCG member, including financial support through pledging and donations, church service, and involvement in church activities that advance the church mission and build community.
4. Continue to explore Leadership Training opportunities to involve a wider cross-section of church members. We are pleased that the Board has asked the Nominations Committee to sponsor a Lay Leadership program to draw into church governance a larger cross section of members, new and long-standing. We also recommend that a New Leaders Orientation Training workshop should be held each fall. We are considering as a Bylaws change that the name and scope of the Nominations Committee be changed to Leadership Development Committee to emphasize  long-term focus on strengthening layleadership.
5. Institutional Memory/Archiving Records update:  Sharin Francis reports that good progress is being made on scanning and filing important church records. Thanks to volunteer help and Julie's hard work the project is nearing completion.

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UUCG Covenant 

• Promote a search for personal meaning, respecting individual truth in a community process of quest
• Speak and act with caring, courtesy and love thereby maintaining emotional, physical, and spiritual safety for all
• Support UUCG and denominational efforts with our resources
• Combat injustice while promoting equality
• Nurture our children on their spiritual journeys
• Hold ourselves to this covenant, especially during times of conflict and disagreement

UUCG OFFICERS 

TRUSTEES

Michelle Lee (2012)                                                                                          nc.dogwood@yahoo.com
Breeze Dunham                                                                                                 breeze1770@gmail.com 

Stephanie Blake (2014)                                                                                       cicciblake@triad.rr.com 

Myra Anne Geese Dean (2014)                                                                    myraannegeese@yahoo.com
Steve Andrews (2013)                                                                                               sand3420@aol.com  
Charlotte Hamlin (2013)                                                                                         chamlin1@triad.rr.com 

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