UU News

Monthly Newsletter of

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro

An Intentional Liberal Religious Community   April, 2012  

Worship Services,  Join us for Service each Sunday

Unless otherwise noted we have 2 services each Sunday:  our "Beginnings" Service at 10am which is a mulitgenerational offering, and our "Traditional" service at 11am where the topics listed above will be shared. 

 The season for elections is upon us.  As a UU congregation, we are many and varied in our beliefs.  We do not all speak as one.  

The theme that has arisen as important to the church is "Boundaries and Trust".  So where can and should we draw the line when dealing with political issues and personalities during a worship service?  We certainly cannot deal with political personalities in the service.  This would jeopardize our non-profit status.  However, many would call the worship service in a UU church a natural place to deal with political issues.  But again, we do not all speak as one.  To address an issue as if it is the body as a whole that agrees could be insulting to those that might disagree.  Just as we, by our natures, bring differing religious beliefs together on a Sunday morning, so do we bring differing political philosophies together.

This is not to say that we must have worship services that are void of all political thought.  But when the occasion arises to address a political issue, we need to be sure that we are approaching these issues under the umbrella of our shared spiritual nature rather than the dogma that might be attached by some political faction.   The boundary between the two is a soft line and should be gently approached.  As a church we can work together on issues that are congruent to our values and still respect individual freedom of belief.

Barbara Hands, Worship Committee Chair
Reverend Eric Posa, Interim Minister

Expressions

 April will be a busy month at our church. We begin with the celebrations leading up to Easter. This year, we will have two different special ceremonies, each celebrating very different aspects and perspectives on this season. In honor of Holy Week, in the Christian tradition out of which Unitarian Universalism emerged, there will be a communion service on Thursday, April 5 at 7PM, in the open table tradition of liberal Christianity. This means that everyone is welcome to participate - of every belief and identity - in sharing bread and wine/juice, in remembrance of one whose life and ministry affirmed the outcast, the stranger, the foreigner...affirmed all people. Then on Sunday, April 8, we will have our Easter Sunday worship service with our flower communion. This is a Unitarian tradition developed almost a century ago by Rev. Norbert Capek in what is now the Czech Republic. This year, we will practice the flower communion differently than in previous years: it will be  much closer to how Rev. Capek initially originated it, and we'll explore the deeper symbolism behind his development of this liturgy. As in previous years, though, we strongly encourage every church member and friend to bring one or more flowers to church that morning, for us to share in our flower communion.

As we move through this time of transition at UUCG, we are coming to see our church in a new way. Our Board of Trustees has approved a process for our church to examine its mission and vision, with the possibility of revising our mission statement, and/or developing a vision statement, for the congregation. The transition team and I will facilitate the first step in this process by hosting a gathering this Saturday, March 31, at our church. From 9 AM until Noon, all who attend will have opportunities to explore who we are as a church, who we strive to be, and what we are called to do to live out our ministry with one another and the larger community. The input we gather this day (and possibly in future gatherings, still to be determined) will be invaluable in guiding us to a new sense of our collective identity and purpose.

On a different note: every year, during the third week in April, the interim ministers in the UUA gather for our annual seminar. Because this gathering happens in my home state of Texas, I will not only be traveling to it, but will leave a weekend early to visit my mother who still lives in Fort Worth Texas. Thus I will be away from church for much of mid-April. (But I'm glad I get to return in time for Missa Gaia, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 22, and the Dance for Equality on Saturday, April 28!)

In faith,
Rev. Eric Posa

 

Notes from the Director of Faith Development 

From the Board Vice President Vance Archer

Uncommon Opportunities for you and yours

As members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, we each have several uncommon opportunities ahead that will really move our community forward. Please seriously consider your participation in these activities as a sacred portion of your commitment to our church and movement as expressed by your membership. If you are not yet a member, now is a good time to join our church and help direct our future.

During the past two years, our church's governance structure including the Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, our Council of Committees, Transition Team and Cultural and Governmental Task Forces have focused on implementing the recommendations of the Alban Institute report to our congregation. Together these groups are preparing our church for a new incarnation and direction. We are now approaching the time where our entire membership must make key decisions and take several clear steps forward in this change process. We will be preparing for these decisions in April and acting on many of them in May at our Annual Meeting.

Leadership Positions  

At our May Annual meeting we must fill important leadership positions that are key to our future. These include our next President and Vice President as well as the members who will lead our search for a new settled minister. The number of positions that need to be filled and the importance of these offices require our members to consider carefully the best persons available from our membership. The nominating Committee has asked the Board of Trustees for help in individually calling our membership to identify who, among our members, are best qualified and trusted to fulfill these charters. Please participate in this important survey and give careful consideration as to who you think should lead and represent us in executive leadership and our ministerial search.

Governance Structure Improvements

During the past several years, our Board of Trustees has changed its practices to improve transparency to church governance. For example, we now publish board reports before our board meetings. This gives both church and board members time to prepare for the decisions that we must make at our meetings. We also strictly adhere to the Democratic Rules of Order which gives us a clear structure for our meetings.  

However, our church governance structure has not changed to reflect the church we hope to become and some of the governance recommendations that arose out of the Alban Institute report are yet to be addressed.  The Governance Task Force and Board of Trustees are proposing a series of by-law changes at our Annual Meeting in May that directly addresses these recommendations. Please give them special attention and consideration.

Approving a Budget and securing our financial future

We must approve a budget and set our church's financial priorities in May. To date our pledge drive is well short of the pledges needed to both maintain our staff at their current hours and fund our search for our next settled minister.

By our May Annual Meeting, budget proposals based on pledged contributions will be considered by the Board and prepared for the members to vote on.  

If you have not yet made a pledge for the fiscal year starting in July 2012, you really need to make one. Although our church allows for membership based on a gift of record, this needs to be exercised only by members in truly special circumstances. Pledged giving by members of both abundant and limited means is needed to strengthen our precarious financial situation. Planned and sustained financial giving needs to be an important part of every member's participation in our movement.

Getting and Staying Involved in Community Life

During the remainder of this fiscal year and the next, our church will be preparing itself for our next settled minister. Our transition team and Rev. Posa will be hard at work leading us in a review of our mission, vision and direction. Your active participation in this creative work will make us stronger and ensure that your vision of our church is shared and heard. By going through this period of self examination, we will be better able to understand ourselves and find a good match in talent and concerns for our next settled minister. In our church of slightly over 200 members, your personal participation in committee, mission and program teams will result in a real impact on our community. Every member can make a significant contribution to the life of our community.

In Covenant

Vance

Congregational Vote April 15

At the board meeting on February 21, the board agreed to accept a Statement of Conscience against Amendment One. There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 15 to give the congregation an opportunity to take a stand about Amendment One. William Robinson from Protect All NC Families will be in attendance to explain the amendment.

The Statement of Conscience reads:

We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, believe Amendment One, on the May 8 ballot in North Carolina, violates fundamental human rights and proposes to write discrimination into our state constitution, a constitution that declares, "all persons are created equal," and "no person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws." Therefore the amendment should be opposed.

We strongly oppose this amendment for the following reasons:

• It removes rights from and threatens the health and domestic violence protections of North Carolina's citizens, LGBT and heterosexual alike by banning legal recognition for all unmarried couples.
• It threatens North Carolina's families' ability to protect and care for their family members through, for example, provision of insurance benefits, hospital visitation, establishment of wills and trusts, ability to make financial and medical decisions, and end-of-life arrangements.
• It threatens the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of all North Carolina youth and especially LGBT youth and the children of same-gender parents.
• It will dissuade new businesses from locating to North Carolina and discourage future business development in the state by not allowing employers to provide for their LGBT employees and families.
• It does not serve to protect marriage for anyone. Marriage for same-gender couples is already impossible by law. Disapproval of the amendment will not allow same-gender marriage. Approval allows a majority of voters to write discrimination of a minority into the Constitution.

We affirm the basic right of same-gender couples to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil marriage. We resolve to raise awareness of the discriminatory and harmful effects of this amendment and take all appropriate actions as a faith community to encourage voters in North Carolina to vote against it.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, North Carolina

April 15, 2012

Each month we need volunteers who can bake or buy cookies to be used as part of the meal we prepare and serve at the homeless shelter (Urban Ministry's Weaver House) on the first Monday of each month. Thanks to all of you who have already provided cookies. Please know they were really a treat for the folks at the shelter. If you would like to donate cookies for the April 2 meal, please let me know how many you can bring by emailing me at sharinfrancis@hotmail.com  Then you can drop them off at church on Sunday, April 1 or before. Please mark them for Weaver House and include your name. Thank you.

 

Compassionate Communications 

Learn to Speak Giraffe!  

Compassionate Communication Practice Sessions this month are Sunday, April 1, (9 am) or Thursday, April 5 (7 pm).  

You are welcome to attend if you have read Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication or seen his DVD.

Game night!

 WHAT'S YOUR GAME?

Tibet, China, and the Dalai Lama

On Friday evening, April 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary, Dottie Borei will present an informal program on "TIBET, CHINA, and the DALAI LAMA."  Dottie led a Smithsonian Institution group to Tibet last fall; after providing some basic information about the relationship between Tibet and China, she will illustrate the landscape, people, domestic and religious architecture of Tibet; open discussion will follow.   Refreshments--but not yak butter tea or sheep lung--will be available.  This program is a part of the adult religious education series.


 

At our annual meeting in May, the congregation will elect a new President, Vice President, two Board of Trustees members, and one member of the Endowment Committee. In January and February, the Nominating Committee will be identifying members to run for these offices. We are seeking members of the congregation who will provide strong leadership to help UUCG continue to make changes in our governance and culture to enhance the health of the congregation and help prepare us for a new settled minister.

If you have a desire to serve the church, know someone who does, or if you have recommendations for others, please contact a member of the committee and/or fill out one of the nomination forms that will be at the church on Sunday mornings in January and February.

On the fence? Thinking about running but wonder what serving on the Board is like? Talk with one of our current Board members; their names and photographs are on the bulletin board in the hall outside the kitchen. Talk with someone who has served in the past. You'll hear what a rewarding and, yes, at times challenging experience it is. Service to the congregation is an important way that we act on one of the 7 UU Principles, "the use of the democratic process within our congregations."

In addition, nominations for the Nominating Committee will be made from the floor and elected at the May meeting, so be thinking of and talking with people you believe would be effective members and willing to serve in that capacity.

Thank you for your help in assuring that UUCG has strong leadership in the coming year,

Dottie Borei (852-3608; drvborei@gmail.com)

Sue Cole (854-3346; suelyle@bellsouth.net)

Lauren Houck (542-5547; houck.lauren@gmail.com)

Betsy Lindsey (854-0730; betsylindsey1@gmail.com)

Cindy Williams (674-0535; cmmrw@triad.rr.com)

Thanks!

Last Month's Board Activities

• The regularly monthly Board of Trustees meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm starting July 2012.
• Bylaws changes proposed by the Governance Task Force were approved. These changes will be presented for approval at the May Congregational Meeting.
• Rev. Posa's contract was renewed for a second year.
• A proposal to allow directed gifts to be made to the settled ministerial search was approved.
• The Board approved the use of revenue from the Missa Gaia event to cover any expenses from that event. Any profit will go to the church's general fund.
• The Board approved the creation of a task force to consider developing a vision statement for the church and to evaluate the mission statement.
• The Board made a statement of conscience against the proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution.
• A Congregational Meeting has been called for April 15 for the congregation to consideration making a statement of conscience against the proposed amendment to the state constitution.

Birthdays this month 

Attendance and Collection

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 (2012)                                                                                       breeze1770@gmail.com 

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

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

Suzanne Deering (2012) 

UUCG STAFF

Congregational Contacts