UU News

Monthly Newsletter of

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro

An Intentional Liberal Religious Community   May, 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. 

Expressions

 No it isn't strange,
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same.
- Paul Simon, "The Boxer" (from the "lost verse")

Many of us know the song "The Boxer," made popular over 40 years ago by Simon and Garfunkel's recording of it. Less well known is the verse omitted from that recording, a verse which Paul Simon has frequently added when performing the song solo. I'm surprised by the omission. I've loved the song since childhood, but when I first heard the lost verse, I was struck by the depth of its insight into the character narrating the song lyric. (The "lost verse" can be heard in the recording from Simon and Garfunkel's 1981 concert in Central Park.)

That verse has sounded in my head as I've thought about UUCG in recent days. Significant changes are coming in the life of this congregation. Faced with a dramatic budget shortfall, and the possibility of cutting staff hours across the board (for the third year in a row), your board instead found a different direction. On the advice of our Director of Faith Development (DFD), Beth Walden, the board's recommended budget maintains this year's level of compensation for our Congregational Administrator and Director of Music, but not for our DFD. In other words, under this proposed budget, Mark's and Julie's positions maintain the same number of hours and pay, but Beth's position will be cut dramatically. This will necessitate a re-definition of the position, starting in July, to Religious Education (RE) Coordinator, with much more limited duties than the DFD position currently has. This was a difficult decision, one which many of us regret (myself included). Yet I must applaud our board for its willingness to make a very hard decision. They have clearly acknowledged the value and importance of our religious education ministry, but recognized that of all our staffing areas, the RE program was the one most sustainable under reduced staff hours. I especially thank Beth Walden for her insight into the program, and her willingness to put the needs of the whole church above her individual welfare.

Another change deals with the future of our professional ministry. Yes, I am returning next year, to serve UUCG into the summer of 2013. Plans had begun to enter search for a settled minister to be called in 2013. However, our budget shortfall leaves us with no funds for the search process. Also, while our Nominating Committee worked diligently to form a slate for the Search Committee, circumstances beyond their control left them unable to complete that task. (This is NOT a negative reflection on the Nom. Com. - I doubt any group of people in their position could have formed the right slate for the church at this time.) So for now, the board has voted to delay forming the Search Committee. The board and I will hold a mini-retreat in early May to consider our various options. These include a new ministry option, that I learned more about at a recent interim ministers seminar. I hope to have more info for you all after that mini-retreat.

This may be surprising or disappointing, but I do believe these changes are healthy for the congregation. They appropriately address the current reality we face. And, while they may be limiting in the short term, I also believe these changes are opportunities in the long term. They cause us to look ahead in new ways, separate from our old habits of how we have viewed our professional leadership in the past. My hope is that in the coming year, we can consider deeply what these short-term changes do (and do not) tell us about the long-term future of UUCG. Let us discern together, after these changes upon changes, what is good to remain more or less the same, and what changes are good to embrace. I look forward to joining with you in that discernment.

In faith,
Rev. Eric Posa
 

Notes from the Director of Faith Development 

Members and Friends of UUCG,

This past month the Lifespan Religious Education Committee has been gathering information about our program with the goal of having a snapshot of our stories, success, and growing edges.At this point in our process we'd like to ask you, parents, children, friends, and members of the UUCG community to take a few moments to fill out a brief survey.There are three surveys to choose from (see the links below); one for parents/guardians, one for children (parents please help your child fill theirs out!), and one for members and friends of the congregation at large.We'd like to ask you to have yours filled out by May 13.

Thank you for taking the time to share your voice!

Peace to you,

Beth Walden and the LRE Committee

Survey for Parents with Children in UUCG's Religious Education Program

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KXSP5SH

Survey for Children and Youth in UUCG's Religious Education Program

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/83BBNZX

Survey for Members and Friends of UUCG's Religious Education Program

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/83Q79YZ

From the Board President Jim Kalinowski

Charlotte F. Hamlin

How long have you been a member of UUCG? 6 years (since 2006)

How long have you been a Unitarian Universalist? 23 years (4 churches, one fellowship)

List your current committees/projects:

Board Member

Chair: Governance Task Force

Choir

Cabaret Auction Donation Team Leader

Gr8 tUUnz (women's barbershop octet)

Describe your past church work:

a)    UUCG:

Founder of Cabaret Auction and chair for 4 years

Chair, Fundraising Committee

Member, Membership Committee

b)    Other UU Churches:

Board Member

RE Director and Teacher

Fundraising Chair

What motivates you to serve in a leadership position at this time?

It is my view that UUCG is at a crucial juncture in his history and development right now as it considers important changes in its organizational structure and congregational climate and initiates the search for a new settled minister. Having served on the UUCG Board and worked with the Governance Task Force for the past two years, I believe that my understanding of UUCG, its mission, organization and membership needs would be valuable to the congregation and Board in making important decisions to help the church become stronger and grow. My perspective gained from previous membership in four other UU congregations of various sizes might also be useful.

Please add any other personal information you want to include:

I retired from full-time administrative work at Guilford College in 2001 after 20 years serving as chief student life officer and director of continuing education and professional development at four colleges and universities. A Duke graduate, I have a Master's degree in Counseling and Ph.D. in Human Development and Counseling. For years I taught at the elementary and the college levels and still teach Interpersonal Communication and Interpersonal Communication at Guilford College on a part-time basis. I also present professional development workshops for a wide range of clients on leadership and teambuilding, communication skills, and intercultural competency and have become a professional storyteller since retiring. I am divorced with two adult children and two grandchildren. My family roots are in North Carolina, but I grew up in Southern California, lived in Denmark and England for 7 years in the 1960s as well as Charlotte and Pennsylvania for many years before moving to Greensboro in 1991. I love to travel in the United States and abroad whenever possible.

April 13, 2012

Michelle Lee

I have been a member of UUCG since 2004.

I have been a Unitarian Universalist for 43 years.

List of current committees/projects:

• Board Trustee
• Labyrinth Taskforce member and walk facilitator
• Policies and Procedures Committee chairperson
• Spirit Play lead teacher (pre-K - 2nd)

Lists of past church work:

UUCG

• Worship Committee chairperson
• Sabbatical Committee member
• Council of Committees recording secretary
• Strategic Planning Committee member
• LRE (Lifespan Religious Education) Committee member
• Congregational Culture Taskforce member

Training

• Continental Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) leadership training
• The Mountain School of Congregational Leadership
• 5 religious education (RE) training modules including Spirit Play, Multigenerational Worship, Teacher Development, Multiculturalism and UU Identity.

Denominational Involvement

• Thomas Jefferson District youth representative
• Summer staff at The Mountain
• Delegate to TJD Annual Meeting 2009 & 2010
• Attendee 2011 General Assembly, including 9 governance-related workshops
• Presenter at the 2011 Spirit Play Conference

A passion for the Unitarian Universalist faith and a commitment to UUCG motivate me to continue serving in a leadership position at this time. I value social justice and equity, community peace and diversity, and spiritual exploration. I believe in our potential to both nurture ourselves and to heal the world.

I am a self-employed pet groomer and homeschooling mother of two boys, Logan (11) and Ryan (7).

Dennis Hands

How long have you been a member of UUCG? since 1994

How long have you been a Unitarian Universalist? since 1994

List your current committees/projects:

I help organize the ushers for worship services

I help prepare the Orders of Service for worship services.

Describe your past church work:

Member and Chair of the Personnel Committee (1995)

Member of the Fellowship Committee (1996)

Member of the Board of Trustees (1996-1999)

Founder and Business Manager of the Softball Teams (1998-2007)

RE Teacher and Substitute (2000-2001)

Chair of the Nominating Committee (2001-2002)

Chair of the Usher Group (2001-2002)

Vice President of the congregation (2002-2003)

Member of the "Raising the Roof" Task Force (2003-2004)

President of the congregation (2003-2006)

Chair of the Denominational Affairs Committee (2006-2007)

Member of the Committee on the Ministry (2008-2010)

Member of the Presidents' Council (2006 to the present)

What motivates you to serve in a leadership position at this time?

The long-term financial security of this church is important to me and I want to help.

At the congregational meeting on April 15th, the members voted to accept this Statement of Conscience: 

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 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

Compassionate Communications 

 Compassionate Communication (CC) Practices will be held Thursday, May 3rd (7 pm) & Sunday, May 6th (9 am). A new Introduction to CC class for beginners will be held Thursday, June 14 & Thursday, June 21 from 7 to 8:30 pm. (Signup sheet is next to the kitchen.) If you haven't been able to attend an earlier Intro to CC class, this is your chance! 

Thanks!

LPCA Two Year Anniversary Report 

LPCA is committed to providing a confidential, caring response to the needs of members and friends undergoing stressful life challenges. Please refer to the Care Tab on the UUCG website for further program description and contact information or visit the Care Table in the sanctuary. You may request our assistance any time by completing a request form, emailing, or making a phone call. Information on the second and separate arm of the UUCG Care Program, the Care Team chaired by Suzanne Andrews, is also available on the UUCG website.

Since the LPCA program began in March 2010 we have responded to direct personal requests, and we have followed up on concerns expressed in 'Joys and Sorrows' in Sunday services. We are also working with the minister to share some of the pastoral care needs which come directly to him, especially at the times when he is unavailable. In addition to the Minister's pastoral care,

we have made contact with more than seventy-five congregants.

Fourteen trained associates are involved in the program and were formally commissioned by the minister during the Sunday service on October 3, 2010. Associates and the Minister meet on a monthly basis for mutual support, to plan programs and to discuss specific needs of our congregation and extensions.

We have expanded our responsibilities to provide workshops for members and friends of UUCG.   In October of 2010 we held the first workshop for those who were either unemployed or under employed. Since that time we have held two additional workshops, Suicide Prevention Awareness in 2011 and Depression in 2012, conducted by outside professionals. All of these were well received and attendance has been very good. We continue to see positive effects from these initiatives. Our group expects to sponsor additional workshops on such mental health issues as abuse and addiction.

During the period when UUCG was without a minister the LPCA had responsibility for the church pastoral care along with managing the Minister's Discretionary Fund. Several times we helped facilitate memorial services for members and friends.

We continue to develop a file, listing available resources of community agencies and professionals that individuals can call upon, which we will share with those needing specialized assistance.

LPCA is committed to standing with others in challenging situations, and to do what we can to help. Please let us know if LPCA can be of assistance to you or someone you know.

Janet Eley and Liz Harrell

LPCA Co-chairs

April 5, 2012

Last Month's Board Activities

There will be a special board meeting Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00pm to make a budget recommendation for the May congregational meeting.

·The board recommended supplemental bylaws changes to be voted on by the congregation.

·The board approved moving the regular monthly board meetings to 7:00pm on the third Tuesday of the month starting in July.

·The board decided to delay the search for a settled minister and forgo the election of a search committee at the May congregational meeting.The board will have a half-day retreat on May 5 to discuss the options for a ministerial search.

·At the May meeting, the board will decide on:

• using the plate cash from the 2nd Sunday of the month and dedicate it to our Ministerial Search
• forming a taskforce to consider the church's mission and vision
• approving the charter for the LRE committee
• approving work on a storm water control plan

Birthdays this month 

 Mike Bridges, Chris Carter, Caroline Cook, Kerry Farley, Joyce Herbold, Ken Hitson, Ian Perkins, Phoenix Harmony, Marianne Royle and Sheldon Ziss.
 

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