The month of June was filled with discussing and developing both short term and long term goals for our church based on our new mission statement. On June 18, the Prudential Committee met for a day-long retreat to discuss longer term goals for our church. Mary Frandsen, who worked with Sarah to organize our day, wrote a very thoughtful report which is attached. As Mary noted, your Prudential Committee spent their day thinking of each of you and what longer-term, five-year goals should look like for our church. The Prudential Committee is always appreciative of your input and thoughts. This is an exciting time for the church.
Mary Frandsen writes:
On June 18th, the Prudential Committee met at the lovely 18th century farmhouse of John and Diane Mirick in Princeton for a retreat. Our Minister, Sarah Stewart, wanted the group to set long term goals for the church, with our new-stated mission in mind, to help guide the work of those leading church ministries including herself, Deborah Levering, Director of Faith Development Ministries, and Will Sherwood, Director of Music. The responsibility for achieving the goals also extends to those supporting the ministries of our children and youth, the office staff, our sextons, lay leaders, and most importantly, to the entire congregation.
Mary Heafy, a New England Region Unitarian Universalist Association Facilitator, led the retreat. Mary is a skilled and dedicated lay leader for the UUA who came to the May Prudential Committee meeting to meet us and get a sense of our congregation's culture. That meeting was followed by a phone call with Mary, Sarah, and myself, Head Trustee of Parish Funds, to identify goals for the retreat. We discussed church history including long standing traditions, practices, and significant events. The recent challenges of having several ministers in a few years compared to our history of extended tenures entered the conversation. Clarifying the leadership role of the Prudential Committee and Sarah's desire for overarching, mission influenced, long term goals to be implemented church-wide became the focus.
I have to admit, I was skeptical. After attending many similar events with different organizations, I was concerned this lofty achievement was not possible. And even if we did define goals, they never would be implemented or evaluated. What about all the "voices" in the congregation that wouldn't be present? What if we disagreed? Was I "giving up my Saturday" for a conversation that would end that day?
I gave freely that day. Enthusiastically. Hopefully. Meaningfully. So did everyone else in the room. I left feeling inspired that the work we did and the goals we set were worthy. Though there were only nine "voices" in the room, the entire congregation was present. Respectful discussion ensued taking into account the varying experiences that bring members and friends to First Unitarian Church, our role as your elected leaders, the church's past and future, and the church's membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association. We considered your needs and wishes as individuals and as a congregation. We thought about First Unitarian's position in the larger community and hopes for our children and youth. Frequently, we reflected on our mission to Honor the sacred, Connect with each other, and Serve justice. Mary Heafy, through her experienced leadership, kept us focused not on "how," but on "what matters."
The five-year goals we developed based on our new mission statement are:
Members, friends, children and youth of the First Unitarian Church will engage in the mission and goals of the congregation. To carry out its mission, First Unitarian Church will:
- Create a diversity of modalities of spiritual experience for members, friends, children and youth
- Build relationships with diverse mission partners in Worcester
- Ensure that all participants of our faith development ministries are able to articulate their faith and apply it to their daily lives
- Develop ministries which overcome loneliness among participants
- Ensure that newcomers, new members and established members report higher levels of welcome and connection
- Expand and deepen opportunities for charity, service, justice for members, friends, children and youth
Now the real effort begins. The whole congregation will work together to define the "how" of these goals. My mind, and I assume that of others present, was flowing with ideas to achieve the goals and objective measures for evaluation. I encourage you to find your personal calling in these goals and join others in reaching them. I know it will launch your experiences at First Unitarian Church to a deeper, more meaningful level. That is what happened for me on June 18.
The weather was magnificent. After our work was accomplished, we walked to the Mirick's meadow full of buttercups and scanned the stream of water for beavers. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.
In addition to this longer-term goal-setting, the Prudential Committee has continued the church's practice of setting annual goals. On June 5, a caring, hard working group of leaders and future leaders met after the service to help set short-term goals for the next year for our church. Those goals have been forwarded to the membership committee, the worship committee and the social justice committee and the stewardship committee for review, discussion, and action. The goals will be published for review by the whole congregation soon. The Prudential Committee always appreciates your input and comments.
Yours in service,
Wendy Innis, Moderator
