I am pleased to invite UCE members and friends to two important meetings: a Town Hall Meeting on May 1, and the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 15. Both of these meetings will take place 15 minutes following the conclusion of our 11:00 service, in the Sanctuary. Check-in for the Annual Congregational Meeting, with the issuance of membership ballots, will begin immediately after the service.
The Town Hall meeting offers an opportunity for you to learn more about the status of next year's budget, and ask any questions you may have about the adjustments that have been recommended to present a budget that reflects the short fall in our just-completed annual Stewardship campaign. There will also be time available for discussion of a proposal in support of the Conyers HR40 bill, "The Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act," developed out of our Racial Equity Action Leadership (REAL) program this year.
Our Annual Congregational Meeting is a time to review the church year nearing its end, elect key lay leaders, approve the operating budget for next year, take a congregational vote on the "UCE Support for Reparations Study" proposal, and comment on efforts to consider a name change for the church.
The full Annual Meeting Agenda, the slate of candidates for leadership positions and their bios appear at the end of this email.
At our 2015 Annual Meeting, a petition signed by a number of congregants called for a vote of the membership for or against a change in the name of the church. We will discuss briefly the status of that petition, but not have a vote on a name change at this time.
All members and friends are invited to the Annual Meeting and the Town Hall. If you joined UCE before February 15, 2016, you are eligible to vote in the Annual Meeting. Please plan to attend. Childcare will be available.
