Our Mission : To offer community for connection, renewal, and transformation.


A Report on the 
Winter Congregational Meeting
from the Board of Trustees (BOT)


On February 14th, we held our Winter Congregational Meeting. For those of you who attended, we appreciate your feedback and participation. Below is a summary of the information presented at this event especially for those of you who were unable to attend. In our commitment to enhance communication with our Beloved Community, we invite you to contact us at [email protected] if you want any further information or have additional comments.

View the slides that were used for this presentation. Minutes from the meeting will be presented for approval at the next Congregational Meeting on May 15th.

Financial Status Update by Bill Connors for the current year (without including BFF, Compassion in Action or Habitat) showed that we are ahead of expected Year To Date by $12,986. In other words, we haven't spent as much money as we had budgeted.

Operating Expense Summary goals by Rev. Jeannie Shero who presented highlights from the goal budget which would go into effect July 1, 2016 breaking down into major categories for a total of $775,512 pending congregational vote May 15, 2016.

Key points are:
  • Projected 5% higher expenses than current year
  • One-time expenditures showing that actual income will be about $65,000 less than expenses, which was anticipated and will be covered by the Kay Robinson bequest. (Includes severance for Rev. Loadman-Copeland and BFF facility rental during construction.)
  • Salary increase for Jeannie Shero to meet UUA Guidelines
  • Hire ½ time Assistant Minister summer 2016
  • Increase John Hubert from ¾ to full-time


Senior Minister Search is in process after lengthy, careful discussions internally. We also consulted with neighboring UU congregations, similarly sized congregations in other states, and the UU Association Office of Transitions. We have made sure to follow established guidelines and processes. 

Jeannie is our Acting Senior Minister. Our bylaws stipulate that when there is a viable internal candidate for an open Senior Minister position, she or he must be given full consideration before an outside search can be conducted. She will be available to share her vision of her ministry and to meet with members in the 8 days leading up to the May 15 Congregational Meeting when we will vote whether or not to call her as the Senior Minister. Qualifications for Senior Minister are included in the slides on the website. The full process and timeline for considering Rev. Shero will be announced to the congregation within a week.

A new Assistant Minister will be hired to help during this period of transition in support of the staff and needs of the congregation.


Board of Trustees Updates
In addition to traditional BOT time and responsibilities we felt it was timely to take advantage of the dynamic transition and transformation to reexamine the (non-building) foundation of our church.

We formed 3 new subcommittees to take a clear, objective and thorough look at:
  1. Policy Governance with a view to understand how it could best meet our needs going forward
  2. Church Finances through a thorough and future focused lens
  3. Communications and Outreach within the congregation
Additionally, the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) convened a Leadership Roundtable event with LDC, BOT, Committee on Ministry (COM), and other committees in the church.  

We also intend to engage in more regular communication with the whole congregation by having more in-person events as well as using all other established communication avenues (web, Order of Service, etc.).

We are excited to keep the momentum going forward - but need your support, input and help. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Respectfully,

The First Universalist Board of Trustees


(Left to Right: John, Alan, David, Carole, Pete, Doña, Bill, Margaret, Ben)