Annual Meeting a Time for Affirming Our Faith and Building Toward Our Future
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What’s on the Agenda for Our Future
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The First Religious Society’s Annual Meeting will be a time for our beloved community to celebrate our successful Annual Campaign, affirm our faith and build our future. Members will gather after worship services on Sunday, June 9, to vote on a number of items made possible by this year’s campaign.
Among the articles in the warrant is the FY 2019-2020 budget which includes increased staff hours, establishing both a building reserve and a sabbatical reserve fund, and the creation of two new religious education positions. Members will also vote on becoming a level two Sanctuary church, a topic that has been discussed in meetings held earlier this spring.
“The Annual Meeting is a celebration of all of the work achieved so far this year,” said Rev. Rebecca Bryan. “The votes members cast will position us for our future—living into who we are becoming and supporting the growth of the congregation and individuals within it.”
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FY 2019-2020 Budget
Lays a Strong Foundation
The FY 2019-2020 budget incorporates several exciting changes, a direct result of the congregation’s work together for a successful campaign, which so far has raised $436,274— an 7.9% increase over last year’s campaign. We came close to our goal of 300 pledges with 281 supporters making a pledge, including 64 new and returning people. This year’s campaign was led by Annual Campaign Chair, Susan Ricker, and a dedicated team of 31 volunteer stewards.
(For a budget breakdown, please see side bar, right.)
With their votes, members are being asked to commit to FRS’ operational and spiritual future, Affirming Our Faith—to ourselves, to our beloved community, and to the wider community around us. This commitment will position FRS to continue building toward its future of shared ministries in spiritual and pastoral care, music, and outreach both within and beyond the congregation.
The key budgetary changes being proposed for a proactive and fiscally responsible future are:
- expanding our faith development to cover life span—from birth to death—with a restructuring of our Religious Education and Lifespan Faith Development programs into two new half-time positions: Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, and the Director of Children's Ministries.
- increasing the hours of the Director of Community Engagement and Office Administrator by five hours each to align compensation with the good work and broad support of church programs and functions already being accomplished in these positions.
- establishing a building reserve fund to ensure we are able to care for and upkeep our buildings.
- creating a sabbatical reserve fund for the minister, recommended by UU Ministerial Association guidelines.
(See sidebar, right, for more details on FRS being a Fair Compensation Congregation.)
Expanding Our Faith Development Creates Two New Positions
The creation of expanded faith development programs covering life span—from birth to death—has been an increasing trend in UU congregations over the last couple of decades. It is a trend many in the congregation have expressed significant interest in supporting. To put this new program into place, FRS will reconfigure the existing Director of Religious Education into two new half-time staff positions: Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, focused on high school youth and adults; and Director of Children’s Ministries, focused on children birth to 8th grade.
“Faith development and spiritual exploration is a life-long journey of understanding. We ask ourselves, 'How do I live in the world with my faith and respond to life events?' and 'What is my theology?' and 'I want to create meaningful and authentic relationships with others in the congregation.' We’re excited to respond to those desires, and to create staffing and programs that honor that and give it a place in the life of the congregation,” said Rev. Rebecca. “As your minister, I am especially excited for this change because it positions us well for our future. This expansion in programming will allow us to live into the mission and vision that we will establish next year in concrete ways. It will include having people connect their faith and their faith journeys with the actualization of the mission and vision. They will be inseparable and will allow our friends and members to create meaningful relationships with each other.”
Director of Faith Formation
and Spiritual Exploration
Julie Parker Amery, the current Director of Religious Education, will move into the new half- time position of Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration. In this new position, Julie will continue to work with high school youth, as well as expand on adult programming already in place.
“Having a structured adult faith formation ministry is something the congregation has wanted for many years; it’s so exciting that our dream is coming to fruition!” said Julie Parker Amery. “I look forward to implementing a program that includes formation in different life stages, that touches our spirits and intellects, that challenges us to put our faith into action, and that builds community.”
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Annual Campaign
Builds Strong
FY 2019-2020 Budget
The Annual Campaign results are tallied and show a strong picture for the future of FRS. The campaign raised $436,274—an 8.9% increase over last year’s campaign of $404,000. This year’s campaign was led by Annual Campaign Chair, Susan Ricker, and a dedicated team of 31 volunteer stewards. Our gratitude goes to this team for their dedication and the great job they did. Remember, as membership continues to grow, a pledge can begin at any time of the year. Please refer anyone with a pledging question to
Kristen Fehlhaber, Director of Finance and Administration.
Highlights from the campaign and the
FY 2019-2020 budget
Annual Campaign Numbers
Total raised to date: $436,274 7.9% over last year ($404,000)
Total households pledged to date: 284
18% over last year (241)
Total Pledges ($447,000) make up over 64% of the $696,485 proposed budget.
Budget Breakout
$696,485 total expenses in
FY 2019-2020 proposed budget
Highlights of additional income sources:
$52,996 endowment income
$95,713 cell tower rental income
$447,000 pledge income (includes anticipated new pledges)
FRS a Fair Compensation Congregation
FRS continues to strive to be a Fair Compensation Congregation. Most FRS positions are at the UUA midpoint for this region. In the FY 2019-2020 budget:
- the Youth Music Director is now at the midpoint.
- the Human Resources Subcommittee recommends a 1.9% cost of living increase for all positions.
- the Parish Board approved a modest salary increase for the minister.
- and the Director of Finance and Administration’s position has a new salary range; this is the first year of a two-year plan to bring it up to the new midpoint.
Last year, the UUA revised its Annual Program Fund request, with FRS seeing a 30% increase over three years. Managing other expenses has allowed FRS to catch up and pay the requested amount in the current fiscal year ($33,804), even though that full amount wasn’t approved in last year’s budget. Again, the Parish Board recommends not committing to fund their requested amount for FY 2019-2020 ($37,185), but the board is committed to catching up and funding the request if, during the course of the year, the actual income and expenses allow it.
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Julie is hoping that friends and members will let her know what sorts of programs they’d like to see next year and beyond, as well as if they have gifts and talents to offer in creating and leading new programming.
“We already have so much in place from volunteers stepping up to lead—from Buddhist meditation to the short story discussion group to the new men’s group—just imagine what we can do with a staff person to support it all and broaden the offerings,” she said.
Director of Children’s Ministries
In serving families with children up to 8th grade, FRS will hire a new half-time Director of Children’s Ministries, known today to the congregation as Young Church.
“I’m excited for what this means for Young Church,” said Julie. “We really need to think in new ways about how we offer faith development to children and I think that, after 19 years as DRE, I’m probably not in the best position to do that. It will be great to have someone with fresh eyes and ideas, who won’t be afraid to perhaps take Young Church in a bold new direction.”
“Based on feedback from the GenFRS Task Force, and input from the Parish Board, the way programming functions for our youngest congregants is ready to evolve,” said Rev. Rebecca. “We are looking to bring in someone new to create a Children’s Ministries for today and the future while at the same time building on Julie’s many gifts and skills that she brings into the congregation.”
A search team comprised of Rev. Rebecca, Julie, Kristen Fehlhaber, Director of Finance and Administration, and three parents will be formed to begin the hiring process for the Director of Children’s Ministries. The team will be looking for a visionary individual who will bring a blend of creative and operational skills, as well as infectious energy, enthusiasm and openness to the position.
“We really are looking for someone who can bring new ideas, be a great team player and be good with children and new families,” said Rev. Rebecca. “Someone who is willing to experiment and hear what parents and children within the congregation and the surrounding communities want as an experience for the ministry of their children.”
The position is not limited to clergy and is open to other professionals with experience teaching children. A job description will be available soon. The position of Religious Education Assistant also will be reconfigured to support this change.
“Stay tuned for a job description and future announcements about this process,” said Rev. Rebecca. “We’re excited about the new opportunities this evolution presents for children and families within the congregation.”
“All of these changes show the congregation’s commitment to its own spiritual development,” she said. “This is essential spiritual development that will support us all in achieving the promise of what our beloved community can achieve together.”
Questions or interested in membership, please contact
Nicole Salemi
, Director of Community Engagement.
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Staff
Minister
–Reverend Rebecca M. Bryan,
Sexton
-Mike Baker,
Religious Education Assistant
–Sharon Broll,
Office Administrator
–Diane Carroll,
Director of Finance and Administration
–Kristen Fehlhaber,
Director
Youth Choirs
–Kristen Miller,
Director of Religious Education
–Julie Parker-Amery,
Director of Community Engagement
–Nicole Salemi
Parish Board
Chair
–Art Henshaw;
Vice Chair
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Karen Young,
Clerk
–Ann Haaser;
Treasurer
–Rich Johnson;
Finance Chair
–Tim Fountain; Maureen Adams, Rebecca Brodish, Micah Donahue,
Lynn Kettleson, Sophia Lyons, Ann Power, Forrest Speck
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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