Newsletter for February, 2017
From Our Minister:
Please Seek— and Give—Care
Dear Congregation,
At this time, I want to remind you that my goal is for your church to be a place where you will be cared for, and where you will be called upon to care for others. As your minister, I meet regularly with congregants to offer pastoral care in times of crisis, critical decisionmaking, or at other moments of deep reflection and need for increased spiritual support. In the past few months I’ve been with you through conversations, calls, texts, and emails as you cope with national politics, make it through a tough day, respond to news of my departure, await test results at the hospital, move a loved one into hospice care, or face the loss of a beloved. I also make hospital visits and reach out regularly to our Super Seniors by phone.
At the same time, in a congregation as large as UUSM, it is simply not possible for the minister to serve every pastoral need. Most congregations of our size also have a lay ministry, a group of volunteers trained and supported by the minister who offer caring support and a listening ear to one another, particularly in cases of ongoing need (rather that an emergent crisis). Unfortunately, our congregation lacks such a group of volunteers, and has a history and a culture that, in recent years, has worked against bringing such a group together in a sustainable way. My hope is that such a lay ministry will be a part of the congregational system our leaders will be able to become more aware of, and find more success in changing, in the future.
For now, your board and I are in agreement that we can anticipate an increased need for pastoral care at this time of transition in Washington, DC, and ministerial transition here. To meet this need, I again invite you to call or email me directly, speak with a board member, attend a Listening Circle with our Right Relations Task Force, share with your Heart to Heart Circle, and/or consider reaching out to Michael Eselun, a church member and chaplain who is on-call for additional pastoral care. If you are wondering if you “really need” this support, or if we should “save” this care for someone else, please reach out to me or another person who can offer care and support to you.
Yes, I mean you.
Additionally, I am asking you, again, to reach out and to keep reaching out to your friends in the congregation to check on them, as well. Care is built when we know that there are other members (not only the minister) in our community who are thinking of us, looking out for us, and noticing what is going on with us, in one-on-one relationships of mutuality, authenticity, and trust.
This is what we are here for. This is how we journey together in troubled and troubling times.
With you,
Rev. Rebecca
minister@uusm.org
PS: On MLK Sunday, one of you asked me why we didn’t have “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as one of our service hymns. My answer: In commemoration of Black History Month, we will sing this song as our opening hymn every Sunday in February, as we consider what it means to be a Community of Identity — our ministry theme this month.
Featured Articles:
A Warm Welcome Celebrates Kathleen Hogue
The UUSM staff and members of the Lifespan Religious Exploration committees pulled out all the stops, organizing a full day of commitment and celebration to officially welcome Kathleen Hogue as our director of Lifespan Religious Education.
Sunday, January 22, began with two worship services in which the Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur shared the pulpit with Kathleen and special guest the Rev. Diane Dowgiert. Rev. Dowgiert currently serves as interim minister at the UU Church of Greensboro in North Carolina and worked with Kathleen for 10 years at the UU Church of Tucson in Arizona. Kathleen said she sees Rev. Dowgiert as an awesome minister and leader as well as a valued friend and mentor.
Rev. Rebecca, Kathleen, and Rev. Dowgiert all spoke on the theme of the day: “Religious Education Is All We Do.” Rev. Dowgiert explained that RE is a task we all share as a congregation as we care for each other, love each other, and explore what it means to be a religious community. She spoke of the privilege of marching with SMUUs in the historic Women’s March LA the day before. She sees a “new sense of urgency” in the need for RE and its lessons of love and acceptance. “A congregation exists beyond walls and beyond classrooms,” she said.
A special 3 pm service attended by about 70 congregants and guests was equally focused on RE,but more ceremonious. Congregant Leon Henderson MacLennan spoke to the shared ministry of staff and members. Congregant Kim SantiagoKalmanson reflected on the importance of inclusion. Rev. Susan Manker-Seale, interim minister at the Monte Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Arizona, offered a meditation of support for her beloved colleague: “We are never alone but bound to one another.” Rev. Rebecca related some lessons learned in her time here at UUSM, particularly what she has gained working with youth “on fire.”
Rev. Dowgiert’s sermon called on the community to take up the noble cause of religious education, inside and outside the classroom. All of us are always learning: “Religious education happens everywhere and every time we are there together.” She spoke of three distinct curricula: an explicit curriculum — what we set out purposefully to teach; an implicit curriculum — how our community structures and customs communicate our priorities; and finally a null curriculum — what is not stated and not funded reveals, clearly, what we discount.
In the Ceremony of Welcome different groups stood, in turn, and affirmed covenants of respect and dedication to Kathleen and religious exploration: the Board of Directors, members of the Lifespan RE committees, RE teachers and advisors, the children and youth of our congregation, parents, and then the congregation as a whole. In the warmth of candle-lighting – the flame was passed, one to another – Kathleen spoke her promise to bring passion and commitment to help shape the religious, spiritual, and ethical growth of our community; to walk with us in the spirit of mutual love.
The UUSM choir, under the direction Dr. Zanaida Robles, performed songs celebrating community and self-determination and added richness to several hymns, concluding with a spirited “This Little Light of Mine.”
Then the doors opened to a fabulous “Mad Hatters Tea” reception in Forbes Hall: tea cakes (with whipped butter and jam, yum!), breads, quiches, finger sandwiches, and salads with all the trimmings. A cacophony of balloons and flowers decorated the hall, along with photos of Kathleen and her beloved family. Volunteers contributed their treasured tea sets: the tables were adorned with exquisite collections of mismatched cups and saucers, teapots and creamers. Few could resist the fresh fruit and delicate, bite-sized desserts.
Kathleen seemed thrilled with both the special worship service and the efforts of RE superheroes Nalani Santiago-Kalmanson and Liza Cranis, the event organizers, and Jo An Peters, who arranged the decorations. Nalani extends credit to all the members of the LRE committees and the DRE Transition Team: Leon HendersonMacClennon, Natalie Kahn, Sabina Mayo-Smith, Dan Patterson, Sarah Robson, Kim Santiago-Kalmanson, Beverly Shoenberger, James Witker, and Cathy Wolfson. Many thanks to the anonymous donors who supported the reception and the travel expenses for our guest speaker.
— Lois Hutchinson
Right Relations Task Force Report: What is Happening with Right Relations at UUSM?
Y our Right Relations Task Force (RRTF) wants to keep our entire congregation updated on our work, and encourage everyone to participate in an ongoing way. Our work as a task force is to help establish healthy practices and procedures that bring our congregation into right relations.
The right relations process is not about identifying or solving problems. It does not have a finite time period. It provides ways of relating that we will continue to use throughout our congregational life.
There are, however, tangible goals that the RRTF and the congregation are working toward. Already, we have developed a “Note to the RRTF” process that any congregant can access either through the Member page of the UUSM website — which can be filled out and submitted online — or at the RRTF table after services every Sunday. This Note is a way for congregants to communicate concerns they have about interpersonal relations with fellow members or about issues that affect the church. RRTF members review these Notes and discuss with their authors productive ways to move forward to resolve the issues raised or think about them from a new perspective. It is also a conduit for sending appreciations to fellow members, or groups, for the contributions they have made to our church. This Note provides us with a positive and relational avenue to communicate and resolve our conflicts with one another, and to ask for coaching or support from the Right Relations Task Force as needed.
We have also held a number of Listening Circles that have provided participants with the invaluable opportunity to hear people’s concerns about the church and what they value about the church. The goal of this effort is not to collate issues and offer solutions, but to teach us to listen to other’s perspectives and grow in understanding of each other. We will continue to hold Listening Circles, with sessions scheduled February 5 and monthly after that.
The next part of our work, “Stage Two,” will focus on “Sharing Our Meaningful Stories.” These will entail RRTF Task Force members and an expanded interview team seeking out congregant stories about times and direct experiences in the church that have had a positive impact on those who are sharing them. The task force and other church members have received training from our consultant, Nancy Edmundson, on how to conduct these interviews, and we will hold further training in order to grow the team further.
The interviews will mainly take place in groups, and we will be scheduling times to meet with established groups that are a part of the church in order to interview the people who participate in them. We will also hold open sessions that any congregant can attend. Open sessions are scheduled for February 4, 9, 12, 18, 23, and 26.
These interviews will help us to uncover the shared core values that we hold as a church community. With these values, we can begin the next part of the process, “Stage Three” or “Sharing Our Stories of Conflict Transformation.”
Through the same interviewing process, we will collect stories of conflicts we have faced with one another in which we were able to work things out positively. Together, we will discover our core values and develop our right relations covenant. We hope to present a covenant to the congregation in enough time for us to consider adopting it at our annual meeting May 21.
And then we will continue the work of right relations, returning to our covenant when necessary to guide us as we relate with one another.
— Our RRTF and Interview Team: Ed Brand, Helen Brown, Vicky Foxworth, Cindy Kelly, Audrey Lyness, Cindy Martin, Emily Linnemeier, Margot Page (co-chair), Tom Peters, Vilma Ortiz (co-chair), Buudha Jonathan Quant, Kim Santiago-Kalmanson, Nalani Santiago-Kalmanson, Beth Rendeiro, Joe Straw, Sue Stoyanoff, John Sussman, Linda Van Ligten, James Witker, Patricia Wright
Watch out for a special RRTF communication this spring, which will share more content than fits in a newsletter article.
Ministerial Transition Update
OOn March 5, our congregation will hold a business meeting where we vote on whether or not to authorize the board of directors to proceed with searching for and potentially hiring a developmental minister.
Between now and March 5, we are extensively workshopping our application for developmental ministry to create alignment around congregational goals for the coming years and the strengths we will need of our next minister to achieve those goals.
Please join us Sundays on the patio, weather permitting, to learn about what we’re trying to help our beloved community bring into being. You’ll also be receiving a packet in the mail with information on developmental ministry and encouragement to join the meeting. In the meantime, here are the most pressing questions related to Developmental Ministry. You can find more background material on our Ministerial Transition page. (Note that you must be logged into our website with a member-level account to view this content.)
1) What is Developmental Ministry?
Developmental Ministry is a type of transitional ministry that occurs between two long-term called/settled ministries, generally over a period of three to five years (and as long as seven). It’s ideal for a congregation that has three to four specific goals it wants to work on before calling its next long-term minister. The goals are set by the congregational leadership and approved by our UUA. Based on those specific goals, the congregation is matched with a minister who can help us achieve our goals.
Sometimes a Developmental Minister may stay as long as seven years because the UUA has observed that that’s how long it really takes to change a culture.
The developmental minister is hired by the congregation’s board of directors and has a contract with them. Our UUA Congregational Life Staff Representative is also in constant communication with the board president and developmental minister to ensure the congregation is on track with developmental goals. In other words, there is, in essence, a three-way relationship between the congregation, the developmental minister, and the Pacific Western Region.
2) Why has the board chosen developmental ministry?
Our 2016 Congregational Assessment as well as Ministerial Reports dating as far back as Rev. Stephen Furrer (Spring 2010) speak to the need for our congregation to work with a minister that has a specific skillset that is fundamentally developmental in nature. In choosing a Developmental Ministry path, our UUA acts as an executive search firm, helping us find candidates that are the best fit for our developmental goals.
3) Why not a one- or two-year interim so we can quickly call and settle a new minister?
Because we have some culture changing to do, we would be well served to have an engagement of three or more years. Interims by nature are typically one-to-two-year engagements.
Interim Ministry is generally considered short-term ministry, so we would almost certainly be on track to have a Summer Minister followed by an Interim Minister followed by another minister (whether Interim, as in the case where we had two one-year minsters, or a Settled minister).
4) Why is this happening so quickly?
UUA-Fellowshipped applicants looking for something more than interim ministry have a “matching season” that happens between January and March. Interim searches happen in June.
If we do not submit an application for Developmental Ministry (note: we may not submit an application for a Settled Minster this year under any circumstance), we must wait until all ministerial candidates have gone through their processes and then we may apply for an interim minister.
This means that ministers looking to serve at a congregation more than two years have already completed their search and have, with good fortune, found their matches.
It is your board’s opinion that given that the work before us is fairly clear to leadership from across the congregation (Board, RRTF, Nominating Committee and others who have already attended workshops), and that the work is already outlined in the goals put forth in the Developmental Ministry Application, that the congregation would benefit from not undergoing more ministerial transitions than necessary.
5) What goals would UUSM designate for a developmental ministry?
At the highest levels, goals are related to (1) grounding our congregation in covenantal relations; (2) reconnecting with and recommitting to our mission and vision; (3) revitalizing membership and leadership; (3) expanding what learning, connecting, and caring look like in our congregation; and (4) becoming stronger in stewardship of the programs and resources that fuel our mission and vision. More details are available at tinyurl.com/ministerialtransition.
6) What is the selection process for a developmental minister?
While a settled minister search process is outlined clearly in our bylaws, a Developmental Ministry process will follow that of prior interim minister searches. The Board of Directors has appointed a Developmental Ministry Task Force to submit an application to our UUA and lead the candidate evaluation/ selection process. The UUA Transitions Office, along with Regional Staff, will provide us with qualified applicants to interview and evaluate. Initial interviews will occur via the phone or video conferencing. The Task Force will select the final candidate to present to the board of directors. The board of directors will review and approve the candidate.
If we do not find a developmental ministry candidate that matches our needs, we have the option to shift to the traditional interim ministry path.
7) Why is there not a congregationally-chosen search committee involved in the process?
Because Developmental Ministry exists to help change entrenched culture, it is critical that the Board of Directors (the church’s highest leadership body, elected by the congregation) guide the process of setting goals for the congregation and selecting the Developmental Minister who can help achieve those goals. The Board of Directors then continues to work with our UUA Congregational Life Staff to evaluate progress toward those goals.
8) What if we don’t like the Developmental Minster?
We are not “stuck” with a minister who is a bad fit. If it’s truly a bad fit, we can get out. But there are so many steps that we will take, working in partnership with our UUA Congregational Life staff to find the “best” fit, that we will hopefully not be in that situation. Remember, if we don’t get a “best” fit this spring, we choose an Interim for a year and try again next spring.
The UUA has observed that often after congregations start the process of changing entrenched culture, people can get uncomfortable, longing for the “good old days” and seeing the Developmental Minister as the obstacle to better times. That’s why they recommend the “severance” referenced above. So that we don’t kick the minister out so easily.
9) How will all of this come to pass?
We are still learning timelines but here is what we know as of January 17, 2017:
January 2017 – The board of directors will submit an application for developmental ministry
February 2017 – The Rev. Jonipher Kwong, our UUA Congregational Life Representative, will work with the Transitions Office and its director, Keith Kron, to identify candidates that would be appropriate for us.
April 2017 – interviews may take place
May 2017 – an offer may be made
July-September 2017 – a minister may start.
February 2017 – The Rev. Jonipher Kwong, our UUA Congregational Life Representative, will work with the Transitions Office and its director, Keith Kron, to identify candidates that would be appropriate for us.
April 2017 – interviews may take place
May 2017 – an offer may be made
July-September 2017 – a minister may start.
— Jacki Weber
“An ethic of right relations acknowledges that disconnecting and estrangement, conflict and breakdown, disappointment and hurt, can happen in relating. Relating is how we change, forgive, learn, heal, and grow. Relating is not only how everything happens. Relating is how anything ever happens.”
“An ethic of right relations suggests that respecting others and resolving conflicts may mean relating, despite the conflict, in a commitment to stay connected, to learn together, and to discover mutually satisfying resolutions that could not be discovered or imagined alone.”
“An ethic of right (good) relations is the moral implication of interdependence.”
From: “CREATING SAFE CONGREGATIONS: TOWARD AN ETHIC OF RIGHT RELATIONS” Published by the UUA, edited byWilliam B. Sinkford and Pat Hoertdoerfer
Quotations Related to Identity
Lois Hutchinson has provided these quotations that relate to our February ministerial theme, Identity.
February 5 What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.— Lin-Manuel Miranda
February 12 A man is known by the company he keeps. — Aesop
February 19 Are even lovers powerless to reveal To one another what indeed they feel? I knew the mass of men conceal’d Their thoughts, for fear that if reveal’d They would by other men be met With blank indifference, or with blame reproved — Matthew Arnold
February 26 Be who you are and say what you feel because people who mind don’t matter and people who matter don’t mind. — Unknown
News & Announcements:
WE LOVE ANTI-RACISTS
Post Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the Anti-KKK3
Saturday • February 25 • 6 PM • Forbes Hall
Fine Vining & Dining (for omnivores, carnivores, vegans...) You could go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day and spend $200 for a mediocre dinner at an overcrowded restaurant. Or you could bring your love to church, sip good wine and enjoy delicious food, and help cover the legal expenses of Hugo Contreras, Mark Liddell, and Nikki Schop, who face trial in Orange County May 30. Many of you have already contributed generously, but the bills pile up. To have your contribution tax deductible, make out a check to UUSM and write FIA-Legal in the memo line, or go to uusm.org, MAKE A DONATION, check other, and type FIA–LEGAL.
For more info or if you’d like to help, contact Sarah Mae Harper.
Dining for Dollars is Coming!
Your Dining for Dollars committee is working hard to make 2017 our best year ever, and we need your help. D4$ events not only support the financial needs of our church, more importantly it provides yearlong availability of events that provide important social and community-building opportunities to all our members and friends.
Thank you to all the members who already signed up to host an event and we are more than half way there to our final goal of more than 50! Might you have an idea for an event or service that you can offer to our silent auction, the bidding for which will happen after services on February 19 and 26?
You can use our online D4$ entry form or see Emily at Sunday’s D4$ table following services. Questions to: uudining4dollars@gmail.com or Farrokh Allen
2017 Dining for Dollars Preliminary Event List
Please note that this is a preliminary list only. (Click on the list graphic to see a larger, more easily readable version.) Please check final dates and descriptions for events as printed on the bid sheets in Forbes Hall February 19 and 26 after both services. Bidding will close at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday February 26. Children pay at adult rates except where noted. Child’s name is to be placed on separate line on bid sheet. Money donated (paid) for winning bids is non-refundable. No email or mailed-in bids will be accepted. Questions may be directed to D4$ Chair, Farrokh Allen.
Our Black Lives Matter banner...
..which had been down for several months for repairs, is once again attached — far more firmly — to the Garden of Eternity fence, facing Arizona Avenue. Special thanks to Cathie Gentile, Kirk Silsbee, and Bob Dietz for their contributions to this effort.
Are You Aware? (Disability Support Group)
Our church Disability Support Group welcomes all members of our church community, whether you have an obvious disability, a hidden disability, know someone with a disability, or are curious how you can support the church efforts to become more inclusive. You can help by attending Disability Support Group meetings; we meet twice a month on the second and fourth Sundays. The group provides support for all persons with disabilities and those interested in providing support. We are working to increase awareness within this congregation and to provide information on accessibility in neighboring places of worship. You can help by talking with Disability Support Group members and others in the Church about ways to improve support for persons with disabilities in our church community, or by sharing your concerns and needs. Not sure whom to contact? Look for Mark Christiansen, Michael Young, Steve Young, or Sylvia Young.
Faith in Action News:
Know Your Rights workshop
Co-sponsored by the ACLU Westside Chapter.
Tuesday, February 28, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
We rely on law enforcement keep us safe and treat us fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion. This workshop provides tips for interacting with law enforcement and understanding your rights.
Our presenter is Shakeel Syed.
Shakeel Syed is currently serving as the Executive Director of OCCORD (Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development) and is a board member of ACLU & Death Penalty Focus. He is a life long civil rights & human rights activist. He is the former executive director of the Islamic Shura Council, an umbrella organization of mosques and Muslim organizations in Southern California.
Note: free parking for this event will be available at the UCLA Hospital parking structure at 16th & Arizona. See link for parking pass instructions.
Congregants Step Up Fight Against Racism
In the wake of Donald Trump’s derisive primary and general election campaigns, racist, sexist, antiimmigrant, anti-Islamic, homophobic, and other hatebased attacks have risen sharply. In response, many UU Santa Monica members and friends — along with millions of other people throughout the nation — have stepped up, or plan to step up, their anti-racist, pro-unity activities.
Peggy Rhoads supplied the text for the Peace & Social Justice Committee’s new “No Racism” poster, and Pam Teplitz designed it. We added some names at the top and bottom. The new names are a small sample of those killed by police in the US in 2016. In the center is an enlargement of the button PSJ has been turning out with our button machine for over a year. So far, we have distributed about 1,500 buttons. If you wear one, you may not have it long. Wherever you go, someone will say, “I like your button.” If you offer it to them, more than likely they will accept and put it on. What are the demographics of people who take the button? Black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander. All ages. High school and college students, restaurant workers, bowling alley workers, flight attendants, medical workers, teachers, people in business attire on airport security lines, baggage handlers, unhoused people. You can get a button, or several, at the FIA table. You can donate a dollar (or more), or nothing at all. Proceeds go into the work of PSJ, including making more buttons.
MLK Sunday Service
John Raphling, the guest speaker at our 11 am January 15 service, congratulated us on our 20-monthlong (and ongoing) campaign to have LAPD officer Clifford Proctor prosecuted for killing Brendon Glenn, a homeless Black man. John was co-counsel representing Brendon’s mother and 4-year-old son in a civil suit against the City of Los Angeles that was recently settled for $4 million. John placed the death of Brendon in the context of the gentrification of Venice and a push by politicians, the LAPD, and some corporations and wealthy homeowners to drive un-housed people out of Venice. Then he acted out the video showing Proctor killing Brendon. The video has not been released to the public, but John saw it in preparation for trial. As John played the roles of Brendon Glenn, Clifford Proctor, and Proctor’s partner, culminating in the two shots in the back that killed Brendon while he was prone in the street, you could hardly hear anyone in the Sanctuary breathe.
Later in the service, Rev. Rebecca spoke of a meeting she had recently attended, convened by Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, at the Islamic Center of Southern California. “I saw a vision of what Dr. King called Beloved Community: a multiracial, multifaith coalition of leaders willing to call one another to be peacemakers, to be truthtellers, and to stand in the place of moral courage, and tell one another what we see.…
“So often the real prophets in our midst don’t tell us what will happen; they tell us what is happening, already, all around us, if we could but open our eyes and keep them open; if we could but awaken from our sleeping and stay woke.…
“I’ve been amazed at my own ability to not see the truth, when I don’t want to…. I protect myself from the truths I don’t want to see: inequality, suffering, the pillaging of our planet for personal gain.…
“You know, I know, we know in our bones, with the stories of our lives, that truth and a just peace and courage and freedom and love go together. That while we live in lies, we are not free. We know that to remain blind, we must bind ourselves into ever smaller circles of living.…
“I know the coming weeks and months and years for this country are going to ask a lot of us, to ask a lot of communities like this one that are grounded in love, in service, in the search after truth. That’s why I’m asking you today to affirm your commitment to peacemaking, to truth-telling and to moral courage.”
Following the service, people lined up at the FIA table in Forbes Hall, to sign the petition demanding the prosecution of Clifford Proctor, to sign the petition to the Orange County DA demanding the dropping of the charges against the anti-KKK 3, to sign up to participate in the January 21 Women’s March in Downtown LA, and to otherwise get involved.
MLK Sunday FIA Town Hall
The annual Faith in Action Town Hall meeting took place in the Sanctuary at 12:30 pm January 15. The components of FIA — Peace & Social Justice, Green Living Committee, Hunger Task Force, and Interweave — presented what they have been and are doing, and ideas for additional actions were proposed from the floor. There’s way more than we can list here, but we’ll try to have the notes from the meeting at the FIA Table and on uusm.org.
MLK Day, Monday January 16
As we do every year, UUSM participated in the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition celebration. Peace & Social Justice Committee members staffed a booth at the community fair at St. Monica’s church, following the formal program at the Soka Gakkai International Auditorium. Our table had information about our church and our anti-racist activities. Many people signed our petitions demanding the prosecution of Clifford Proctor and the dropping of the charges against the anti-KKK 3. We ran the trailer for “Profiled” on a laptop computer, and a number of people signed up to see the movie next time we showed it or expressed interest in showing the movie at their organization.
LA Women’s March Saturday, January 21
The LAPD said “well past” 100,000 people participated. The LA Times said “hundreds of thousands.” The organizers said 750,000. What we know for sure is that UU Santa Monica folks were there in numbers, at least 70, perhaps as many as 100. At the services the next day, those who participated were asked to raise their hands.See photo. Comments we heard: “The march is so big, we may not get to City Hall.” “Construction workers and bus drivers are giving a high five and honking horns.” “We can’t just make this about Trump, we have to protest murders by police.” “We want 12 of your No Racism buttons. I’ll give you my email. Maybe you can bring them to our church.” “We should have been marching when Obama was deporting 2.5-million people.” With the help of our UUSM members, these messages will grow in number and volume.
— Peggy and Rick Rhoads
Splinters from the Board:
Congregational Business Meeting Called for March 5 to Discuss and Vote on Hiring a Developmental Minister
The board met January 10 with seven board members, our DRE, our minister, and 11 guests in attendance. Consultant Nancy Edmundson participated via the Internet. VP Jacki Weber presided. Jacki lit the chalice with a loving kindness meditation and kind thoughts to President Ron Crane in his time of mourning. Rev. Rebecca is working with Ron on planning the January 28 memorial for John Fels.
Nancy introduced her intent to conduct observation of the board’s process partly for RRTF (Right Relations Task Force) guests to observe. Past board meetings have included process observation led by Beth Brownlie. Process observation marks how we are doing together by looking at aspects of the meeting. Is there shared participation? How is the energy level? Are different ideas acknowledged and ideas built upon? Is there consensus? Is the time well spent? Is there shared leadership? Do people feel included and valued? Are we getting the best out of our group?
The consent agenda was approved.
The first item on the agenda was a review of Rev. Rebecca’s draft transition plan for 13 projects that will be ongoing during her remaining time, 8 projects to finish (some of which are completed by now), 11 projects to hand off, and 5 projects to set aside. The details can be found in her report on ministry on the members-only website. Each item was addressed at the board meeting. Of note is the “gray zone” of leadership regarding membership. Rick Rhoads is stepping down from leading the membership committee due to health reasons.
Jacki is the lead person for the board’s goal of compassionate leavetaking. Any consideration of a gap between Rebecca’s planned departure and the next step in ministry will be addressed at the February or March board meetings.
The second (and last item on the agenda due to time constraints) was a discussion of the developmental ministry process, particularly in consideration of our bylaws for hiring ministers. Developmental ministry is a UUA program that matches congregations with ministers to solve specific institutional problems. At the November 29 board meeting, the board voted to hire a developmental minister per the UUA guidelines and that doing so was the responsibility of the board. The next step in the process was to fill out an extensive application centering on the specific goals of our congregation. Jacki has spearheaded workshops to communicate developmental ministry to the congregation. However our bylaws are detailed and specific regarding hiring a minister and nonspecific as to whether the minister is a settled minister or an interim minister. Typically interim ministers have been selected by the board but the potential 5- to 7-year commitment of a developmental minister required further thought about the role of the bylaws. After lengthy discussion including input from board guests as a representation of the congregation, the following consensus was achieved: It is important that the congregation take ownership of our path forward. The board will hold a business meeting March 5 to discuss and vote on a motion to hire a developmental minister and support the board with moving forward with the process. In the meantime there will be many informational opportunities to answer questions about developmental ministry and how it might benefit our congregation.
Remaining items on the agenda were tabled until the February board meeting. Nancy reported on her process observation. By and large it was a good process and a good space for members and their comments. Some board members are quieter than others but in general Jacki was supported in her leadership role. Information was clearly presented, and the board looked for solutions together and by consensus. In particular, Rebecca’s draft transition plan was well laid out.
The meeting adjourned at 9 pm following Nancy’s report on process and check-out by individual board members.
— Patricia Wright
RE News:
Meet Our New Preschool/ Multi-age Teacher
Lizbeth (Liz) Rivera is a graduate from El Camino College, where she majored in Early Childhood Education. She has been working with children from preschool through middle school for more than ten years. She has two sons, ages seven and seventeen. Children are her passion. Come by and say hello and please bring your kids. Liz will be leading the 9 am preschool class and the 11 am multi-age class.
— Kathleen Hogue, DRE
Winter 2016 Adult RE Groups
GROUPS CONTINUING IN FEBRUARY
Thursday Night Centering Meditation
We will do Centering Meditation where you choose a word to say silently to yourself as you enter the silence. You can choose a word such as peace, love, or joy. There is a brief time of comments, sharing, and questions. We end the evening with a guided Mindfulness meditation.
Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 pm • in the Cottage.
Please contact the facilitator, Bettye Barclay, beforehand
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are
This ongoing, once a month class is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class includes meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants have a regular meditation practice.
Monday, February 6 • 7 to 9:30 pm • Forbes Room 1
Facilitator: Bill Blake, Co-facilitator: Dave Watson
NEW GROUPS FOR FEBRUARY
Canticle to the Cosmos
A scientific and spiritual odyssey through the evolutionary origins of the universe, life, and humanity. We will view and discuss this 12-part video course by cosmologist and religious naturalist Brian Swimme, who seeks to provide people with a scientific *and* sacred understanding of cosmic origins, divine creativity, and an ecological consciousness urgently needed in our time. In his book, “The Universe Is a Green Dragon,” Swimme writes, “Our ancestry stretches back through the life forms and into the stars, back to the beginnings of the primeval fireball. This universe is a single multiform energetic unfolding of matter, mind, intelligence and life. None of the great figures of human history were aware of this, not Plato or Aristotle, or the Hebrew Prophets, or Confucius.…We are the first generation to live with an empirical view of the origin of the universe…to look into the night sky and see the birth of the cosmos as a whole. Our future as a species will be forged within this new story of the world.”
Every Sunday starting February 5, 4-6 pm • Forbes Hall
Facilitator: James Witker
“Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” - A Common Read for our Community
Written by Yuval Noah Harari, this book surveys the evolution of humankind from the Stone Age to the current century. Harari analyzes history in parts, and comes to a conclusion that our species dominates the world because it is the only species that can cooperate flexibly in large numbers, and can reason with things that are strictly within our imaginations. His claims are quite provocative, and do call for careful consideration and discussion.
Date, Time, Location: TBD
Co-Facilitators: Laura Matthews and James Witker
Spirited Seekers
Discover the world of spirituality in the monthly Spirited Seekers group! We shall endeavor to keep an open mind, and to delight in the multitudinous expressions of spirituality and the deeply personal encounters with the Divine, according to our understanding. We aim to discover new ways of looking at spirituality beyond the bonds of a specific theology, and we seek to enrich our own practices, if we choose to engage in any. All are welcome!
February’s Topic: During the marches for Civil Rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. carried not a copy of the Bible on his person, but rather the book “Jesus and the Disinherited,” by African American mystic Howard Thurman (1899-1981). So, who is Howard Thurman? What is his philosophy rooted in? What about his message inspired such successful non-violent protests? Come and learn about this most important and impactful man and his relevant message for all of us who fight for social justice.
Sunday, February 5 • 1-3 pm • in the Warren Mathews Conference Room
Facilitator: Sarah Robson