November 2018 Executive Report

Transcription

1 November 2018 Executive Report Ends Statements : [Within] The people of First Unitarian Church, of all ages and backgrounds, connect in a transformative, authentic, liberal religious experience. We: Grow spiritually, emotionally, socially and ethically. Explore and experience what it means to be human. Cultivate compassion toward ourselves and others. Foster personal connections to life, nature and/or the divine. Seek, embrace and share experiences of wonder. Develop our Unitarian Universalist identities. Grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, and ethically: The fall Pathway to Membership class was held October 16th and 23rd, with five people participating. Grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, and ethically: The Celebrant Team is now meeting monthly, though for a shorter time, to foster better communication among Team members for more effective preparation for Sunday services. Explore and experience what it means to be human. The Faith Formation Ministry Leadership Team is considering additional programs for children for Wednesday evenings. Cultivate compassion toward ourselves and others. The Sunday service on October 14, Wayfaring Strangers (Ben Spick and Rev. Jennifer Brooks) was designed to deepen the empathy and understanding of cisgender people toward transgender people. Develop our Unitarian Universalist identities: Lyle Simpson presented forums on Sunday, November 4, on The Philosophy of Humanism. The two forums were well attended with a total of 40 participants. Develop our Unitarian Universalist identities: The High School Youth group held their CON on November 2nd through 4th. Eight youth from First Unitarian participated along with eight youth from Topeka, Kansas and Omaha, Nebraska. Develop our Unitarian Universalist identities: In the Children s Chapel on Sunday, October 21, Tracy Beck led children s worship around the theme of Sanctuary. Develop our Unitarian Universalist identities: Coming of Age youth, mentors, and facilitators participated in an off-site retreat at Camp Hantesa, in Boone, the weekend of October [Among] The people of First Unitarian Church connect in community to support one another and honor the web of life. We: Ask for and receive loving presence from one another, especially in times of joy, sorrow and transition.

2 Respectfully connect across differences for understanding. Intentionally invite and engage others to grow in community with us. Generously share our time, talent, and treasure. Maintain a facility and grounds appropriate for our needs and aligned with our values. Ask for and receive loving presence from one another. The Pastoral Team is currently supporting 34 members. Ask for and receive loving presence from one another: Pastoral care needs tended to by ministers were higher as Election Day approached. Out of concern for the potential impact of the election results, we scheduled two Open Conversation sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 7, to support members who wished to process the election results. The sessions were lightly attended. Ask for and receive loving presence from one another: Members of the Caring Ministry Team provided support through rides and meals to six members of the community in October. Another three people were offered assistance but declined. Cards were sent to 14 people, including cards signed by a number of people on Sunday mornings and cards sent by individuals on the Card Ministry Team. Ask for and receive loving presence from one another: The Card Ministry Team, led by Carolyn Spencer, has arranged to send cards to our college students so they get a friendly hello from their home church while away at school. If anyone knows of a First Unitarian youth now in college who might like to receive a card, please send their name and address to Carolyn Spencer or Laura Berardi. Ask for and receive loving presence from one another: Recognizing the stress and fatigue of many of our members who are parents of school-age children, we ve been thinking about how to offer some TLC for the adults present on Wednesday nights while their children are in Faith Formation classes. We ve arranged to have Peterson Holistic s offer mini-massages and are looking into other ways to help our members de-stress. Intentionally invite and engage others to grow in community with us: The Play UU group organized this year s all-church Halloween Party, held Saturday, October 27th. An estimated 75 people attended the event, which once again featured a haunted house organized by the high school youth. There were snacks, games, and crafts for the kids, and plenty of costumes and good fun. Play UU intends to host the party again next year! Intentionally invite and engage others to grow in community with us: Membership Coordinator Laura Berardi held three meetings on Sunday Mornings, two with congregants who have expressed an interest in revamping our greeting and welcome, and a third with those who have been developing a plan for increasing the accessibility of our space for people with disabilities. The October meetings focused on defining scope and priorities for each of these groups.

3 Intentionally invite and engage others to grow in community with us. At the Sunday service on Nov. 4, we welcomed 14 new members who joined over the past six months. Intentionally invite and engage others to grow in community with us: The Sanctuary of Each Other: A of Remembrance service for all ages on October 28th invited adults and children into a time when as a community we acknowledged the experience of sorrow and loss and encouraged our members to support one another through difficult times. Maintain a facility and grounds appropriate for our needs and aligned with our values: The Grounds Council held a work day for Fall cleanup on October 20th. Maintain a facility and grounds appropriate for our needs and aligned with our values: DFA Charles Lewis will be meeting with an officer of the Des Moines Police next week for a safety and security assessment of the building. [Beyond] The people of First Unitarian Church nurture justice in the world. We: Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world. Share our talent and resources to support groups with whom we share values. Provide leadership and space for civil discourse. Welcome and accept transformation that comes through authentic relationships within and beyond our church. Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate: The Anti-Racism Collaborative of Des Moines (ARC) held a book group on White Fragility with five in attendance. Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate: Our Faith in Action partner for September/October was Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. We collected more than 160 items for their book sale at which 13 volunteers provided over 75 hours of service. The amount of our offering donated to Planned Parenthood was $2,539. Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate: Our November-December Faith in Action Partner is Al Excito, which offers after-school programs to help Latinx youth succeed. Al Excito teens and supportive adults will be selling stickers for $1 each this month to support Al Excito s educational programs for youth. When we asked whether there was something we could do in November that would help, this is what they asked us to do. Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate: The children in our Faith Formation classes, led by the 4th - 6th grade Soul Matters Group, are conducting a food drive for the Food Bank of Iowa. All donations are due

4 by Sunday, Nov. 18. This project emerged after the Soul Matters kids learned about hunger in Iowa and the work of the Food Bank. Build authentic partnerships, responding to needs our partners articulate. The Immigration Justice Team continues to advertise the DACA support fund and the Iowa Sanctuary Movement Asylum Fund, both established at First Unitarian in early October. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world: The Grades 4-5 students held a book drive to gather picture books for Hawthorne Hill. Three boxes of books were donated. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world: The Immigration Justice and Sanctuary Team is thankful for the work, thought, and discussion that factored into the decision to acquire a portable shower, which is on-site and awaiting a test installation. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world: The Immigration Justice Team continues its efforts to inform the congregation of ways to further the cause of immigration justice to create sanctuary everywhere through the Intercom , the Sunday Intercom, the church Facebook page, and the Iowa Sanctuary Movement newsletter. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world : Family Promise is hosting guests the week of November 4th. Our members rapidly filled the volunteer slots offered via SignUp Genius. Show up with passion and enthusiasm to grow our values in the world: Five volunteers with FEDS prepared and served approximately 125 meals for CFUM at Trinity Methodist on October 29, and 10 volunteers prepared and served approximately 200 meals at the Central Iowa Homeless Shelter on November 6. Welcome and accept transformation that comes through authentic relationships within and beyond our church: After hearing Karen Lauer s description of the needs of an asylum-seeker, and how she and Mike have have been in contact with one name Joely, the Soul Matters for Kids class made cards and letters of welcome and encouragement for Joely. They have heard back from her and how much she appreciated the cards. Welcome and accept transformation that comes through authentic relationships within and beyond our church: The Social Justice Ministry Leadership Team (Katie Allen, Doug Apperle, Sally Buckhoelt, Jack Hackett, Mike Lauer) met last month with Rev. Ginger Luke and will meet again on Nov. 12. They are planning a Social Justice Potluck for Nov. 29. Updates Ministerial Transition. The five focus areas of the interim period are

5 Vision & Mission, History & Heritage, Wider Connections; Stewardship; Clarifying Leadership Roles & Navigating Changes in Leadership. Vision & Mission. Transition Team members Jean Rommes and Heidi Levine, Co-Leaders of the Mission/Vision Drafting Team, are working with Ben Spick, Adrian Stamper and Katy Philby. History & Heritage. Gene McCracken has volunteered his skills at creation of timelines to enhance the history and heritage timeline with images and the additional comments that members made on the paper timeline during the History & Heritage pot lucks in April. Wider Connections. The Search Committee s work continues to engage the congregation more widely with the UUA. During the weekend of Nov , Keith Kron, director of the UUA Transitions Office, will facilitate the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop on Saturday and will lead the worship services on Sunday. Stewardship. The Stewardship Team is progressing well with the planning of a Celebration Weekend for March 2-3, They are using materials adapted from other congregations as well as their own creativity to plan events for that Saturday and Sunday. The plan includes approximately six weeks of communications in advance to ensure the success of the pledge campaign. They ll be asking members and friends to turn in their financial commitments for on that weekend. Leadership Roles. Discussion at the Board level about financial oversight has helped to clarify the need to formalize the volunteer staff member role that Barb Royal currently fills as the person who reconciles the bank statements and thus serves as a check-and-balance to the paid staff positions of DFA and Bookkeeper (see below). Operations. Important information about current operations Volunteers: Meg Notch has resigned from duties as a high school youth advisor. We are seeking a replacement. Interested volunteers should check with Tracy Beck. Staff: Pursuant to the discussion at the Board s working session regarding financial oversight, DFA Charles Lewis is working with Barb Royal on a job description and title for the formalization of her duties as a volunteer staff member in anticipation of the Board authorizing the changes under discussion. Personnel Policy: We are increasingly aware that the existing Personnel Policy is in need of a substantial review and revision, but have been waiting for the forthcoming UUA recommended model Personnel Policy. Compliance with UUA benefits plans: We have conducted a review of compliance with the terms of UUA benefits plans following a recent UUA recommendation. First Unitarian is currently abiding by the requirements of the various UUA-offered plans. Insurance: Long-Term Disability (LTD). The UUA recommends, but does not require, that churches pay for LTD Insurance for all staff who meet the plan s eligibility

6 standards. There is a provision in our ministerial contracts that specifies this payment, but the First Unitarian Personnel Policy does not extend payment of the cost of Long Term Disability Insurance for all the staff that are eligible under the plan s terms. Should we choose to extend LTD payment as the UUA recommends, the additional cost would be about $4,200/year. Insurance: Dental. In connection with the Board s review of the proposed letter of agreement with a new Senior Minister, we note that the current Personnel Policy does allow benefits-eligible staff a dental insurance benefit similar to that of the medical insurance benefit (i.e., the church pays 80% of the individual premium and 50% of the premium for any family members). Benefits-eligible staff are full-time and ¾-time staff. This benefit has routinely been offered to those staff; the only two who have accepted are the two ministers, whose contracts (based on the older model letter of agreement) did not include dental insurance. But the current Personnel Policy includes a sentence saying that the Policy does not apply to ministers. As part of the impending revision of the Personnel Policy, we expect (1) a closer alignment of benefits offered to ministers and benefits offered to other staff; and (2) we intend to make it clear in the Personnel Policy that the Policy applies to all staff (although if a minister s contract contains a differing provision the contract will be determinative). Operations: A Google Voice phone number has been established for First Unitarian s Caring Ministry Team. It is That number is set to forward to the personal cell phone number of Becky Evans, our Caring Ministry Coordinator. This will allow the church to publicize the one phone number, and allow the number to be forwarded to another Caring Ministry Team member when the Coordinator is unavailable. Operations: One of the HVAC units providing heat to some of the ground floor rooms ceased working on Friday, Nov. 9, resulting in lower temperatures (about 60 degrees). The part needed to repair the unit would not be available until Monday, so we informed the Family Promise Team Leaders, Sue Huber and Gene McCracken, to take whatever steps they deemed necessary to ensure the comfort of our guests under the circumstances. Membership: New Members in October - 2 (the 14 welcomed in the New Member Ceremony on Nov. 4 have joined over the past six months) Withdrew Membership in October - 3 Number of registered visitors - 13 Sunday Attendance. Last month we reported an unexpected decline in September 9 through October 7 Sunday worship attendance, particularly in the second service. We are watching these numbers closely, and are glad to report that attendance

7 during the rest of October and on Nov. 4 was markedly better, though not as high as we would wish. The table below shows updated attendance figures; we have added totals for each Sunday Attendance Attendance Date in st 2nd Total Date in st 2nd Total Ingathering Sept Ingathering Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept N/A N/A N/A N/A October October October October October October October October N/A N/A N/A N/A October November November Other. Activities that broadly enhance our efforts to meet our Ends include Tracy Beck was asked to participate in a pilot class at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center called Dying Well. It is offered on Monday mornings for five weeks concluding in November. Tracy has also concluded teaching a Sunday afternoon online course offered by the UUA, Administration in the Religious Education Renaissance Module. Rev. Jennifer Brooks attended a meeting of the Executive Team of the Transition Ministers Chapter of the UU Ministers Association October ATTACHMENTS: None.