Greetings Congregants:
Although the days have remained cool and moist, they are getting noticeably longer. I’ve even felt a hint of warmth in a recent afternoon breeze. I and my fellow Board members are eager to restart meeting in person again. No firm date has been set for the restart of live Sunday services but, with the current decline in cases and the metrics used by our Executive Team and the church’s volunteer Public Health Team, it should be weeks, not months, from now.
In the October Moderator’s Letter, I shared proposed Church Goals that the Board developed after engaging with the congregation during 2021. The Board engaged in subsequent generative discussions on these goals and received feedback from congregants at the forum the Board held on November 14, 2021. I am pleased to share the adopted Church Goals for years 2022-2024. These goals will serve the church during an important period of transition to our new Senior Minister and for our emergence from the pandemic.
The Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is deep into its independent discernment and search for our next Senior Minister. Although the MSC’s role is crucial, it is only a part of the overall transition the church will experience very soon. There are two items of note in the transition timeline: First, the Board will be sponsoring a forum on the ministerial transition on Sunday, April 10, 1:30 pm. More information on the agenda will be forthcoming but for now, please mark your calendars. Second, please remember that if you want to cast a ballot on the vote to call our next Senior Minister, you must be a voting member by April 4, 2022. To understand the requirements of being a voting member, please see the recent post on this topic.
In case you missed it, Reverend Bill, at the February 13th service, reported on the conclusion of our 2022 Annual Drive, Meeting the New Day. The church’s annual drive seeks pledges from members and friends. These pledges are the primary source of income to cover the church’s operating budget. Reverend Bill reported that the annual drive was a great success. The details provide further understanding of this year’s positive outcome. The number of pledging individuals and families (“units”, in fund drive parlance) was down by approximately 6%, but the average pledge increased by approximately 3%. As of December, these two factors led to pledges for approximately 95% of the goal of $1.575 million. Late in the drive, an anonymous donor made a significant one-time pledge and that allowed the church to sponsor a matching opportunity for congregants who had not pledged. These additional commitments took us to 100% of our goal. Considering the constraints, changes, and uncertainty created by the pandemic, my heart soars with joy and gratitude for this result. As always, the Board thanks you for your contributions to the culture of generosity at our church.
The Board’s work on the 8th Principle continues. We are working to make all our gatherings and deliberations intentional in the way we engage. Our process observation role, which is a part of every meeting, leads us to consider how well we worked toward our goals of recognizing white supremacy culture, dismantling systemic racism and oppression, and taking steps to bring marginalized voices to the center of the conversation. We were inspired by Learning Circles that started in February. These circles are supported by the church’s Advancing Racial Justice Action Group (ARJAG) Each circle is a small group that takes on an important book or podcast and meets to deepen their understanding and to engage in discussion. Later this month, the Board will be starting its own circle focusing on the book My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem.
In service,
Mindy Clark, Moderator,
First Unitarian Church of Portland Board of Trustees
(co-authored this month by the Board Communications Committee)