Governance

Thank you to all who contributed to the GNUUC Vision of Ministry for this year!

GNUUC Vision of Ministry 2024-25 (as stated and approved by our Board):

Cultivating a safe space in our community by welcoming & caring for each other, both inside and outside our walls, and celebrating the unique gifts of each person.

Board Service Discussion: went into more detail about the specifics of the service

-Creating a framework of the vision of ministry to bring to the congregation

-Reflecting on last year’s vision

Discussion of Policies

-Alcohol use policy: What do we want to put in the policy, how specific do we want it to be? Emphasized need for responsible adult around if minors and alcohol are present, all Board members will play a part in crafting a policy

-Building Usage Policy: There was a motion for the Board to authorize the ability for the Minister and Administrator to negotiate prices for building usage, seconded and passed with unanimous approval

Enacted outside of the meeting: The Board approved the Restatement of the UUA Retirement Plan (to take effect 1 January 2025) on October 29.

Discussion about facility use and renters

Board service on October 27 will include vision ideas from the retreat and include the congregation

Discussion about the Board service

Work on it over Slack in between Board meetings
Give Congregation advance notice of participatory details (announcement during What’s Next? 1-2 Sundays before)

Nathaneal Reveal has resigned as Board Secretary

Next Board meeting: Oct​. 16

The GNUUC Board met on August 21, 2024 to discuss various matters related to church operations and planning. Key points included:

1 - Financial Update: The church ended the 2023-2024 fiscal year with income $2,431 over expenses, avoiding the need to move funds from contingency. This positive outcome was largely due to rental income from A New Leaf. For the current fiscal year (2024-2025), 34% of pledges have already been paid.

2 - Board Retreat: A retreat is scheduled for August 31st from 11am-2pm. Board members will bring mixed media items for a group project.

3 - Board Service: The board will lead the service on October 27th, which will be followed by a shared ministries meeting.

4 - Greeters: Carol shared insights from UUA greeter training and suggested implementing a monthly rotation for greeters. The board discussed incorporating safety training into the greeter role.

5 - Memorial Garden: The board discussed concerns about the Memorial Garden space.

Our Annual Pledge Campaign ran from April 14 to April 21, 2024. We are still missing about seven pledges from members. Friends and visitors, consider making a Pledge to GNUUC for our July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Fiscal Year.

This year, we celebrate Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s 30th Anniversary. In the summer of 1994, we first met as a congregation and were recognized officially by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Since then Greater Nashville has been a home for those seeking a liberal religious community, a place to raise their children, a supportive institution, a gathering of friends.

Now is the time to make a commitment. If you are member, now is the time to strengthen your support. If you are a new visitor, new friend, now is the time to consider joining us and pledging your support — and consider joining us as a member. Reverend Denise would love to talk to you.

By giving our time, our talents, and our money, we can support those in need, and serve as a voice of love, acceptance, and hope in a world that needs to hear these things. Our pledges this spring will resource the first year of the NEXT 30 years of our congregation’s mission: to transform ourselves, our community, and our world through the power of love; to embody a sanctuary of compassion, integrity, and respect; and to champion justice, equity, and peace.

Pledge what you can for the new year. Know that if your circumstances change, you can adjust your pledge. If you can give more, do so, knowing that you are contributing more in a time when others can contribute less.  Please visit https://www.nashvilleuu.org/pledge and pledge as generously as you are able.

Now is the time. This is your invitation.

To read this year’s pledge letter, click Invitation to Pledge.

The Board discussed the extension of the A New Leaf school lease for an additional 12 months and received an update on the annual stewardship drive. The Board discussed the importance of welcoming and membership in the coming year. The Board planned the agenda for the upcoming May 5th briefing of the congregation and confirmed that the meeting will be hybrid. This is a preliminary Q&A session in advance of the Congregational Meeting on May 19. The Board put plans in place to start congregational visioning for the next 30 years with a progress assessment scheduled around December 2024.

The board confirmed that the current members are all likely willing and able to continue to serve on the board if asked. The board discussed the ongoing occupancy of the RE building by A New Leaf school. The board began making plans for congregational meetings and training priorities for the upcoming 2024/2025 fiscal year.

We discussed ways to improve communication and simplify and open up processes at the church to better reflect our current staffing and volunteer capacity. We discussed the open slots for delegates from the congregation to UUA General Assembly 2024. The Board will encourage interested people to contact Rev. Denise. Board members will inform Tina about their wishes as far as continuing to serve during the coming year.

The treasurer presented the finance report, noting pledge income may come in lower than budgeted. Insurance and asphalt repairs have increased expenses significantly. Getting additional asphalt repair quotes was discussed.

Discussing the congregation's 30th anniversary coming up in 2024, suggestions included celebrating with a special pledge drive theme highlighting the past 30 years and vision for the next 30. A homecoming event in the fall was also proposed.

The Board conducted a self-assessment. The facilitator closed by thanking the Board for their self-reflection.

Continued progress on visioning the future and sustainability goals will help ensure GNUUC's next 30 years are as strong as the past 30 have been.

Please email board@gnuuc.org if you have any questions or suggestions.

Financial Review

- Reviewed budget to actuals and financial position. Insurance costs have increased significantly due to claims, but new revenue sources (facility rentals, donations) help offset this.

Timetable for Pledge Campaign

-The pledge campaign is planned for April 7 and April 14 (materials will be distributed). The goal is to finalize pledges by April 21 to inform budget planning and stewardship celebrated. The date of the congregational meeting is tentatively set for May 19th.

Creating a Culture of Periodic Self-Assessment

- An assessment task force proposed establishing an annual self-assessment for key church groups/teams. The goal is to empower teams and build community. The board will conduct a self-assessment in February using the governance policy document as a guide.

Discussions on Rev. Denise's Contract

- A small task force comprised of Jesse Spencer-Smith (Treasurer) and Claire Stanton (At-Large) will meet with Rev. Denise to discuss potential updates to her contract for the next fiscal year. These early discussions allow time to finalize details aligned with the budget by March/April.

Lease with the New Leaf Preschool: The members discussed updates regarding the proposed use of the RE Building by New Leaf. This continues to move forward appropriately. It was proposed that liaisons be appointed from the congregation and New Leaf, with Rev. Denise potentially being the representative from the congregation, as she was already in contact with the school.

Share the Plate Conversation: As part of her monthly report to the Board, Rev. Denise briefed the board on the pastoral care issues related to conversations about the November Share the Plate partner.

Parking Lot Concerns: We discussed the few incident reports regarding the parking lot. These discussions were focused on addressing the challenges posed by the parking lot's location and its potential attractiveness as a secluded spot. Solutions such as improved lighting and security measures were discussed, but the consensus was that we are doing all that is appropriate at the moment. Non-police intervention will continue to be used, with police intervention used as appropriate.

- Claire will send a list of small congregations in nearby states to Carol to potentially reach out to about governance models. The goal is to learn how other small congregations operate and make decisions. 

- A New Leaf preschool representative visited to view the rental space for a potential lease. Discussions are ongoing. 

- A job description was created for hiring a bookkeeper on a contract basis for around 7 hours per month. The board approved hiring someone and will use contingency funds to pay them.

- The board agreed to spend the last 5 minutes of each meeting reviewing and approving a summary of the meeting to be shared with the congregation. This will be sent to Kris for the weekly eblast and also printed for the bulletin board. 

- The board reviewed the monthly finance reports. Pastoral care funds may need to be supplemented given low remaining balance. A bookkeeper will be paid from contingency funds, not added to the budget.

- The healthy congregations team currently includes Jane Spears and Gene Bryant. Reverend Denise works with the team.

- The board formally created a 2 person task force of Caren Spencer Smith and Reverend Denise to continue the dialogue on assessment.

- There was discussion around a UUA request for assistance for a program to support transgender individuals traveling through Nashville. Reverend Denise will inform the congregation of this opportunity.

Overall, the meeting focused on improving transparency through posting board meeting summaries, making progress on important administrative needs like hiring a bookkeeper, and having generative discussions to support the congregation's mission and needs.

The GNUUC Board invites you to attend the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at 1PM (after Mother’s Day lunch). All voting members will have the opportunity to vote, in person or via Zoom, on the following: 1) Election of the Board Slate and 2) Annual Budget.

We are looking forward to seeing you all there! GNUUC President, Tina Conti

Our Annual Pledge Campaign runs from March 12, 2023, through March 26, 2023.

Pledge season is a time to reconsider the ways in which we each contribute to our communal life, to dream about lovely and exciting things we might do and create together, and to recognize that our individual generosity is the lifeblood of our congregation and crucial to the embodiment of our collective commitment to the transforming power of love.

This an invitation to love yourself, each other, and the communities in which our congregation is embedded, to be a part of choosing who and how we hope to be together in the future, and to make plans about how you will share your time, attention, and money with GNUUC next year.

Make your commitment to our future together at Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation by visiting https://www.nashvilleuu.org/pledge (or mailing in a hard copy pledge card) and pledging as generously as you are able.

Now is the time. This is your invitation.