January 15, 2020: Here we are! 2020.
In February, I will begin the second half of my year’s contract with you. I’ve been listening, observing, and contemplating in addition to the usual tasks of ministry: counseling, leading worship, consulting and supervising.
Hence, I’m planning, with our elected leaders, an Evaluation of Our Ministries which we shall be asking you to take part in soon. This UUA-created document is not just a tool for evaluating the professional minister, but for looking at all our mutual work. You may or may not call them “ministries,” but they are certainly more than tasks, bullet points, or To-Do lists!
Remember, my door is always open to you to hear your concerns, thoughts, and suggestions. I don’t accept anonymous feedback and contend that it is always harmful to individuals and organizations. If some area of church life bothers you, the best course is to have a one-on-one conversation with the individual that is charged with oversight. If you don’t know, find out! Or ask. Then volunteer to help, with your time, money, or expertise. We aren’t an online company, a medical office, or a business of any kind! You aren’t the consumer, and the Staff and leaders aren’t the owners. You all “own” this place and this enterprise, and we each have a sacred commitment (sacred meaning life and humanity affirming, touched by what you deem the ground of our being) to its well-being. We call that a covenant. I’m not scolding. I, too, need reminders of this relationship!
We are together a very small congregation. What you do as individuals and together matters to our ability to thrive. No one can afford to sit back and watch. Each member and active participant is part of all we do, by default. You are all part of the welcoming committee, the PR committee, the social action task force, the caring committee, the lunch team, the RE Committee. Even if you don’t attend those meetings, even if there are no such meetings, you have a role to play. You can play it for the betterment of all your fellow members at GNUUC. Or sit back and watch. Either will affect the whole.
Together, we are writing the history of this congregation. That is no small or insignificant thing. I’m not here to “run” the church; I’m here to do the pastoral work of uniting, comforting, inspiring, and challenging all who pass through our doors. I take that very seriously.
If each of us do, our mission in this wider community will become manifest.
With confidence and love,
Cynthia