All Fellowship Retreat – October 16, 2011

 

Meeting started 3:31pm.  A ÒmemoryÓ count yielded about 30+ participants.

Phil introduced Phoebe who provided an opening, centering poem, The Journey by Mary Oliver

Phil opened with introductory remarks.  He noted that the Board needed direction and hoped this meeting would supply it.  He said with limited time we would discuss/explore 3 topics/ areas for 45 minutes each:

1)    Evaluate if it is time to proceed to find a Part-time minister led by Phil

2)    Increase engagement to members and friends led by Ken

3)    How can we grow our membership led by Bernie

 

I – Part time minister

Phil introduced Rick Davis from UU Congregation of Salem who was on hand to offer some perspective from his experience.  He opened by saying he was there to be available for conversation – he did not have the ÒtruthÓ for our congregation, but would be happy to be a resource.  He referenced Consulting Minister Handbook that had been sent to the Fellowship earlier, noting that a Consulting Minister (CM) is not the same as a full minister, who is Called in a very formal process to a congregation.  A CM is an employee hired on an annual contract – PNWD can tell us who is available to be a CM.  Rick has known healthy and unhealthy congregations with FT ministers.  Problems come because a good match does not happen.  A CM can be rehired or not annually but is also not as committed to the organization.  Rick recommends for any hire to be tough minded in the process and true to ourselves. 

Q & A

1)    Q: What is the ministers role?  Rick: usually in charge of worship and pastoral care.  Can delegate worship activities.  Can be an administrator.  Can lead social action.  Rick shares the ministry.  Thinks laity and clergy ought to be more melded.  He works with the leadership and does what needs to be done. Should go with ministers strengths

2)    Q: Cliff Worry about minister setting/influencing a direction that the laity can better set themselves.  Much concern about minister taking over.  R: think minister should not disempower, believes in  Òlow church.Ó 

3)    Otis – many things a minister can do if the match is right.  But can also do without a minister.  UUF has a way of functioning and potential for creativity, can lead into interactions with one another that expands awareness.  If have minister might lock out where we would go if free to proceed on own.  With leader may be tempted to just let them set the agenda.

4)    Q: Patricafaye – we are UUA members, does that mean we can only have  UU minister?  R: can call anyone, but itÕs hard to do it on your own, without help and guidance from UUA.

5)    Phil – Kris talked with Jeanine from PNWD and there are no restrictions

6)    John: appreciates Otis and CliffÕs remarks, but as person who gets speakers for the service, he sees a half time minister could really help.

7)    Bernie: called the question – What could a Consulting Minister do that we donÕt have now. 

á        Phoebe said the person could represent us in the community

á        Ken – central point around which can grow toward a building

á        Marcia – we all volunteer so much, a minister could help alleviate volunteer burnout by helping with some roles.  Susan agreed with that

á        Joan – suggested a congregational survey or a workshop/discussion about this

á        Barb – provides a thread of consistency

á        Phil – lay leadership burns time, feeling of being an imposter (in UU).  Not having the language for a lot of this.  He is looking for another resource.  Thinks it will limit growth without a minister, a powerful piece to miss

á        Jeannine – Concerned how dedicated a PT minister could really be

á        Jolynn – getting a minister limits us to one personality- connects to being active with Mormons.

á        Rick: suggested we were having a healthy discussion about this.  Consider including a technique called ÒPolarity ManagementÓ helping discern  all points of view.  He also noted that studies show that congregations who never Call clergy also do not grow.

á        Kris: Cannot grow without a minister.  Comments from people in workshop at General Assembly going from small to medium congregation, a minister was the most important step they took.  Also thinks a minister can help us understand UU better than laity, both spiritually and helping us to explore other religions. Kris would like one ¼ time.

á        Judy – PT ministry can lead to FT ministry eventually

á        Ken – agrees need someone who speak with UU knowledge on a variety of levels

á        Bonnie -  minister could offer UU spirituality

á        Jolynn – Talked about UU music coordinatorsÕ conference to Wisconsin – said 70% of workshops addressed difficulties between music and Ministry.

á        Rick will make a point to bring this up to UUA – sounds like a whole sections of UU not communicating with each other

á        Kris: we can hire minister for 1 year and then re-evaluate decision

á        Phil: we need direction for the board.  He asked for vote: - written ballots:

ÒAre we ready for the board to look into process for hiring Consulting Minister?Ó  Vote: 17 yes  10 no

 

II.  Engagement – how to get people interested in what we have

 

á        Adult RE – includes

1)     Articulating our Faith (Patriciafaye will look into this)

2)     UUA Book Read – Susan will take lead on one reading

3)     Idea to have some 30 minutes after service times to talk about UU – for members not newcomers (see below)

á        Choir – Jolynn leading regularly.  Need more participants, especially Soprano/ Bass

á        Parents Group – Kris parent course set for 4 meetings.  First meeting 12 participants, 15 kids in childcare

á        MenÕs Group – John leading, having meetings.  All good

á        Members to General Assembly: Kris thinks this is a great experience for members.  She will look into funding participants for Arizone GA

á        Rick noted there are lots of Webinars now.

á        Circle Suppers – Alene reported that groups distributed that will set up own dates for dinners

á        Newcomer Discussion after each service:  Marcia thought 30 minutes occasional sessions right after service for newcomers would help with membership.  Not same as UU101 Bernie does outside of service.

á        Social Action Group – meets at YCAP Thursdays 6:30-8 to sort cans and other activities – discussed how to send emails for short notice needs – Rick suggested setting a plan for email distribution including a ÒCovenant  of Right RelationsÓ that could be used in many communication settings for healthy relationships.  Phil suggested the Mission and Covenanty Ò book he has.

á        WomenÕs group meet for lunch Wednesdays.  Kara suggested including a not lunchtime midweek gathering for those who work

á        Care and Concerns -  Pam, Susan, Marcia.  Seems to work when needed.  Rick suggested connecting with Salem meetings on Lay Ministry

 

III.  Membership

 

Bernie opened with encouraging words about the UUFM citadel on the hillside that is our future membership.  He broke ideas for membership growth into the following parts:

 

AV         Attractive Venue

B           Bonding

CA         Community Action

D           Diversity

F            Follow-up

PR         Program (need right combination of programming)

PUB      Publicity

RE/CRE/ ChildrenÕs RE (a real opportunity for membership growth)

RE/ARE/Adult

W/S     Workshops and Service (we are already doing a lot right)

SER      Sermon

 

The Membership committee will meet and put together a plan based on comments today.  Hope to help provide unified plan with other committees, especially Worship and RE.  Then Bernie opened the floor for comments:

 

Ken – could we make the Lawn sign bigger?  Also letÕs get a billboard that says ÒWe teach ToleranceÓ and keep it up for a long time.

Barbara V. -  We plan to update the website and need input from membership.  Ken and Barb R. volunteered to help.

 

Kris -  Everyone should get trained as a greeter, not just so they can do the job, but so they know how to engage newcomers more effectively.  Also we should concentrate on getting ÒstarÓ minister/speakers to do a series that will keep people coming in for more than one service. 

 

Rick: Talked about their  Multicultural Greeter training program.  ÒRadical HospitalityÓ program includes assignment that everyone meet someone new after each service.  Also assign a core of members who invite people to activities and call others.   New members need to make a relationship with at least 5 people to feel connected to the group.  Find opportunities to get together in small groups.  Also to get people engaged on off weeks, advertise the Church of the Larger Fellowship. 

 

Advertising opportunities: when we meet in groups, wear UU T-Shirts.  How can we get NewsRegister to do a viewpoints piece on some activity we are engaged in.  Spice up what they say in the Sunday paper.  CraigÕs List?  Put up Posters at Chemeketa and Linfield.

 

Jolynn says sheÕd love help with the Music – more musicians, other ideas.

 

John:  we should concentrate on figuring out why some come, but donÕt return.  Maybe contact names from tags.

 

Reserve chairs in back for newcomers.  (members not sit there)

 

Time was limited for this brainstorming.  Meeting adjourned at 6:30