Agenda

UUFM Board of Directors’ Retreat

August 5, 2015

Coop Ministries

8:00 am to 12:00 pm

Present: Kathleen McKinney (President), Rob Schiff, (Facilitator), Mary Gear (Minister), Denise Patton, Phoebe Newman, John Braun, Susie Godsey, Wendell Kringen, Vicky Wilbanks

1. Opening

a. Chalice lighting was done by our new minister Mary.

b. Covenant was read by all.

c. Ground rules for retreat were established by Rob.

2. Getting to know each other.

In turn, everybody took a few minutes to tell a little about themselves, and why UUFM is important to them

3. Survey results - discussion on how we can make use of these results.

Here are the results:- %

Spiritual leader 5.25

Congregational growth 4.35

Intellectual development 3.91

Facilitator 3.89

Social activism 3.76

Pastoral tradition 3.42

Efficient administration 3.42

Building community 79

Preaching 65

RE, children 53

Expansion of membership 51

RE, adult 42

Social action 39

Personal counseling 32

Discussion took place on how to share survey results with fellowship. Ideas were to share at a simplified service, could even pick one subject. Discuss in small groups using debate format. Try to get conclusions, rather than just a discussion.

Problems identified: Only about 20 members would probably be participating.

A question asked was whether results differ if questions were worded differently?

5. Role of minister.

Roles of a Minister Identified at 2014 Board Retreat when minister was being considered

Pastoral counselor

Community outreach

Help with adult RE

Giving a foundation to UUFM

Leadership development

Face of UUFM in community - weddings, etc.

Four goals for ministry discussed at 2015 Board Retreat

1. Developing UU identity and strengthening connection to the larger denomination

2. Spiritual deepening. (Happens in worship services. Can also happen in small groups.)

3. Experiencing and building trust in shared ministry (i.e. Newsletter - Mary suggested she could do a newsletter.)

4. Connecting to the larger community

(Mary can help with connecting to larger community.) Announcement in newspaper about Mary. Also we should expect calls from individuals in the larger community who do not have an affiliation with a church, and who would like a minister to cover weddings, funerals etc. Honorariums policy needed.

Discussion surfaced on how we arrived at these goals. This happened while talking about tasks, reviewing survey. Tasks will be identified in a future meeting.

Mary noted that each person in the fellowship does ministry, and the question is how does she contribute as a paid minister?

6. Role for Committee on Ministry.

We have a “transition team” which as some point will become a “committee on ministry“. Rob gave his perspective on the role of the committee in Salem. Mary gave her perspective, explained in a Web cast for which she supplied the link, requesting board members to watch it before the next meeting. Basically the difference is that evaluation will be on the “committee for shared ministry” rather than the minister.

Mary asked what our ministry was here in McMinnville, saying that she could help develop this, with the help of an available tool. Kathleen noted we will revisit this question again and evaluate it after listening to the web cast.

7. Thoughts on how to increase membership. (Growth)

Four qualities of growing congregations:-

1. Spiritual depth 2. Spirit of generosity 3. Strong UU identify 4. Purpose

Simply put, retreat members identified that externally, we should be saying “this is who we are, would you like to join us? Internally, we should display hospitality, and know how to communicate what we are about with an elevator speech.

Ideas:-

Be out in the world accomplishing things

Get the word out

Talk about it - elevator speech

Hospitality - how do we welcome people?

Discuss fears about growth (Is growth need? See survey)

How do we let people know we are here?

Clarify our identity

Have tables at events and locations, i.e. Turkeyrama, Linfield, etc.

8. How to develop new leadership and avoid leadership burnout? (Vision, Priorities.)

RE Burnout - training in leadership development

Find a way of renewing commitment

Expand on development “strategic plan” objectives

Adult RE - deepen understanding of UU and of other religions

Social action committee - what does it do? Committee fair? How can we link our values? Perhaps Mary could give a sermon on this?

Explore who we are now, where do we want to go? What comes next

Plan for continuing with minister.

Canvas for replacement members on committees

Better way for succession

Past chair help

What does leadership development look like?

Suggest a one year limit.

9. Other thoughts, i.e. fundraising, RE??

Silent auction

Concerts

Growth fund

10. Wrap up/next steps.

Simplified service - continue with survey (John)

Developing adult RE - (Mary)

Regular service (Mary)

On volunteering - committee fair (board liaisons)

Social justice (Mary volunteered to do a sermon on Social Justice‘s and how it connects to spirituality.)

Committee - Web cast - Shared ministry (Kathleen)

How are we going to talk about fundraising and plan (board)

Policies and Procedures - payment for events (Mary)

PR - getting word out (Vicky and Susie)

Clarify to prospective members that they can contribute time, treasure, as members.

Term limits for committee chairs? (John)

Liaisons - structure of your committee, chair, working members (Info. to Mary, for her information, and it will be placed on the order of service, and on the web)

RE committee chair (board)

11. Mary extinguished the chalice.