Hello, Beloved Church Family,
Hooray! Spring has Sprung! The weather is lovely and I’m feeling very grateful that here in our local area we’ve been spared the horrible tornados and flooding that have been plaguing so much of our country and world. Even in our gratitude, our heart goes out to those who are suffering.
Here’s an update: Our dedicated team of volunteers did a wonderful job of sprucing up the outdoor spaces! Jay Butcher worked for hours power-washing our front porch area, and it looks 1,000% better! Thank you, Jay! Also, thanks to all the others who helped that day with weeding, pruning, trimming, and raking. Desmond Anzaldo and his Boy Scout Troop did a great job repainting the parking lot stripes, and the front steps. “Step One” is completed on fixing the fence, and hopefully it will be all repaired and standing straight up by the time you read this, or soon afterward. Thanks to everyone who helped!
Our Annual Church meeting is coming up soon, at 11:30 on May 21st, in the sanctuary. Please let ME know if you want to attend by Zoom. Due to the configuration and acoustics of our space, Zoom isn’t the optimal way to attend and hear well, but if we know you want to attend, and can’t be there in person, we’ll happily set it up for you, and send you the link.
The Annual May Meeting is when we always “vote in” the volunteers who have agreed to serve on our Board of Governors. Our Leadership Development Team has recruited the following new people to be voted in: Joe Vinson, a current board member, has graciously agreed to serve as President Elect, to follow Scott Satterwhite (voted in last year), who will be President in our upcoming year, July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. Joe would become Board President for our fiscal year 2024-2025. Barbara Wright has generously agreed not only to join the Board, but also to take on the Board Secretary position, to begin this July 1, replacing Denise Gunn, who has served us very well, and who will continue on the Board and with all her work with the children. In addition, Lynne Butcher and Lisa Rawson have been recruited to join the Leadership Development Team and work with me next year to keep our teams healthy and serving our congregation.
Our excellent Finance Team has completed the church budget for next year, the Board has reviewed and approved it, and it will also be voted on at this meeting.
One new and interesting thing that will be on the ballot will be the question of adopting the Eighth Principle. The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) has been working for several years on revising, updating, and replacing the Seven Principles (written back in the 1980s), and may soon recommend a new way to communicate UU Values. The Eighth Principle was initially drafted 10 years ago, and formally adopted by the UU Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia in May of 2017, at which time they recommended that the UUA formally adopt it. You can read more about it at https://www.8thprincipleuu.org. Since that time, over 50 UU congregations have independently adopted it, and at our April board meeting, our board members also agreed to recommend it.
On May 21st, with the vote on the Eighth Principle, you will be asked to make some of our values about Justice and Beloved Community more explicit, the way “Black Lives Matter” is more explicit than “All Lives Matter.” In words from the website, we can easily believe that we are being a “good UU”, and follow the “7 Principles without thinking about or dealing with racism and other oppressions at the systemic level. For people identified as white, it is too easy to ignore these issues, which is exactly what keeps the system of racism in our society alive, and in fact worsening right now.”
I deeply believe that as a “majority white” congregation, we need to be more mindful of and more involved in the work of recognizing our privilege and attempting to make a safer and more just Beloved Community. Explicitly stating our goal is the first step.
The wording the Board has approved for your consideration has not been completely finalized, but the version of it will be similar to this, shown here with the original 7 Principles:
1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part;
8th Principle: The journey toward spiritual wholeness; to build a multicultural Beloved Community and dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
I truly hope you will join us for our Annual Meeting on Sunday, the 21st at 11:30. Lunch after the regular church service will be provided. Many thanks again to all of you who attend church and participate! If you haven’t been with us lately, know that we miss you and want you back. If you haven’t been to a service yet, please know that we will welcome you with open arms!
In Love and Fellowship,
Laura Keith King