REPORT FROM UUA TRUSTEE - FLORIDA & MID-SOUTH DISTRICTS
by Lyn Conley, UUA Trustee, FLD & MSD, November 7, 2002
Date: Thu, 07 Nov 2002 11:21:02 -0800
From: "Lyn Conley"<lynconley@earthlink.net>
To: fd-l@uua.org
UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) Report 10/02
It was another terrific Board meeting with tons of energy, enthusiasm
and edification. The Finance Committee met Wed. evening 10/16 through
10/17 followed by Board Working Groups 10/18 and the formal Board
meeting 10/19 -20. I went down to Cape Cod for a few days before returning
to Boston for the Annual Program Fund Executive Committee meeting.
This retirement thing is exhausting!
Below you’ll find the topics in outline format followed by detailed
information.
As always, if you have questions or comments please let me know.
You can use lconley@uua.org, Lynconley@earthlink.net or call me at
770-934-9696.
1. Board Process
2. President Sinkford’s Report
3. Executive VP Montgomery’s Report
4. Secretary Arnarson’s Report
5. Finance
6. DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries)
7. International Relations and Communications
8. Ministry and Professional Leadership Working Group
9. Congregation and District Services Working Group
10. Financial Advisor’s Report
11. Moderator’s Report
12. CU2C2 (Council of Camps and Conferences)
13. BOT Anti-racism Assessment and Monitoring Team
14. Planning Committee
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1. Board Process
In the constant attempt to find ways to make the work of the Board
more manageable our Moderator, Diane Olson, is willing to try to new
things. As a result of staff restructuring, Board Working Groups have
been renamed and, in some cases, had their portfolio rearranged. We
also are limiting working group meeting time to allow for an afternoon
of what is being called “big chunk”
discussions. The Board is sent study material ahead of time, a presentation
may be made at the beginning, we break into small groups for deliberation
and report back. Results of the discussion may then be furthered thrashed
out in Working Groups for action.
This meeting’s “big chunk” dealt with growth issues
in general and the New Congregation Task Force report in particular.
In January we will be looking at Board governance, policy-making,
Board – Administration relations and the role of a District Trustee.
2. President Sinkford’s Report
Bill reported that the Budget [later adopted by the BOT with minor
revisions] reflected his administration’s priorities:
a. Moving UUism from the margins into the center of the public square.
b. Increasing the growth of UUism
c. Supporting youth and young adult programming to bridge the transition
to adulthood
d. Continue creating an anti-oppressive religious life
In terms of public advocacy Bill mentioned that he had taped an eight
minute segment to be aired on the ABC affiliate in Miami, FL (and
that the owner of the station belongs to the River of Grass congregation).
He also said that a Google Search found almost 40 stories related
to UU-Iraq, a number equal to Episcopalians and Methodists, and more
than UCC. It is increasingly likely
people (and the press) will hear our voice. [We also had the opportunity
to attend a meeting at Arlington Street Church in Boston held Thursday
prior to the Board meeting, on UU historical efforts to defend civil
liberties. In particular, a wonderful discussion took place between
the former UUA President and former Beacon Books Editor about publishing
The Pentagon Papers. And at the end, Daniel Elsberg (the author) bounded
through the back doors as if on cue. He appeared at the Boston Library
earlier that evening on a promotional tour for his latest book and
just found out about this gathering.]
Bill is spending an average of one day a week in the UU Washington
Center. The Public Witness Team will be:
a. Organizing information for congregations about Iraq
b. Developing a statement about bi-lingual education
c. Undergoing an Environmental Audit of the UUA buildings and becoming
more engaged in this area of interest
In the area of anti-oppression the focus this year will be on support
for Ministers of Color and Latina/o ministers. The Journey Toward
Wholeness Transformation Committee is becoming more consultative in
nature and less rigid in execution. All this work is being re-imagined
and engaging a wide variety of stakeholders from existing groups to
staff to theological schools.
New resources including one day workshops are being developed with
future plans to develop resources to help committees train in anti-oppression
work.
Bill has traveled internationally and will continue to do so next
year. The Board will be addressing our connections to these congregations
(which now, of course, includes Canadian congregations that wish to
maintain membership in the UUA). Two Working Groups (Congregational
and District Services as well as
International Relations and Communications) have been gathering information.
3. Executive Vice-President Montgomery’s Report
Kay Montgomery announced the following UUA staff hires since June:
a. Harlan Limpert, who attended the Board meeting, is the new Director
of Lay Leadership Development. After a few months in Boston, he will
work from Minneapolis.
b. Mimi LaValley is the new YRUU Program Specialist.
c. Marta Valentin has begun a one-year position as Acting Director
of Latina/Latino Concerns in the Identity-Based Ministries Staff Group.
d. In District Services, Tandi Rogers is the new Program Consultant
in the Pacific Northwest District; Yvonne Strejcek is the Acting District
Executive in the Pacific Central District; and Carol Taylor is the
Acting Program
Consultant in the Metro New York District.
e. At Beacon Press, Gayatri Patnaik has been hired as Senior Editor
and Laura Rutherford has begun as the new Controller.
Kay reported that the 13 member executive staff group is highly diverse
and representative comprised of half male and half female, including
two African Americans, one Latino, one immigrant for whom English
is a second language, two openly gay. With staff located across the
country they are working on improving linkages with one another.
She also reported
a. in IT the database is being upgraded and web redesign continues
b. the new organization structure resulted in new budget format requiring
new charting of accounts (a formidable task from this Finance Comm.
member’s observation!)
4. Secretary’s Report
Rev. Wayne Arnason, Board Secretary, reported that there are already
500 early registrants for Boston GA 2003 (thereby saving $50). The
deadline for early
registration is 11/15/02. Congregation certification packets will
be mailed late November with a deadline in late January. Petitions
to run for UUA Elected Committees is 2/1/03.
5. Finance
We received the draft report of the FY02 audit with the final report
expected by the end of the month. Deloitte & Touche is our auditor
and everything appears to be in order with no matters that represent
either material
weaknesses or reportable conditions. We will receive a management
letter along with the final document. We ended the year with a $56K
surplus following the
deficit FY01. Many thanks go to Administration for bird dogging these
numbers throughout the year and to staff and volunteers for curtailing
expenses. Beacon Press finished the year only $49,239 in the red,
well within the limit of our current three year trial plan.
The FY03 budget was presented including operating, capital and Beacon
Press expenditures totaling $21,202,022. Bill Sinkford addressed how
the budget
furthers the stated missions of the Association. Following discussion
and an informal information session Sat. night the BOT adopted the
budget with minor revision on Sunday. Included in this budget is a
capital expenditure for the Pickett Elliot House to improve handicap
accessibility.
We also discussed the possibility of setting up a DAF system –
Donor Advised Funds. Start up of such a program almost always incurs
losses. The BOT will
continue to look at this option for donations to the UUA.
6. DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries)
Paula Cole Jones addressed the board and brought us up to date on
their work. This group provides a community of support and advocacy
for people of color within the UUA and works on accountability to
the community of color. They work with multi-racial families and families
of color, coordinate regional meetings, Youth and Young Adult conferences,
support seminarians of color,
support settlement of ministers of color, and providing accountability
in this area. She led us through a Marginality and Mattering exercise
designed to help
us experience the feeling often encountered by POC.
7. International Relations and Communications Working Group The former
Electronic Communications Committee has been reformed into the Information
Technology and Electronic Communications Committee (ITEC) to
assist the BOT in its stewardship of assets of the UUA, look at the
broad picture, serve as resource for policy issues and make recommendations
for electronic assistance for larger denomination wide issues. At
GA this year, because of the anticipated attendance, ITEC enhancements
will be limited. They intend to have bar coded cards for credentialing
and signing of petitions.
They hope to have an electronic kiosk for checking e-mail and making
announcements.
This WG received a report from Carol Agate addressing communications
between the BOT and congregations. The entire BOT will direct comments
to this WG.
As mentioned in #1, we will be examining our International work in
January. This WG met with Rev. Olivia Holmes, Meg Riley, and Nangroi
Suting to
brainstorm UUism in the international arena. They will be recommending
a vision for our international work along with policies for that work.
8. Ministry and Professional Leadership Working Group
Because of timing of the Panel on Theological Education (which met
immediately following the BOT) the BOT authorized the Executive Committee
to approve grant
recommendations.
The discussion regarding Ministerial Fellowship credentialing process
continues. The UUMA is currently reviewing the proposal to eliminate
specific
categories of ministry for preliminary fellowship and make changes
in the final fellowship process. Are we asking the credentialing process
to be more than is realistically possible? The MFC isn’t an educational
body. All this
discussion has been worthwhile and, even if this proposal is not adopted,
the work will inform the basic question of what it means to complete
the requirements for final fellowship.
Regional Subcommittees on Candidacy (RSCC) will be evaluated this
fiscal year. A report is expected by April 03.
The BOT approved a change to Rule 18 which now requires an individual
“be a member of a UUA or CUC member society and maintain active
involvement in a UUA or CUC member society.” You’ll recall
that ministry and youth/young adult areas are still “continental”
after the split.
9. Congregation and District Services Working Group
The Board accepted two congregations into membership in the UUA: the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan, Mount Pleasant,
MI; and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Valley, Rockford,
IL. We acknowledged the withdrawal from membership of five congregations:
Thurman Hamer Ellington Church, Decatur, GA; Comax Valley Unitarian
Fellowship, Comax Valley, BC; Guelph Unitarian Fellowship, Guelph,
ON; Federated Church in the Cove, Beverly, MA; and Unitarian Fellowship,
Guadalajara, Mexico. The Federated Church of Marlborough, NH had its
status corrected to indicate membership in the UUA.
We discussed the New Congregation Formation Task Force Report. There
was general enthusiasm for the report tempered with some cautions
about having the proper resources (e.g. trained leaders) as well as
buy-in from local congregations. The BOT moved that this report be
commended to the administration and requested a report for January
03 on strategies to implant the recommendations in conjunction with
current growth initiatives. We also requested that items which promote
growth strategies be highlighted in the FY04 budget.
Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, Director of Congregational Services,
reported that she is now the primary contact for clergy sexual misconduct
under the Ethic in Congregational Life Program. We met Harlan Limpert,
the new Director of Lay Leadership Development. He is evaluating what
is available and working well in the Districts and determining what
is needed. Tracey also reported that the Planning for Growth and Vitality
for the Small Congregation workshop
is now ready to be booked and work continues on the District Handbook.
Rev. Peter Morales, Director of District Services, reported that
districts and district staff are transforming from management to leadership.
10. Financial Advisor’s Report
Larry Ladd’s report in full is available at http://www.uua.org/TRUS/financial/FARep10-02.pdf.
Among the numbers noted:
- # of UUs continue to grow (.6% higher than 2001, 14.3% higher than
1992)
- # of Adults increased to 158,607 in 2002 (1% higher than 2000, 14%
higher than 1992)
- RE enrollment increased to 63,080 after a one year decline (2/7
higher than
2001, 15.1% higher than 1992)
- Congregational resources continue to grow (4.7% higher than 2001,
49.5% higher than 1992)
- while Annual Program Fund as % of Congregational Expenses remained
relatively flat hovering around 3.7% of percent of resources
- Capital Campaign has raised $28.3 million toward $32 million goal
(note that a large amount is in pledges and planned gifts leaving
us a little cash strapped during these economic times)
- 400 congregations have let us know they’re participating in
Mind the Gap Sunday
- total return on endowment for FY02 was -12.5% Note our Investment
Committee is re-evaluating everything
Church Mutual Insurance Co., our preferred provider, is further reducing
its discount to our congregations from 7% to 10%. In addition they
are paying $10Kto establish a Safety Committee for the UUA.
11. Moderator’s Report
Diane Olson reported on the on-going work of the Moderator’s
Task Force on Economic Access to General Assembly and on the new Moderator’s
Review Panel on the Social Witness Process. I will be on Diane’s
new ‘Best Practices Committee.’ This committee will work
with the Moderator to develop documentation for Board members to provide
consistency and history as well as refined orientation. She also asked
for volunteers to work on recommendations to the Board about how to
develop more effective processes for the election of
the UUA President and Moderator. And she intends to increase training
at GA about procedure and advocacy.
Diane led a session of feedback on the Quebec General Assembly. Many
comments were directed to the Commission of Social Witness, specifically
the Statements of Conscience process. We need a method for the Association
to take positions on matters, a religious statement of conscience
and principle. This may not be in the form of a legislative agenda.
How can this be made more useful to our
congregational and staff social justice advocates? How do we as a
faith community take this seriously? This discussion will continue.
If you have comments please let me know.
12. CU2C2 (Council of Camps and Conferences)
We received a report from the BOT liaison, Judi McGavin, accompanied
by CU2C2 president Clay Bosler of Rowe Center, Ellen Chulak of Murray
Grove, and Craig Lentz of Ferry Beach. Members of congregations enhance
and connect spiritually through these entities. They attend to youth
and young adults. “Tomorrows leaders are at camp today.”
13. BOT Anti-racism Assessment and Monitoring Team
I was processor observer on Sat. for the Board meeting. In addition
to the regular meeting observation sheet I was provided a list of
questions to use for AR monitoring. The group gave us a rich history
of the work of this group. In January we will consider a new charge
for this group.
14. Planning Committee
GA 2006 was approved for St. Louis, MO.
Again, if I can provide additional information about any particular
topic please let me know. I truly appreciate the comments, questions
and reflections you make. I hope to see many of you in Boston in June.
Lyn Conley
Lconley@uua.org
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