The Transition Team is trying multiple ways to make sure everyone feels heard during this time of transition. We have held seminars, offered a survey and we will be hosting evening listening sessions on Zoom. We value all opinions – even if you’re new to UCG, don’t attend often, or haven’t returned to your pre-pandemic levels of involvement.
Here are the dates and times of the sessions: All sessions will be held on Zoom. Meeting ID: 852 6246 0183 Passcode: 1624
- Sunday, Sept. 10, 7:30-8:30 PM
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 7:30-8:30 PM
- Sunday, Sept. 24, 7:30-8:30 PM
Here are suggested questions we can discuss during the listening sessions.
- What could we accomplish with a third full-time minister that we couldn’t with two ministers?
- What’s at stake for you during this transition and in the decision about whether to hire a third minister?
- What programs at UCG are most important to you?
We will continue to gather feedback from the congregation and work with members of the ministerial team as we begin to craft a proposal in time for the October congregational meeting. If you missed the important conversation at the August seminar, including the discussion around the estimated costs and benefits of various ministerial models, you can find the slides here and the seminar here.
If there is to be a successful Capital Campaign in January/February, the proposed budget should not include a third minister . . . for now. Members should be alerted to the upcoming need to return to a sustainable campus, where the congregation is addressing a range of needed projects. OR just defer the campaign for a year or so, admitting that there will be unresolved issues awaiting UCG in the future.
When membership/pledging units return to previous levels, recruiting a Third minister minister should be a top priority. Attention might even be given to recent seminarians to help in the transition.
I am in Durham, NC, and so may be missing out on conversations at UCG. Still, you are my beloved community. Sanford
Sanford, the various teams — transition and financial sustainability and BoB and capital campaign exploration — have been having many conversations about the timing of all of the changes and campaigns for funding in our future. I’d encourage you to join in one of the upcoming zoom listening sessions hosted by the transition team. Also happy to set up a call with you now that the school year has started and my schedule is a little more regular!