People of the Compact
Several months ago, I experienced a new revelation during our Sunday morning service. My epiphany came while we, as a community, did something we’ve done together countless times over the years. We simply read our UCG Compact. Aloud. Together. And with resolve.
Something happened that Sunday morning that spurred me into reflection. How am I doing with living out (albeit imperfectly) the ideals we just read? I created a mental checklist and have revisited it from time to time.
– I ask myself what I’m doing to strengthen our spiritual community. Am I truly engaging in worship?
– What am I doing to help people feel welcome and accepted, even when we disagree?
– In what ways do I learn from the past? And find new truths that inform our future?
– What am I doing to show compassion to people in my UCG family? In the local community? In the global world? In what ways do I care for our planet?
To be honest, I often come up short.
As we move into a new church year filled with some uncertainty and a multitude of opportunities, I imagine we’ll spend time reflecting on the past, present, and future of our beloved UCG. Self-reflection can be invigorating as well as challenging.
If you have questions or concerns about “Anything UCG,” please set up a time to meet with Bromleigh or Talia. You can call the church office to make that happen. You are welcome to talk with people you trust who serve on Council Executive Committee or CMRB. Your church leaders are “hear” for you.
CMRB is excited about completing some long-term projects. We have been working with the Compensation Committee to standardize the formatting and language of our ministers’ contracts. We are looking forward to the culmination of the Three-Year Plan, which will provide new Onboarding Notebooks for each board/committee.
We are currently revising our annual ministerial review process and look forward to implementing it in June. And we are working with Andy to make plans for his last worship service as our minister (April 30) and a celebration of his ministry later that afternoon.
We are people of the compact. Let’s share grace with one another as we move forward as a united community — committed to accepting diverse opinions and theologies — serving with compassion, forgiveness, and joy. In Bread for the Journey, Henri Nouwen says it well: “Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive, not for ourselves, but for one another.” Sounds like UCG to me!
Members of Council Executive Committee to Contact
Bromleigh McCleneghan, Coordinating Minister
Talia Raymond, Minister of Children, Youth, Open & Affirming, and Creative Arts
Barb Gibbs, Moderator
Jeremy Archer, Moderator-Elect
Jim White, Council Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Stephanie Wohlgemuth, Council Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Members of Board of Congregation-Ministry Review
Barbara Beynon Fonda Eyler Helda Montero
RD Bonnaghan Andy Ingram Nan Ryan (chair)
Maureen Cox Don Smith-Lopez Bill Zegel