On August 29th UCG had the first in-person Board and Committee recruitment fair in two and a half years. We owe much appreciation to Moderator-elect Barb Gibbs as well as Lisa and Shanna in the office for putting so much energy and effort into planning this years’ Time and Talent event. The pandemic has left so many of our Boards and Committees critically low on membership numbers and desperate for additional talented people to join our ministry work.

When my husband, Melvin, and I joined the church in 2013 we were happy to take a back seat and observe the work of the church from afar. After six months of regular attendance and a few volunteer jobs, Jackie Davis approached us after services one Sunday and said, “You know if you are thinking about joining a Board or Committee then you should be on the Open and Affirming Committee.” We said YES and immediately jumped in, both feet first. This was before marriage equality so there was so much justice and equality work to be done that year. Jackie pulled me aside some months later and asked me if I was interested in being the chair of ONA the coming year. I appreciated her confidence in me and so I gave that opportunity much thought over a couple of weeks. I agreed to lead ONA that next year with Jackie’s promise to stay on ONA to mentor and guide me along with Vince, our then minister liaison. Being chair of ONA allowed me to experience serving on Church Council and working with a talented and dedicated leadership team.

After three great years on the Open and Affirming Committee I sent an email out to the ministers asking if I could be of any support to their Boards or Committees. Vince emailed me back in about five minutes asking to have lunch together the next day. Over that meal, Vince introduced me to the good work of the Board of Membership and asked if I would consider coming on as BOM chair. Joining Board of Membership allowed me the opportunity to meet new visitors to the church and welcome new families as members to our church community. Board of Membership is a wonderful team of loving volunteers and that one year commitment as Chair turned into four years with the last two serving as co-chair alongside the amazing Amy Vollmer.

Those initial opportunities in serving in the ministries of UCG really started the passion and drive for my other volunteer advocacy work in LGBTQ equality and non-discrimination. Before those experiences working collaboratively with my fellow UCG Board and Committee members on so many important causes and initiatives I never thought I would be able to balance out my sacred free-time and personal energy along with the work of the church. This year as Moderator, with two small toddlers running my life’s orbit and scope, I’ve had to learn even more to balance life’s precious time. I totally understand the feeling many of you may have that there couldn’t possibly be enough minutes in the day to work on a Board or Committee. But I assure you the gears that make UCG’s wheels turn lie in each of us. If all of us gave just enough to make difference, consider what an impact we could all make together towards the change we imagine.

There are so many Board and Committee opportunities here at UCG I know that you will find the right fit. Please consider serving in the work of one of our church’s ministries. I hope that you will find inspiration to commit some of your own time and talents to the critical work that we all do as a church community. Please contact Barb Gibbs to join a board of committee.