Dear Congregation,
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the same excitement and anticipation for spring as I am. Here’s a quick update on our recent board reports and discussions:
Each month, our finance officer presents a report outlining our financial standing. Currently, we are winding down the 18-month budget we have been working with and reviewing the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2024. The 2024 budget was discussed at a special meeting of the Finance Committee in early March and will be finalized for presentation to the Board on March 26th. If you are interested in supporting this process, the Finance Committee is looking for volunteers! We are also working closely with Rev. John to explore options to pay for the security grant expenditures until we can be reimbursed from the grant, ensuring minimal impact on our general budget. The grant amount was $117,000 for physical security updates.
As a part of ongoing 8th Principle work at our church, the Eighth Principle Implementation Team is planning a half-day conference on October 19th, so mark your calendars! In addition, as a part of 8th Principle accountability, the board is also expecting a report from the Nomination Committee regarding exit interviews of previous board members who were also People of Color. Historically, BIPOC members of the board have had a difficult time and often leave the church after serving. We hope to discuss what systems need to be in place to not only encourage more diversity on the board, but make sure people feel heard, valued, and supported in their spiritual growth. Finally, Rev. John is participating in coaching to better support the BIPOC members of our congregation, and Rev. Anastacia just finished teaching her class on Womanism.
The Ministers provide a board report each month to keep us up to date with the various things happening both in the church and community and I have included some highlights of that report.
- Revs. John and Anastassia have been busy with hiring processes and finalizing candidates for both the Director of Administration and the Music Director positions. A huge thank you to Mary Ann Stein for her support in this transition!
- In anticipation of Rev. AZ’s upcoming sabbatical, the board discussed and requested a breakdown of the responsibilities of both the Ministers/Executives as well as the administrator, as they may have some additional responsibilities during that time.
- Moving to two services has increased Sunday attendance by 10%
- >Our new Jr. Youth group launched
- Jubilee Kids program just finished and Elementary Owl just began. Thank you to Olga, Graham, Angelique, Tricia, and Renee for helping with the curriculum and teaching this course!
- Camp Beagle registration is open
- Last month’s blood drive in honor of Wendy Winters was the biggest in the mid-Atlantic, and nearly all of the volunteers were from UUCA
- UUCA members will begin offering a monthly meal at Lighthouse Shelter – your small group can sign up
- Registration for attending and volunteering opened for this year’s virtual-only UUA General Assembly (June 20-23). People can also apply for financial aid to attend.
- The Lawrence St property is undergoing PERC testing and assessment for the feasibility of supporting two wells and septic systems on the property
- The Right Relations Committee brought the Board a draft of their charter which is under review and will be voted on during the next board meeting
- UUCA will be rolling out the first part of a 2-part survey in April. Be on the lookout for this as we get closer to the date.
Finally, a reminder and invitation:
Please complete your pledge! It helps us better plan for the upcoming budget year and supports the growth of the congregation.
UUCA is holding an ‘Opening New Doors’ community celebration on April 14th at 11am. Everyone is invited to attend, and please invite friends and family who may be interested in seeing the new space for community events or those who are interested in learning more about UUCA. Details regarding this event will be In The Know. We’re thrilled about this and will be actively involved in making it a memorable occasion.
As always, your feedback and involvement are invaluable to us. We’re grateful for your continued support and dedication to our congregation’s mission.
Warm regards,
Nicole Bruno
At-large Board Member