Dear UUCA Friends,

We are experiencing tremendous challenges right now, but our church is rising to the occasion. During last Sunday’s service, Rev. Tim shared Rev. Lynn Ungar’s poem, “Pandemic”. I feel uplifted by the many ways that mem-bers of our church have found to “center down” while heeding the call to love ourselves, one another, our communities, and the wider world.  

The ministries of our church continue! At my house, we have been blessed by phone calls from our Pastoral Associates, and we’ve all seen the pictures of the Community Meal team and the Whole Foods distribution vol-unteers continuing to do their good work. These are just a few examples of how much we are doing. Our staff, lay leaders, and members of the congrega-tion have stepped up to support one another and continue the social action that is the hallmark of our church. I realize that this is an uncertain time for many, but I humbly ask that you continue your financial support of the church, to the extent your situation allows, so that we can continue all that we are doing.

Following the lead of both the staff and the congregation, the Board has decided to carry on our business while taking all necessary precautions for safety. Accordingly, we will use Zoom to hold our spring congregational meeting, rather than postponing, as scheduled on Sunday, April 26th, follow-ing our regular worship service. I am on a listserv of UU congregational leaders and can tell you that UU churches are taking a variety of approaches to their meetings. No one way is right for everyone, but I think proceeding with Zoom fits with what the UUCA has been doing and with the wonderful way that we have been successfully managing the technological learning curve. 

However, there are significant details to work out. Allan Michelson and Bill Jordan joined the Board at our recent meeting, given their familiar roles as our quorum keeper and parliamentarian, respectively, and they helped us to begin to iron out potential difficulties. The Board voted to temporarily suspend church by-laws that require in-person meetings, paving the way for our use of Zoom. Church members will soon receive details about registering their attendance (for our quorum), the way we will manage discussion, and how we will conduct votes.

Traditionally, the spring congregational meeting includes a vote on candidates for Board positions and other church offices. This is something we need to do in order to prepare for the transition to the new church administrative year in June. In addition, both the Racial Justice Task Force and the Task-force for Dismantling White Institutional Dominance & Habits of White Supremacy, as well as other members of the congregation, have urged that the UUCA adopt the proposed 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism (8thprincipleuu.org). I hope that you will take advantage of the different programs and opportunities for conversation about the 8th Principle that are currently being held (via Zoom) for members of our church.  

The more that we continue to gather and reaffirm our commitment to this church, the more that we will minister to and strengthen one another. I want to thank the Board for the unusually long meeting they endured recently so that we could set the terms and agenda for our congregational meeting. I look forward to seeing you all on April 26th.  

Rob Sturr, Board President