Welcome Susan Frances!
On Monday, August 3rd, we will welcome the very newly (less than 24 hours, to be precise) ordained Rev. Susan Frances, as our part-time Congregational Life Director. As you hopefully know by now, Rev. Karen Mooney is departing UCE as she has decided to focus solely on being the Executive Director of UUANI. We are so grateful to Karen for the time she has been with us. Her wisdom, deep spiritual nature, and powerful ministry has been so very needed at this difficult–to–navigate time and she will be dearly missed. Thank you, Karen, for your ongoing commitment to our faith.
We recognize that the decision to hire Susan Frances, our former Ministerial Intern, may have seemed swift and somewhat veiled. As we examine our power structures and how they show up in hiring practices, we are mindful of the harm a lack of transparency can cause. However, while we needed to make the decision quickly, please know that it was well-considered. Karen Mooney’s announced departure came just three months after we had concluded a thorough search for the position, in which we considered several strong candidates including Susan. The timing didn’t work for Susan last year, but it does now and having someone with Susan’s skills and well-established relationships is a windfall for the congregation, especially at this complicated time.
We are thrilled to have Susan join the staff team. She brings the same insight, compassion, intelligence, and excellent skills to the role of Congregational Life Director as she did as our Intern. Her contract with us is for one year at which time it will be re-considered. The settled senior minister, who will be determined by the spring of this year, will be in dialogue with Susan and the board about the position long-term.
For now, please join me in welcoming Susan into the role of directing UCE’s focus on social justice and membership.
Yours in faith and in service,
Eileen
August 2, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, August 2nd at 11:15 am.
“Love Unfolding” – T.J. Williams-Hauger M.Div
How long must we wait for justice to roll down like waters? How long until we know righteousness like an every-flowing stream? Drawing from the Book of Amos and Psalm 13, this sermon was preached from the Unitarian Church of Evanston pulpit and recorded for the The Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions based in Johannesburg, Africa. It was delivered in celebration of global pride and in support of Black Lives Matter. Learn more about the Global Interfaith Network and please like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel on this page. The queer faith activists of color need the support.
In 2017, TJ earned his Masters of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary in the field of Liberation Theology and Global Justice and is currently in the ordination process with the American Baptist churches. His first national speaking opportunity was in 2008 as a guest speaker at Reverend Al Sharpton’s Reclaim the Dream March. He also worked to organize the National Equality Prayer Service that was held at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Washington DC. In 2014, TJ became a part of the Religion and Foreign Policy Working group at the US State Department sponsored by President Barack Obama and Sectary of State John Kerry. TJ, and his husband, Brad Hauger, were the first gay couple to leagally marry at The Riverside Church in New York City. Brad and TJ continue to work to spread public awareness regarding social justice.
Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time during the summer so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient are My Block, My Hood, My City and Bryan Stevenson’s group Equal Justice Initiative.
REAL Team Food & Supplies Drive: July 22, 2020
We are so grateful for UCE’s generous donations that have been pouring in! Our recipient group has responded numerous times that they are so thankful for how our congregation is responding to their dire needs. (We are keeping their identity under wraps at this point to protect them, as they have been targeted with looting and death threats).
Want to help?
The REAL Team has been asked to coordinate some much-needed supplies for some of our community partners who have been most impacted by the pandemic followed by civil unrest. Here is an Amazon list which includes the items that were asked for and especially needed. Please check the list and donate as much as you feel comfortable. We need multiples of many items. There are several ways you can help:
- Using the link above, you can order from Amazon and have your supplies delivered directly to our drop off location (when you check out, the delivery address should say, “Becky Crawford’s Gift Registry”) We have volunteers lined up to drive donations to the needed locations.
- You can purchase from Amazon or elsewhere, and deliver to the Crawford-Cloonan household directly (email for address).
- If you’d like to donate financially, you can send a check directly to UCE with “south side” in the memo line. Cash donations can be dropped off in an envelope to my house.
ESPECIALLY NEEDED NOW:
- Diaper sizes: newborn, 1,4,5,6
- Pull ups: 4t,5t, 6
- Baby wipes
- Pads with wings
- Organic tampons
- Body soap, bar and liquid
- Bathroom tissue
- Paper towels
- Dish detergent
- Laundry detergent
- Fresh produce
- Spaghetti and pasta sauce
- Hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, alcohol
- Any and all non-perishable food items
Any questions, contact Becky Crawford. Thank you for your support!
From BOT President: July 24, 2020
Hello from UCE’s New Board President, Jessica Tomell-Presto!
July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year at UCE. For the Board of Trustees, this new fiscal year means that we are seeing a changing over of members. Although she is moving out of her role as Board President, we are grateful that Martha Holman will be remaining on the Board for one more year. I would like to thank Martha for her incredible skill in leading us, often through difficult situations, and for the countless number of hours that she dedicated to UCE as Board President.
I would also like to thank our two out-going Board members, Heike Eghardt and Jane Bannor, for their dedication to the Board and for sharing their time, talents, passion, and insights. For many of us, the work of the Board is often in addition to the many other things that we are doing for UCE—social justice work, hospitality, other committee work. Not to mention that this is in addition to all the other things that we do in the outside world and for our jobs, families, and friends. The Board is extremely lucky to have had the presence of Jane and Heike who navigate all these responsibilities so well.
I would like to welcome two in-coming Board members: Tom Ticknor and Laura Lothschutz. I am looking forward to working with both. Jim Clark, who has served on the Board for the last three years, has graciously agreed to continue on the Board. Joe Romeo, who is in his second year of three with the Board, will be stepping into the role of Vice President.
I am beginning my journey as Board President and look forward to working even more closely with all our Board members as well as the staff and ministers at UCE. As always, if you have any need to contact the Board, you can always do so at the following email address: BOT@ucevanston.org. Remember that every member is always welcome at any of our (now virtual) Board meetings. Please contact us if you are interested in attending. As a new feature this year, the Agenda for Board of Trustees meetings will be available on the UCE website. The minutes for monthly Board meetings will continue to be posted there as well. Welcome to the new year!
#StopHateForProfit: July 24, 2020
From Jessica Meis, Communications Coordinator
Many of us in the modern age use social media in some way. Whether we are on the platforms to share life updates with our friends and family, promote our favorite business or a cause we believe in, or just to scroll through the many articles about recent events, social media has become a part of the good and the bad of society. Social Media has been the platform for many social justice movements for years, but recently it has also become a source of hate and misinformation.
Kevin Roose, a technology columnist with the New York Times, described in a recent podcast how Facebook has been used to undermine the Black Lives Matter Movement. Donald Trump has also used social media to promote acts of violence in response to the George Floyd protests. Although the same racially-charged and violent message was shared on both platforms, Facebook and Twitter took two very different approaches. While Twitter marked the tweet as going against their policies, Facebook did nothing and continues to hold that position in spite of outside pressure from civil rights organizations. This is not the first time Facebook has stood by while hate speech has continued to fill their platform. Although officially “banned” in March 2019, white supremacist and white nationalists continue to operate on Facebook with no repercussions.
In light of these events, UCE ministers and staff have decided to participate in the #StopHateForProfit campaign and pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram (also owned by Facebook). This campaign was organized by civil rights organizations including NAACP, Color of Change, Anti-Defamation League, and Sleeping Giants as a response to Facebook’s inaction to the spread of racism and hate on their platform in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests across the US. We join these organizations in wanting Facebook to tackle hate speech and misinformation head on instead of continually hiding behind the guise of free speech.
While some organizations have decided to step away from using Facebook entirely due to Facebook’s continuous lack of support for non-profit organizations, UCE staff do not feel this is the right move in our efforts for social justice. While there are some new Facebook alternatives, these platforms have the danger of being populated by conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, and white supremacists that have been banned from mainstream platforms, like Facebook, already. To protect our community and our credible voice in the fight for social justice, we do not feel switching to a different platform is safe. UCE does not do fundraising through Facebook, but we do promote our events, our values, and organizations that share those values. We cannot give up our use of Facebook that helps us nurture the human spirit for a world made whole. We share the same power as bad actors on Facebook. Although they use this power for evil, it is not entirely evil and we needn’t hand it over to them. We can use the power of social media for love and to perpetuate our values.
Are you wondering how to use Facebook for good? Check out this list to learn how you can use the platform to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole:
- Shares and reacts have the most weight in Facebook’s algorithm. Since UCE will not be paying for ads, when you get the chance, share and react to UCE content.
- Share and react to content by people of color and organizations that fight for social justice and equity.
- Follow official pages for activists and non-profit organizations.
- Promote Black-owned businesses by sharing and reacting to their content.
- Share important articles about social justice to educate those in your online community.
- Report hate speech and misinformation. The more people that report hateful content, the better the chances of getting it taken down.
- Sign this petition showing your support for businesses that are taking part in the #StopHateForProfit campaign.
If you would like to leave Facebook entirely, consider Twitter! Lots of social justice movements and journalists take action and organize on Twitter. UCE will be posting more there soon! If you have any questions about this move or would like to learn more, email Jessica Meis, Communications Coordinator, at admin@ucevanston.org.
July 26, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, July 26th at 11:15 am.
“Our Tower of Babel” – Rev. Chip Roush
How some other interpretations of the biblical “Tower of Babel” story might guide us in these interesting times.
The Rev. Chip Roush serves the First Unitarian Church of South Bend. He is the co-author (with Leslie Takahashi and Leon Spencer) of “The Arc of the Universe is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism, and the Journey from Calgary.” He has chaired the General Assembly Planning Committee, and participated in the UUA Moderator Search Committee. He is a “Beloved Conversations” Retreat Leader, and the Chair of the LGBTQ Center Board in South Bend. He uses he/they pronouns.
Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time during the summer so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is the Deborah’s Place (Click here to learn more).
From EOD: July 17, 2020
Hello everyone. My report will bring you up-to-date on many areas of interest at UCE.
Finance
It has been a challenging time to navigate these COVID times when financial uncertainty has prevailed. Over the past several months I have prepared financial projections and have worked closely with our Treasurer Susan Comstock and Staff Accountant Vickie Doebele to ensure we are on top of income and expense. The good news is that we ended the fiscal year far better than anticipated. We will close the books with a gain of approximately $5,000. This is due to the generous contributions by congregants, expense control, and a lower than expected attrition rate. Thank you to everyone who paid your pledges and contributed far and above. Your generosity and support of UCE keeps us moving forward during difficult times.
Our shared offering has been favorable even during summer months when it often declines.
Please remember to send your nominations for Shared Offering by July 31. The Social Justice Council will be voting on these nominations. See the article in this week’s newsletter.
Integrated Stewardship Council – ISC welcome Rob Wingader as one of our new members-at-large. We have not yet selected our second member-at-large. Rob will serve a two–year term. He has served as Treasurer at his previous congregation. Welcome Rob, we are excited that you are joining this group of UCE Financial leaders.
PPP Update: I received paperwork from the financial institution who granted us the PPP loan. Our outside accountant Julie Pierce has done a payroll spreadsheet for UCE and will fill out the application in August, well within the period allowed. Our staff has followed SBA guidelines for accounting of these funds.
Capital Campaign Projects Progress
I hope you have an opportunity to drive by and look at our new sidewalk and parking lot.
It is fresh, new and an excellent improvement to our property. Electric work from the lot to the north side of the lobby will be done next week. The overhead electrical will be removed when the electrician completes their new conduit & wiring work & can enable the underground power.
Solar shades will be installed July 21 in the office, Rm. 2 and Rm. 3.
Wing flooring replacement is in progress. These tiles will beautifully compliment the lobby flooring.
Fundraising
Susan Comstock, Jenny Walsh and Cathy Deamant have launched planning efforts to hold Serendipity Auction virtually this year. It is rather clear that by November we will not be gathering in a crowd of 180 people, so they are exploring ways to help us meet our fundraising goal and create some fun for our congregation in doing so. Stay tuned for details.
Chris Allender and Alice Swan are working on a “pilot” program to sell rummage sale items online. Some donations have been received. They will review the items, photograph them and sell on various online venues such as Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Yard Sale, Craigslist, Ebay and other platforms. If this initial effort works out well, we will explore a more expanded online sale. Who knows, by next spring maybe we can hold a sale on our new parking lot.
COVID-19 Actions, Learnings, and Guidelines
I have been updating on a regular basis a document started by the Board of Trustees that documents actions we have taken since before shelter-in-place through today and learnings we have gained from these actions.
A UCE COVID Task Force was formed in early March. The group is comprised of the Ministers, EOD, Executive Committee, 3 UCE medical professionals and our Church Counsel Dana Deane. Guidelines for small group meetings were developed by this team and are published on the home page of our website as well as a link in the newsletter. We are encouraging congregants to continue to meet virtually. These guidelines are for a small group meeting of 10 or fewer, distanced and masked, as well as outdoor meetings of 25 or fewer with same protocol. If you are thinking of a meeting at UCE please read the guidelines very carefully to see if it is the right thing for your group during Phase 4. There are specific procedures and questions to consider before planning a meeting.
General Assembly AUUA Days
On Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 attended AUUA Days, a gathering of Administrators and Executive Directors. 160 people were in our virtual meetings, the largest gathering of AUUA Days ever. The keynote speakers were Barb Greve and Elandria Williams of BLUU/BLM. This was a dynamic discussion. There was also a presentation by Mandy Neff who shared with us ways to practice self-care through spiritual practice during these challenging times. On Wednesday we heard from Jan Gartner and others from the UUA on Church Staff Finance, including Charissa Benak, the Retirement Plan Specialist.It was a satisfying two days of reconnecting with colleagues, as well as meeting new ones.