After more than eight years on the UCE Board, on June 12, I attended my last Board meeting. Here are some of the important things that I remember having happened in that time, beginning a little before my arrival in 2016. Perhaps they will bring back some good memories, or maybe you might learn of something in our recent past, before you joined us.
2015-2018: After Bret Lortie, our minister at the time, had encouraged the Board to adopt Policy Governance, the Board studied how to properly do that and worked on its proper and complete implementation.
2018: We approved a revision of our policies and by-laws (including term limits for Board Members).
2018: Bret left to become a minister in the Air Force, prompting UCE to enter an interim ministry – with Rev. Greg who left in May of 2019. At that time Eileen was asked to become Acting Senior Minister and Rev. Karen Gustafson came to lead the interim work with us for nearly two years, until June of 2021.
2019-2021: Rev. Karen led us through an important period of interim work, during which we examined our values and determined what we would most value in our senior minister.
2020: Covid 19 brought us to an abrupt reconfiguration of how we interact with the community and celebrate our spirituality. Zoom became ubiquitous, and Adam became invaluable. YouTube services allowed us to enjoy many of our favorite aspects of services and Zoom allowed us to continue to conduct social justice efforts and personal and spiritual support activities.
2020: Susan Frances was hired and has provided considerable guidance and assistance, especially with Social Justice activities.
January 2021: After serious and extensive considerations and thorough our interim work, the Ministerial Search Committee led the congregation through the process of calling Rev. Eileen to be our Settled Senior Minister. The decision was nearly unanimous.
2020 – 2021: The Board commissioned the Endowment Task Force. Following an eighteen month process the congregation adopted its recommendations for allocating funds. The fund now has assets totaling nearly $2 million and allows us to do a lot of valuable work each year.
2020 – 25: The Board commissioned the Anti-Oppression Task Force which has helped the congregation understand itself better, commit further to the necessary work of dismantling racism within, among, and beyond our congregation, and form more genuine and meaningful relationships with diverse community partners.
2016 – 2025: We have considered the name “Unitarian Church of Evanston” and whether that name is helpful or accurate. This has led the Board to recommend the formation of a Task Force to propose a new name to be presented to the congregation for its consideration.
2019 – 25: Kathy Underwood has overseen the development of an increasingly vibrant Lifespan Faith Formation program.
It is my observation that UCE has grown tremendously over the last eight years, and we are a more effective, happier, and more welcoming community.
I hope that you get a chance to take a minute to talk to someone who has been a part of UCE for a while about how things have changed in their time.
And we have been led by the presidents listed below:
Barbara Ghoshal, Janelle Brittain, Martha Holman, Jessica Tommelle-Presto, Joe Romeo, Carla Williams (2 terms!), Elaine Siegel, Hoa Voscott (incoming)