From the Board of Trustees – Name Change Circle Update

Scheduling Changes: Circles opportunities will be extended to November 13 meeting on Sundays only at 12:30. Those dates include Oct 16, 23, 30 and Nov 6, 13. The response forms will be accepted until Nov 13. The Board meets for our regularly scheduled meeting on Nov 16 where we will discuss a recommendation for next steps.

Response forms are available on the UCE bulletin board and will be available after Sunday services at the back of the sanctuary. Response forms can be returned to the UCE office in a mail slot dedicated to the Name Change Circles or a marked envelope at the same table the response forms will be after Sunday services.

You do not need to attend a circle to be able to return a response form.

We want to thank the members who have shared their thoughts/feelings on a name change with us through circles and in response forms. Remember, the data on your response forms is what we will use to decide our recommendation.

We want to acknowledge those members who might not attend a circle or turn in a form. Your silence on the issue of a name change is information we will take into account when deciding our recommendation.

There is a tension for us as we facilitate this process between wanting to hear your voices and seeming to over-promote the process. We will err a touch on the side of promoting the process to best give you an opportunity to be heard either in your participation or with your silence. We have been invited to facilitate a circle for Crackerbarrel (last week) and the Men’s Group (this week). We are willing to facilitate a circle if requested. We will share our Circle Process Agenda with you if you want to facilitate your own circle or you can use the Circle Process Agenda to engender discussion in your existing groups such as covenant groups.

For those who are curious about the numbers so far we have met with not quite 30 members as of this Wednesday with 15 forms turned in.

In peace and love,

Brian Meister, Board Member