Want to know what the Board has been doing in November and December?

• Reviewing our policies and Bylaws
• Reviewing our shared structural relationship with the Integrated Stewardship Council
• Meeting to find a consultant for an equity audit
• Putting together a UU Principle-themed basket for the Serendipity Auction
• Reading and discussing Widening the Circle of Concern
• Reviewing and updating our Board Job Descriptions to share with the congregation and Nominating and Recruiting
• Supporting Rev. Karen in her interim work
• Monitoring the Ends statements
• Supporting the Search Team in completing the ministerial agreement
• Attending Council meetings as liaisons – there to learn and to assist, if needed
• Hosting “Reflections with the Board” where we meet monthly with the congregation
• Finding ways to make policy governance more accessible and understandable to the congregation
• Planning and hosting a holiday party for the staff
• Connecting with other UU congregations and the Midwest UUA through weekly leadership zoom calls
• Sharing information with other UU congregations: 1) Our Board Goals with All Souls Unitarian Church of Indianapolis (ASUC) 2) Realm knowledge with ASUC
• Writing newsletter articles to keep you updated!
• Sharing with you interesting articles from the Midwest Region of the UUA: https://www.meadville.edu/files/resources/bc-dismantle-white-supremacy-flyer-s.pdf?mc_cid=aad5103f36&mc_eid=8d81f4dbfe

Want to know more about any of these topics? The Board minutes and agendas are available on the UCE website or feel free to contact the Board at BOT@ucevanston.org!

It is our goal as the Board of Trustees to maintain connections with you. To that end, we are beginning a new program entitled, “Reflections with the Board.”  We will host these sessions via zoom once a month at 10am before the service.  The purpose of these sessions is twofold:  One, we will often have information that we would like to share and two, these sessions are a time for us to listen to you.  We want to hear how you are, as well as your ideas, suggestions, and concerns.  

Our next session will be held on November 22 at 10am.  For this session, the Board would like to spend some time talking with you about Widening the Circle of Concern.   The Board has had two sessions devoted to WTC.  In our conversations we have focused on the following questions from the UUA Study Guide that are recommended for discussing the the Governance chapter: 

1. An organization’s informal structures privilege the status quo. What informal structures do we have in our community that might be functioning in this way? 
2. Are any of our community’s structures duplicative or unnecessarily complex? 
3. How do we educate our community members on congregational policy instead of assuming that they are informed? 

There is much to discuss.  Here are some additional questions from the UUA Study Guide for this chapter: 

• How do we encourage practices towards diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work of our groups and governance? 
• How is our community participating in regional work? How are we influencing the direction of our region of the UUA and holding it accountable to these goals? 
• One of the recommendations is for more support across congregations for youth and young adult leaders. How are we tapping into the resources available, regionally and beyond, especially for youth and young adults of color?  
• How do we reach out to leaders from other congregations around building our skills to provide greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community? How might we partner with other congregations or communities and if we did, what would be a good first task? 
• When does our community make the opportunity to discuss this? 
• How do we discuss it with those new to our community?  

Which of these questions would you like to discuss?  What have you been learning as you have been reading Widening the Circle? Please join us on Sunday.  And, please also put on your calendar next month’s “Reflections with the Board” on December 13th. 

Thank you. 

 Zoom Information – Topic: Reflections with the Board 

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Meeting ID: 862 4288 7134
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One of the tasks at the annual Board of Trustees retreat is to review and assess the goals from last year and to create new goals for the current year.  These are the goals the Board has approved for the 2020-21 church year.  We will monitor progress for each goal through the year. 

Goal:  Financial Monitoring

As part of striving to act for justice, we will monitor and support UCE’s financial activity and assure the use of our anti-oppression lens.  We will

• work in collaboration with the ISC to develop an annual budget
• encourage staff to use an equity lens when hiring outside contractors by discussing these regularly
• present the annual budget to the congregation in a clear and transparent manner
• encourage the Endowment committee to use an equity lens in making investment and grant decisions
• encourage good stewardship and generosity in the congregation in ways that are sensitive to the differing financial situations of our congregants
• monitor the work of the Capital Campaign Implementation Committee in the final phases of the campaign, to be sure that funds are retained for reserves

Goal:  Improving Linkage

As part of being community builders, Board members will work to maintain and improve the connection between the congregation and the Board. We will

• publish the Board email address as an option for the congregation to communicate withus.
• publish the Board minutes after they have been approved, and meeting agendas before the meetings on the website and in the newsletter, as well as instructions on how to attend meetings.
• listen to and read summaries of such activities as the Minister Search cottage meetings and survey results to integrate that information into board decisions.
• participate in and read the summaries of the Interim brown bag events to integrate that information into board decisions.
• use newsletter articles and announcements to help inform the congregation regarding the term “linkage” as defined by the UUA.
• utilize the Facebook Member-to-Member page for Board announcements.
• increase the use of Realm in communications.

Goal:  Addressing Covid-Related Changes

To best support three Ends, being Spiritually aware, being Intellectually excited and being Community builders, we must recognize that UCE has undergone many changes since the onset of Covid-related quarantines in March of 2020.  Board members will evaluate the various changes to operations and congregational community that have been implemented during 2020 to determine the best path into the future.  We will

• create a list of changes that have been implemented during 2020 due to Covid-related restrictions.
• establish a subcommittee to review the pros and cons of each listed item and create a report back to the Board with recommendations regarding retention and/or improvements.
• review the report and make recommendations back to the parties responsible for implementing the specific changes.

Goal: Interim Work

As an important step in building the community of UCE, the Board will continue to support and engage in the Interim work so that we reach our collaborative goal of resolving old issues and understanding who we are as a church, thus providing an accurate and timely UCE story to the Ministerial Search Committee for their writing of the congregational record.  We will

• communicate monthly at least one week prior to board meeting with Rev. Karen Gustafson about Interim Working Report progress for clarification regarding status, needs, progress.
• check with board members via email prior to this clarification call/meeting.  At each board meeting, the report will have included questions from the board and answers.
• engage in and encourage congregants to participate in Interim activities.
• support Interim minister and fulfill any requests they have of the board.
• relay questions from the congregation regarding Interim work to the Interim minister.

Goal: Supporting the Ministerial Search Committee

To support all of the Ends of UCE, the Board will continue to support and engage in (as congregants) the Ministerial Search Committee work so that we call a ministerial candidate who will support our journey with our UCE mission and end statements.  We will:

• develop the 2021-22 budget in conjunction with the ISC to support the preparation of a compensation package offering.  This must be ready for approval by the October 15th board meeting.
• assign two board members to a Compensation Team to work with Tom Hempfling from the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) to prepare a compensation package for the prospective ministerial candidate. This must be approved by the board at the October board meeting and completed by the end of October.  The Compensation Team board members will be available to the MSC negotiator(s) to provide Board response to any questions.
• improve the return rate of MSC survey by helping to text/call congregants during early September, including board member direct participation.
• improve the attendance rate at cottage meetings through clearly stated board publicity, including board member direct participation.

Goal: Anti-Oppression Work

As steps to support all of our Ends statements, we will work to ensure that anti-oppression efforts are a part of all UCE activities, we will

• encourage all members to read the Widening the Circle of Concernand encouraging congregational discussions of specific topics in the book,
• hold monthly Board of Trustees meetings to discuss specific topics in Widening the Circle of Concern.
• pursue the adoption of the Eighth Principle,
• strongly encourage all Board members to take Beloved Conversations,
• encourage all leaders to take Beloved Conversations,
• ask all councils to use the racial equity lens in their meetings,
• monitor and support the Anti-Oppression Task Force,
• request that the Endowment committee examine grants and investments using an equity lens, and
• strive to increase the portion of shared plate contributions that is given to appropriate outside organizations.

Generative Thinking Goal

As a way to insure the continued pursuit of all of the Ends Statements, the BOT will pursue generative thinking.  We will

• regularly devote time to generative as well as fiduciary and strategic thinking
• where appropriate, incorporate generative thinking into the policy governance monitoring process
• have a “generative observer” report after each BOT meeting
• bring generative thinking into the shared plate and endowment process
• carefully monitor and incorporate the generative thinking aspects of the interim ministry, Anti-Oppression Task Force, and ministerial search process
• update our Key Big Questions annually at the BOT retreat.

Want to know what the Board has been doing in September and October?

• Voting to show our support of the city of Evanston’s Climate Agreement
• Working on and approving a preliminary budget for 2021-22
• Working on a compensation package for the settled minister
• Meeting with the Endowment Trustees and Nominating and Recruiting in order to review our structures and systems and nurture our relationships with these groups
• Reviewing our Bylaws for possible changes to be suggested for our May annual congregational meeting
• Reviewing our Board policies
• Meeting to discuss how to begin the work of the Anti-Oppression Task Force
• Reading Widening the Circle of Concern
• Discussing the Governance chapter from Widening the Circle of Concern
• Meeting with the Committee on Shared Ministry monthly to review the seven areas of co-ministry
• Writing the Board’s evaluation for Rev. Eileen’s final fellowship
• Having a Board Retreat
• Collaboratively writing our Board Goals
• Reviewing and updating our Board Job Descriptions to share with the congregation and Nominating and Recruiting
• Supporting the Search Committee in their work
• Supporting Rev. Karen in her interim work
• Monitoring the Ends statements
• Attending Council meetings as liaisons – there to learn and to assist, if needed
• Preparing more and better communication with you, the congregants of UCE (look for our virtual Reflections with the Board coming soon)
• Creating a calendar for the Board to use to track our progress toward tasks

Want to know more about any of these topics? The Board minutes and agendas are available on the UCE website or feel free to contact the Board at BOT@ucevanston.org!

It is our goal as the Board of Trustees to maintain connections with you. To that end, we are beginning a new program entitled, “Reflections with the Board.”  We will host these sessions via zoom once a month at 10am before the service.  The purpose of these sessions is twofold:  One, we will often have information that we would like to share and two, these sessions are a time for us to listen to you.  We want to hear how you are, as well as your ideas, suggestions, and concerns.  

Our first session will be held on November 8th at 10am.  For this session, the Board will be inviting Dale Griffin, Carol Nielsen, and Connections Staff, Nia Tavoularis and Sue Loellbach to speak about the important work of Connections for the Homeless.  Please join us to hear about UCE’s history with Connections for the Homeless, the work that Connections is doing in our community, the Endowment grant that was recently given to the organization, and ways that our congregation can be more involved with this organization. 

Just for our first month, November, we will hold two sessions.  Our second session will be held on November 22 at 10am.  For this session, the Board would like to spend some time talking with you about Widening the Circle of Concern.   The Board has had our first discussion where we focused on the Governance chapter.  What questions and comments do you have about this chapter?  What have you been learning as you have been reading?  Please join us for this discussion. 

We hope you will join us in November and the following months! We look forward to hearing from you.  Please let us know what information you would like to receive from the Board at future sessions.  As always, if you have any appreciations or concerns, please contact us at BOT@ucevanston.org. 

Click here to join the Zoom Meeting. 

Meeting ID: 862 4288 7134
Passcode: 220807
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,86242887134#,,,,,,0#,,220807# US (Chicago) 

Update on the Anti-Oppression Task Force

As you may recall, late this summer, the Board of Trustees commissioned an Anti-Oppression Task Force at UCE. This task force was created in response to a call from the congregation, Evanston Interfaith leaders, the UUA through the Commission on Institutional Change, and Black Lives of UU to “engage in the struggle to dismantle white supremacy”1 and “to become more inclusive, equitable and diverse while… working…to be accountable to those most affected by injustice.”2 The purpose of this task force is to determine the ways in which this congregation might answer this call, making justice a reality both in our congregation and beyond.

Our call is to dismantle white supremacy, be inclusive, be antiracists, and be accountable. We can agree on these goals. However, how to accomplish these goals while working within the system of white supremacy is much more complicated. We realize that even the task of finding task force members needs to be scrutinized; we must be mindful of the power structures at UCE. We recognize the difficulties in trying to dismantle white supremacy culture from within. Consequently, we have contacted outside consultants to assist UCE as we begin this project. These consultants will be asked how best for us to move forward in accomplishing our goals and beginning this cultural shift for our congregation. We are beginning this journey with care and intentionality.

In the meantime, we, the congregation, have been asked by the UUA through the Commission on Institutional Change to read Widening the Circle of Concern. The Board of Trustees has read the entire book and will begin discussions, focusing on one chapter a month. In October we will focus on the chapter on Governance. The Board is considering our discussions to be a kind of continuing monthly retreat or a covenant group, as we work together to understand the information in the book and think about the ways it applies to UCE. Reverend Eileen has asked the congregation to read the Appendices and perhaps begin reading the entire book, in anticipation of further congregation-wide discussions starting in November. The Board of Trustees looks forward to being on this journey with you.

All members of the congregation are welcome at any of our monthly Board meetings, which happen on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. Please contact the Board at bot@ucevanston.org to receive a link to our virtual Board meeting or to send us any comments or questions.

1. https://ucevanston.org/evanston-interfaith-juneteenth-letter/
2. https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening

The Board of Trustees is asking all members to assist the Ministerial Search Committee in its work. In order for us to have the best match possible for our settled minister, we need to all participate in the process.

The committee needs to complete a Congregational Record, which will become available for prospective ministers who are looking for a congregation. There are three important ways we, the congregation, can help in its creation. The Board of Trustees is asking everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to participate. Our success in finding a good match depends on our doing so.

One key ingredient is the Congregational Survey which is now available for us to complete. UUA believes that the best matches are found when 75 % or more of the congregation completes the survey. That means that we need about 300 of our 400 members to participate in the survey.

In addition to the survey, the committee will also hold cottage meetings and focus groups to help them understand and represent our needs and hopes. These steps will help the Search Committee discern the skills, characteristics and experience needed in our next settled minister.

Full participation by the congregation in all aspects is essential to a successful search process.

To encourage us, everyone who completes the survey will have their name entered in a raffle for the opportunity to win prizes. The sooner you complete the survey, the more opportunities you will have to win.

Here is the schedule for gathering information from congregants:

• Congregational Survey distribution begins August 28.
  • The survey period closes September 20.
•  Cottage Meetings: Each meeting will be 1 ½ hours via Zoom, registration required.
  • Wednesday September 30, at 5:30, (replacing our regular all-church meeting),
  • Friday, October 9 at 10:30 am,
  • Sunday, October 11th at 9:30 am as Forum agenda,
  • Sunday, October 25th at 12:30 pm, (replacing our regular coffee hour).

In advance, we thank you for your efforts.

The Board of Trustees at the Unitarian Church of Evanston has been having conversations and has been listening closely to conversations in our communities about race, anti-racism, and white supremacy. In response, the Board has created this statement:

We hear the clarion call to address issues of oppression both within our walls and within the larger community. We hear this call from our Evanston Interfaith leaders who say, “We call on our congregants, especially those who have white skin privilege, to engage in the struggle to dismantle white supremacy as it collectively exists.”1 We hear this call from our national organization, the UUA, who through the Commission on Institutional Change, states, “Our internal work as people of faith is to become more inclusive, equitable, and diverse while our external work is to be accountable to those most affected by injustice.”2 Black Lives of UU calls on all Unitarian Universalists “to advocate for the formal adoption of an 8th principle, articulating a commitment to the dismantling of white supremacy, within the stated principles of our faith.”3 Perhaps, most importantly, we hear this call in our congregation, on our doorsteps, and in our streets. We, as Dr. King said, feel “the fierce urgency of Now. […] Now is the time to make justice a reality.”4 It is time to answer this call and continue this work.

Consequently, the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Church of Evanston has commissioned the Anti-Oppression Task Force. The purpose of this task force is to determine the ways in which this congregation might answer this call, making justice a reality both in our congregation and beyond. Paying special attention to including diverse voices from within our congregation, we will be inviting representatives from the Board of Trustees, the REAL team, the Lifespan Learning Council, the Young Adult Group, the High School Youth Age Group, the Social Justice Council, Membership Engagement Council, Ministers and key staff, the Search Committee, Nominating and Recruiting, Endowment Trustees, as well as inviting interested members at large.

As part of this work, the Interim Team in conjunction with the Task Force will pose a series of Powerful Questions to the congregation beginning in August and resuming in November after the Search Committee survey and cottage meetings have occurred. Task Force and Interim Team members will listen carefully to how the congregation answers these questions, document the answers, and attempt to sort the information into ways these answers influence us and move us forward as a congregation. This work will be ongoing and multi-faceted. Although it will begin as interim work, it will continue beyond the interim and carry forth into every aspect of our congregational life. We are excited and pleased to begin this journey. Further details for ways to be involved will appear in the newsletter in the weeks ahead.

1. https://ucevanston.org/evanston-interfaith-juneteenth-letter/
2. https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
3. https://medium.com/outfront/black-lives-of-uu-organizing-collective-urges-adoption-of-8th-principle-in-unitarian-universalism-377480e615ef
4. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

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!