You may know that we have a 9 person Nominating and Recruiting (N&R) Committee because you hear about it at congregational meetings. This team is specified in our bylaws and must nominate members annually in the spring to the Board of Trustees, to the Endowment Trustees Team, to their own N&R committee and to any other committee when required by the Board. N&R has offered assistance with ministerial search efforts too.

A corollary group is a ‘newish’ team that calls itself the Leadership Development Team (LDT). It evolved about 7 to 8 years ago out of an expressed need to find ways to cultivate and support new and continuing leaders at UCE. This group is not defined in our bylaws and is certainly not as well-known as the N&R team.

We have come to see that these teams overlap in their goals and plans. In the last two years, the two teams have met together twice and discussed how to support and cooperate with one another.

Both teams want to see members matched with the activities and opportunities that nourish, inspire, reward and satisfy. If people are entrusted with tasks that fit their skills and passions, it is an advantage to everyone at UCE.

Another goal of Leadership Development is to ensure that leaders do not burn out: that they can find successors and shift their activities when it feels right. No one should have to stay wed to a task when their interest shifts to another area of concern.

We are recognizing that training opportunities offer new and ‘old’ leaders alike a chance to sharpen their skills for planning, organizing, delegating, communicating. These skills are useful at UCE, at home, and at work as well.  Some training is offered online from our regional and national association. Some is offered in person at regional and national meetings and occasionally at local congregations.  The Midwest Leadership School has come into our sights over the last two years and one adult and two youth have attended. We are budgeting money to make these trainings more accessible to more members. If you are curious about the trainings, contact one of us personally.

There is a collection of ‘tools’ on our own website under the heading of “The Leadership Toolkit”. The toolkit info is here on the website.

We are eager to meet with members and learn more about what you are most interested in. Please say yes if we ask for a ‘one-on-one’ in the coming months.

Nominating & Recruitment Committee and Leadership Development Team