From Rev. Karen Gustafson: May 29, 2020

Dear ones, 

In August of 2019, I was invited by the UCE Board to serve as Interim Minister, completing the second of an anticipated two year interim period between the departure of Bret Lortie and a new Settled Minister. In October, after many conversations and retreats and meetings of many kinds, the UCE Leadership presented to you, the Congregation, a compelling assessment of the desirability of an additional year of Interim.  

This assessment included an invitation to all of you to engage in a process of looking at the systems and programs, expectations, hopes, vision and ultimately the Mission of UCE so that your Search process could provide a clear and compelling picture of who you are and who you want to be as a Unitarian Universalist congregation. In the months following this difficult decision, many of you responded with candor and diligence and generosity and love. The rededication to your Mission of “Nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole” at the Sunday service on February 23 was inspiring.  

Kathy Underwood and others were in the midst of beginning to take on the tasks of revisioning your Religious Education for Children. The Board had taken up providing a more accessible understanding of Policy Governance and I was focused on a more sustainable approach to organization and volunteer leadership. The process resulting in hiring of the Rev Karen Mooney as Director of Membership and Social Justice was well underway. Anticipation of the all music Sunday lead by Vicki Hellyer was being felt by all.  

And then, so it seemed, COVID 19 changed everything. Yes. And No. 

It is June and, though some things have been put on hold, many have continued in a different form, thanks to the great efforts of the UCE Staff. 

All that we set out to do in preparation for the settlement of the next Senior Minister remains possible. I will be with you for another year. I am grateful for all of the ways that any of you have engaged in this process and promise that there will be more opportunities beginning in July. The interim work will recede a bit in late August, September and October as the Search Committee will be ramping up its work. Throughout this time, I remain committed to nurturing the seeds that we have planted together and supporting the healthy growth that is deep in the DNA of UCE.  

I look forward to another year with you all beginning July 1. 

In love and gratitude, 

Karen 

(she, her, hers)