The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, Oregon

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem

5090 Center St. NE

Salem, Oregon 97301

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

February 18, 2004

Items for the newsletter may be placed in the newsletter box in the church office or mailed to the editor c/o the church office at the address above. Items gladly accepted on disk or by email. (email for next issue to editors@uusalem.org)

It looks as if we’ll have a wonderfully full house for the Pledge Dinner on Saturday, February 28, judging by the wave of sign-ups to date. If you have not yet communicated with a host or hostess, please be assured we are holding a place for you. As soon as possible, contact any of the coordinators — Jo Bateman, Bob Johnson, or Rob Schiff —to let them know you’re coming.

All you need to bring is an appetite for good food and good fun. The dinner, which starts promptly at 6 p.m., is an Italian feast in three courses. The entertainment, which will run throughout the evening, is geared to bring smiles and cheers. Childcare, including a meal, is available; when you make your own reservation, please let your host or hostess know whether you’ll be bringing children also.

As we fill out our pledge cards during the evening, there will be plenty of opportunity to talk with others about the plans, hopes, and dreams we have for our church in the coming year. Our budget is set to support an energetic future, with substantial programming on many fronts. We’ve shown that we respond well to challenges—our building is good evidence of that—so there’s every reason to expect we’ll be on top of this one, too.

Do join us on the 28^th. It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!

In a recent newsletter Board Chair Chuck Howard mentioned how it will be necessary for me to take on a more administrative role as the church grows. Some of you have asked exactly what that entails. Will I disappear from view to do obscure office work behind the scenes? Not exactly.

A number of years ago on a sabbatical during my first ministerial settlement in Southern California, I had the opportunity to take a class on Church Administration at Claremont School of Theology. I wasn’t exactly sure what this was, but I knew I was supposed to be doing it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the course and learned that congregational administration isn’t synonymous with office management.

The professor said that the best description of church administration could be found in Exodus, chapter 18:13-26. Here we find a stressed out Moses trying to meet all the needs of his Hebrew followers in the wilderness – responding to innumerable requests, mediating disputes, explaining religious statutes and theological matters from early morning till evening. One day Jethro, Moses’ father in law, wanders by and observes the workaholic, over-functioning prophet in action and observes: "What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone." Jethro advises Moses to delegate some of his responsibilities to "those who are trustworthy and hate a bribe" so "it will be easier for you, and they will bear some of the burden with you. …If you do this you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace." To sum up Jethro’s advice, delegate responsibilities and share the burden.

The point my professor was making in citing this biblical reference is that church administration for clergy does not mean working harder so much as it means working smarter – learning to work with others, empowering them to use their talents and abilities. Certainly I have done this more in the past few years. Some examples: we created the Life Lines Lay Ministry to help with pastoral care, Covenant Groups so that members could share, reflect, find meaning and build relationships among yourselves, and a Celebrant/Anchor Team to work with me in conducting Sunday morning services. Then, too, I consult with the Board Chair and acting DRE more regularly. It feels right to share responsibilities and give others an opportunity to use their talents.

To be sure, there is more to administration than that. In the past year I have begun to have weekly staff meetings to attend to many nuts and bolts type details. And I meet with our board’s personnel subcommittee to work on job descriptions, salaries, etc. Frankly, I have had to become more efficient with my time and energy.

Finally, my professor pointed out that congregational administration means climbing out of the trenches to look at the big picture in a quiet, reflective manner, pondering how all the pieces fit together, anticipating issues and concerns, and envisioning the future. Well, Moses got his people to the promised land. I just hope I can help us move forward as we continue in a time of transition.

Love, Rick

How often Ellen and I saw those words as we visited churches in England. Whether it was in Salisbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, or Canterbury Cathedral or in the smaller rural churches of St. Margaret’s in the countryside of Shropshire, St. Cuthbert’s in Kent, or St. Winifred’s in the small village of Cawood, the reminders were all around the churches.

The words were evident beneath stained glass windows, carved into statues, next to chapels or works of art or tapestries. People were remembered for their great achievements, heroic battles, service to their country over the centuries. Many people were remembered simply for being good people, recalling all they had done while on earth, their continued support of the church – immortality in works of art and the memories of people.

Even though many English churches receive some support from the government, all had out alm boxes for the poor, there were reminders of needs for funds to repair and maintain the church, upcoming fund raising events to sustain and grow the congregation, and to serve the people of the parish for the greater good of all.

Though their works were dedicated to the glory of God, do we differ so much? Look around the UUCS. Look at the stained glass window, the weavings and paintings and carvings, the art works throughout our building. We honor people living and dead, we remind ourselves of their lives, and we exist within the beauty of others. Our art work reminds us that there can still be beauty in a world filled with violence and hostility.

When we enter our UUCS religious community, we are fortified by that beauty – and we are uplifted.

Yet just like the English churches, we need to remember that we must sustain our own church, our own congregation. For we too have a history of lives lived, of people who gave much to us, of those who have gone before – as well as those who join with us now and in the future on our journey.

Our needs are great for we must pay for our staff, for utilities, for upkeep and maintenance of the building and the grounds, for all the activities that gather us together, for membership and participation in our wider movement, for the education of our youth and adults; and so much more.

So look about you. Take it all in. Be thankful that we have the opportunity to sustain this religious and ethical community, a community of hope and love, of support and caring. For we too have our part in that glory.

Chuck Howard, Board Chair

The January 31 Winter Board Retreat at the home of Chuck and Ellen Howard was not intended to be a business meeting, but a number of issues needed to be addressed because the January board meeting had been cancelled because of snow and ice.

Donna Loveland and Roger Gillette were elected as UUCS Delegates to the PNWD Annual General Meeting.

Proposed new Rental Policies and Procedures to include Hanneman Hall were discussed. The Board made two six-month appointments: Pam Williams as liaison between the UUCS and renters and Donna Loveland as facility coordinator. They will be members of a Facilities Use Committee, whose duties will include keeping a log of inquiries and an evaluation sheet of rental use. A sub-committee thereof will be appointed to report to the Board. The Board extended approval for Donna to obtain appropriate professional input on the legality of the proposed contract form and on maintaining our tax exempt status.

There was consensus by Board members in favor of the time limits on discussion currently being used at Board meetings and agreement that occasional extra meetings would be helpful to resolve issues needing extensive discussion.

(condensed from notes by Lois Nodland, Secretary

The above is a proposed new Inclusion Statement to update and expand the current one. Board members ask for your feedback. They are trying to keep the statement succinct yet inclusive and plan to put a final draft to a congregational vote during our annual meeting in May. (from Petra Berger)

The Political Ethics Covenant Group is presenting a PROJECT VOTE SMART forum Wednesday, February 25, at 7 p.m. The presentation will last approximately one hour and is designed to educate and entertain. It will illustrate current political campaign trends, strategies and tactics, and their impact on the electorate and our democratic process. It features a short video on the most outrageous campaign commercials from around the country and outlines reliable resources that can be accessed FREE by all to cut through the rhetoric and "Get the Facts" about candidates.

The presenter will be Richard Kimball, Co-Founder of Vote Smart. Mr. Kimball has been a staff member for Senators Udall, Mondale and Moynihan, an Arizona State Senator, Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission, and a candidate for US Senate from Arizona and has worked for Common Cause.

The Sunday Services Team, in charge of our monthly lay-led services and our summer program, will conduct a special planning meeting Saturday, February 21, from 9 to noon at UUCS. Everyone is cordially invited to attend, even just to find out if they would be interested in joining the team. For more information, call Mike Berger.

The next WOMEN'S ALLIANCE meeting will be on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the church. This month's speaker in the "Getting to Know You" programs will be long-time member Jane Fields. All UUCS women are welcome.

After the regular Life Lines Lay Ministry meeting on Saturday morning March 6, Beth Quackenbush, Clinical Psychologist, will speak at 11:00 a.m. on "Boundaries and Resources for Caregivers." Interested persons are invited to attend.

The Rev. Dr. Dorothy May Emerson will speak on "Learn the Art of War No More" at the March 14 service. As she says, "Many of us long for peace but wonder what difference we can make in a world that only knows war. This service explores the peace-making work of several Unitarian Universalist women as a source of empowerment for our own efforts to make peace possible."

Dr. Emerson is a UU community minister, currently serving as a consultant to UU justice-making organizations. She is also Education Director of Rainbow Solutions Financial Services in Medford, MA, where she coordinates programs on socially responsible investing and on money and empowerment. Founder of the UU Women’s Heritage Society, she edited the first anthology of UU women’s historical writings, Standing Before Us: Unitarian Universalist Women and Social Reform, 1776-1936 (Skinner House, 2000).

Great Hungarian Food

Entertaining Hungarian Dancers

And the company can't be beat.

All proceeds go to our Partner church in Simenfalva, Romania.

Advance tickets go on sale after church on February 22 or See Donna Loveland.

A short story by John Updike provides a springboard for a reflection upon the spiritual challenge we face in relating to our possessions and material wealth.

Join in the fun as we celebrate this unique day of the year. Enjoy watching a bunch of UUCS friends try and help the Sunday Services Team plan for future services, including the Summer Program. It will definitely take a ‘Leap of Faith’ to get them out of their mess. Can they possibly succeed? Be prepared to help them out. Here is drama at its best!

Wednesday, February 18 Transition Team, Library, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 21 Landscape Work Party, 9-noon.

Sunday Service Team planning 9 - noon

Monday, February 23 UU Meditation, 7 p.m.

YRUU Group, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, February 24 Evensong (Adult Religious Education), 7 – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, February 25 Project Vote Smart, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 28 Pledge Dinner, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 3 Travel Series, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 4 Women’s Alliance, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 6 Beth Quackenbush, Clinical Psychologist, 11 a.m.