Dear UUCA Community,
We hope this message finds you well and grounded as we move into the heart of our church year. The Board of Trustees has been hard at work over the past few months, and we wanted to take a moment to update you on our progress, reflections, and some exciting plans for the future.
Board Retreat and Governance Review
This summer, the Board gathered for a two-day retreat to reflect on our roles, responsibilities, and the governance of our congregation. During this time, Evelyn Spurgin shared valuable context on the history and purpose of our Policy Governance model, explaining why it was chosen and how we’ve intentionally adapted it to fit our unique needs. This approach was designed to keep the church focused on its long-term goals (or “Ends”) while empowering the executive team, staff, and ministry to manage day-to-day operations.
During the retreat, we emphasized the importance of maintaining a strategic, forward-thinking approach while still addressing immediate operational needs. We reaffirmed our guiding values and committed to refining our governance policies over the next year to better serve the congregation. We are currently seeking members to join or rejoin the Governance Committee to help review our policies and bylaws, particularly through the lens of >Widening the Circle. The committee will also work on providing structure for ministerial oversight and other HR policies that support our congregation. This commitment runs from November through March. If you are interested, please email Nicole Bruno at nicole.bruno0413@gmail.com.
We also worked extensively on our Board Covenant—the promises we make to each other and to you, our congregation. This covenant is designed to help us show up as our favorite selves and ensure we hold each other accountable in our work. We believe this covenant will strengthen our ability to lead in service to UUCA’s mission. We wish to thank Terri Werner for her leadership in guiding the board through this process. To read our board covenant, please find it here.
Our Four Governance Buckets
To stay organized and aligned with our Policy Governance model, we have created four focus areas, or “buckets,” to guide our work. These areas will not only direct our efforts this year but are also designed to remain relevant as part of our governance model in the future.
- Policy Governance – Ensuring our governance policies, bylaws, and structures are clear and functional, as well as providing oversight for board committees and self-evaluation.
- Fiduciary Responsibilities – Overseeing the church’s finances and assets, including stewardship, capital campaigns, sale of property, and grant management..
- Congregational Engagement – Ensuring we listen to and engage the congregation regularly and meaningfully. We want to hear from you! Please utilize our UUCA Feedback Form for both positive reflection and constructive feedback.
- Ministerial and Program Support – Supporting our ministry teams and programs, especially in light of possible changes in our ministerial structure. This bucket helps us center 8th Principle work and be kept abreast about staff goals and programming without the board getting to ‘in the weeds’.
These buckets will help keep us focused on what matters most and ensure that our work is aligned with the broader mission of the church.
Monthly Minister/Executive Report Now Available to Congregation:
Based on input from the Eighth Principle Implementation Team and board discussion, we’ve decided to make the Minister/Executive Monthly Report available to all congregation members, not just the board. As your representatives, we oversee the Executives and Ministers through policy governance, ensuring accountability and transparency. Sharing the minister’s report will enhance transparency by providing a summary of church activities. It will be posted with the meeting minutes on our website but password-protected to ensure access is limited to members and friends, safeguarding the information from Ai and other screening tools.
Password: UUCAnnapolis24
Capital Campaign and Facilities Updates
We know many of you have questions about the Capital Campaign, and we’re happy to share that while we are still in the exploratory phase, the response from the congregation has been enthusiastic! The Capital Campaign Exploratory Committee has been gathering ideas from members, covering everything from essential repairs to visionary projects that could further our mission and expand our impact.
The committee is collaborating closely with consultant Mark Ewert, who will guide us through the next steps. Our goal is to present a more focused list of potential projects to the congregation by December, followed by a vote to proceed with the campaign in the spring of 2026. A big thank you to Jamie Harms and Dianne Moreau for leading this committee and for their dedication to supporting UUCA’s vision for the future! If you have experience or interest in supporting a Capital Campaign, please reach out to a board member or the Exploratory Committee. To clarify, the board has not made a decision to move forward with the campaign; that decision will be put to a vote by the congregation in December.
On the facilities front, we are already addressing urgent roof repairs, which will be funded by borrowing from our endowment. We are committed to keeping our building both welcoming and functional, and we are dedicated to repaying the endowment with 5% interest until the full amount is restored. The board made this decision after careful consideration, prioritizing the use of existing funds versus taking on a commercial loan for these necessary repairs. We believe this approach is the most responsible and financially prudent option at this time, with repairs expected to begin this month. We are grateful to Larry Werner for his dedication to our facilities management and the handling of contractor bids. The roof repair contractor is a person of color who comes highly recommended.
Congregational Engagement and Upcoming Events
Engaging with all of you is a top priority for the Board. We’re planning opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ideas as we move forward with the capital campaign, ministerial transitions, and other key initiatives. We recognize the importance of the congregation’s voice in shaping the ministerial structure and the direction of the church. Stay tuned for upcoming listening sessions and other opportunities to connect with us and be part of these important discussions.
- Please consider donating an item to our auction and mark your calendars for our Annual Fall Fest and Live Auction on Nov. 9th! Click here to sign up for your donation, and if you aren’t sure what to donate, we’ve got some ideas! Last year this fundraiser raised $20,000, and this goes directly to our operating budget. Thank you in advance!
- The Mosaic Fall Conference 2024: Fostering Belonging and Liberation is a multigenerational gathering focused on dismantling racism and oppression within Unitarian Universalism. Held from October 17-20, 2024, at Cedar Lane UU Congregation in Bethesda, MD, it includes a mix of in-person and online participation. For more details visit Mosaic Fall Conference 2024. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Nicole Bruno.
- Mark your calendars for December 8, when we will hold our next Congregational Meeting. It will be a great opportunity to hear updates, ask questions, and learn more about the capital campaign and other important initiatives.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve this thoughtful, engaged, and growing community – we have had 26 new visitors in the past 4 Sundays, and 23 new members from August/September! To learn more about programming successes at the church, If you have any questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the Board. We are here to listen, and we look forward to the year ahead as we continue to foster a community of communities rooted in love and justice. You are also always welcome and encouraged to sit in on board meetings, and the minutes are available on our website.
With gratitude and in service,
The UUCA Board of Trustees