FUS Triennial Review of Ministry 2016 FINAL Report€¦ · their responsibilities, resource constraints, job satisfaction, and concerns/opportunities they see. Each Called Minister

FUSTriennialReviewofMinistry

September9,2016

Preparedby:

JacobBlasczyk

BrianHellmer

PamelaJohnson

JulieSwanson

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Contents

1:WhatWeDidandWhy 3

A. PurposeandScopeoftheReview 3 B. Methodology&DataAnalysis 4C. DetailsofDataCollection 6D. StructureofthisReview 7E. Acknowledgements 7

2:WhatWeHeard-KeyThemes 8

A. MemberInterviews 8B. CalledMinistersQuestionnaire 18C. FUSStaffQuestionnaire 22

3:WhatWeObservedandQuestionsfortheCommunity 25

Appendices

A. MemberInterviewQuestions,Themes&Quotes 27B. CalledMinisterQuestions,ThemesandQuotes 72C. FUSStaffQuestions,ThemesandQuotes 81

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1:WhatWeDidandWhy

A. PurposeandScopeofthisReview

TheFUSBoardofTrusteeshasapolicythatcallsforacommitteetoconducta“ReviewofCalledMinisters”everythreeyears.Thespecificsofthatpolicyappearbelowforreference:

EvaluationofCalledMinisters-MinisterialResponsibilitiesOnceeverythreeyears,allCalledMinistersofFUSwillbesimultaneouslyevaluatedusingaprocessdesignedtoachievethefollowinggoals:* Callthecongregation¹sattentiontothemutual,relationalnatureofministryandtherespectiveresponsibilitiesofallwhocontributetoitssuccess.*HelptheMinistersremainmotivated,creative,andflexible. *ProvidetheMinistersandBoardwithinformationneededtocorrectanyexistingproblemsandmaintainaneffectivepartnershipinthefuture. TheBoardandSeniorMinistershalltogetherappointanevaluationcommitteeofthreepersonsheldinhighesteembythecongregationandmutuallyacceptabletotheBoardandtheMinisterbeingevaluated.ThecommitteeshallconductanevaluationoftheMinisters¹performance,gatheringdatafromthecongregationandothersources,andproduceawrittenreportfortheBoard.

Themembersofthecommitteethatwereselectedinclude(notethatweultimatelyincludedfourmemberstobetterfacilitateourdatacollectionandanalysis):

JakeBlasczyk(FUSmemberfor26years).Jake’sinvolvementatFUSincludesservingasaCOAelder,designingandco-leadingtheCOAparentgroup,MembershipCommitteemember,MinisterialRelationsteammemberandMinisterialSearchcommitteemember.JakehasalsodesignedandconductedsurveysforbroadFUSmembershipandtheReligiousEducationcommittee.

BrianHellmer(FUSmemberfor19years).BrianhasbeenanREteacher,FUSFoundationBoardmember,Treasurer,FUSBoardMember,GovernanceTaskForcemember,andMinisterialRelationsministryteammemberduringthattime.

PamelaJohnson(FUSmemberfor13years).Pamelaisco-facilitatoroftheFUSCenteringPrayergroup,isaformerQuestparticipantandmemberoftheLayWorshipcommitteeandiscurrentlyservingasaQuestspiritualcompanion.

JulieSwanson(FUSmemberfor15years).Juliehasbeenachildren’sREteacher,REcommitteemember,REcouncilmember,QuestparticipantandQuestspiritualcompanion.

ItshouldbenotedthatbothJakeandPamelahaveaprofessionalbackgroundindoingqualitativeassessments,whichprovidedsignificanthelpgiventhatthisisthefirstreviewthathasbeencompletedsincethispolicywasadopted.

WhilethescopeofthisreviewinitiallyappearedtofocusonreviewingtheministerialresponsibilitiesofourCalledMinisters,ourcommitteeobservedthatthefirstgoalofthisreviewlistedundertheBoard’spolicywouldbedifficulttoachievewithoutabroaderfocus.WeconcludedthatonlyacomprehensivediscussionaboutthefullscopeoftheFUSMinistrywithallofthemajorstakeholderscouldachievethe

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Board’sgoalof“callingattentiontothemutual,relationalnatureofministryandtherespectiveresponsibilitiesofallwhocontributetoitssuccess”.

OncethedecisionwasmadetobroadenthescopeofourfocustomeettheBoard’sgoal,webeganreferringtothisreviewasa“ReviewofFUSMinistry”ratherthanasan“EvaluationofCalledMinisters”.WebelievethistitlemoreaccuratelycaptureswhatisnecessarytodotomeetthegoalsoftheBoard’spolicy.Ultimately,werecommendthattheFUSBoardofTrusteeseitheramendtheirpolicybyformallychangingthetitleofthisrequiredrevieworbynarrowingthegoalsofthisreviewtofocusspecificallyonjusttheCalledMinisters.

Importantly,wealsoconcludedthatanevaluationoftheFUSministrycouldnotbeeffectivelydonebyestablishingobjectivecriteriaandmeasuringhowwellwearemeetingeachobjective.Webelievedthatanattempttousethatapproachwouldruntheriskofestablishingtoofeworincompleteobjectives.

Instead,wetriedtotakeamuchmoreopen-endedapproachthatgaveallthemajorstakeholdersintheFUSministryanopportunitytodiscusstheirexperiencesandoffersuggestionsforimprovement.Ourgoalwastoaskquestionsfocusedontheministry,listenandcapturewhatpeopletoldus,andlookforinsightsandthemesthatcamefromthisprocess.Whiletheendresultofthisprocessisasomewhatnon-traditionalreview,webelieveitrepresentsthebestwaytocomprehensivelygathertheinformationneededtoevaluatehowwelltheFUSministryisworking,potentialwaystoimprove,andthequestionsweneedtobeaskingourselvesaswemoveforward.

B. Methodology&DataAnalysis

Oncethepurposeandscopeofthereviewwasestablished,weusedthefollowingapproachtogatherobservationsandsuggestionsfromkeystakeholdersintheFUSministry:

• ConductsmallgroupinterviewswithacrosssectionofFUSMembersusingquestionsdesignedtoinvitememberstosharewithustheirobservationsandexperiencesrelatedtotheirpersonalinteractionwiththeFUSministryandourcommunity.WealsoaskedmemberstoidentifyspecificopportunitiestoimprovetheFUSministrybasedontheirexperiences.Memberswereinformedthattheircommentswouldbesharedbuttheirnameswouldremainanonymous.Eachintervieweegranteduspermissiontosharetheirresponses.

• DistributeaquestionnairetobothofourCalledMinistersthatfocusedonquestionsrelatedtotheirresponsibilities,resourceconstraints,jobsatisfaction,andconcerns/opportunitiestheysee.EachCalledMinistergrantedpermissiontosharetheirresponsesandtoattributetheirnamestotheirresponses

• DistributeaquestionnairetoStaffMemberswhovolunteeredtoparticipatethatfocusedonquestionsrelatedtotheirresponsibilities,resourceconstraints,jobsatisfactionandconcerns/opportunitiestheysee.Staffmemberswhochosetoparticipatewereassuredthattheirresponseswouldbekeptanonymous.Theygranteduspermissiontosharetheirresponses.

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Ourcommitteeperformedanin-depthstudyofthefeedbackwereceivedwiththeaimofdiscoveringmeaningfulinsightsandexpressingthemas“themes.”OurintentinidentifyingthemeswastosummarizeandcommunicatewhatwelearnedregardingtheFUSministry(WhatWeHeard).Importantly,themesarenotnecessarilystatementsofconsensus.Theymaycoverpointsofviewofamajority,pointsofviewofsubgroupsonly,oreventhepointofviewofasolitaryindividual.

Ourcommitteetookadvantageofthesignificantexperienceinqualitativeanalysisoftwoofourmemberstodeveloparigorousandconsistentprocesstoidentifythesethemes.Onceweobtainedthetranscriptsfromourmemberinterviews,allteammembersweretrainedtouseaspecificfive-stepanalyticalprocesstoidentifythemes.

Whenthetrainingwascomplete,ourtheme-identificationprocessbeganwitheachcommitteememberindividuallyidentifyingtentativethemesfromtheinterviewstheyco-facilitated.Nextthetwoco-facilitatorsmettocompareresultsandreachagreementregardingthemesfrominterviewstheyconducted.Theprocessculminatedwithallfourcommitteemembersreviewingtheworkandfinalizingthethemes.DatafromtheCalledMinisterandStaffMemberquestionnaireswasanalyzedfollowingthesamestepsusedinanalysisofsmallgroupFUSMemberinterviews.

Throughoutthepreparationofthisfinalreview,weconstantlyreturnedtoourdatasourcesandcrosscheckedourfinalreporttoensurethatoursummarythemeswerereflectiveofthedata.Giventhisprocess,wefeelverycomfortablethatoursummaryofwhatwelearnedaboutFUSministryisconsistentwithwhatweheardduringinterviewsandwhatwasstatedinwrittenquestionnaires.

C. DetailsofDataCollection

SmallGroupFUSMemberInterviews

Inordertoconstructourinvitationlistforthesmallgroupinterviews,wecrossreferencedalistofFUSmemberswithdatathatindicatedparticipationinavarietyofaspectsofourcommunity,including:

• Attendanceatworshipservices• Attendanceatparishmeetings• ParticipationinAdultRE• ParticipationontheBoardorsometypeoflayleadershiprole• MemberofaMinistryTeam• ParticipationinChalicegrouporothersmallgroup• ParticipationincommunityeventslikeCabaretorserviceprojects• Choirmember• Teacherinchildren’sREprogram

Inadditiontothesefactors,wetriedtorandomlyselectmembersthatrepresentedacrosssectionofages,lengthofmembership,andbalancedgenderrepresentation.

Toaccomplishourgoaloftalkingtoroughly40membersduring8-10interviewsessions,wecreatedalistof55membersandsentthempersonalizedemailinvitationsofferingmultipleinterviewdatesandtimes.Ifwegotnoresponse,wefolloweduptwiceoverthecourseofthreeweeksbeforeconcludingthatthememberwasnotinterested.

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Ultimatelywehad31membersagreetoparticipateandheld7interviewsessionsinMarchandAprilofthisyear.Tounderstandmoreaboutwhowetalkedto,summarystatisticsappearbelow:

Theanalysisshowsthatthememberswhoparticipatedinthegroupinterviewsskewedtowardsoldermemberswithmanyyearsofmembership.Oneofourgoalsforfuturereviewsofthistypewouldbetofindwaystoengagemembersfromallagegroupsinamorerepresentativeway.

CollectivelythemembersweinterviewedhaveexperiencewithalmosteveryaspectoftheFUScommunity,andtheirdepthofengagementandyearsofmembershipproducedthoughtfulinterviewsthatwebelieveservedthegoalsofourreviewverywell.

Afulllistofthequestionsaskedandthemajorthemesthatemergedfromourmembers(includingselectsupportingquotesissummarizedinSection2ofthisreview(WhatWeHeard).ThecompletesummaryofwhatweheardfromFUSMembersisfoundinAppendixA.

CalledMinistersQuestionnaire

ThecommitteedevelopedalistofquestionsthatwassenttoeachofourtwoCalledMinistersinApril2016.Eachgraciouslyrespondedwithrichanddetailedanswerstoourquestions.

TheresponsestoourquestionsaresummarizedinSection2ofthisreview(WhatWeHeard),alongwithsomeselectedsupportingquotes.AfullrecapofthequestionsweaskedandtheresponseswereceivedisfoundinAppendixB.

<2 2-5 6-10 11-20 20+ 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Male Female%ofTotal 0% 13% 13% 29% 45% 0% 3% 13% 16% 68% 39% 61%Participants 31 0 4 4 9 14 0 1 4 5 21 12 19

YearsofMembership Age Gender

Worship ParishMtg AdultRE Board/LayMinistryTeams

Chalice/SmallGroup

CommunityEvents Choir

TeachChildRE

Frequently 84% 35% 13% 16% 35% 39% 19% 45% 10%Sometimes 16% 32% 52% 32% 10% 13% 52% 16% 23%Seldom 0% 29% 29% 16% 16% 19% 23% 3% 35%Never 0% 3% 6% 35% 35% 29% 6% 35% 32%

ParticipationinFUSActivities

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StaffQuestionnaire

ThecommitteedevelopedasimilarlistofquestionsthatwassenttoallofourstaffinApril2016.Staffmemberswereofferedtheopportunitytoparticipateinthisprocessiftheywouldlike,butnotrequiredto.Fourstaffmembersrespondedbyprovidingdetailedresponsestoourquestions.

TheresponsestoourquestionsaresummarizedinSection2ofthisreview(WhatWeHeard),alongwithsomeselectedsupportingquotes.AfullrecapofthequestionsweaskedandanonymoushighlightsofresponseswereceivedisfoundinAppendixC.

D. StructureofthisReview

Wedidnotapproachthisreviewbyestablishingcriteriaforsuccessandlookingtoprovideanevaluationofhowwearedoingrelativetothoseobjectives.Instead,ourmaingoalistoprovidethereaderwithafaithfulreportofwhatweheard.ThisreviewisawindowintohowourstakeholdersexperiencetheFUSministryandwhattheyarethinkingrelativetothechallengesandopportunitieswehave.

Inkeepingwiththisgoal,thebodyofourreport(Section2)providesasummaryofwhatweheardfromthethreegroupsofstakeholdersweinteractedwith.Wehaveattemptedtoidentifythekeythemesinaconciseandreadableformat,supportedbyselectedquotesfromourinterviewsandquestionnaires.Wehavealsoattachedamorecomprehensivelistofthethemesandsupportingquotesfromeachofourmainstakeholdersinthethreeattachedappendices.WhilewebelievethemajorinsightsandthemesfromourReviewofMinistryarecapturedinthebodyofthereport,westronglyencourageyoutoreadthethreeappendicesaswelltogainadeeperunderstandingofwhatweheard.

ForanyonehopingthatthisreviewwouldproducealistofsuggestionstoimprovetheFUSMinistry,notethattherearenumerousideasofferedinthebodyofthereportinresponsetoquestionsabouthowwecanimprovevariousaspectsofoursharedministry.Wewantedtoletspecificsuggestionsforimprovementcomedirectlyfromthestakeholderswelistenedto,andnotbeoverlyfilteredorprioritizedbyoursmallcommittee.

Theoneaspectofanalysiswehaveprovidedinthisreportisalistofhighlevelobservationsrelatedtotheworkwedid,andquestionsrelatedtothoseobservationsthatweencouragetheBoard(andFUScommunity)todiscuss.ThoseobservationsandquestionscompriseSection3ofourreport.

E. Acknowledgements

ThecommitteethatworkedonthisreviewwouldliketothanktheBoardfortheirpatienceandunderstandingaswetookthetimenecessarytocompletethisreview.Whileittooklongerthanweexpectedtocomplete,webelievethisreviewincludessignificantinsightsintooursharedministry,includingmanyideasforhowwecanimprove.WewouldalsoliketothankourCalledMinistersandalloftheFUSmembersandstaffwhocontributedtothisprocess.Wegreatlyappreciatetheirtime,insights,andsuggestions.Finally,wewanttoacknowledgethattheprocessofworkingtogetheronthisReviewhasbeenaverysatisfyingexperiencethatallowedustostrengthenourconnectionstoeachotherandtoFUSinaverymeaningfulway.WearegratefulfortheopportunityoverseeingthisReviewprovidedtoserveourcommunityinawaythatenrichedourlives.

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2:WhatWeHeard-KeyThemes

Ourgoalinthissectionistoprovideasummaryof“whatweheard”.Weprovideobservationsandquestionsforthecommunitytodiscussinalatersection.

Whilewehaveworkedhardtoidentifykeythemesandhighlightselectedsupportingquotesinthebodyofthereport,itisunquestionablytruethatoursummarylosessomeofthedepth,diversity,andemotionalimpactofreadingallofthequestionsandresponses.WeurgeyoutoreadAppendicesA,BandCtomorefullyappreciatethedepthandrichnessofallofthemember,ministerandstaffquotesforeachtheme.

A. MemberInterviewsSummary

Methodology

Overthecourseoftwomonths,thirty-oneFUSmembersparticipatedinseven90-minute-longsmallgroupinterviews.InterviewscoveredthirteenquestionsthatfocusedonsevenaspectsoftheFUSministry:

i. TheircurrentperceptionofFUSMinistry.ii. ImpactofFUSonthegrowthoftheirmindandspirit.iii. HowwellFUShelpscreateconnectionsbetweenandamongFUSmembers.iv. HowwellFUSprovidescareandsupportduringsignificantlifeevents(illness,marriage,divorce,

etc.).v. HowchildrenandyouthimpacttheministryatFUS.vi. TheroleofourCalledMinisters.vii. AnythingelsetheywantedtoshareaboutFUS.

Interviewparticipantswereaskedtotalkabouteachofthesesevenaspectsofourministryandtomakesuggestionsforimprovements.Interviewswereaudiotapedandtranscribedtofacilitateanalysis.WhatfollowsisasummaryofwhatwasheardaboutourFUSministryfromourmembers.

i. PerceptionofFUSMinistry

Intervieweeswereaskedwhatreadilycomestomind,whentheyheartheterm“FUSministry”.

• ManyFUSmemberstendedtoviewtheFUSministryashowCalledMinsters,layministers,staffandprogramsimpactthelivesofFUSmembers.

• SomemembersviewedtheFUSministryaseverythingthatisdoneasacommunitytoimpactFUSmembersandthebroadercommunity.

• SomeintervieweesviewedtheFUSministryasasharedresponsibilityinwhichmembers,alongwithCalledMinistersandstaff,collectivelyserveoneanother.

QuotesfromInterviews

“Ministersaretheguidingspiritofthewholecongregation.”

“FUSministryhastwokindsoftracks.Oneiswhattheministersdoatthepulpitandintheirleadershiprolesforthecongregation.Andtheotheris,whatmembersofthecongregationdo,servingandsupportingeachotherinallkindsofwaysaswejourneytogether.”

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ii. ImpactofFUSontheGrowthoftheirMindandSpirit

AllinterviewedFUSmembersreportedthatintheirexperienceFUSfrequentlynourishesgrowthoftheirmindandspirit.Contributingtonourishingthegrowthofmindandspiritwere:

• Interactionswithothermembers

• Worshipservices

• CalledMinistersandstaff

• ActiveinvolvementinFUS,including:

o BeingareligiouseducationteacherincludingComingofAge

o Layministry

o Choirmembershiporotherparticipationinthemusicprogram

o ParticipatinginQuest

o Smallgroupministry(notablyChalicegroups)

o ParticipatinginFUSsocialjusticeprograms

o Adultreligiouseducationclassesandretreats

o HelpingFUSonspecificprojects,suchasthenewbuildingaddition,andongoingtasks(forexample,ushering)

SomeinterviewedFUSmembersstatedthattheyfeltbelongingtotheFUScommunitychangedtheirlivesandgavethemanewanddeeperexperienceofthereligiousand/orthespiritualaspectoflife.

SomemembersexperienceFUSasavaluablebridgebetweenfaithtraditionsandspiritualpracticesforcouplesraisedindifferentfaithtraditions,forthosepracticingmeditation,orforthosewhoareinterestedinearth-basedpractices.Forexample,aweddingceremonythatbridgedfaithtraditionswasespeciallyvaluedbyoneinterviewee.


“Iwouldn’tbethepersonIamtodaywithoutit,withoutFUS.It’skindofthecenterofmyworld.““IwalkedintotheFirstUnitarianSociety...andIwasathome.It’sbecomeintegralinsomanyways,notonlywhathasbeengiventomebutwhatI’vebeenallowedtoalsogive.”“MyinvolvementwithFirstUnitarianSociety...haschangedthewholecourseofmylifeonceIbecameinvolvedhere.WhenIdiscoveredUnitarianUniversalism,Idiscoveredwhatreligioncouldbe.”

“Thechoirfeedsmysoulgreatly.”

“TheQuestprogramhasbeenthelargesttransformativeexperiencethatIhavehad.”

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IdeasforImprovingHowWeNurtureGrowthinMindandSpirit

Memberssuggestednumerouschangesthatmightprovidemoreopportunitiestonourishgrowthofmindandspirt:

• Attempttomakeservices“moreworshipful”,(i.e.,morecontemplative).

• Welcomepeoplewheretheyareat(i.e.,congregationalopennesstoacceptingpeopleanywherealongtheirjourney).

• IntegratepeopleintotheFUScommunitymorequickly.

• DemystifyhowtobecomeinvolvedinFUSBoardcommittees.

• ImprovehowFUSsupportsthosewhoarelesslikelytoreachoutoraskforsupport.

• Considerhowtonurturethemindandspiritofteacherswho,whileteaching,mayfeeldisconnectedfromthecongregation.

• Providemoreopportunitiestoexploreotherreligions.

• Offermore“drop-in”activitiesthatdon’trequirealong-termcommitment

• ContinuetogrowChalicegroups.

• Offermoreprogramingtargetedattheelderly.

• Havingmore,varied,anddeeperinteractionsthatarelessissueoriented.

• Featuremorepulpitexchanges.

• Offermorecongregation-widesocialjusticeinitiativesandoutreachactivities.

• Practicemorebalancebetween“head”and“heart”-livewhatwebelievevs.justtalkingaboutit.

• RevitalizetheAlliance.


“Ican’tgivedetailsbutIwouldliketheworshipservicestobemoreworshipful....thewaythegatheringstartsdoesnotleadmeintothekindofstateIwouldliketobein.”

“Howcanwemakethisaplacethatwelcomes...notjustjoyandpeoplethatarealltogetherandhappybutaplacethatcouldtrulyhold,nurtureandsupport...IwanttomakethisaplacethatreallywelcomesmewhereverI’mat.”

“IthinkwedoareasonablejobforpeoplewhoreachoutandaskforhelpbutIdon’tknowhowwereachouttothepeoplewhohaven’tfiguredouthowtoreachout.”

“TheethosofFirstUnitarianhasalwaysbeenvery’head’andnotsomuch’heart’.Itcanbefrustratingbecauseyougetthesensethatwetalkagoodlinebuthowdowedolivingit?Peoplewillgoonandonabouthowweneedtobemoregenerous...butwhenitcomesdowntosittingacrossthetablefromsomeoneandlettingthemhavehalfyoursandwich,youknow,that’sadifferentthing.”

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iii. HowwellFUSHelpsCreateConnectionsBetweenandAmongFUSMembers

AllintervieweesreportedthattheyfeltconnectedtoFUSandtootherFUSmembers.

• SomemembersstatedthattheirconnectionswithotherFUSmembersaretheheartoftheirsociallives.

• MeaningfulconnectionsamongFUSmembersresultedfrom:

o Workingwithothermembersonissues,programs,projects,and/ortasksofcommoninterests

o TeachingintheCREProgram

o Puttingyourselfoutthere,i.e.,takingtheinitiativetogetinvolved

o Belongingtosmallgroups(Quest,choir,Chalicegroupsandneighborhoodgroups)

• Despitehavingmadeconnections,membersalsostatedthattheprocesscansometimesbechallenging;inpartduetothesizeofthecommunityandalsobecauseofchurchculturalnormsaboutwelcomingandincludingstrangers.

• Therewasconcernthatmakingconnectionsmaybedifficultfor

FUSmemberswhoare“introverts.”

• Itwasobservedthatopportunitiesformakingconnectionstendtofocusontheneedsofindividualmembersratherthaninvolvingservicetoothers.

IdeasforImprovingHowWeBuildDeeperConnections

Intervieweesmadethefollowingelevensuggestionsforbuildingdeeperconnectionsamongmembers.• Make“reachingout”acommunity-widecommitmentaswellas

carefullyfollow-upwheninterestinvolunteeringorpersonalneedsareexpressed.

• Bemore“welcoming”andpractice“radicalhospitality.”

• Helpmembersidentifytheirneedsandinterestswhileimprovingprocesses(includingwebsiteandsocialmedia)forinformingmembersofavailableprogramsandresources—thenlinkthetwo.

• Improvethesocialgatheringspace;i.e.,theCommons.

• Increasethenumberand/orvisibilityofChalicegroupsandlayministers.


“It'seasytothrowstonesfromtheoutsideandsaythereisnothingavailable.Sometimesyouhavetodipyourfootin.”

“Onethingthatfosteredconnectionsformeisbeinginvolvedintaskorientedprojects,workingwithpeopletogetsomethingdoneandintheprocess,gettingtoknowthemandappreciatethem.”

“OnceItooktheplungeandgotinvolvedinQuest,Iwasextremelysurprisedastotheconnections,notonlyformyownpersonalgrowthbuttheconnectionswemadeinthatgroup.”

“IfeellikeIworkhardatbeingasconnectedasIambutI’mnotasconnectedasI’dliketobe.“


“IkindofseeFUSasa’reachin’organization.WhenIhavereachedin,Ihavefoundsomething,butIdon’tfeellikeit’sasmuchofa‘reachout’organizationasIwouldlikeittobe.”

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• Createanenvironmentwherepeoplecouldtellpersonalstories.

• CreateaMentorMatchProgramfornewmembers.• Havea“connections/volunteerfair”annually.

• CreateopportunitiesforREparentgroupstointeract.

• Havemoreshort-termopportunitiesand/oreventsfocusedon“fun.”

• Fostergreaterunderstandingofministryteams.

• CreateconnectionsbetweenSaturdayservicepeopleandSundayservicepeople.

• KeepinmindthatFUSmembersdifferregardingneedsorpreferencesforconnectionswithothers,aswellasspecifictypesofconnectionstheyfindbeneficial.

iv. SupportDuringSignificantLifeEvents

Mostintervieweesreportedreceivingwhattheyconsideredasmeaningfulsupportastheyfacedlifechangingeventswhilethosewhohavenotyetreceivedsupportanticipatedbeingarecipient.Membersreportedreceivingsupportfor:

• Illnesses• Retirement• Birthofababy• Deathofalovedone• Weddings• Divorce• Familyturmoil• Terminatingapregnancy

Supportcamefromavarietyofsourcesincluding:

• Calledministers• Layministers• Staffmembers• Smallgroupsofmembers(specificallychoir,QuestandChalice

groups)• OtherFUSmembers.

Thosewhohadchildrenweregratefulforthesupportinraisingthem.

Afewintervieweesreportedtheydidnotreceivethesupporttheydesiredorexpected.


“Wedon’tdoagoodjobofintegratingnewpeoplewhojustshowup.Weareveryfriendlywhentheyfirstdo-Jeannedoesawonderfuljobofsayinghello.Butwedon’tseemtohaveastructureinplacetokeepfollowinguponthat.”


“Theonethatsticksoutthemostinmymindiswhenoursonwaslessthanayearoldandhegotpneumonia.Michaelcametothehospital…thatwasactuallywhenTrinawasgoingthroughsomehealthissues...Imean,itjuststruckme...he’sgoingthroughstuffwithhisfamilyandyet,youknow,hewasabletocomeandgivesupportandjustbethere.”

“Wellforme,itwaswhenmyhusbanddied....Mychalicegroupwasthemostsupportive.Theywerejustawesome.Hugelyinvolved.Idon’tknowhowIwouldhavegottenthrough.”

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IdeasforImprovingHowWeOfferSupport

Whilemostintervieweesfeltsatisfiedwithsupportreceived,theystillmadethefollowingsevensuggestionsforhowFUScoulddoabetterjobprovidingsupportduringlifechangingevents.

• Recruitspecializedlayministersandmakethelayministryprogrammorevisible.

• Buildaculturewhereitisdesired/expectedthatyouwillaskforwhatyouneed,andthatrespectstheindividual’schoiceaboutreceivingsupport.

• KeepthepracticeofsharingJoysandConcernsatservices.

• Createaclearandaccessiblecommunicationprocesstoinformthecommunityofhospitalizations,illness,andneed.

• Createa“payitforward”optionforvolunteeringFUSmembersexpertise.

• Formaministryofelderstoelders.

• Identifyorcreatemorewaysforlong-termsupport.

v. RoleofChildrenandYouthwithinOurMinistry

IntervieweeswereaskedhowchildrenandyouthofFUScontributetotheirexperiencesasamemberofFUS.ResponsesindicatethatchildrenandyouthimpacttheFUSMinistryinmanyways:• Childrencontributeenjoyment,enlivenment,hope,andenergyvia

theirpresenceatservices,byprovidingopportunitiesforinter-generationalengagementandbyaddingasenseoffamilytothecongregation.

• Generallypositiveabouthowchildrenparticipateinworshipservices.

• ChildrenareakeyreasonthatmanymembersoriginallyjoinedFUSandweshouldworktoretainthesemembers.

• Thechildren’sREprogramisoneofFUS’strongestprogramsandishighlyregarded.

• Childrencontributetoadultreflectionandspiritualgrowth.

• YouthcontributetoFUS’socialjusticeinitiatives.


“Ithinkthelayministryisanotherthingthattomeisabitofanenigma.IthinkIknowacoupleofthem.Butintermsof,like,whoarethesepeople?Isthereatrainingthatgoesintothis?Whatistheirjob?”

“Iwishtherewasawaythatyoucouldjustpopinwhentheneedisthere.Andthenconnectedtothatisforustohavea‘payitforward’processsoifyouhavebeentherecipientofsomesortofsupportorhelp,thatyouhaveawayofpayingitforwardorpayingitback.Idon’tthinkwehaveawayofdoingthat.”


“Iabsolutelylovethefactthatthechildrenareintheservice.Ilovethechildren’smessages.Iloveseeingthemgototheclasses.Iloveanyamountofchaostheybring,whichisn’tmuch.”

“Kidsbeinginvolvedisthe’gatewaydrug’tohavingpeoplejoin.”

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IdeasforImprovingtheRoleofChildrenandYouthwithinOurMinistry

IntervieweeswereaskediftheyhadanyideasforchangingthewaychildrenandyouthparticipateinFUSthatcouldenhanceexperiencesofFUSmembers,theyouth,orboth.Thefollowingideaswerementioned:• Createmoreopportunitiesforinteractionbetweenthe

generations.

• CreatemoreopportunitiesforFUSteensandyoungadultstointeractandconnect.

• Moreinvolvementofchildrenandyouthinworshipservices;forexample,deliveringreadings.

• Bemorewelcomingtochildrenduringservices;forexample,deemphasizehowchildrenmaybedisruptivewhenreferringtouseofthequietroom/babyhaven.

• MakeREprogrammoreintegratedintothelifeofthecongregation,morevisibletoallFUSmembersandremindmembersthatteachingisagrowthopportunity.

• Moreuseofsocialmediaasawayofstayingconnectedtoouryouth.

• Giveparentsof7th&8thgradeyouthinformationabouttheyouthgroup.

vi. RoleofCalledMinisterswithinOurMinistry

Rev.MichaelSchulerMembersstatedthatMichaelcontributestoFUSministryinmultiplewaysincluding:

• Contributesintellectualstimulationandsermonspeoplewanttohear.

• ContributesthroughhisdeepcaringaboutandinvolvementinFUS.

• HasdemonstratedgrowthduringhistimeatFUS.

• Modelsspiritualpracticeandgrowth.

• ContributesleadershipinthecongregationandthewiderMadisoncommunity.

• Challengesustostriveforexcellenceinarespectfulandsupportivemanner.

• Providesanopendoortoexpressconcerns.

• ContributesinstitutionalmemorytocurrentissuesfacingFUS.

• Makesthingsfun(forexampleduringQuestretreat).AfewintervieweesexpressedadesiretoseeMichaeldisplaymoreconsistent“warmth”.


“Iliketheideaofhavingthekidsinvolved.Eveninourtraditionalservice,whycan’ttheydoareading?“

“YoucancomeandgoonaSundaymorningandhavenoideathatthereareover500kidsenrolled.Idon’tknowwhatthesolutionisbutIwouldlikeittobemorephysicallyvisiblethatthiseducationprogramishappeningeveryweek.”


“He(Michael)ismultifaceted.Ican’tthinkofanythingthatgoesonherethatheisreallynotintouchwithorheavilyinvolvedin.”

“Ifeellikehe'smyspiritualguide”

“IntheyearsthatIhavebeenhere,Michaelhasdemonstratedforallofustosee,growth.Humangrowth,humanpotential,inasensesomevulnerability.Andsomeembracingofspiritualpractice.…ithasreallybeeninspiringtoseethechangesthatsomeonewiththatmuchresponsibilityandeverythingthat’shappened,continuetogrow,youknow,thathelps.”

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Rev.KellyCrocker

MembersreportedthatKellycontributestotheFUSministryinmultipleways,including:• Joy,energy,enthusiasm,andasweetnessofsoul.

• Sermonsthatarerelatable,warm,andjoyful-theyareadrawformembers.

• DrawingnewmemberstoFUSandcreatingconnectionstoyouthandfamilies.

• Experiencingasenseofrealpresencewhentalkingwithher.

• Providingguidancethatchildrenandyouthrelateto.

• Allowingherselftobevulnerable.

• Beinganopen-mindedteamplayer.

• Beingapproachableformembersexperiencingissues.

• KellyandMichaelareseenashavingcomplementaryskillsandtogetherprovideFUSwithabalancedministry.

SeveralintervieweesnotedthatKellyhasshowngrowthsincejoiningFUSandcontributessignificantleadershipwithintheFUScommunity.

AfewintervieweesexpressedconcernabouttheabilityforourtwoministerstofulfilltheincrementaldemandsoftheFUScommunitycreatedbythelossofourthirdfull-timeminister.

RecommendationsfortheCalledMinistersandtheFUSCommunity

SeveralintervieweesfeltnoneedtomakerecommendationsregardingKelly’sandMichael’sministry;forexample,onemember’sadvicewasto“Keepdoingwhatthey’redoing.Theybothdoitverywell.”

SeveralintervieweesexpressedthatitwastimeforFUSleadersandmemberstotalkaboutMichael’sretirementandthisupcomingleadershiptransition.Hisretirementisviewedasbothachallengeandanopportunityforgrowthandchange.

OtherrecommendationsthatwereforbothMichaelandKellyortheFUSCommunityasawholeinclude:


“Kellyhasthepreachingchopsandtheheartandthejoy.Iguessthat’swhatIlove,shealwaysconveysthatthereisnoplaceintheworldshewouldratherbethanwheresheis.”

“IwatchedKellygrowovertheyears.Ithasbeenincredible.I’veseenhertakearealleadershiproleinmanyareas,thereligiouseducationbutalsowiththeQuestProgram,withtheministry.”

“Ithinkit’sgreatthatwehavetwoministersandIthinkit’sgreatthattheyeachbringtheirownthingtoit.“

“They[KellyandMichael]arestretchedthin...Ihopethatmosteveryonerealizesthat.


“Keepdoingwhatthey’redoing.Theybothdoitverywell.”

“TheyneedtodelegatemoreIthink,bothofthem.Andthenwhattheycan’tdelegate,theyneedtheresourcestosupportthem.”

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• ThecalledministersshouldtrytodelegatemoreandcommunicatemoreaggressivelyifFUSneedsmoreresourcestosupportthem–worktoavoidburningout.

• Thecommunityshouldbemoreproactiveinprovidingmorehelpand/orresources.

• Itwouldbegoodforthecommunityifoneorbothministerscouldplayalargerroleinsocietalandlocalissues.

• Greatertransparencyfromcalledministersregardingwhattheydowouldhelpthecommunityunderstandtheirneedsascalledministersmoreclearly.

• SomememberswouldliketoseeMichaelandKelly“teamup”moreforspecialservices.

• Findnewwaystomakethelayleadershipmorevisibleasawaytoimproveunderstandingoftheirroles,createnewconnectionopportunities,andshowgratitudefortheirefforts.

• Lookformoreopportunitiestoeducatemembersonthehistoricandenvironmentalsignificanceofourbuildings.

SpecificrecommendationsmembershadforMichaelincluded:

• Continuetobemoreself-revealing(i.e.,usepersonalstories)insermons.

• lfpossible,takeonalargerroleintheMadisoncommunity.

• Strivetomakethechildren’smessagesmoreconsistentlychildcentered.

• Trytohavemorefun.

SpecificrecommendationsmembershadforKellyincluded:

• Lookforopportunitiestotakeonresponsibility.

• Bemindfuloftimemanagementtoavoidburningout.


“IhaveonewishandIguessIcouldmakeitasarecommendation.InalltheyearsthatMichaelhasbeenhere,Idon’thavethesenseofreallyknowinghimdeeply.Iwouldlikemoreself-revelationinhissermons.”

“[Kelly]probablyneedstokeeppushingherselfandpushingtheboundariesofwhatshecandobecauseshe’saverycapableandeducatedpersonthatcouldprobablydoawholelotmorethanshethinks.”

“Ifourchurchevergetstothepointagainthatwecouldaffordtohaveathirdministerbecausewe’regettingsolargeIthinkthatwouldbegreatbecausepeoplelookfordifferentthings.”

“IwishMichaelcouldhavemorefun.”

“Iwonderifthereisn'talargerroleforMichaelinworkingwithoutsidecommunityorganizations.”

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vii. AnythingElsetoShareaboutYourExperienceatFUS

Intervieweessharedthefollowinginresponsetothepromptof“IsthereanythingelseyouwanttotellusaboutyourexperienceatFUS?”

• SeveralexpressedgratitudefortheimpactFUShadontheirlives.

• TheFUScommunityismoreopentodifferentviewsandbeliefsthaninthepast.

• TheFUScommunityhaschangedandismorewelcomingthaninthepast.

• ThecongregationmaynotadequatelyacknowledgethehardworkofformerBoardpresidentsoncetheirtermsexpires.

• Calledministersshouldexpressmoregratitudetocongregantsfortheirservicetothecongregation.

• Congregationalsocialjusticeactivitiesshouldbemorepublicizedandcelebrated.

• Strengthenandexpandthecongregation’suseofsocialmedia.

• Makethecongregation’sstaffmorevisibletothewholecongregation.

• Concernthatgrowthwillleadtomorefragmentationandalackoffocuswasexpressed.

• Therearelegitimate“boundaries”betweenFUSmembersandministers.

Interviewedparticipantsalsoexpressedtheirgratitudeforbeingaskedtoparticipateinthesmallgroupinterviews.SomesaidthiswasthefirsttimetheyhadbeenaskedtosharetheirexperiencesregardingFUS.

“QuotesfromInterviews

I’mgladwejoinedandit’sbeengoodforus.It’sbeengoodforourkids.”

“IthinkofUnitarianismasaquestioningreligion.It'saplaceforquestions.Idon'tcomefortheanswers,Icomeforthequestions.”“Isometimeswonderifwedon’tfragmentourselvestoomuch,totrytobeeverythingtoeveryone.Itjustseemslikesometimesweshouldfocusmore.”

“Andtherehavebeenanumberofpeoplewhohavesaid,’Wehavenoideawhat’shappeninginsocialjustice’(becausethey’renotdoinganyofit.)…IhappentogotoSalvationArmyearlyinthemorning…Iwasmentioningthattosomeone.Theysaid,’Golly,ifIknewthosethingsweregoingonIwouldpledgemorebecauseIthinkthat’ssomethingthechurchshouldbedoing,butIdon’tknowthechurchisdoingthosethings.’”

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B. CalledMinisterQuestionnairesSummary

SeniorMinisterMichaelSchulerandCommunityLifeMinisterKellyCrockercompletedawrittenquestionnairesenttothembytheMinistryReviewTeam.Sixquestionswereorganizedintothreebroadcategories:

i. Coreministerialresponsibilitiesandresourceavailabilityii. Professionalsatisfactionfromtheroleiii. Challengesandopportunitiestoimprove

Whatfollowsisasummaryofeachofthethreecategories.

i. CoreMinisterialResponsibilitiesandResourceAvailability

CoreResponsibilities-MichaelSchuler

• Servesasthe“headofthestaff.”o WorkswiththechurchBusinessAdministratoronmattersrelated

tothebudget,fundraising,capitalneeds,personnelandhiringissues.Providesdirectsupervisionofsomestaff.

• ProvidesaccountabilitytotheBoardofTrustees.

o WorkscloselywiththesocietypresidenttoprepareBoardagendasandParishMeetings.

o AttendsmonthlyBoardmeetingsandservesontheBoardcommitteesonpersonnel,governanceandfinance.

o KeepstheTrusteesawareoftheFUSvisionofministry.

• Overseesworshipservices,conductsclasses,writesforFUSpublications,andworkswiththeQuestprogram.

• CoordinatesmanyofthememorialservicesforFUSmembers,aswellasafewweddingsandchilddedicationseachyear.

• ConductsmonthlyprogramsatCapitolLakesandOakwoodretirementcommunities,whichprovideakeycommunicationlinkwithelderlyFUSmembers.Manynon-UU’sattendthesemonthlygatherings.

• Servesas“institutionalmemory”byprovidinghistoryonissuesandFUS’sfuturedirectionduringdiscussionswiththeFUSBoardandotherkeycongregationalleaders.

• SpokespersonandbeingthepublicfaceofFUSincludingparticipatingincommunityforumsanddemonstrationsandcommunicatingwithlocalmediaandcommunityleaders.

“QuotesfromtheQuestionnaire

“Iservecurrentlyasheadofstaffandassuch,workcloselywiththeChurchBusinessAdministratoronavarietyofinstitutionalmattersincludingbudgetbuildingandmonitoring,fundraising,capitalneeds&priorities,personnelandhiringissues.”

“Asthecongregationhasgrownandevolved,I’veincreasinglyfoundmyselffunctioningasourinstitutionalmemory,abletodescribe’thewaywewere’andtoprovideahistoricalcontextfordiscussionsbearingonFUS’sfuturedirection.”

“IamnormallythepublicfaceandspokespersonforFUS,communicatingwithlocalmediaandcommunityleaders,participatinginforums,demonstrationsandasapresenceinorganizationswhoseprinciplesalignwithourown.”

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CoreResponsibilities-KellyCrocker

• ServesasCommunityLifeMinister-createscommunityandhelpsfacilitateconnectionswithinandacrossthecongregation,withanemphasisoncreatingandsupportinglargeandsmallgroups.

• OverseesthesmallgroupministryinitiativeinvolvingChalicegroups,

neighborhoodgroups,spiritualpracticegroups,andothersmallgroups.

• LeadstheLayMinistryprogram.

• OverseestheQuestprogram.

• ServesastheFUSYouthGroupminister.

• Providespastoralcare,includingritesofpassage.

• Regularlycontributestoworshipservices.

• OverseesthePartnerChurchprogram,teachesadulteducationclasses,andcontributestostaffmeetingsandsupervision.

CommentsonResources

TheresponsesindicatedthatMichael’sandKelly’sministriesarebeingimpactedtovariousdegreesbyresourcelimitations.Impactsoflimitedresourcesthatwerecitedinclude:

• Lackoftimetofullydevelopadditionalprogramsorimplementideasthatcouldhelpbuildthecommunityandfosterconnections.

• Difficultyinmaintainingabalancebetweenprofessionalresponsibilitiesandpersonallife.

• Limitedtimespentonhigh-levelreflectionwhichcouldcontributetobetterstrategicplanningandvisioning.

• Difficultyintakingleavesorsabbaticalsasspecifiedintheministers’contracts.


“Acoupleofadditionalstaffpositionswouldcertainlyhelp,mostnotablyathirdministeroritsequivalent“

“Somelargercongregationswithlimitedresourcesarenowexperimentingwithpart-timevolunteer’staff’tohandlecertainroles.”

“Itneverfeelslikeonecanrelaxandcoastforabit.Thedemandsareprettymuchunceasing.”

“(A)congregationalresourcethatwouldassistmewouldbeanongoing,intentionalLeadershipDevelopmentProgram.”


“…mycoreministerialresponsibilityiscreatingcommunityingroupslargeandsmallacrossthegenerations.”

“IbelievethatIhavechangedalongwiththecongregationandthesenewresponsibilitiesfeellikeawonderfulexpansionofworkthatIlove.”

“Ihavemanyopportunitiestodowhatfeelslikeweavingpeopletogetherintocommunity.”

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WhenaskedforsuggestionsonwaystohelpachievethemissionoftheFUSMinistry,MichaelandKellyprovidedthefollowingideas:

• Additionalhiredstaff.

• Findingawaytogobacktoathreeministermodel.

• IncreasedvolunteerinvolvementfromFUSMembers(particularlymalemembers).

• Creatinganongoing“LeadershipDevelopmentProgram”involvingvolunteers.

ii. PersonalSatisfaction

BothCalledMinistersprovidedanswersthatindicateanoverallhighlevelofsatisfactionwiththeirministriesandtheirroles.

Kellyprovidedthefollowingthoughts:

• Sheispleasedthatshenowhasaministerialrolethatshehas,whichoffersanopportunitytoexpandbeyondasolefocusonreligiouseducation.

• ShefindsherrelationshipswithFUSmembers,thecommitmentofFUSmembers,andthecollaborativerelationshipswithstaffespeciallysatisfyingaspectsofherministry.

Michaelfeedbackincludingthefollowing:

• Michaelreportsthatheconsidersministrytobeanear-perfectfitwithhistemperamentandpost-graduatetraining.Heparticularlyenjoysthemanydifferentroles,activitiesandopportunitiesthatheworkson.

• Afterfortyyears,ministryandnotablyopportunitiestostudyandreflectupontopicshechooses,isstillveryengagingandheenjoyswhatheisdoing.


“InowhavetheministerialrolethatIlove.”

“Therearetwo(verysatisfying)thingsthatquicklyjumptomind–therelationshipswithourmembersandtherelationshipswithourstaff.“

“ThisisagreatcommunityandIthoroughlyenjoythepeoplewhocomehere.”

“Ihavefounditanear-perfectfitwithmytemperamentandpost-graduatetraining.”

“Evenafterfortyyears,eachweekunfoldsalittledifferentlyandeachtopicthatIchoosetostudyandreflectuponis,initsownway,engaging.“


“Aspecialistinvolunteerrecruitmentanddevelopmentwouldalsobeextremelyuseful.”

“Iwouldlovetocreatemoreadulteducationprogramming.Therejustisn’tenoughtimeinaday.”

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iii. ChallengesandOpportunitiestoImprove

KeychallengesandopportunitiescitedbyourCalledMinistersinclude:

• ManagingthetransitionalchallengesduetotheimpendingretirementofMichaelandotherkeystaffmembers.Thesetransitionsaregoingtocreateanxiety,butarealsoopportunitiesforgrowth.

• Findingwaystobetteridentifyanddevelopmembervolunteersto

assistintheachievementofoursharedministry.

• Successfullycompletingacapitalcampaignthatcouldprovideincrementalresourcestoaddressinfrastructureneedsanddebtlevelswithoutnegativelyimpactingourannualgivingcampaign.

• Findingopportunitiestodomorestrategicplanningandvisioning.


“Inthenext5yearswearegoingtohaveabigtransitioninourministerialstaff.Thisisgoingtorequireawillingnesstobeopentonewideasandnewlearnings.”

“Wehavehadmultipleconversationsinmanydifferentmeetingsaboutthelackofvolunteers,theneedtocreateacultureofserviceandvolunteerismandIthinkit’stimetoputsomegreatmindsinaroomandfigureitout.”

“Wecannotputsucha[capital]campaignoffindefinitelybutseriousquestionsaroundtimingandtheimpactsuchacampaignmighthaveontheoperatingbudget(ifcapitalcommitmentscausepledgestodecline)needtobeasked.”

“Iamnotsurethatwespendenoughtime–andthisappliestoourlayleadershipaswell–engaginginthekindofgenerativediscussionsthatcanleadtoinnovationandincreasedrelevancy.”

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C. StaffQuestionnairesSummary

FourofthesixteenFUSstaffcompletedawrittenquestionnairesenttothembytheMinistryReviewTeam.Thequestionnaireaskedfivequestionsaswellasprovidedanopportunityforeachindividual,fromtheirownperspective,toreportanythingelseregardingministryatFUS.

Thefourquestionsfocusedonthefollowingtopics:

i. TheirimpressionofthescopeoftheFUSministryii. Anoverviewofhowtheirworkasstaffmembersrelatestoourministryiii. TheirviewonthebiggestchallengesfacingtheFUScommunityiv. ThebiggestopportunitiesFUShastoimprovetheworkwedotogetherinthefuturev. Anyotherthoughtsorrecommendationstheywouldliketoshare

Whatfollowsisasummaryoftheirresponsestoeachquestion.

i. StaffViewsofFUSMinistry

Staffwereaskedwhentheyheartheterm“FUSministry”whatreadilycomestomind.

• TherewasreasonableconsensusamongtherespondentsthattheFUSministryiswhattheministers,staff,volunteersandFUSmembersdotonurturemembersandprovidetransformativegrowthopportunities.

• Somestaffreportednoticingconfusionregardingthemeaningorvision

ofFUSministryamongbothstaffandFUSmembers,aswellassomenegativeconnotationsassociatedwiththetermministrygivenitstraditionalusewithinmoredogmaticfaithcommunities.

• Onestaffmembercitedtheneedtoprovidemorecongregation-wide

clarityaboutthevisionofFUSministryasitrelatestoservingtheneedsofmembersvs.effortstoimpactthebroadercommunitythroughsocialjusticeandotherefforts.


“Twoideas-whattheministersdo(caringformembers,layministry,lifejourneys,beinganintentionalcommunity)andwhatministryteamsandstaffdo(transformativegrowthviarelationshipsandworkingwiththecommunity,growingbylearningtoworkasateam,andaboutspiritualityasitisfoundininterdependence).”

“WhileIunderstand,Iseepuzzlementonthefacesofsomeinourcongregationasitisused.Manyofthosefeelitistoochurchyorhaveareactionfromanegativeexperienceinafaithcommunity.”

“Iknowthatthisentiredenominationfeelsthepullbetweenatraditionalworship/spiritualeducationkindofmember’sdemandsandthedemandsfromothermembers,andpotentialmembers,toexperiencespiritualityentirelythroughajusticelens.”

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ii. StaffRelationshiptotheFUSMinistry

Weaskedstaffmembershowtheirworkrelatedtotheministryofthecongregation.TheirresponsesindicatethatFUSstaffmembersmakeimportantandvitalcontributionstoFUSministry,suchas:

• ProvidingopportunitiesforFUSmembertransformationthroughlearning,inspiration,beingpartofalarger“whole”,andpositivelyimpactingsociety.

• HelpingmemberslivetheUUPrinciples.

• HelpingachievetheFUSmissionandvision.

• Helpingmembersdeepenandbroadentheirunderstandingofvaryinghumanexperiences.

• CreatingandshapingprogramsandactivitiesthatcarryoutthevisionofFUSministry.

iii. ChallengesFacingFUSandIdeastoAddressThem

Weaskedstaffmemberstoidentifychallengesandshareideasonwhatcouldhelpaddressthosechallenges.Ideasmentionedwerethefollowing:

• Improvemembercommunicationandeaseofnavigationtoensurethatallmembers(particularlynewones)feelconnectedandunderstandopportunitiestogetinvolved.

o Electronicmessageboardateachentryo Improveouronlinepresenceo Simplifypublications

• ImprovememberconnectiontoourcommunityandmissionanddrivemoreinvolvementbyconsistentlyrecognizingandcelebratingalltheworkthatFUSalreadydoes.

• ImprovestaffalignmentandcollaborationbybeingmoreintentionalaboutprovidingopportunitiesforstafftosharebestpracticesandprovideinputtoseniorstaffandtheBoard.

• ReducethestressandworkloadofourCalledMinistersbyfindingmorewaystosupportthem.

• Reduceanxietyaboutupcomingstaffandministertransitionsbyusingthemasanopportunitytocelebratepastcontributionsandcreateexcitementaboutfutureopportunitiesfacilitatedbychange.

• Addressconcernsaboutbuildinganddebtloadbyraisingmemberawarenessandconductinganewcapitalcampaign.


“VolunteersandIofferthemeansforgreaterunderstandingofvaryinghumanexperiencestothecongregation,throughproximityandeducationalprogramming.”

“InmypositionallIdoisrelatedtoministry.”

“Iseemyroleprimarilyasaleader,facilitator,andeducator:tohelpcreateanatmosphereinwhichvolunteerscanlearn,beinspired,andfeelpartofsomethingbiggerthanthemselves.”


“FUSisoverwhelmingfornewmembersoranymemberswithverybusylives.”

“Abigareaofhelpwouldbecommunicationimprovementinallitsforms,whichwoulddiminishthesenseofoverwhelmandsavealotofstafftime.“

“Idon’tthinkthatI/weliftupthegoodthingsthatourministryteamsarealreadydoingenough.”

“Weneedallthesupportwecangetasstaffonwayswecandoourbesttocollaborate,shareinformation,coordinateuseofthebuilding,etc.”

“Iamconcernedaboutnothavingastrongenoughbaseofsupportfromour“younger”generation(50andyounger)ofadultstoreplacethesupportthatourstalwartshaveprovidedovertheyears.”

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iv. FutureOpportunitiesforImprovement

AfourthquestioninquiredaboutthemostexcitingopportunitiesfortheministryoftheFUScommunityinthenextthreeyearsandideastoactonthoseopportunities.Mentionedwerethreecategoriesofopportunities:

• Thecommunityshouldlookforwaystoimprovethelevelofinternalcollaborationandleveragetheexpertiseandexperienceofthestaff.Forexample,aseriesofretreatswiththeBoard,ministers,staffandotherkeyFUSmemberstostudytrendsandanalyzeandreflectonwhat’soffered.

• Thecommunityshouldlookforopportunitiestousetechnologyinnewways.Forexample,betterutilizingourmemberdatabasetocommunicatewithFUSmembersandidentifypotentialvolunteerswithskillsetsmatchingtheneedsoftheproject.

• Ifresourcesallow,trytobecomeabiggerpartofthewiderMadisoncommunityworkingforpositivechange.FUS’scurrentpositivereputationforcommunityinvolvementisafoundationforgreatercommunityinvolvementrequiringstaffandvolunteertimeandenergy,andbuildingspace.

v. OtherRecommendations

ThefinalquestionencouragedstafftoaddanyotherthoughtsorrecommendationsrelatedtotheministryatFUS.Keyfeedbackincluded:

• ExpressionsofappreciationforcareeropportunitiesFUShasprovided.

• Arecommendationtocontinuelookingforwaysofbeingmorewelcoming–particularlyformemberswithlimitedphysicalcapabilities.

• EncouragementtodotheworknecessarytoinsurelayleadersandmembersandstaffunderstandhowFUSworksundertheadoptedGovernancePolicymodel(includingtheroleofministryteams).

• Encouragementtore-examineourprogramsandconsiderbecomingmorefocusedoncommunityoutreach,includingbuildingourcongregation’sUUidentityandincreasingconnectionswiththeUUmovement.


“WecouldofferaseriesofretreatswiththeBoard,staffandotherleadingmemberstotakealookattrends,analyzewhatweofferandreallybethoughtfulaboutwhatprogramsweprovide.Weneedtodothistocreatebudgetsandkeepourmembershipaliveandcontemporary.”

“I’mexcitedaboutusingtechnologyinnewwaystobothreachourconstituentsandtostreamlineourwork.”

“Manypeoplehavealwaysknownthat’FUSdoesgreatthings,’andIthinkwehavetheopportunitytogrowthat.”


“WorkingatFUShasbeenthemostchallengingandrewardingsegmentofmycareer.”

“Tobeconsistentwithawelcomingministry,weneedtoworkonourdisability(un)friendliness.“

“PerhapswecanmoreclearlydefineourselvesasUUsthroughthevehicleofcommunityengagementandbynarrowingourprogramstothosehavingastrongerUUfocus.”

“Personally,Ithinktherecouldbegreatenergyandmomentumaroundtheideaofscalingbackonour’programs‘...andperhapsinsteadshiftingourfocustocommunityoutreachandgrowingourUUidentity/denomination.”

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3:WhatWeObservedandQuestionsfortheCommunity

Itiscommonforreviewssuchasthistoconcludewithsometypeofanevaluationand/orsuggestionsforimprovement.Ourcommitteedecidednottotakethatapproachforthisreview.NotethatweaskedthekeystakeholdersfortheirownsuggestionsastohowtheFUSMinistrycouldbemoreeffective,andthereportcontainsalonglistoftheirideas,whichweencourageeveryonetoreviewindetail.Ratherthanemphasizingorprioritizingspecificideasforimprovement,wewillleavethattasktothecommunityasawholetodiscuss.

However,ourcommitteedoeshavesomeobservationsthatwewouldliketoshare.WehavealsoposedquestionsfortheFUSleadershipthatflowfromtheseobservations.WebelievethesequestionsmightproveusefulaswelooktodevelopandrefineourVisionofMinistryinthecomingyears.

• OurFUSministryappearstoeffectivelynourishinggrowthofmindandspirit,withsignificantcontributionsfromourCalledMinisters,staff,andmembersthemselves.Whileourmemberinterviewsmaynotbefullyrepresentativeofallmembers,thereisnoquestiontheministryatFUSishavingapositiveimpactandimprovinglives.Itisalsoacommonthemeformemberstosharethatservicetothecommunityandinteractionswithothermembersoftenarepathstosignificantgrowth.

QUESTION:Howcanwecreatemoreopportunitiestosharetheimpactourministryishavingwithallmajorstakeholdersandbettercelebrateoursuccesses?Howcanwehelpourmembersrealizetherolethatallofusplayinourministry?

• OurCalledMinistersandstaffappeartobeeffectiveandaredeeplyappreciated.ThereisaclearsenseofappreciationforbothofourCalledMinisters,includingthewaytheycomplementeachother’sskillsets.Membersalsocitemanypositiveinteractionswithourstaffandthesignificantimpactintheirlivesfromourprograms.

QUESTION:HowcanwemoreconsistentlyacknowledgetheimpactandimportanceofourCalledMinistersandstaff?

• Nourishingmindandspiritcanbeassimpleasmakingconnections.Whilememberslivesarepositivelyimpactedbytheexcellenceofourprogramsandworshipservicesandbytheopportunitiesweprovidetoworktogetherasaforceforgood,sometimesjustconnectingwitheachothercanprovideopportunitiesforgrowth.

QUESTION:Shouldweputahigherpriorityonfindingwaystoconnectmemberstoeachotherthroughsmallsharedprojectsandsocialevents?Shouldweconsiderofferingfewerprograms,thusleavingmoretimeandresourcesforotherconnectionopportunities?

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• Somemembersstruggletofindtheirplaceinourcommunity.FUSisalargeandcomplexplace,andtherewerefrequentexpressionsofconcernabouthowwewelcomemembersandprovideconsistenthelptoallmembersastheyseekopportunitiestoconnectwiththecommunity.

QUESTION:Howcanwebecomemoreconsistentlyexcellentinthewaywewelcomenewmembersandprovideongoingsupporttomemberslookingtofindwaystoparticipateinoursharedministry?

• Somemembersdon’tclearlyunderstandtherolesofourstaff,layleadersandlayministers.Thereisadesiretoimprovethewaywecelebrateandpublicizeourstaff,layministers,andotherlayleaders.

QUESTION:Howcanweuseourservices,website,andemailstoprovidemorevisibilitytoourstaff,layleaders,andlayministers?Arethereotherwaystoaccomplishthisgoal?

• Thepresenceofchildreninourcommunityhelpsmembersgrow.Mostmembersreportedbeingpositivelyimpactedbytheinvolvementofchildrenandyouthwithinourcommunity.

QUESTION:HowcanweexpandtheinvolvementofchildrenandyouthinthelargerFUScommunityinwaysthatwillenrichourcommunity?

• Resourceconstraintsmaybeabiggerissuethaniswidelyappreciated.Whilesomeofourmembersexpressedconcernabouttheimpactoflimitedresourcesonourstaffandprograms,thatthemewasmuchmorecommonamongtheCalledMinistersandstaff.

QUESTION:Howcanwecreatemoreopportunitiestoopenlydiscussresourceconstraintsduringourbudgetingprocess?Shouldwecallmoreattentiontothegapsbetweenouraspirationsandouravailableresources?Doweneedtodomorestrategicplanningandvisioning?

• TheimpendingretirementofMichaelSchulerandotherkeystaffmemberswillbeafocusforourcommunityinthecomingyears.TherewassomeexpressedanxietyabouttheupcomingretirementsofourSeniorMinisterandotherstaffmembersandtheimpactitwillhaveontheFUScommunity.

QUESTION:Howwellpreparedareweforthisperiodofgrieving/transition/opportunity?HowcanthebroadercommunityparticipateinthisprocessinwaysthatstrengthenthecommunityandallowuspracticeourUUprinciples?

• Opportunitiestobeheardareappreciated.Peopleconsistentlyexpressedappreciationfortheopportunitytosharetheirviews.

QUESTION:Howcanwecreatemoreopportunitiestolistentoourcommunityandallowpeopletoprovideinputonaconsistentbasis?

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AppendixA

MemberInterviews:Questions,ThemesandQuotesInterviewsconductedduringSpring2016

1.Whenyouheartheterm,FUSMinistry,whatreadilycomestomind?

Responsestothisquestionfallintothreebroadcategories:

Q1Theme:Calledministers,layministers,staff,andprogramscomprisetheFUSministry.

“[Ministersarethe]guidingspiritofthewholecongregation.Althoughitiscomplexandmadeupofmanyindividuals,theministersactuallysetthetoneofacongregationandarethemostimportantindividuals.”“[Ithinkof]layministers.”“Ithinkofprogramsmostly.““Parishministers.That’sthefirstthingIwrotedown”“Iwaslookingatitasthedecisionmakers.Kindoflike“thebuckstopshere”kindofthing.”“DanandLindaareveryimportantaspartofthatministrywiththemusicprogram.Allofthemembersofthestaffare...it’sahugeteameffort.Ijustwantedtoincludethem…asanaffirmation.”“Ialsothinkofthesocialjusticeministryteamswhichare,Ithink,veryimportant.”

Q1Theme:FUSministryiseverythingwedoasacommunitytoimpactourmembersandthebroadercommunity.

“FUSMinistryisprettymucheverythingthatgoesonherethattiesmetothisplaceandtiesotherstothisplace.”

“Ithinkofitastakingcareoftheinsideandtheoutside,internally–ourcommunity,andthelargercommunityaroundus.“

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Q1Theme:FUSministryisasharedministryinwhichmembersserveoneanother.

“...twokindsoftracks.Oneiswhattheministersdoatthepulpitandintheirleadershiprolesforthecongregation.Andtheotheris,whatmembersofthecongregationdo,servingandsupportingeachotherinallkindsofwaysaswejourneytogether.”

“It’sallofusreachingout.”

“Andmyanswerisaidedbywhenyousay’popsintoyourmind.’WhatpopsintomymindisMichaelandKellyandministers.However,afterspendingthreeyearsontheBoard,whatquicklyreplacedthatinmymindisthatFUSministryisbasicallyeverythingthatwedoasacongregationandasaninstitution,acommunity.Sothat’swhatInowthink.Bothbeingpresentaspartofthatprocess,presentontheBoard,andreadingsomeofthebooks/biblesattachedtothatgovernanceprocess,shiftedmythinking.Inanycase,theymadeitveryclearthateverypersoninthechurchwasaministeranddoingministry.Everyindividual.”

“Weministertoeachotherifwe’relisteningtoeachother.”

“...it'stheFUScommunityasawhole,providingsupporttooneanother.”

2.Inyourexperience,hasyourinvolvementatFUSnourishedgrowthofyourmindandspirit,andifso,whatorwhohascontributedtoyourgrowth?

ThefollowingfourthemestellhowinvolvementatFUSnourishesgrowthofthemindsandspiritsofFUSmembersandwhatcontributestothatgrowthandnourishment.

Q2Theme:InvolvementinFUSisreportedtonourishthegrowthofmindandspiritbyallinterviewees.Theycitefourmajorcontributorstothatgrowth:

A. OthermembersoftheFUScommunity.

“It’sthepeoplethatkeepushere.”

“Ifthepeopleweren’tasspecialastheyare,itwouldbejustanotherchurch.WhatmakesFUSuniqueformeisthepeople.““Ikindofseeitasmultilevel.AndIthinkthat’swhatmakesitsospecialforme,yougetsomanyneedsmet.Spiritual,emotional,many,manyneedsmetinthisonecommunity.”

“ThesenseofrecognitionthatotherpeoplearestrugglingwiththesamequestionsthatIstrugglewith,andinsomeinstancesreachsimilaranswers.Otherpeoplearereachinganswersthatarereasonableandofinteresttome.”

B. Participationanddeepinvolvementinthefollowingeightprograms,projects,andactivities:

• TeachingChildren’sReligiousEducationClasses

“...thefirstthingthatnourishedthegrowthofmymindandspiritwasteachingchildren’sreligiouseducation.”

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“IhadalittlebitmorestrengthtodiveinanddotheComingofAgewithteenagers,knowingthatmytwohadjustgonethroughthat.Itwasnothingbutaverypleasantexperience,gettinginvolvednotonlywiththeadultsinquestionandwiththeteenagersinCOA.ItissomethingthatonapersonallevelI’mgoingtocontinuetodobecauseIknowIgetalmostasmuchoutoftheCOAprogramastheteenagersdo.“

“OnceIdidgetinvolvedwiththeCOA,itwasdefinitelyagrowingperiodformebecauseIhadtobepreparedtotrytofacilitateorhelptheteenagersintheCOAcomeupwithwhattheythoughtandwhattheirvalueswereandwhattheirspiritualgrowthwas.Tobeprepared,Ihadtofigureoutwhatminewas.It’sagoodwayformetoreviewthesamethingstheywerereviewing.Sointhatsense,whattheyouthbroughttome,wasaself-reevaluation.“

“Sowetaught[ourchildren’sRE]classes.TheclassIlovedteachingthemostwasNeighboringFaiths-theonethatyouvisitedallthechurchesinthecommunity.Thatwasjustwonderful...withallthekids.ThatwasahugegrowthexperiencebecauseIwaslearningaboutthings,aboutreligionsthatIdidn’tknowaboutandthenhavingtosharethemwithyoungkids.”

“MydaughterwentthroughtheREprogramhereandIwasateachersoIlearnedwhatthatcurriculumwaslikeandwhatwe’reteachingourkidsinthiscommunityoffaith.”

“I’vebeenateacherhere.Didn’talwaysfeelnourished.Butthat’sbecauseI’mateacherinmyregular,weeklylife....SoitwasabitofachallengetobeateacheronaSundayorSaturdayaswellasateacherduringtheweek.Butitwasimportantwork.It’snotthatIwasn’tnourishedbutit’sadifferentkindofathing.It’sstillhelpedmebeconnectedtopeoplehereandhelpedmegettoknowotherpeople.Itwasn’tadowner...maybeitchallengedmeinadifferentway.”

“...thecommitteesandtheministryteamsthatI’vebeenon,teaching,gettingtoknowpeoplethroughmychildren.Thatallcontributessomuchtothatnourishment.BothmykidswentallthewaythroughtheREprogramandItaughtseveraltimes.I’vegottenalotoutofit,beingapartoftheprogram,boththroughthecurriculumandthenjustinteractionwiththekidsandtheotherteachersandtheREstaff.”

“Oneofthereallyvaluableexperiencesformehasbeenteachinginchurchschoolforthefirsttime,really,ever....IthoughtitwasagoodwaytohavecontactwithkidsofthatagewhoImissbecauseminearewellpastthatage.Andyet,theotheraspectofthatexperiencethathasbeenreallyvaluableisthatthefirstyearwecoveredtheSevenUUPrinciples,whichIneverlookedatinanydepthorthoughtaboutsignificantly.Youweretopreparefortheclass,youhadtodothat.SoIlearnedthroughthatandnowI’mteachingBible.MyknowledgeoftheBiblewasevenmorelimitedthanitisnowbecauseI’velearnedafairamountasI’vebeentryingtoteachkids.”

• LayMinistry

“...mylayministryrole.IbecamealayministerafewyearsagoandwhatIdothat’sthemostusefulandIthinkthemosthelpfulistoworkwithothercaregivers...[it]hasprovidedmesomethingspecialhereatFUSthatIwouldn’thaveatotherplaces.“

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“I’vebeenalayministersincethebeginningoftheprogramwhichallowedmetotakemypersonalandprofessionalexperiencesandreallyturnthemintoaministrytootherpeople.”

• ChoirMembership

“I’vespentmostofmytimehereinthemusicprogram,inthechoir.I’veformedalotoffriendships.”

“We’repartofthechoirbutthat’sformybenefit.Ilikesinging.”

“SinginginthechoirbecauseIlovetosing”

“Thechoirhasbeenahugethingformetoo.Idon’tknowanythingyoucoulddotochangethattomakethembetter.Unlesswegetanotherchoir.”

“I’malsointhechoirandjustthinkingaboutnourishingandgrowth....Ifinditnourishingtojusthavetheopportunitytosing.“

• Quest

“Personalconnectionsaside,participatinginQuest.Thathasbeenmeaningful.”

“Ididatwo-yearQuestprogram.Thatwasphenomenal.Thatwaswonderful.”

“TheQuestprogramhasbeenthelargesttransformativeexperiencethatIhavehad.”

“...beinginvolvedfromthebeginningintheQuestProgramforthelasttenyears.”

• SmallGroupMinistryandEspeciallyChaliceGroups

“That’sanotherwaythatthegroupthatmeetseverymonthforalongtimenow,Ithinktwo-threeyears.Yougettoknoweachother.It’sasmallministryconcept.”

“IthinkofthesmallgroupinteractionsiswhereItouchbasewithotherpeopleinthecongregation.MywritinggroupisallUnitarians.Wemeetoccasionallyforart.”

“FirstismyChalicegroup.I’vebeeninvolvedwiththisforaboutfouryears.It’sagroupofabout11peoplenow.Andwemeettwiceamonth.ItreallyhasbecomeoneofthemostimportantsetsofrelationshipsthatIhaveinmylife.Weareadiversegroupofpeoplesothat’sbeenonecornerstoneofFUSforme.”

“I’mamemberofaChalicegroupandIjuststartedanotherChalicegroup,soI’mfeelingverynourishedbybothofthosegroups.”

“I’dsayitwasthroughmyinvolvementinthespiritualbookgroup....ThattomewasasmuchtheessenceofareligiousexperienceasIcangethere.”

• SocialJusticePrograms

“Wehaven’thadanycontactwithFUSoranyorganizedreligionforalong,longtime.Wewereinterestedinparticipatinginacommunityofpeoplethatwethoughtwereinterestedinsocialissuesandimprovementofsocietylocally,whetherit’senvironmentorwhatever.”

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“...nourisheddeeplyforanextendedperiodoftime,primarilythroughsocialactionprogramsandthepartthatIplayedinthat...”

“...currently,socialjusticestuff.IwasonthemicrofinanceministryteamandI’mleadingthewomenandfamilyhomelessshelterministryteam.”

• MusicalProgram

“Thechoirfeedsmysoulgreatly.”“Themusicalwayspullsmetothisplaceasdoestheexcellenceoftheservicesandthemessages.”“Themusicisphenomenal.It’sjustvery,veryheartopening.”“Oh,andthemusic...sometimesIhavedifficultynotcryingattimesintheservices.”“WenowprimarilycomeforallthemusicSundaysorspecialperformancesbeingdone.”

• AdultEducationandRetreats

“AlltheadulteducationclassesI’vetaken”“AndI’vegonetoafewofthewomen’sretreatsandreallygrowninthoseplaces,orfromthoseplaces.”

“IwenttoaparentingclassthatRuthGibson[pastEducationalMinister]taughtthatIfoundveryuseful.”

• ProjectsandOngoingTasks

“Thepeakexperiencewas...beingpartofthebuildingproject.Ihavesaidthismanytimesbefore,contrarytowhatpeopleatFUSsayaboutthemselves,I’veneverdoneanythingwhereIreceivedsomuchspontaneousgratitude.Peoplecomingupoutoftheblueandthankingme.Peoplesaying,’Oh,I’msogladyou’redoingthis.’”“I’vebeentakingcareofgreenplantsfor25years.GreenplantsandIarebondedtogetherthroughchurch.IbroughtintheplantsintheLandmarkyearsandyearsago.NowI’mpartofthegroupthatwaterstheplantsdownintheatrium.WestartedwhenEllsworthwashereandwehadtowaterEllsworth’splants.SotheplantshavebeenpartofmyFUSexperience...andnourishment,forthemandme.”“...webelieveifwearegoingtobepartofit[FUScommunity],thenwehavetoparticipate.Soweparticipateinalotofactivities.Wehandlethecountingofthemoney.We’reonthepersonnelcommittee.”“Soonafter,withinayearofgettinghere,wewereaskedtohelporganizethegrandopeningweekendforthenewbuilding.Sothatwasachunkoftrustthatwaslaidonusveryquickly.Thatwasnice.Thatwasgreat.Wegottoknowagreatmanypeoplequickly.Otherwiseitwouldhavetakenyearstomeetthatmanydifferentpeople.”

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C. WorshipServices.

“...theexcellenceoftheservicesandthemessages.Ineverlookatwhoisspeaking.Ijustcome.IfeelgoodwhenI’mhere,andwell.”“ThethingthatIthinkoffirstiscomingintoindividualserviceswithnotablankmindbutwithamindthatisgoinginonedirection.Thenattheendoftheservice,typically,it’sgoinginamuchbetterdirection.”

“Ithinkthatmymindhasprobablybeennourishedthroughsermonsorreflectionsthatcomefromthepulpit.Thoseareusuallytimely.Theyarecurrentandtheyhelpmethinkthroughthingsthatarehappeningintheworld.Imean,itseemsmorelikeanNPRbroadcastratherthan,youknow,readingfromtheBibleorsomething...”

“Ilookforwardtotheservices.”

D. CalledMinistersandthestaff.

“WhenIlookedatthisquestion,Ithoughtonethingthathasreallychallengedmymind,really,hasbeenMichael’smessagewheneverhespeaks.Ican’tbelievehowmuchknowledgethatmanhasbutitreallyhaschallengedmymind.That’ssomethingthat...I’vetalkedtoothermembersaboutandtomyhusbandwhenwediscussiteverytimeweattendedaservicethathe’sled.ThespiritpartofitisKellyasfarasI’mconcerned.She’sreallytheheartofthiscongregation,leadingthecongregation.ShejusthasthatabilityasfarasI’mconcerned.ButJanetSwansonandJeanneSearsarereallytwopeoplewhocontinuetodrawmein.JanetwasveryactivewithourQuestgroupandIappreciatethat.JeannewasmyfirstcontactwiththecongregationwhenIsentanemailandIgotthis’Hineighbor.I’llseeyouonSundayifyou’rethere.’Anditwasreallysweet.Eversincethen,Ihavefeltthatcloseness,thatbond.It’sthepeople.”“Iwouldsay,definitely,it’sspiritual,growthofmindandspirit,beingactivehere...whatorwhohascontributed?ForsureKelly,JanetSwanson,forsureMichael.ItalkmorefrequentlywithKellyorJanetthanIdowithMichaelbutIdefinitelyfeelaconnectionwithhimaswell.““Michael’ssermonshadaverystrongimpactinitiallyasmanyofthemareaboutethics,andbusinessethicseverynowandthen.Ilearnedalot.”

Q2Theme:Threeintervieweeswhotaughtreligiouseducationclassfoundteachingtobelessnourishingcomparedtootheractivitiesandtwofeltisolatedfromthecongregationwhileteaching.

“...thetwoyearsthatIspentteachingIfeltlikeIwasn’tapartofthecongregation.Iwasn’tinchurch.Iwasn’tseeingpeople.Goawholeyearwithoutseeinganybodybecauseyou’reoverdoingSundayschool.Soitfeelslikeyou’reseparate.Ifeltseparatedfromthecongregation.”

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[Facilitatorasksanotherteacher:“youfeltthesameway?”andtheresponseis:]“Yes,eventhough,IfeltverysupportedbyLeslie.Ifeltverysupportedbythewonderfulvolunteer/teacherdinnerattheendoftheyear.Verysupportedinthatwaybutprobablyspiritually,formyownself,itwas...itwashard.““It’sbeenquitesometimenowbutItaughtSundayschooltwodifferentyearsandacknowledgethat...Ialwaysrelatedmoretothe,itsaysmoreaboutmethanthechurchorthecommunity,butmoretothekindofanacademicmodel.ButIfeelmostenrichedbyorthatIrelatetobestorlearnedmorefrom,isthesermon,theadulteducation,theopportunitytolistenandengageinmusic,choralmusicparticularly.Learnandgrowandfeelenrichedfromthoseexperiences.“

Q2Theme:NourishmentandgrowthcomesfromadeepsenseofbelongingtotheFUScommunitythathaschangedlivesandgivenindividualsanewanddeeperexperienceofthereligiousandthespiritual.

“Iwouldn’tbethepersonIamtodaywithoutit,withoutFUS.It’skindofthecenterofmyworldforeducation,growth,entertainment,achancetosinginthechoir,socialjustice,service...It’sjustwhereIputmytimeandenergyandIamsureIwouldn’tbethesamewithoutit.”

“ButasKaren[formerAssociateMinister]usedtosaywhenteachingnewUU,youcometomeetyourimmediateinitialneedsandthenyoustartdoing,whatIthinkshecalls,selfishservice.ThingslikesinginginthechoirbecauseIlovetosing.Thenyoustartdoing...Idon’trememberwhatshecalledit.Unselfishservice,likeorganizingtheushersbecauseit’ssomethingthatneedstobedone,notbecauseyou’redyingtoorganizeushers.ThenUUbecomesyouridentity.”

“MyinvolvementwithFirstUnitarianSociety...haschangedthewholecourseofmylifeonceIbecameinvolvedhere.WhenIdiscoveredUnitarianUniversalism,Idiscoveredwhatreligioncouldbe.”

“IwalkedintotheFirstUnitarianSociety...andIwasathome.ItwaslikeIwashome,whichwasabigsurprisetomegivenmybackgroundandmyrunningawayfrombelievingthattherewasanything...spiritualIneededtoconsider.It’sbecomeintegralinsomanyways,notonlywhathasbeengiventomebutwhatI’vebeenallowedtoalsogive.”

“It’sthefeelingoffamilythatdrawsmebackhere.Thishumanfamilyweare.It’smadeupofindividualsandalargerfamilyfeeling.”

“Lifeischangingandthiscommunity,thiscongregationisstillmytouchstone.”

“...homeawayfromhome.”

“IhavefoundthisatransformativecommunitybecauseofsomeofthethingsIhaveintentionallytakenpartin.”

“Idon’thaveanylistsandwhenIreadthisquestion,Ihadjustafloodofmemories.Soitwaslike...beingpresentedwithashawlatthehospitalorbeingat[husband’s]burialandhavingMichaelthere,andfillinginthegrave.OrworkingonQuestinsmallgroupsorthecomraderythatIfeelwithsomeofthelayministersandthestaff,likeJeanne.Sotome,itdoesn’tlistout.Itismoreof26years,Iguess,offeelingheldbysomuch.”

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“Iwilllikewiseexpressmyappreciation.IthinkItoldMichaelthat...hegaveasermonapproximatelythreeyearsagoaboutwhatisimportanttohaveinyourjobandwhatmakesitworthwhile.IwasgoingthroughthestageofmylifewonderingwhetherIshouldcontinuetoworkinunpleasantcircumstancesornot.Itwasverytimely.Itreallyhelpedmeso...It’saverytangibleconsequence.“

Q2Theme:FUSisaBridgebetweenFaithTraditionsandSpiritualPractices

“Itwasachallengetofindamarriageceremonythatwastrueandhonestforus,ourfamilyandfriends-andMichaelnailedit.”

“ByGodIwasgoingtofindaplacewheremyJewishhusbandandIcouldfeelcomfortable.”

“Michael'sembodimentofunderstandingmeditationandspiritualpracticeinanintimatesetting.”

“It’salsohardformetoseparatemyconnectionwiththemeditationcommunity[includesMadisonInsightMediationGroup]becausetheyareslightlydifferentbutequallyimportantinmylife.ThefactthatFUSsupportsthepracticehereisreallyimportanttomeanditreallyhelpswiththeconnection.“[FUSprovidesfreeofchargespacefortheMadisonInsightMeditationGroup]

3. Whatchangesdoyoubelievemightprovidemoreopportunitiestonourishgrowthofyourmindandspirit?

Q3Theme:Intervieweessuggestedmanychangestheybelievedmightprovidemoreopportunitiestonourishgrowthoftheirmindsandspirits.

• Changesinworshipthatwouldmaketheservice“moreworshipful”.

“Ican’tgivedetailsbutIwouldliketheworshipservicestobemoreworshipful....thewaythegatheringstartsdoesnotleadmeintothekindofstateIwouldliketobein.Iftheannouncementswerefirstandthenthesilence,alittlebitofmeditationandalittlebitofsingingtogether...Iwouldgetmoreiftheservicesthemselveswerealittlebitmore,Idon’tknow,contemplativeorworshipful.”

“...startingserviceswithtenminutesofannouncementsisnotagreatwaytostartoffaworshipservice....Ithinktheworshipserviceshouldjustbeaworshipservice.”

• Welcomepeoplewheretheyareat.“Howcanwemakethisaplacethatwelcomes...notjustjoyandpeoplethatarealltogetherandhappybutaplacethatcouldtrulyhold,nurtureandsupport...IwanttomakethisaplacethatreallywelcomesmewhereverI’mat.Ithinkthatwouldbeanareawecouldcontinuetoworkon.”

• IntegratepeopleintotheFUScommunitymorequickly.

“Wedon’tdoagoodjobofintegratingnewpeople,whojustshowup,whoareveryfriendlywhentheyfirstdo.Jeannedoesawonderfuljobofsayinghellobutwedon’tseemtohaveastructureinplacetokeepfollowinguponthat...ThomasJeffersonChurchUUinBoulder,

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Colorado,theyhadthisamazingsystemsetupwheretheynotonlyintegratedpeoplebutwegotthemtoparticipatebybreakingdowntaskstosmallparts.Theywerekindofthemodelforvolunteercoordination.”“ThenewUUclass,Ireallylikedthatbutthenitwasover,IjustsortoffeltlikeIwasonmyown.Andsoagain,Idon’tknowwhatthatlookslike,whetherthere’ssomekindofbuddysystem.Idon’tknowwhatbut...Ifeltitwashardtomeetpeople.Istillkindofdo.““IthinkmyhusbandandIjoinedtwoyearsago.Istilldon’tknowwhat’savailable.Irememberstumblingonsomethingsoiftherewasjustawaytomakethingsknownalittlemoreclearlythantheyare.IknowinournewUUclass,Jeannedidagreatjoboftalkingaboutvariousopportunitieswhichledmetosignupforvariousthingsandgetinvolved.ThathashelpedbutI’mwondering...somethinglikeafollowuptotheNewUU.‘You’vebeenhereawhile.Let’sgettogetherandtalkaboutwhatopportunitiesareavailable.’”

• DemystifyhowtobecomeinvolvedinFUSBoardCommittees.

“...alittlebitofamysteryastohowoneparticipatesintheadministrativefunctionsofthechurch,whetherit’sthefinancecommittee,thevariouscommitteesthatareestablishedthatsortofoverseeorrunthechurch.It’snotveryclearhowtogetinvolvedinthose.Sothenthequestionis,doyouwanttobeabletofoldinnewpeopleastheycometorefreshtheleadershipandhavemoreopeningintermsofhowthingsoperate,andaretherewaystoimproveitorchangeitforthebetter.Ithinkthereisatendency...it’saprettycloseknitgroupiswhatIfound...thatactuallyrunstheplace.Theyaren’tnecessarilywidelyenthusiasticaboutbringinginmorepeopletodointernalwork,kindofthing.”

• ”ImprovehowFUSsupportsthosewhoarelesslikelytoreachoutoraskforsupport.

“IthinkwedoareasonablejobforpeoplewhoreachoutandaskforhelpbutIdon’tknowhowwereachouttothepeoplewhohaven’tfiguredouthowtoreachout.IknowoneofthethingsIfindthatIreallyhavetoworkonismakingsocialconnectionssoIdothatbysendingoutnotestothemembersofthechoir,’Anybodywanttojoinmegoingtothisplay’orthatmusicalthingorwhatever.SometimesIgettakersandsometimesIdon’t.Nurturingleadershipandconnectionisalwaysachallengeinaplacethisbig.”

“IamawarethatI’mconnected.SoIjustthinktherearepeopleherewhoaremaybeinmorepain,maybearemoreintroverted,aren’tsurehowtoreachouttopeopleforwhattheyneed.SoI’mthinkingabouthowdowedothat–withoutbeinginpeople’sfaces.“

“IthinkitwasKelly’sconceptofreachingouttopeoplewho,duringtheholidays,aredepressed--ablueChristmas.Ithinkthatwasawonderfulidea.”

• Considerhowtonurturethemindandspiritofreligiouseducationteacherswho,whileteaching,mayfeeldisconnectedfromthecongregation.

“...It’slikethesacrificeis...toteachschoolforayear,whichmeansbasicallyyoustepawayfromchurch.That’showitfelt.Sotendingtoour...teachers.”

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• Provideopportunitiestoexploreotherreligions.“Iwouldcertainlyliketolearnmoreaboutvariousother,otherthanJudeo-Christian,religions.ThatisachangeIwouldlike.“

• Offermore“drop-in”activitiesthatdon’trequirealong-termcommitment.“MyscheduletendstobeunpredictablesometimesandIwouldappreciatemoreopportunitiesforactivitieswhereyoukindofdropin....It’smoreinvitationalfornewerfolksorfolkswhoarelessinvolvedtohavesomeopportunitiesthatarejustkindofmoreadhocwhereyoucanjustkindofdropin.““Ithinkitwouldbenice,butnotnecessarilyonaweeklybasis,iftherewasopportunityaftertheserviceforthosewhowantedto,totalkaboutwhatwasjustmentioned[intheservice].Iknowthere’sasocialhourbutthat’snotit.Forme,itwouldhavetobewhythisgroupisgathering.Ifyouwouldliketojoinusandshareorhavefurtherquestions...”

• ContinuetogrowChalicegroups.

“I’veknownabouttheChalicegroupsforalongtimebutIneverjoinedoneuntilthelastyear.Thenthisfall,Ithinktheyputoutakindofacallfor,well,’WouldyouliketobeinaChalicegroup?’or,’Doyouhaveideasforthat?’I’veseenalotintheRedFloorsthisyearaboutChalicegroupsso...continuingtoputthatoutthere,thatpeoplecanstartthem....IjoinedonewhichisWomenonaJourney.Anytopicwewanttotalkabout,basically,wetalkabout.ThentheonethatIstartedisforparentsandteens.Sowedon’tnecessarilyfocusonteenissues,althoughlastnightwedid.”

• Moreprogramingtargetedattheelderly.

“Moreattentiontoissuesfacingtheelderly...Ithinktheneedsandinterestsoftheelderlyhavebeenshort[changed].IthinkMichaelgoestoCapitalLakesandOakwoodonceamonth.That’sfine.It’sbasicallyatalk,aninformaltalk.ButIthinkprogrammatically,aslongasI’vebeenhere,whichis35years,therehasbeenvirtuallynoattentiontothatpopulation.“

“Icouldn’tagreemore[referringtoindividualquotedabove].Ireallyseethelayministrywhereweenduptalkingabouteachindividualwithcertainneedsbutwenevertalkabouthowwebringfolkstogether.Canwehaveameetingthatisbroaderbased,likeasocialgroupforexample?Itwouldbegreatifwe[elderly]couldbemeetingothers,joiningtogether.“

“Wetalkedalongtimeinlayministryofhowtodomoreoutreachtopeoplewhocan’tgettochurchanymore[referencetoolder/elderly].”

• Havingmore,varied,anddeeperinteractionsthatarelessissueoriented.

“Therearen’tthatmanyopportunitiesifyou’rejustlookingtoconnectwithothers.Mosteveryoneisissueoriented.Ifthosedon’tappealtoyouforsomereason,youmaythink,’I’msogladthatFUSdoesthis,butitdoesn’tspeaktome.‘Thenwhatdoyoudo?Ithinkthat’saproblem.“

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“OneoftheeventsinmynormalweekthatisvaluableandprovidesasenseofcommunityistomeetWednesdaymorningsforcoffeewithagroupthatrangesfrom5to12peopleorso.Irelyonthatassortofasocialoutletatthatpoint.I’mwonderingwhethersomethinglikethatforpeoplewhereitwouldn’tbeatthechurch.Itwouldbeoutsideandrelativelyinformalandyou’renotexpectedtobethereallthetime.“

“Iwouldenjoymoredepth.I’vegonetoalotoftheadultpartiesandspentacoupleofnightsoveracoupleofweeks,maybeaSaturdayafternoonormaybeafullweekendataretreatorsomething.Tome,itseemslikesometimesitjustkindofskimstheverytopanddoesn’treallydrawmeintothedepthofit.”

“TheotherthingIhavethoughtaboutquiteagreatdealisacommongatheringtimeduringtheweek.IparticularlythinkaboutWednesdaynights.Iknowthattherearesomecultures,churchcultures,whodothat.There’sjustapotluckeveryWednesdaynightortheministermakesabigbowl,abighugethingofsoup.”

• Morepulpitexchanges

“Ithinkitwouldbeniceifwewouldhavemoreexchangeministerprogramsforthediversityofexperiences.“

• Morecongregation-widesocialjusticeandoutreachinitiativesandactivities

“IadmireallthethingsthathavebeendonewithMOSESandallofthoseactivities.Ijustwishitwasevenmore.”

“Exchangeswherewecouldgooutandaboutinamorefacilitatedwayratherthanhavingtodoit[outreachactivities]asindividuals.”

• Practicemorebalancebetween“head”and“heart”-livewhatwebelievevs.justtalkingaboutit.

“TheethosofFirstUnitarianhasalwaysbeenvery’head’andnotsomuch’heart’.Itcanbefrustratingbecauseyougetthesensethatwetalkagoodlinebuthowdowedolivingit?...Peoplewillgoonandonabouthowweneedtobemoregenerous...butwhenitcomesdowntosittingacrossthetablefromsomeoneandlettingthemhavehalfyoursandwich,youknow,that’sadifferentthing.“

“I’mtalkingagoodlineaboutIwanttoseedarkfacesinthecongregationbutamIpreparedforpeoplewhohaveadifferentstyleofworship?AmIpreparedtoacceptthemintheirtotalityasopposedtowantingtoacceptthemasadocumentationthatI’maliberalperson.”

“...whatIhateaboutthiscongregationisthat‘somebodyoughtto...wouldn’titbegreatifsomebody...’Butsomehowtofostermoreofapastoralspiritwithinthecongregation.I’mnotsureyoucaneverdoenoughtotakecareofeachother.”

“Doingthingsandagain,it’skindofmovingoutofthehead.Forme,themostvaluableconnectionsI’vemadehavebeentangential.BuildingbencheswithabunchofguysandkidsonAllWorkSunday.”

• RevitalizetheAlliance.“ThatleadsmetothinkabouttheWomen’sAlliancewhichisalltheoldladies.Andit’sopentomennow,youknow,afewcomebutnotmany.But,youknow,Ithinkitwouldhelpalotifwe

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couldhavepeoplesenttouswhoareolderpeople.It’sanybodyfrom,oh,probably60andup.NobodywantstobeoldsonobodywantstojointheAlliancebecausetheythinkit’sjustoldladies,whichitis,buteventuallyyougettothepointwhere,oh,IguessI’mold.I’m80now....Sowe’relookingforaninfusionofyoungerpeople.We’vesortofbeenshovedoffintothecornersomehow.Idon’tknowhowtomakeitsoundlikeagoodthingtodo.”

4. Inyourexperience,howhasyourinvolvementatFUScontributedtobuilding

deeperconnectionswithothermembers?Thefirstfivethemestellhowinterviewees’characterizedtheabilitytomakeconnectionswithotherFUSmembers,howinvolvementatFUScontributedtotheirownconnectionswithotherFUSmembersandwhatfactorscreateconnections.Thesixthandlastthemecharacterizesparticipationinneighborhoodgroupsandtheirleadership.

Q4Theme:SomeintervieweesviewFUSasacommunityinwhichmakingconnectionswithothermemberscanbechallenging,inpartduetochurchsizeandculture.

“IfeelIhavealotofsupportinmypersonallife.Ihavealotoffriendsandalotofneighbors.Ifeelverysupportedandconnected....Ifeltconnectedhere,butit’skindofamazingtomehowdisconnectedyoucouldfeelhere.”

“WhenwemovedtoMadison,theysaid,’Ohyou’regoingtohateFirstUnitarian,it’ssobig.You’llnevergetacquaintedandit’llbeawful.’SoitwasharderinthebeginningandIthinkwe’veofferedmoreopportunitiesbutIthinkwehavetocontinuetolookatthat.”

“Itisnotawelcomingchurch.Peopledon’treachout.Iagreewiththat.IwasthinkingwhenIpassedHighpointtheotherday,wondering...IthinkI’mgoingtogothereandseehowtheydoit.IthinktheydoitthroughmusicandtheydoitthroughlotsofbackpattingandwarmthandI’veheardthis.Peopleareincludedrightaway,butasGod’sfrozenpeople,wedon’tdothingslikethat.AndIthinkwehavealottolearn.Theyhaveadifferentstyle.”

“Yeah,Imean,theonlyotherperiodwhereyoureallyinteractwithoneanotherisbetweenservicesandthattendstobekindof...youknow,it’salittlebitofaglancing...wedon’treallyconnectthatmuch.”

“IfeellikeIworkhardatbeingasconnectedasIambutI’mnotasconnectedasI’dliketobe.IhadhopedthatIwouldmakemorelong-termconnectionsthroughQuestthanIdid.IfeellikemanyoftheconnectionsthatIhavetopeopleherearebecauseIammakinganefforttomakesurethattheyfeelconnectedasopposedtofeedingmyownneedforconnection.Soit’smorelikework.”

“Idohaveaneighborhoodgroup.Theytendtogatherattimesthatdon’tworkforourfamily.Theremaybesomethingabouthavingchildrenandhavingafulltimejob,youknow...I’matadifferenttimeofmyliferightnow,sowe’llsee.”

Q4Theme:MakingconnectionsmaybedifficultforFUSmemberswhoare“introverts”.

“Bothofusareextrovertsandwefind,IthinkIfinditveryeasytogetmyneedsmetbecauseIcantalktoanybodyandverbalizewhatIneed.Ithinkthatforpeoplewhoarenotextroverts,it’sverydifficulttomakethatconnectionandtoputthemselvesontheline.SoIthinkalotofitispersonalitytraits.Ifyou’reanintrovert,Idon’tknowhowyouengagethosepeople.”

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“Iagreewithyou[referringtoindividualquotedabove].IjustwanttothankyoutoobecauseI’mnotanextrovertandsoIthinktherearealotofpeoplewhoaren’textroverts.Sothatisanissue.I’mnotgoingtochargeoutinagroupofstrangersandsaythatIneedthis.Ineedmyneedsmet.That’snotgoingtohappen.ButIwasluckywhenIcameinbecausethelayministerwhohelpedmesignthebookkindofbecameafriend.Andshehelpedmeout.”

“Ithinkthatit’spersonalitydriven.Ithinkthatsomepeopleareaggressiveandtheydon’teithergooutandrattlearounduntiltheyfindsomethingthattheywantorcreateitthemselves.Alotofpeoplearen’tgoingto,arenotthatoutgoingsoit’skindoflikeyousaidbefore,youkindofneedanoutreachkindofgrouptoothatbasicallywantspeopletocometogreetthemandhelpthemtoconnect.Idon’tthinkthat’ssomethingthatoccurs.”

“WhenIneedsomething,Ireachout.MyexperiencehasbeenifIreachout,Icanusuallygetmyneedsmet.ButIdohearalotofcomplaintsaboutpeoplenotbeingabletodothat.Therefore,notfindinganiche.ButwhenIconfrontthosepeopleaboutthenichethattheywant,theydon’treallyknowwhatnicheitis.Youcanoffersomethingthatitseemslikeitmightworkandtheydon’tfollowthrough.ButIdoknowthatifyoufindanicheandyouhaveaneed,theansweristhere.I’venotfoundanythingthatI’velookedforthatIhaven’tfound.”

Q4Theme:ConnectionswithotherFUSmembers,forsomeinterviewees,aretheheartoftheirsociallives.

“Butit[FUS]isthecenterofoursociallifeaswellasourreligiouslife.Peopleweknowbestarethepeopleweknowhere.Soitcertainlyhasbeeneffectiveinmycase.”

“It’sactuallytheonlyplaceIhaveconnections.Whentheysay,’Inviteyourfriends’myfriendsallcomehere.”

Q4Theme:Connection-makingopportunitiesaremostlyinserviceofourselves.

“Youdon’twanttoreallygetinvolved,withthoseindividuals[incarcerated]particularly.Youdon’twanttogotothejailandhelppeoplegethealthinsuranceorwhatever.SoIfindthattendency,whetherit’sbookclubsorwhatever.There’salotofstuff.Buttheytendtobe,youknow,talkingtoourselves.Ourservicesareforourselves,notnecessarilytryingtohelppeopleinthelargercommunity.“

“Ithinktheotherthingformeiskindofinteresting.Mostoftheactivitiesareinternal.Inotherwords,we’rebenefitingourselves.OneofthethingsI’vealwaysbeeninterestedin...Howdoyouconnectwiththelargercommunityandhelp?”

Q4Theme:FactorscontributingtomakingmeaningfulconnectionsamongFUSmembersfallintofourcategories.

1. Workingwithothermembersonissues,programs,projects,and/ortasksofcommoninterests.

“Findinglike-mindedpeoplebygettinginvolvedinareasthatyoucaredeeplyabout....Workingwithnewpeopleandnewideasandgeneratingnewdirections,andfindingpeoplewhoareinterestedinthesamething.Idon’tthinkthatsomeonecomingtothischurchcanfindaspotunlesstheyfindanareathattheycaredeeplyaboutandmeetotherpeoplewhocaredeeplyaboutthesamearea.”

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“Onethingthatfosteredconnectionsformeisbeinginvolvedintaskorientedprojects,workingwithpeopletogetsomethingdoneandintheprocess,gettingtoknowthemandappreciatethem....Doingthingswithpeople,notjustcomingheretochurchandgoinghomebutdoingthings.Meetingthem.”“It’stheextracurricularactivities,ifyouwill,thatleadtothestrongconnections.”“Opportunitytodoone-on-oneconnectionsasalayminister.”“I’vebeenontheBoardandI’vegottenfairlyclosetoseveralBoardmembers,orgottentoknowthemtothepointwhereafterserviceI’llgravitatetosomeofthosepeople.“2. TeachingintheCREProgram.

“IknowIgetalmostasmuchoutofteachingtheCOAprogramastheteenagersdo.”

“IthappenedonareallydeeplevelwiththefirstCREcommitteethatIwasinvolvedin.Forsomereasonwestill,outsideofchurch,seeeachother.Idon’tknowwhatitwasaboutthatgroup.Wejustallconnected.”

“Ithinkformeteachinghasdefinitelybeenonewaytobuilddeeperconnectionswithothermembers.”

“IwouldsaythestrongestconnectionsthatIhavearethroughtheco-teachersinRE.”

“I’vebeenateacherandwe’vehadstrongfriendshipsmadewithpeoplewhohadkidsourkids’agesandhavethoseconnectionsyettoday40yearslater.”

3. Puttingyourselfout.

“TheotherthingthathasbeenfunformeoverthecourseofthelastseveralmonthsiswhenIhadfrontdoordutyandbasicallydecidedthatitwouldbeagoodideatoopenthedoorforpeoplewhentheyarrivedfortheservice.Ifoundthatthatwasalotofjustplainfuntoseepeopleandyou’dseethemonaregularbasis.”

“It'seasytothrowstonesfromtheoutsideandsaythereisnothingavailable.Sometimesyouhavetodipyourfootin.”

4. Smallgroups:Quest,choir,Chalicegroupsandneighborhoodgroups.

“Ithinkthesmallgroups,notnecessarilycommittees,butitcouldbeacommittee.Becausethecongregationissobig,it’sabouttheonlywaythatyoureallyconnectwithpeople.”“Iguessit’sthesmallgroupsthatonegetsinvolvedwith,whetherit’sthechorusorQuestoryouknow,aministrygroup,aministryteam.““FUShassuchgreatstrengthsintermsofitsprogramsandsoon,butsocially...it’snotthatit’sasocial.Theinteractionsinacongregationof100,whereyoucouldalmostsitdownandname80%ormoreofthepeoplethatyouseeonaSundaymorning,that’spowerful.It’safamily.Andthatcannotbetruehere.Socommitteesareperhapssocialgatheringsorwhateveryoucallthemafterwards.There’sacertainwaytodoitandcommitteeshelpthechurch.Committeesarenecessaryinachurchthissize.“

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“...tobepartofagrouplikethesocietychoir,justbeingapartofthatsomewhatsmallercommunityautomaticallymakesyouapartofagroupworkingtowardacommongoalwitharealnecessitydeepinconnectionbecauseyouarecontributingtotheservice.”

“Ijustrecently,thisyear,joinedoneofthechoirswhichhasfeltverywelcoming.There’saverygoodfeelaboutjoiningthechoirs.Butthere’salsothefeelingofclearlybeingthenewkidontheblock.There’sthataswell.SoI’llseeifthatprovidestheoutreachforpersonalconnectionotherthanwiththefolksthatIsitnexttoatchoir.”

“OnceItooktheplungeandgotinvolvedinQuest,Iwasextremelysurprisedastotheconnections,notonlyformyownpersonalgrowth,buttheconnectionswemadeinthatgroup.”

“Anditwasfuntomeetothereastsidersbecausetheeastside[neighborhood]groupcomprisedalloftheeastsideandMonona,onegroup.Wemetathomesandrestaurants.Wealternatedbetweenhomesandrestaurants.Itwasasmallenoughgroup,maybe10-12.That'sourpotlucksize.Youdon'twantmuchbigger.”

“Oneofthethingsthatwasinterestingaboutaneighborhoodgroupis[theywere]folksthatImightnothavemetotherwise.AndIlikedthatitwasanotherwayofgatheringtogetherthatwasn’tbasedonageortopic.”

“InourChalicegrouppeoplehaveactuallybroughtinadditionalpeoplethattheyhadasfriendsthatwesocializewith.WegotoalltheForwardTheatrePlays.Sotherearesixofus.FourofuswereintheChalicegroupandtwoarenewmembersoftheChalicegroupandwerefriendsbeforethat.”

Q4Theme:Participationinneighborhoodgroupsisfluidwithfrequentchangesinleaders.

“I’vebeenamemberofacoupleofneighborhoodgroupsandneitherwasreallyveryfunctional.I’vealsobeenamemberofapotluckgroupforabout20someyears.Itworksanditsspreadalloverandpeoplehavecomeandgone.There’snoleader.Anyonepersoncanlead....It’salmostaprobleminkeepingitsmallenoughsoadinnerconversationispractical.SoI’mnotsureneighborhoodgroupsisthewaytogo.”

"MyhusbandandIjustjoinedaneighborhoodgroupandit’squitelarge.It’sonthefarwestside.Onethoughtisthatit’stoobig,butsomehowI’vebeendelegatedtobeinchargeofit.AllIsaidwasmyhusbandandIcanhelpsetuptables.Allofasuddenitwasannouncedthatweweretakingitoverasournewduties.Butit’sfine.Sowe’llseehowthatplaysout.It’sapotluckandpeoplecometoacommunitycenteratoneofthecondos.”

“Ihavetriedthreedifferenttimestogetmyneighborhoodgrouptogel.”[talksabouteffortstoreorganizeandfocusgroupandsays]“Wemanagedtomeettwice.”

5. Whatchangesornewopportunitiesdoyoubelievewouldallowyoutobuilddeeperconnectionstoothermembers?ThefollowingthemesshowhowintervieweesviewconnectionamongmembersaswellastheirsuggestedchangesornewopportunitiesthatwouldallowdeeperconnectionsamongFUSmembers.

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Q5Theme:Make“reachingout”acommunity-widecommitment.Carefullyfollow-upwheninterestinvolunteeringorpersonalneedsareexpressed.

“IkindofseeFUSasa’reachin’organization.WhenIhavereachedin,Ihavefoundsomething,butIdon’tfeellikeit’sasmuchofa‘reachout’organizationasIwouldlikeittobe.”

“There’slikealittleinsulationforus.Wecancomein,gototheservice.Havecoffee.Sayhitoourfriendsandthenskedaddle.Andnotbeworseoffforit.Butifyouwantmore,it’sthere.Butyouhavetoreachin.Youhavetodothat.”

“It’salargeorganization,withlotsofpeople.ButIthinkitwouldbesimplejusttosaythattheministersorthestafforwhatevershouldreachoutmore.That’sprobablynotagoodsuggestion.Butit’smorecultural,Ithink.Sohowwouldtheorganizationandthelayaspectsofitinfuseintotheculture,reachingouttootherpeople,askingthemtocometoanevent.Ortojoinateamortoparticipateinsomeway.Ireallydothinkthatforme,that’simportant.”

“[Weneed]notjusta[communication]processbutanattitudeof,‘Gee,thatperson’sinterested!That’sgreat!Let’sgoaddthatpersonandconnectthem.’”

“[Iasked]howdoyoubecomealayminister?Andshereallydidn’tanswer.Iguessmyfeelingonthatkindofsituationwouldbeshewouldtakethatandgiveittosomebodywhowouldthencomebackandsay,‘Iunderstandthatyou’reinterestedinbecomingalayminister.We’dliketowelcomeyou.Whydon’tyoucomenextThursdaytothegroup?’“

“Wedon’tdoagoodjobofintegratingnewpeople,whojustshowup,weareveryfriendlywhentheyfirstdo.Jeannedoesawonderfuljobofsayinghellobutwedon’tseemtohaveastructureinplacetokeepfollowinguponthat.”

“I’mwonderingifthereisn’tabetterwayforpeopletogetthemselvesintothatfirststepoutofNewUUintosomethingorthatfirststepbeyondapproachingsomeonewithatealmug,becausesomepeoplejustwon’tapproach.”

Q5Theme:Bemore“welcoming”orpractice“radicalhospitality.”

“TherearedifferentculturesinchurchesandontheBoardwetalkedaboutradicalhospitalityandthereareamillionsolutionsthatareverysimple.Itjusttakes‘a’person,justoneperson,totaketheinitiativetodothat.”

“WhatIreallylikeisthetealmugs.Youknowhowintheannouncements,theysay,’Fornewcomers,lookforthepeoplewithtealmugsandthey’llbehappytotalktoyou.’Ithinkthat’sagreatsolutionforwhatI’mjustgoingtobringup.I’mnotsurehowwelcomingwearetonewcomers.Oreventopeoplewhohavebeenherealongtime.”

“Wemightbeontosomething.Ifeveryonegetsatealmugeveryonewouldbetalkingtoeveryone.Aretherethatmanytealmugsintheworld?Orweshouldturnitaround.Maybeeveryonewhoiscomingforthefirsttimeishandedatealmugandeveryonewhohasatealmug,grabthem.”

“Weworkedforyearsinlayministrytoestablishasenseofpresenceandwelcomingwhenwe’rethereaslayministers.Maybewecouldhaveabroadergroupofpeopledoingthatkindofthing.”

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Q5Theme:Helpmembersidentifytheirneedsandinterestswhileimprovingprocesses(includingwebsiteandsocialmedia)forinformingmembersofavailableprogramsandresources—thenlinkthetwo.

“Ithoughtofthis,beingfairlynewtothecongregation,IthinkmyhusbandandIjoinedtwoyearsago.Istilldon’tknowwhat’savailable.Irememberstumblingonsomethingsoiftherewasjustawaytomakethingsknownalittlemoreclearlythantheyare.IknowinourNewUUclass,Jeannedidagreatjoboftalkingaboutvariousopportunitieswhichledmetosignupforvariousthingsandgetinvolved.ThathashelpedbutI’mwondering...somethinglikeafollowuptotheUU.You’vebeenhereawhile.Let’sgettogetherandtalkaboutwhatopportunitiesareavailable.Myhusbandlikestosing,he’sprettygood,buthe’salwaysafraidofthechoirbecausehethoughtyouhadtotryoutandIsaid,‘no,no,no.’Thatkindofthing.Westumbleduponitsomaybesomethinglikethe’oldnewUU’.”

“Butcommunicationinthisplaceisverybad.Communicationwithin.Communicationwithingroups.There’snoonesortofcohesiveplaceororaclethatyoucangotootherthanJeanne,whoisprettyclose,whereyoucanactuallyfindoutwhereyouneedtogo.”

“Ifeelthatwearen’tutilizingsocialmediaenough.IgetupdatesonmyFacebookallthetimeandIchecktheblogallthetimeandIwonderifwe’renotutilizingthatforouryoungermembersasmuchaswecould,orevenemail.”

“I’mhopingthatthewebsitecanbeimproved.That’sabigdealforme.Maybeweshouldhaveawebsiteministryteam.”

Q5Theme:Improvethesocialgatheringspace.

“OnethingIpersonallyhavedifficultieswith...iswherewemeetafterservices.It’scrowded.It’sreallynoisy...Iwishtherewereagatheringplacethatisarealgatheringplace.“

“ThoughthecoffeeinournewspaceismuchimprovedovertheLoggia,itstillhasitschallengesasfarasbeingabletostandanddiscussandhaveinteractionsthatmightleadtosomethingdeeper.”

“I’mreallynotsurewhatthecoffeehourissupposedtobe.Itmayneedastrongstructureorsomekindofstructurelikeadiscussion.I’dloveadiscussiongroupofthemessagethatday.Somethingthatyoucouldhookto.”“Wemovedherewithoutknowingasoul.Butit’soverwhelmingifyoucomeinandyoudon’tknowanyoneinthecity.You’redefinitelynotgoingtoknowanyoneatFUS.Kindofthewaythat[thenewbuildingissetup]physically,itdoesn’tencourageparticipation.It’ssortofthislonghallway,peoplegetoutandthentheyleave.It’shardtofostercommunicationwithotherpeople.Inmyroleasbeingalayminister,Ihearthatfromotherstoo.”

Q5Theme:Increasethenumberand/orvisibilityofChalicegroupsandlayministers.

“TheotherthingistoexpandtheChalicegroups.Therearejusttoofewofthem.Ihearallthetime,‘HowdoIgetintoone?’Ourshasn’tbeenopeninyears.Wejustneedtohavemore.Weneedtohavemoreemphasisonthem.Becauseyou’llfindawaytothebiggerspaceifyoucan

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findyourwayintoalittlespace.Ithinkthat’swhatisreallymissingandthat’swhathelpedmefindmywayhereandIthinkitwouldhelpotherstoo.”“Therearesomanypeoplethatwouldbegreatatlayministry.That’sawonderfulwaytobringpeopleintotheinnerworkingsofthechurchaswellasgivingthemresponsibility.Sothat’sapossibleroute.”“IsortofunderstandChalicegroups,buttheyseemclosedandit'shardtoknowhowtoenterintooneofthosegroups.”

Q5Theme:Createanenvironmentwherepeoplecouldtellpersonalstories.

“Ithinkit’sgoodtoencouragepersonaltestimonieswithintheconversationsaboutrealistictopics.”“Creatinganenvironmentwhereit'soktoshareyourpersonalstory-it'sgoodforpeopletotelltheirstoriesaspeoplelearnaboutthemselvesandyoulearnaboutthembyhearingtheirstories.”

Q5Theme:CreateaMentorMatchProgramfornewmembers.

“IwasluckywhenIcameinbecausethelayministerwhohelpedmesignthebookkindofbecameafriend.Andshehelpedmeout.Wehaveteaonceamonth.Wetalk.Wehaveagoodrelationship.Itmakesmerealizeifwehadsomekindofamentorprogramwhereeverytimeanewpersoncamein,wecouldmatchthemupwithamember.Thatwouldbeareallygoodwaytodothat.”“OneofthethingsItriedinthelate90swasabuddysystemofvolunteering.TrytosetupalistofwhereeverybodyinFUSwhovolunteersinthecommunity,wheretheyvolunteer.Andtheniftheyvolunteersomewhere,let’ssaytheyvolunteeratalowincomeneighborhoodcommunitycenter.Wouldtheybewillingtoinviteanotherchurchmembertogowiththem?”

Q5Theme:Havea“connections/volunteerfair”annually.

“Wetalked,Ithink,atthatmeetingaboutavolunteerfair.Wehadtheminthepastwhereallthegroupsgottogether.Ifthewholeplacewaslinedupwithherearetheneighborhoodgroups,herearetheChalicegroups,thesocialjusticegroup.Theseareallthingsthatyoucanpartakein.Itwouldbesortofaninterestingevent.Ithinkthatwouldbesortoffun.”

Q5Theme:CreateopportunitiesforREparentgroupstointeract.

“We[teacherofCOA]doseeparentsstopcomingtoservicesaftertheirkidsgothroughComingofAge.SoIthoughtthatiftheygottoknoweachother,‘hey,that’swhyIwanttocome,Iwanttosee[aCOAfriend].’[Facilitator:Sothat’syourexperience.ThattheydropoutafterthekidscompletetheCOA?][Responsecontinues]Yes,that’swherethiscamefrom.’Nowthatmykidsaredone,there’snoneedtocomeanymoreandIdon’tfeelveryconnectedwithanyoneanyway.‘I’msurethatthat’strueofotherComingofAge[experiences].”

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“OneofthethingsthatIalwaysthoughtwouldbecoolistohavetheparentsofComingofAgehaveasimilarparallelprogramthroughthatyear.”

“Deepeningconnectionsbetweentheparentsaswe’regoingthroughthechildren’sREexperience.Classroomcoordinator,oneoftheirrolesistocoordinateacoupleofpotlucks,classpotlucks,whichIdon’tknowifthat’sstillhappening,butIthoughtthatwasareallygoodwaytofacilitatethat.”

Q5Theme:Havemoreshort-termopportunitiesand/oreventsfocusedon“fun.”

“Ithink[nameofanotherinterviewee]mentioneditearlier,justacafé.Awaytonotmakeayear-longcommitmentorasemesterlongcommitmentbutwe’redoingthisthing.Ienjoyedthedancesandstufflikethatwherewecometogetherandwe’renotcommittingtosomethingbutyoucanjusthavesomefun.”“Sojusthangingout.That’swhyIthinkaboutdoingsomethingonWednesdaynight,justatimetohangout.Saturdaypotlucks.Thehappydance.Whenthekidswerelittle,hangingoutontheplaygroundafterservice.”“Havingmoreshorttermopportunities.Justacoupleofweeksatatime,ifthatmakessense.Shortsothatthere’stheopportunitytogoandifyouwanttodomore,thenyoucan.Thatwouldbe,thatwouldbeusefulforme.”

Q5Theme:Understandthedeepmeaningofministryteams.“AsIthinkaboutit,Ithinkthatalsomeansreallypromulgatingthedeepmeaningofministryteams.It’sdifferentthanacommittee.It’sarealconnectionaroundaspecificissueorproblem.”

Q5Theme:CreateconnectionsbetweenSaturdayservicepeopleandSundayservicepeople.

“IhavebeenconcernedthatthereisverylittlecommunicationbetweentheSaturdayservicepeopleandtheSundayservicepeople.I’malwaystryingtofigureoutwaystoimprovethat.Ifeeltheyaretwoseparatecongregations.ItrytoalleviatetheproblemonSundaybyshowingupasalayministerattheendofthe9o’clockservicetosocializewiththosepeoplebeforethe11o’clockservice.ThathelpsmealittlebitpersonallybutIdon’tevergettoseetheSaturdayservicepeople.SoIwonderedifwecouldinstituteasortofbuddysystemwheretheSaturdaypeopleandtheSundaypeoplewouldbuddyupwithfamilies,one-on-one,kindofborrowingfrommyGirlScoutdaysprobably...whereyouadopt,kindofcousin-like,afamily,eachofyou,forayearorsomething.”

Q5Theme:FUSmembersdifferregardingneedsorpreferencesforconnectionswithothers,aswellasspecifictypesofconnectionstheyfindbeneficial.

“InitiallyIwasfeelingkindofburntout.IcamehereandthelastthingIwanttodoisgetinvolved.Ijustwanttostandbymyselfandlookatthecrowdanddonothingandjustshowupforservices.”

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“Andit’salsolike,eventhoughIsaidearlierhowdoweconnect?Howdowehelppeoplewhomaybewanttobemoreconnected?Ithinkthat’sstillsomethingtothinkabout,butatthesametime,wecan’tassumethateverybodywhowalksthroughthedoorwantstohaveallthesethings.”

"Well,IanswerthesecautiouslyasIdidotherquestions,allbecauseit’smoreaboutme.It’snotaboutthechurch.I’mnotthebestcandidateforengaginganddeepeningrelationshipsbecauseIcanbecordial,socialbutI’mnotnecessarilylookingfororavailablefor...deepeningrelationships.Thatcouldshiftovertime.”

“Idonotparticularlylikecabaret.WhenIcometocabaret,Ifeellonely.Ifeeloutofit.Ifrequentlyleaveintears,soIjustdon’tgoanymore.That’snottosayit’snotagoodthingbut“selecttoconnect”isalotlesspressure.”

“Surprisingbut...despiteallthepeopleIknowwhohavedied,Ineverneededsupport.AtOakwood,whenyougoawayforawhileandyoucomeback,youdon’task’whathappened?’Youask,’Whodied?’It’sok.That’spartoflife.Afteradeathofafamilymemberwithlotsoftroubles,wesaid,’ThankGodhefoundpeace.’So...wedidnotneedsupport.”

6.HaveyouexperiencedsupportfromtheFUScommunityduringasignificantlifeevent?Ifso,pleaseshareoneexampleofthatsupport.Fourthemesemerged,abouthowintervieweesexperiencedsupportfromFUSduringasignificantlifeevent.

Q6Theme:Mostintervieweesstatedtheyreceivedmeaningfulsupportastheyfacedlifechangingeventssuchas:

Illness“I’vefeltreallysupported18yearsagowhenIhadacancerdiagnosis.Iannouncedoverintheoldauditoriumduringasharingofjoysandconcerns.Iwasjustoverwhelmed.Notjustthenbutthroughoutthetreatmentsandrecoverytime.Ifelthelped.”“Myhusbandgotacardwhenhehurthisarm.Peoplehavegoneoutoftheirwaytoreachouttousandwehaven’tbeenherethatlongasmembersofthecongregation.”“Iwashospitalizedandreceivedashawlfromshawlministry.Iappreciatedwhattheyprovideinthewayofhospitalityandsupport.”

Retirement

“Iamamazed…Igotacardformyretirement.“ BirthofaBaby

“Whenmydaughterwasborn,somepeoplefromFUSmadefoodforme”Death/Memorials

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“Thebigthing,ofcourse,waswhenmyhusbanddied.Theywere...youknow...tookcareofeverything.Verygood,Ithoughtthewaythelayministers,especially,hadhelpedwiththat.Followingupyearslater,notjusttodaybutallthewaythrough.Dan,themusic,everything.Everybodyisinthere.”“...anexampleofsupportwouldbeuponthedeathofmymotherandKaren’sinvolvementindevelopingaservicethatwasnotheldherebutelsewhere.Ifoundthattobeextremelyhelpfulandverywelldone.”“Ihaveattendedseveralmemorialserviceshereandtheyhaveallbeensomovingandwelldone.”“Irecentlyreceivedalotofsupportforthelossofmyauntandcousin.Justlittlethingslikenotesfromthestaff.”Weddings“Wehadtwoweddingsherewhichwerewonderful.Suchajoyousthingthat’shappened.”“Michaelwashelpfulinputtingtogethertheweddingwereallywanted.”Terminatingapregnancy“Iterminatedapregnancy...soIfilledoutthecardthattheyhaveusfilloutandIreachedoutthatIneededsomehelp.Soitconnectedmetoalayminister.Shewasverygood.ItwasthedayafterandIneededtotalktosomeonefromhere.Thentheyconnectedmewithaminster.”Severallifechangingevents”IthinkIhavetoomanytolistthem.Mymom’sdeath,[husband’s]death,theircontinuingdecline.Ifeltsupport.Mybrokenhip,cancer,I’vehadalotofhealthcareproblemsoverthelastfiveyears.Ihavethreeshawls.”

Q6Theme:Supportcamefromavarietyofsourcessuchas:

CalledMinistersandLayMinisters“Igotadivorcelawyerrecommendationfromalayministerwhenitjustbecameimpossible.ShowingupherethedayIfinallyfiled,IgotahugfromMichael.”“Theonethatsticksoutthemostinmymindiswhenoursonwaslessthanayearoldandhegotpneumonia.Hewasinthehospitalandwedidn’tknowwhatwasgoingtohappen.Michaelcametothehospitalandhecameanothertime.ThatwasactuallywhenTrinawasgoingthroughsomehealthissues...Imean,itjuststruckme...he’sgoingthroughstuffwithhisfamilyandyet,youknow,hewasabletocomeandgivesupportandjustbethere.Yeah,sothatwaswonderfulandthatonejuststayswithme.”

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“...whenmydaughterwashospitalized...Kellyvisitedherandmydaughterwaslike,whoa!InwalksKellyandit’sjustthisamazingvisit.Itjustwassosupportiveandsofabulous.““MichaelandKellyarewonderful.ItoldMichaelthatIthoughtheshouldletmegiveoneofthesetalksaboutgiving.Ididn’twanttotalkaboutwhatthingsIhavedonebutthingsthattouchedmyheart.Certainlyhisparticipationbothatthegravesiteservicesandatthememorialserviceswasoutstandingsupportforme.““SowhenIhadthissurgerytheyhelpedwithfoodandIgotacardfromtheministers.Iwaslike,oh,thatissocool.It’sjusttheselittlethings.AndIrememberIwasinthehospitalforatonsillectomyorsomethingandIgotacallfromoneofthelayministershere.”“Alayministerdidjustanamazingjobhandlingthememorialserviceformymother.“StaffMembers“IhonestlythinkpartofitisJeanne[Sears}becausepeopletalktoherandshe’sgotthislittlenotebookinherpocket.Shetakesitoutandwritesitdownandthenextweek,yougetacardinthemail.It’sunbelievable.She’slikealynchpin,kingpin,somekindofpin.Yeah,she’sreallyspecial.”“Ihadalotgoingon.Andso,yeah,Icouldcryjustthinkingaboutit.SoIwastalkingwithJanetSwansononedayand,youknow,shedidn’tknowallofthethings.Sheknewaboutthedivorcesoshewasveryhelpfulwithmyolderdaughter.Andjustagain...havingdistancebutpresence.Justbeautifully...andIsaid,’YouknowJanet?IthinkIneedtoreachout.Ineedsomehelp.’Soshewasgreat.Shesaid,‘Iwanttothinkaboutwhotoconnectyouwith.Iwanttogettherightpersonforyou.‘Andsoshethoughtaboutitandshegotbacktomeveryquicklyandconnectedmewithsomebodywhoisalayministerhereandthatpersonwasfabulous.”“MymotherarrangedwithEvaWright[formerAssistantMusicDirector]toholdasurprisebirthdaypartyformeatchoir.Ihadjustfiledfordivorce,lifewascomplicated,mymotherwasdoingchemotherapy,mydadhadbeendiagnosedwithcanceraswell...Ohthatwasanawfulyear...butitwassuchawonderfulsurprisetogetasurprisebirthdaypartyatchoir.““I’llgiveoneshortexample.I’moverintheER,tryingtoprotect[myhusband]fromfalling.Ifallandbreakmyhip.Someonehastoget[husband’s]carbackbecausehecan’tdrive.MycarisintheemergencyroomandHarry[retiredCommunicationDirector]comesandgetsthekeysfrommeandsomehowmanagestogetmycarbacktomyhouse,feedthecats,sothestaff,Imean,theyarealwayssupportive.“SmallGroupswithintheCongregation:Choir,QuestandChaliceGroups“Whenmyhusbanddied,Iwasamemberofthechoirandbasically,theyweremyfamily.”“Therewassomeoneinthechoirthatwasveryactiveinthechurchwhodiedrecentlyfromcancer.Therewasalotofsupport.”

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“IwasdiagnosedwithcancerabouthalfwaythroughQuest.Myintegrationgroupwasgreat.”“Wellforme,itwaswhenmyhusbanddied.Andthenhavingbeenacaregiverforalongtime,thenhedied,sointhelevelsofwhowasthemostsupportiveandwhowastheleastsupportive?MyChalicegroupwasthemostsupportive.Theywerejustawesome.Andevenatthememorialservice,Ihad,becausewelivedallovertheplace,Ihadmyfriendssendletters.SodifferentmembersofmyChalicegroupreadlettersaboutusatthememorialservice.Hugelyinvolved.Idon’tknowhowIwouldhavegottenthrough.”FUSMembers

“Ihadaveryunexpectedoperationtoo.Itleftmeinthehospitalacrossthestreet,twodifferenttimes,foratotalof22days.Ihadlotsofvisitorssoitwasverynice.Othertimespeoplehavebroughtfoodallthewayouttoourhouse,severaltimes.”

“...theopportunitytosaysomething,sharingoursorrowsandpeoplecomeuptoyou.Sothere’sthatsenseof’you’renotalone’thatIthinkFUSisgoodatthat.”

Q6Theme:Membersreceivedsupportinraisingtheirchildren.

“Intermsofthecommunitysupportinaveryabstractway...raisingourkids.Wehavetwokidsandforabouttenyears,justabout,havingthatnetworkofparentsthatknewwhotheywereandwouldthenlookafterthem.”“ItwasinthemiddleoftheReaganyearsandIwantedmykidstoseethatliberalismwasn’tadiseasethatjustinfectedtheirparents.Iwantedthemtomeetelderlyliberalsandtoseethatthisisatrans-generationalspirit.“

Q6Theme:Afewintervieweesreportedtheydidnotreceivethesupporttheydesired.

“...therewasnoreachingout[afteradeathinthefamilyandamemorialservicethatwasconsideredlessthansatisfactory].Therewasnothing.Igotvirtuallynothingfromthechurch.SoIwon’tsayitwasanegativeresponsebutitwasanonresponse.Therewasnowarmth.”“ButIhavetosaythat...andIadoreMichael’ssermonsandIthinkheisawonderfulminster,butwhenItalkedtohim,[afteradeathinthefamily]hesaid,’Readthesesixbooks.Thiswillhelp.’Soit’skindof,youknowwhatImean.It’skindofmissingthatcompassion,thatpersonalwarmthandcompassion.ButIthinkinstitutionally,thatpartwasmissinginmyexperience.”

7.WhatchangesdoyoubelievewouldhelptheFUScommunitydoabetterjobofofferingsupport?Seventhemes,basedoninterviewees’responses,summarizesuggestedchangesthatwouldhelptheFUScommunitydoabetterjobofofferingsupport.

Q7Theme:Buildaculturewhereitisdesired/expectedthatyouwillaskforwhatyouneed,andthatrespectstheindividual’schoiceaboutreceivingsupport.

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“Ireallywanttotrytofigureouthowtomakesurethatourcommunityfosterstheabilitytoaskforhelp.Ithinkwesuckatthat.”“...didyouletsomeoneknow?Thecommunityasawhole,Ithink,needstoknowthattheyneedtocommunicatewiththecommunitysothattheirneedscanbeaddressed.Therearepeopletherethatcanaddressthem.”“...shortlyafterwefirststarted[layministry],wepublicizedthethingtodeathandourmajorproblemwashavingpeopletellustheycouldusesomesupportofsomesort.Weseemtohavetheideathatwekindoftakecareofourselves.Wedon’twantyoutoknowthatweneedsomething.Idon’tknowhowyouchangethatinthelargegroupbutIthinkthatstillprevailstosomeextent.”“People,Ithink,aresometimesreluctanttoaskforhelp.““Theabilitytoaskisasimportantashavingtheresourcestogive.”“I'mokaskingforcertainthings,butnotothers.”“IknowtherearealotofavenuesofsupporthereatFUS,butitwasapersonalchoicethatIdidn'tseeksupport.”"Whenmyhusbanddied,Ithought,youknow...Iwasjustinundatedwithpeoplewantingtocounselmeand’Don’tyouwanttojoinagriefgroup’andsoforth.ItwasthelastthingIwantedtodo.Thisiswhathappens....Leavemealone.I’mfine.”“Igotacallfromlayministry.TheywantedtocomeoverbutIfoughtthemoff.”“I’mstillkindofgoingthroughamindadjustmentintheworld,livingadifferentlifewiththedeathofmywife.IseeFUSbeingavailableandoffering.Youknow,it’sme,whenI’mavailable.”

Q7Theme:KeepthepracticeofsharingJoysandConcernsatservices.

“I’malwayssurprisedattheservicewhenwehavecaringandsupportand...JoysandConcerns.I’venevergottenup,butI’mjustamazedathowpeopleseemsupportedbystandingupthere.Ithinkitistrulyanimportantpartoftheministry.”“Ithinkweshouldbringthatback[morefrequentJoysandConcernsgivendirectlybyindividualsratherthanministersreadingthereportedevents]...Ithinkthatwouldintroducesomeemotionalitythatismissing.”

Q7Theme:Createaclearandaccessiblecommunicationprocesstoinformthecommunityofhospitalizations,illness,andneed.

“...withtheHIPPAthingwheretheycan’ttellyouanythingaboutanybody,youcan’tgetinformationaboutpeopleinthehospitalsanymore.Unlesssomeonetellsyouthatthere’ssomeonethere,thenyouneverknowthatthey’rethere.”

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“Soyoucansetupasysteminwhichyoucouldsaytopeople,ifyouwantthiskindofhelp,ifyouwantthiskindofrelieffilloutthisformanditwillfacilitateusifacrisiscomesup.”“Thereshouldbeonenumbertocalltoprovideinformationoraskaquestionnomatterwhatitis.”

Q7Theme:Recruitspecializedlayministersandmakethelayministryprogrammorevisible.

”Theremustbeatleasthalfadozenretiredsocialworkersatthischurchwhowanttogetinvolvedmore,ornursesormentalhealthcounselorswhowanttogetinvolved,whowanttomakeadifference.Thereisafocusforthelayministers.”

“IworkwithkidswithdisabilitiesandI’veoftenwishedtherewasawayinmyownchurchIcouldhelpfamiliesthathavekidswithdisabilities.Idon’tknowhowtoconnectthattothat...orifakidhadaserioushospitalization.Iworkwithalotofthosefamilies.I’matrainedsocialworker.I’dbehappytovolunteermytimetoanymemberofmycongregationwhoneededthatsupport.”“Ifanything,addmorelayministers.Theyseemtobetrainingthembeautifullyandtheyknowwhattodoandhowfartogo.Theydon’tpushtoohardbuttheypushenough.They’rejustthereandIthinkit’sbeautifullydone.Whoeverdoesthetrainingdoesagoodjob...orpicksgoodpeopleorsomething.”“Tomeitdoesn’tseemlikethelayministryiswellpublicized.Makeitmoreobviousthatthesepeoplewillhelpyouwithlotsofdifferentthings.It’snotsomethingIthinkaboutdoingwhenI’mintrouble.Thatmightbeuseful.”“Ithinkthelayministryisanotherthingthattomeisabitofanenigma.IthinkIknowacoupleofthem.Butintermsof,like,whoarethesepeople?Isthereatrainingthatgoesintothis?Whatistheirjob?”“Hasthereeverbeensomekindofeventoraservicewherethelayministerswereintroduced?”“Givelayministersaroleintheservicestohelpusbetterconnectwiththem.” “Layministersshouldbelistedonaseparatepageofthewebsite.”

Q7Theme:Createa“payitforward”optionforvolunteeringFUSmembersexpertise.

“Iwishtherewasawaythatyoucouldjustpopinwhentheneedisthere.Andthenconnectedtothatisforustohavea‘payitforward’processsoifyouhavebeentherecipientofsomesortofsupportorhelp,thatyouhaveawayofpayingitforwardorpayingitback.Idon’tthinkwehaveawayofdoingthat.Ithinksometimes,again,it’stoograndiose.‘Theonlywayyoucanhelpisbeingalayminister.‘Ithinkwehavesomefolksinourcommunitywhowouldliketopayback.”

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Q7Theme:Formaministryofelderstoelders.

“Ithinkoneoftheissuesisthatwehaveayoungministry.Kellyis40or42,whateversheis.Shehasyoungchildren.Michaelis64orwhatever.Ithinkthefocusonseniorissuesjustdoesn’toccursomuchbecausetheyarewheretheyareintheirlives.TheylookatFUSfromtheirperspectiveandthat’showtheyseeit.Ithinkthat’sanaturalwaythatitoccurs.IthinkthefactthatwelostKaren,thatwedon’thaveaministerthatisolder,thathasthatperspective,isaproblemforus.Thereshouldbeawaytogetspiritualelderswhoareinvolvedwheretheycanmaketheseconnections.Theymakehugecontributions.Frommyperspective,peoplewanttodothis.TheywanttomakethesekindsofcontributionsbutIdon’tthinkweprovideavehicleforthatbecauseIdon’tthinkthat’showwethink.”“Obviouslyduringthatphase[elderly]ofourlives,you’regoingtohavemajorillnessesanddeathsandsoforthwhichareuniquetothatgroupparticularly.I’mnotsayingitneverhappensbutgenerally,whenithappensmuchyounger,therewasalotofsupport.Idon’tnecessarilyseethesamethingwhensomeoneis85.Awomanwhowaspartofourgroupwhenwefirstcameintothechurchpassedawaykindofsurprisingly.HerhusbandhadjustpassedawaywhenshejoinedthechurchbutIdon’tthinkthesameconnectionwasthere.Ithinkthatwouldbeveryhelpfulforthechurchtothinkaboutmeetingthatgroup’s[elderly]needsandfiguringouthowtostructurethat.”

Q7Theme:Identifyorcreatemorewaysforlong-termsupport.

“Iseecrisisinterventionasbeingourstrongsuit.Longtermsupportismuchmoredifficulttomaintainasacommunity,eitherbecauseofresourcesorpeoplegetburnedout.SoIknowthere’sacaregiversgroupandthere’sagroupforpeoplewithchronichealthproblems.Allofushaveexpressedthatduringtheimmediatecrisiswegetalotofsupport.Whentheimmediatecrisisbecomessortofalongtermissue,isthereanywayaninstitutionlikethiscouldcontinuetosupportpeople?Idon’tknow.”

“CaringBridgewebsitethatweusedwithPatriciaLeonardiseemedtoworkforwhatwasthat,8-10months.”

8.HowdothechildrenandyouthofFUScontributetoyourexperienceasamember?SixthemesexpresshowchildrenandyouthofFUScontributetotheexperiencesoftheinterviewedFUSmembers.

Q8Theme:Childrencontributeenjoyment,enlivenment,hope,andenergyinthefollowingtwoways.

Viatheirpresenceatservices“IenjoywatchingthelittlechildrensingandIlovetheparadesatHalloween.”“Iabsolutelylovethefactthatthechildrenareintheservice.Ilovethechildren’smessages.Iloveseeingthemgototheclasses.Iloveanyamountofchaostheybring,whichisn’tmuch.”“Childrenandtheyouthmaketheeventsinthecommunitymorealive.”

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“I’mhappytosayIalwaysmakeanefforttocometotheComingofAgeservicebecausethattomeisabrightstarryeyedgroupofkids.ItgivesmehopethatwhatI’mseeingaroundmerightnowmightpossiblyimprovewiththesebrightstarryeyedkids.Ilovethem.”IthoroughlyenjoytheCOAservice-it'soneofthebestoftheyear.”“Idon’tcometo‘Comingofage’veryoftenorIhaven’tbecauseparentsarehere.ButIthinkthey[youth]addtothecommunityandthey’regoingtocarryonwhenwe’regone.““IfeelthattheinterplayoftheyouthandadulttimeintheservicesworkbetterherethanjustaboutanywhereelsethatI’vebeen.Ireallyfeelthatitenhancesourservicesanditenhancestheexperiencesofboththekidsandtheadultsinthecommunity.”“PersonallyitdoesmyheartgoodtoseethekidsintherebecauseIthinkatleastthey’rebeingexposedtosomeofourvaluesandtheSevenPrinciples.”“it’sathrillandablessing...toseetheweboflife.Toseethekidseveryweekandseethemgrowup.”“Heatherdeservestremendouspraise.Whenwejoined,mysonistonedeafbuthejoinedthechildren’schoirandHeatherisjustanangel.I’mjusttotallyamazedwithwhatHeatherhasbeenabletodoandtheimpactshehas.Thepositivememoriessheleavesinallthekids.”Byprovidingopportunitiesforinter-generationalengagementandasenseoffamily

“TheotherwayIdoengagewiththeolderkidsthat’sveryreinforcingandthatIenjoyiswhenthey’resellingmesomethinginthecommons.Soit’sentertaining,it’sfun.Yougettointeractwiththem.Theyfeelreallypositivebecausetheydon’thavetowalkpastmeinthecommonsand,youknow,howdoyoureadordoyouevenpayattentiontoolderpeople?Butwhenthey’resellingsomething,they’refocusedandthey’repositiveandtheirsmilingandenthusiastic.SoIcanbuycookiesorIcanbuythechaliceChristmasornament.”“It’sonlyoneclassandIdon’trememberwhichclassitis,IwanttosayCompassPoints,thatdoesthissurveyaboutwhathappensafteryoudie,withthecheckmarks.IwasreallygladwhenIsawthatstartingtohappen.Iwouldencouragemoreofthat,whereweseethemexploringtheirbeliefsandtheirthoughtsandtheirvalueswithothermembersofthecongregation.”“Ithinkthey’rethefuture.Ilovehavingtheirbrightlittleenergiesaroundpersonally.”"IlikealltheactivityonWednesdaynights.Themeetinghousechorus.Theadultchoirsingingforanhourandahalf.Andthenduringthattime,variouskids’choirscomeandgo.There’saparentholdingareainthecommons.Igrewupinabigchurchanditfeelsmorelikeafamilysetting.Whereyouhavepeoplecomingandgoing.It’sjustaverynicefamilyenvironment.”

Q8Theme:FUSmembersaregenerallypositiveabouthowchildrenparticipateinworshipservices.

“I’m78yearsoldandIlovetoseetheselittlekidscomeandlistentoMichael,justlovetoseethemcomein,interact,andIthoughtatthebeginning,someoftheolderpeoplewouldsay,’Oh,

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youknow,thosekidsaretalking...‘thisorthat.Ithinkthewaytheyhaveitstructurednowisreallygood.Theyarethereforawhileandthentheyleave.Ireallyenjoythem.”

“TheyareourfutureandIjustloveseeingthemandseeinghowcomfortabletheyare,beingapartofourcongregation.Evenwhentheydotheirsillyjoysandconcerns.That’sgreatthattheycanlearnatthisagethatthere’svalueinvoicingyourheartfeltthings.”

“Ilikethepresentformofthekidswhicharereallyinvisibleexceptforthestoryandthat’sfunforeverybody.Thentheyleave.I’mnotcomfortable,inparticular,withkidscomingoutduringshowandtellandsaying,’IgotanEasterbunny.’Thatdoes,Ithink,shutoffmoreseriousdiscussion.That’swhenIwouldnotliketohavekids.”

Q8Theme:ChildrenareakeyreasonthatmanymembersoriginallyjoinedFUSandweshouldworktoretainthesemembers.

“Kidsbeinginvolvedisthe’gatewaydrug‘tohavingpeoplejoin.”

“Idothinkthere’sachallenge,whichI’veraisedbeforeatBoardmeetingsofkeepingpeopleattachedtochurchaftertheirkidsgrowup.Ithinkthere’sanaturalfalloffofanawfullotofpeoplewhoareconnectedtothechurchbecausetheyhavetheirkidshereintheprogram.Thenthekidsageoutandtheparentsleave,don’tstayconnected.It’sabigissuethatI’veraised.I’vebeenconfirmedbypeopleontheBoardsaying’Yes,that’swhenwelosealotofpeople.’”

“...thekidsageout[oftheREprogram}andtheparentsleave,don’tstayconnected.Thereisaneedtomakeaspecialeffortastohowweconnectwiththosepeopleandkeepthemattachedtothechurchsowedon’tlosethem.““Youknow,definitelythat’s[children]whatgotmehereandthenthat’swhatIthinkhaskeptmehereforaslongandthen,youknow,thenextsteps,we’llsee.”“Well,whenwehadkidsinRE,Iwasmuchbetterinattendance.Yeah,right,becauseyougottobethere.Andwhenyoudon’thavetobethere,well,I’llgonextweek.Somyattendanceisn’twhatitwaswhentheywerehere.[Mykidswere]abigpartofwhyIwantedtojointhechurchwhenwemovedherebecausetheywerejustearlyelementary,tohavethembeapartofthat.Soit’sreallyhardformetokindofdelinkit.Eventhoughthey’renotinitanymore,I’mstillinterestedinteachingbecauseit’sjusttheoneareawhereIguessIhavebeenabletoconnectandreallygetsomethingoutofitotherthanjustformyself.”

Q8Theme:Thechildren’sREprogramisoneofFUS’strongestprogramsandishighlyregarded.

“Ithinkit’s[REprogram]oneofthestrongestprogramsatFirstUnitarianSociety,ifnotTHEstrongest.”“Ithinkit’sagreatprogram.Ilovetheircurriculum.AndIthinktheyreallydoagreatjobofmakingiteasyfortheteacherssoit’snotburdensometeamteachingandit’severyotherweek.I’vejustreallyenjoyedthataspectofit.”“They[children]arenotveryobviousexceptduringthestoryforallages.ButIthinkpracticallyeveryoneinthecongregationisveryawareoftheexcellenceoftheREprogram.”

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“Westartedherein1963,averylongtimeago.Bythetime,Idon’tknowhowoldthekidswere,middleschoolsomewhere,theydecidedtheydidn’twantanypartofthisanymore.Andmyhusbandreallydidn’teither.Soeverybodyquitgoingtochurch.SothatwentonuntilthekidswereoldenoughwhereIdidn’tfeellikeIhadtostayaroundandIthoughtIreallymisschoir,soI’mgoingtocomebackandjointhechoir.IgotoComingofAgeandIthink,ohIwishmykidshadstuckwithitandwouldhavebeengettingthis.Ihearwhatthey’relearningandIthink,oh,theydevelopedsomanyreallygoodprograms.Iwishthey’dbeenthroughit.”

Q8Theme:Childrencontributetoadultreflectionandspiritualgrowth.

“BothmykidswentallthewaythroughtheREprogramandItaughtseveraltimesandprobablywillagain.Youknow,justbeingapartofthat.Ithinkthat’sarealgreatpartofwhatthisorganizationdoes,andnotforthekidsbutI’vegottenalotoutofit,beingapartoftheprogram,boththroughthecurriculumandthenjustinteractionwiththekidsandtheotherteachersandtheREstaff.It’sdefinitelykindofhelpedmewrestlewithmyownterms,withthebiggerpictures,orthebiggerquestionsinlife.Ireallycan’tthinkofanotherenvironmentthatwouldfacilitatethat.”“I’mteachingthechildren’sREprogramandthathasaddedagreatdealtomyownexperienceasIindicatedbefore.”“OnceIdidgetinvolvedwiththeCOA,itwasdefinitelyagrowingperiodformyselfbecauseIhadtobepreparedtotrytofacilitateorhelptheteenagersintheCOAtotrytocomeupwithwhattheythoughtandwhattheirvalueswereandwhattheirspiritualgrowthwas.Tobeprepared,Ihadtofigureoutwhatminewas.It’sagoodwayformetoreviewthesamethingstheywerereviewing.Soinessencethat’swhattheyouthhasbroughttome,aself-re-evaluation.”“Teachingthesexualitycoursewasahugeblessingtome.Asaparent,tobewithagroupofteenagersandfeelabsolutelynoresponsibilityforwhattheysaid,tobefreedup.ThisissomethingIbettercrackdownon.Justletitgokids.It’syourtime.Thatwasagreatfreeingexperience.“

Q8Theme:YouthcontributetoFUS’socialjusticeinitiatives.

“Thatyouthgroup[teenagergroup]wasextremelyimportanttomy19yearold.Theydothepartnerdinnerandthey’reraisingmoneyforkids,astudent,inthePhilippinesandforourpartnerchurch.Andthatisalldonebythekidsandthatissuchagreattime.It’ssoprofessionallydone.Thekidsgetsomuchoutofdoingit.Iwishthecongregationcouldseethathappenmore.Andalsothattheyouthgroup,likeKellywassayingtoday,howtheywanttofixeverything.Theyhearabouthomelessnessandtheywanttodosomethingaboutitrightthen.SoIthinkweasacongregationcouldhearalotmorefromtheyouthgroupintermsofwhatthey’redoingbecausetheyaredoingsomeprettycoolstuff.”

9.WhatchangesinthewayourchildrenandyouthparticipateintheFUScommunitymightenhancetheexperiencesofourmembers,theyouth,orboth?

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EightthemesexpresssuggestedchangesinthewaychildrenandyouthparticipateintheFUScommunitysotheexperiencesofmembers,theyouth,orbothmightbeenhanced.

Q9Theme:Createmoreopportunitiesforinteractionbetweenthegenerations.

“Wecouldhavealotmoreopportunitiesforinteractionsoftheoldstersandtheyoungstersnotinworshipbutforexample,wecouldhavetalentshowsanddramaclub.Agamenight,thingslikethatjusttobringfamiliesandkidsandoldsterstogether.”“Well,inmypreviouschurch,theonethathadachoirdirectoralsolikedtheatersoshejustspontaneouslyhadusdoaplaywith52parts.Sheinvitedpeopleofallagestodoit.Itwasquiteamarvelousexperience.Wespentseveralmonthspreparingit.Itwasgreatfun.”“IwasthinkingofsortofafostergrandparentsortofprogramwhereafamilythatshowsupatFirstUnitarianSocietyandhemightbeasked,’wouldyouliketobematchedwithsomebodyinyourgeneralgeographicareawhohasbeenherelonger?’’’“Idothinkthatkindofintergenerationalthingswouldbereallyhelpful,too,fortheyoung,especiallyforpeoplewhodon’treallyknowwhattheREprogramisaboutorhaven’thadmuchexposurewithit.Ithinkitwouldbegoodforthekidstoo.”“Moreopportunitiesfor,Idon’tknow,thekidstokindofgetengagedinmembership.Iknowoneoftheclasses,Ithinkit’sCompassPoints,thatdoesthissurveyandCOAinvolveselders.Ithinktheyreallyenjoythat.Ithinkthat’sgoodforthecongregationtoo.”“...moreofthosesocialeventsthatarespecificallygearedfortheentirefamily.”

Q9Theme:CreatemoreopportunitiesforFUSteensandyoungadultstointeractandconnect.

“Therearealotofyoungadultgroupsandyouthchurchesaroundthecountrywhodosomethinglikea‘soulfulsundown’ora‘wonderfulWednesday.’That’samuchmoreparticipatoryservice.““...moreopportunitiesforthekidstoconnectoutsideof,youknow,twohourseverySundayorSaturday.” “IdefinitelywouldthinkitwouldenhanceourcommunityifwewereabletokeeporencouragemoreoftheyoungpeoplewhoaredonewithComingofAgetoattendservice,tobecomeapartofthecommunity,tobecomeinterestedincontinuinginthecommunity,whetheritisthroughsocialjusticeorthroughsomethingthattheyareinterestedinthroughtheyouthgroup.”“Idothinkthatonethingthatislackingisastrongtraditionofayouthgroupafterclassesend.Couldtherebesometransitionbetweenyouthgroupandcampusministry?”

Q9Theme:Moreinvolvementofchildrenandyouthinworshipservices.

“Iliketheideaofhavingthekidsinvolved.Eveninourtraditionalservice,whycan’ttheydoareading?“

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“Involvingchildren,probablyteenagersatleast,intheafterserviceevents.Like,letthemmakeandservethecoffee.Letthembeinvolved.”“Iwouldstillliketoseethekidsinvolvedevenmoreintheservices.”“Isthereanothertimeoftheyearwhenyoungerchildrencouldperformonelittlepartoftheservicesothattheyfeel,numberone,apartoftheserviceandnumbertwo,wegettoseetheminvolvedintheservice?”

Q9Theme:Bemorewelcomingtochildrenduringservices.

“Idonotlikeourstandardintroductiontotheservice.AndthesamewordsaresaideverysingleSundayandI’mreallyboredwithit.AndIparticularlyresentwhen...‘Takethatkidthat’smakingallthatnoiseoutofthissacredspace.‘Well,thatkidisthesacredspace.”“AndIthinkwe’vedoneitsomewhatunderKelly’sministryandparticularlywhatcameoutofhersabbaticalandlookingatthisasamultigenerationalcongregation...havingahighercomfortlevelwithchildrenbeingaroundus.IstillthinkthatissomethingthatmakesmefeellikeIcangetmoreoutofbeinginthecommunity.Mykidsareoldernow,butthat’ssomethingIwouldlikeusto...Iwouldliketoseeasacongregationbecauseit’snotjustthatwewantkidsarounduswhoarewellbehaved,sittingontheground.Butthatwe’reokifthekidsaretalkingandwe’reokifkidsareparticipating.”

Q9Theme:MakeREprogrammoreintegratedintothelifeofthecongregation,morevisibletoallFUSmembersandremindmembersthatteachingisagrowthopportunity.

“YoucancomeandgoonaSundaymorningandhavenoideathatthereareover500kidsenrolled.Idon’tknowwhatthesolutionisbutIwouldlikeittobemorephysicallyvisiblethatthiseducationprogramishappeningeveryweek.Evenjustfinancially.Ihaven’tbeeninvolvedenoughinthecommitteesofthechurchtoknowhowthebudgetisstructured,butit’sremarkabletomethatwe’restrugglingwhenwe’reofferingwonderfulreligiouseducationprogramsforseveralhundredfamilies.IthinkthereisalotofdisconnectionthereandIdon’thavesolutions.ButIwouldlikethingstobesomehowmoreintegrated.”“BothmyhusbandandIwereamazedatthenumberofvolunteerteacherstherewere.Whenwesawthatsheet,itjustblewmeaway.Itisahugeprogram.Wow.”

“ButIthinkit’salsohelpfultobedeliberateaboutinvitingadultswhodon’thavekidstoparticipateintheREprogram.ThatwasoneofthereasonsIwantedtoteachRE,theyearthatIdidthat.Itwasanopportunitytogettoknowabunchof14yearoldsandIdon’tnormallyinteractwith14yearolds.Itwasawonderfulexperience,itwasfascinating.Allinterestingpeople.”

Q9Theme:Usesocialmediamoreasawayofstayingconnectedtoouryouth.

“[mydaughter]hademailedKellyfromEcuadorthatshehadseenFacebookpostsabouttheUnitarianshirtsthattheywereselling.SothereasonI’mtellingthestoryisthatshefeelssoconnected,evenasfarawayasshewasthisyear,withKellyandwiththeyouthgroup.Sosocialmediaforsure,thatneedstocontinue.Socialmedia,becausethat’showshefoundoutaboutit.ShejustlookedatFacebook,soKellycontinuestofollowupafterkidsleaveandgotocollegeor

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wherever....MydaughterfeelsconnectedenoughtoKellytosay,’HeycanIgetoneoftheseT-shirts?’”

Q9Theme:Giveparentsof7th&8thgradeyouthinformationabouttheyouthgroup.

“...givingahead’supto7thand8thgradeparents,youknow,thatthere’sthisopportunityforyourkidsandalsotellingthekids,hey,there’ssomecoolthingsthatouryouthgroupisdoing...becauseIthinkin7thand8thgrade,they’relookinguptothehighschoolkids.”

10.Inyourexperience,howdoesMichaelcontributetoministryatFUS?TenthemessummarizetheviewsofinterviewedFUSmembersregardinghowSeniorMinisterMichaelSchulercontributestoministryatFUS.

Q10Theme:Michaelcontributesintellectualstimulationandsermonspeoplewanttohear.

“Ithinkhe’ssortofthetouchstone.Ithinkpeoplewhobelongtothechurch,theycometochurchbecauseofMichael...theintellectualstimulationthatMichaelbrings.““Hegivesveryintelligentsermonsthatmostpeoplewanttohear.Peopletendtoshowupmorewhenhe’satthepulpit.Ithinkthat’s...Idon’tknowwhatthatisbutIthinkit’sanauthoritything.”“Hemaybesets,whichishugelyimportant,thetoneofatleasttheSundayservicesandIthinktheSundayservicesarethebackboneofanycongregation.Thethoughtfulnessthatheprovides,intellectualstimulationheprovides.HesetsthetoneherewhichisratherdifferentthanotherUnitarianchurches.”“Ireallycommendhisthoughtfulnessandinsightsthatheregularlyandeloquentlyconveysduringtheservices.”“Heisasuperbintellect,greatknowledgeoftheBookofLiterature,thehumanities.”“Ithinkheattractsourintellectualcuriosity.”“Michaelisthebigdraw.Ithinkhebringspeoplein.”“He’ssuchagoodspeakerandsuchagoodcommunicator.”“Ifindhisreflectionsverythoughtprovoking.”“AlthoughMichaelcertainlysetstheintellectualemphasisofthecongregationtoday,thiswasfar,farmoretrueofMaxGaebler,[previousseniorminister].Maxgavereallychallengingsermons.Youhadtoactuallythinkduringtheservice.Well,MaxwaschosenbecausehereflectedtheHarvardDivinitySchoolforyears.MaxissomethingelseagainthatMichaelisn’t,shouldn’tanddoesn’tneedtobe.That’snotaproblem,butit’savery,verydifferentstyleandlevelofintellectualactivityitrequires.Michael’s[style]isquitedifferenttoo.”

Q10Theme:MichaelcontributesthroughhisdeepcaringaboutandinvolvementinFUS.

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“Heobviouslycaresabouttheplacealot.”“Heismultifaceted.Ican’tthinkofanythingthatgoesonherethatheisreallynotintouchwithorheavilyinvolvedin.”

“It’sveryimportanttohavethatpresencehereofwelcomefromthecongregation.OneofourfirstimpressionsofMichael,wewereverynewtothecongregation,someoneelsewaspreachingthatday.Michaelwasatthefrontdoorasaverycheerfulgreeter.WewereimpressedthathewaswillingtodosomethinglikethatonaSundaymorning,tojustbethereandsayhello.”

Q10Theme:MichaelhasdemonstratedgrowthduringhistimeatFUS.

“IhaveenjoyedwatchinghisgrowthandIdon’tthinkhewasaproponentofthechildren’sstory,themessageforallages,forstartersbuthe’sdoingsomuchbetterwithit.”“IntheyearsthatIhavebeenhere,Michaelhasdemonstratedforallofustosee,growth.Humangrowth,humanpotential,inasensesomevulnerability.Andsomeembracingofspiritualpractice.ThatsoundspatronizingwhenIwouldsay,‘watchinghisgrowth,’butithasreallybeeninspiringtoseethechangesthatsomeonewiththatmuchresponsibilityandeverythingthat’shappened,continuetogrow,youknow,thathelps.”

“IalwaysappreciatedhisintellectualismbutsometimesIgotoserviceandsay,’There’smorespiritualismthatIneededtodayandIdidn’tgetitbecauseitwastoointellectual.’AndIfeellikeoverthepastfewyears,that’schanged,thewaythathisreflectionsare.Idon’tthinkit’smechanging.Ithinkthat,Ifeellikethere’samore...well,he’salwaysbeenhuman.He’salwaysbeengreatthatway,buthe’smoreaccessible.Ifeellikethere’sspiritualandintellectualismbeingblendedmorethanitwasinthepast.”

Q10Theme:Michaelmodelsspiritualpracticeandgrowth.

“Hemodelsspiritualpracticeandteachesthat.”“Ifeellikehe'smyspiritualguide.”

Q10Theme:MichaelcontributesleadershipinthecongregationandthewiderMadisoncommunity.

“...leadership,sometimes,behindthescenesandsometimesinthesceneofthevariouscommitteesheworkswith.Hedemonstratesleadershipandfostersthegrowthofleadershipamongvolunteers.”“...communityleadership,boththathespeaksatOakwoodandCapitalLakesonoccasionandthatheisinvolvedinvarioussocialjusticethings,[suchas]signingtheletterabouttreatingMuslimsinourcommunitywithcompassion.”“Idoagree[heisa]verycentralpresenceasaleaderandjustbecauseofthatfact,I’vebeenveryimpressedwhenIseeMichaelinsupportiveroleswherehe’satevents,doesaverydeliberateintroduction,beingthereastheseniorminister,andthenstepsbacktolettheeventunfold.Ithinkthatcanbeveryimportant,especiallywhenyouhaveacommunityeventwhere

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allkindsoffolksarepresent.It’sveryimportanttohavethatpresencehereofwelcomefromthecongregation.”“AndI,ofcourse,alsoverymuchappreciatehisinitiativeandhisstatusinourbroadercommunity.Hehasavoicereflectingboththefaithcommunity,thisfaithcommunity,butalsobeyondthat.Beingabletocontributetoconversationsonissuesofthedaythatwe’reallconfrontedwithandconfrontingasalargercommunityofpeople.SoIappreciatethat.””HehasbeenreachingouttotheoldergenerationsbycomingtoOakwoodandCapitalLakes.Wemeetonceamonth.We’veendedupwithbringinginpeoplewhoarenotUnitarianswhohearaboutitandcome.SoIthinkhe’sdoneareallygoodjobatthat.”“IthinkMichaelisremarkableinthevariousroleshehasbeenaskedtoplay.”

Q10Theme:Michaelchallengesustostriveforexcellenceinarespectfulandsupportivemanner.

“...it’sneattowatchhowhecomestoappreciatethedifferentinterns.He’snot,’well,youhavetodoitmyway.’He’sbeingverycarefultosay,’Youcandoityourwaybutlet’stalkaboutmakingitmoreeffective‘.““Iappreciatethathechallengesusbutinarespectfulway.Likehemightgiveanexampleofabeliefhehasorawayoflivingbutit’snotsomethingyou’dgo,’OhGod,I’dnevereverdothat.That’stoohard.’Maybeitishard,butit’snotanexamplethatistomakepeoplefeelbadlyaboutthefactthatthey’renotdoingthat.”“He’sgotacurioussideandhe’sopentoexperimentingwiththings.”“Ifindthathe’snotonlyanintellectthatengagesmebutIactuallythinkhe’saprettywarmguy.Ilikethewayhespeaksfromhisownexperiencesaswell,whetherit’saboutapproachingretirementorasaparentorwhatever.“

Q10Theme:Michaelprovidesanopendoortojusttalkorexpressconcerns.

“IfI’mworriedaboutsomethingorconcerned,Iknowthathehasanopendoor.I’vetalkedtohimaboutpersonalstufforissues,butI’vealsotalkedtohimaboutorganizationalsystemstuff.He’sjustopen...“

Q10Theme:MichaelcontributesinstitutionalmemorytocurrentissuesfacingFUS.

“...ontheBoarditbecameveryclearthathisinstitutionalmemoryandtenurenow[isimportant].Beinghereover25yearsisveryimportant.Thatwon’tbeanassetinanotherfewyearswhenhe’sgone.”

“[AtAlliancemeetings]oranyissuethatcomesup,heimmediatelycanaddsomehistoricalcontextandperspectivetohelprelatetoitandtoseewhetherorhowitisanissueweshouldbepayingattentionto.”

“IseeMichaelasmoreofanadministrativedecisionmakerwiththeexperience.”

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“Ithinkhehasbeenextremelygoodbecausehe’sbeenhereforsolongsothere’salevelofcontinuity.”

Q10Theme:Michaelmakesthingsfun.

“Ihavetakenhismovieadultedthingandthatwasgreatfun.Itwasnicetoseehiminadifferentsetting.”“I’mjustthinkingbacktoourlastQuestretreat,whereMichaelwaspresent.HescaredmehalftodeathbecausewewereinadormitorysituationandIcameoutofmyroomandthismandressedallinblackwithablackskullcapon,cameoutofhisroomattheend.AndIthought,’Ohmygoodness.Isthereaninjapresentduringthistime?’Ididadoubletake.Yeah,hewasgreatatthatbecausehejustbecamepartofourgroup.Itwassuchfuntotalktohim.He’sstillverystimulatingbuthewasveryhumanindifferentsettingsthatwewereexperiencingwithhim.Itwasadifferentsideofhim.”

Q10Theme:AfewintervieweesweredissatisfiedwithMichael’spastoralcarestyle.

“Ithinkhehasveryinterestingviewsonthingsbutheisnotawarmperson.WhenIwasinsomuchpainanddistress,Icouldhaveusedjustahugfromaministerorsomethingandhecan’tprovidethatbecausethat’snotthewayheis,constitutionally.Irespecthimforthewayheisbutthat’smissing.Ithinkit’smissinghereotherwise.”

“I’veknownMichaelfor35years.WewereherebeforeMichaelcame,sowe’veknownhimaverylongtime.IthinkthatMichaelisaverysmartman.Ithinkheisgettingwisereveryyear.Iagreewithhisattitudesandhisviewpointonprobablyeverything,butheisnotsomeonethat...letmesaythisinapositiveway...ifIhadaproblem,Iwouldnotcometohim.IthinkMichaeldoeswhathedoesbrilliantlybutit’sasmallpartIwouldsay,intheroleofministry.”

11.Inyourexperience,howdoesKellycontributetoministryatFUS?EleventhemessummarizetheviewsofinterviewedFUSmembersregardinghowCommunityLifeMinisterKellyCrockercontributestoministryatFUS.Q11Theme:Kellycontributesjoy,energy,welcome,andenthusiasmtotheministryatFUS.

“Theoutgoingpersonalityshebrings.Shehelpstolivenuptheplace.Ilikethepersonalapproachtothesermonherenergy,herenthusiasm.Well,andherenergyenergizesthewholereligiouseducationprogramtoo.Sheisthesourceofenergyatthecenterofthatbutkindofradiatesout,Ithink,througheveryoneinvolved.”“Iloveherstories.Iloveherwarmth.Iloveherenergy.”“Kelly,Ithinkshemustknoweverybody’snameinthecongregation.It’samazing.”

“...she’salwaysfriendlytoeverybody.She’salwaysverywelcoming.”

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Q11Theme:Kelly’ssermonsarerelatable,warm,joyfulandtheyarethecenteroftheworshipservice.

“Kellyhasthepreachingchopsandtheheartandthejoy.Iguessthat’swhatIlove,shealwaysconveysthatthereisnoplaceintheworldshewouldratherbethanwheresheis.”“Ithinkshehasbecomeaspectacularministeratthepulpit.““Shehasagreatdealofwarmth.ShealwaystellsstoriesinordertomakehersermonworkandIappreciatethatalot.Shedoesthatverywell.I’mjusthearingafamilystoryanditbecomesthesermon.Itworksverywellforme.”

“Kellyalwaysprovidesasermonwithspiritualmeaningtoitandit’salwaysjustvery,veryprofessionallydone,verycarefullydone.Idon’tthinkI’veeverbeentoaservicewherethesermonwasn’treallytheglueandcenterofthingsfortheworshipservice.”

“Ispecificallyremembergoingtoserviceswheresheispreaching.Herdrawingfromherowndaytodayexperienceswithherfamily,Ireallylikethat.“

Q11Theme:KellycontributestotheministrybydrawingnewmemberstoFUSandcreatingconnectionstoyouthandfamilies.

“IthinkshedefinitelyhasaverycloseconnectionwiththeyouthandmakessurethattheREprogramsarewellrunandtakencareof.“ “Shehasbeenadrawfornewmemberswhohadfamiliesthemselves.Thosetwopagesshewriteseverymonthareveryconstructiveforthem.““Sheprovidesuswithexamplesofhowtobringupafamily.”“She’sdoingawonderfuljobwiththekids.She’sgreatandit’sessentialforthechurch.Halfofthepeopleinchurch–500children.”“HerpagesintheMonthlyUnitarianarevaluable.”

Q11Theme:Kellycontributesasenseofrealpresencewhentalkingwithothers.

“Ithinkthefocusofherreflection,thefocusofthereflectionsonbeingpresent,whichwehearalotabout.Butitwassomethingaboutthewaysheapproacheditandthewayshewasrespondingtopeoplefollowingit,mademeappreciatethatshedoesabetterjobthanmostpeopleIknowofbeingpresentinaninteractionwithanotherperson.“

“She’sgotsomuchofapresenceandIthinkshe’sdoingagreatjob.Ilikehertakeonthingsandthewaysheapproachesthings.”

Q11Theme:Kellyprovidesguidancethatkidsrelateto.

“Mykidsfeelveryconnectedtoher.Sheknowshowtoguidekidswithoutbeingintheirface.Sosheknowshowtostepinandstepbackandkindofbeattherightplaceattherighttime.”

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“Shehasawonderfullystrongvoice.ShewouldcomewhenItaughtreligiouseducationclassesacoupleofyearsago.Shewouldjustsaysomethingandthekidswouldjust[payattention]becauseshe’sgotthosevocalcordsthatresonate.Itgetspeople’sattention.”“IthinkKellydoesawonderfuljobwiththeyouth.”

Q11Theme:Kellycontributestothecongregationbyallowingherselftobevulnerable.

“Sheallowsherselftobevulnerable,whichissomethingwehavetroublewithasacongregation.Sheallowsherselftobevulnerableinawaythatisnottoovulnerable.Youdon’tfeellikeyouhavetotakecareofherwhichwouldbekindofovertheedge.Sheallowsherselftobevulnerable.Ithinkthat’sjustawonderfulcontributionfromhertothecongregation.““Kellyiscertainlymuchmoreoutgoingandveryself-deprecatingwhichencouragespeopletoidentifywithher.She’sjustoutthereandtalksaboutherkidslike...well,justlikethey’repartofabigfamily.It’sgreat.”

Q11Theme:KellycontributestoministryatFUSbybeinganopen-mindedteamplayer.

“Ithinkshe’sateamplayer.Shewelcomesinput”Q11Theme:KellyhasshowngrowthandcontributessignificantleadershipandopennesstoadiversityofideaswithintheFUScommunity.

“IwatchedKellygrowovertheyears.Ithasbeenincredible.I’veseenhertakearealleadershiproleinmanyareas,thereligiouseducationbutalsowiththeQuestprogram,withtheministry.”

“Hersermonshavegottenbetterandmorein-depth.”“Kellyhasgrowninherdeliveryofherreflections.”“Shejuststeppedintoourlayministryandhelped-moreorganized,thingswrittendown.”“Kellybringstothecongregationtheabilitytolookatpaganism,tobreakoutofastricthumanisttradition.“

Q11Theme:Kellyisapproachableformembersexperiencingissues.

“IseeKellyasbeingapproachableifyouarehavinganissue.”

Q11Theme:KellyandMichaelareseentohavecomplementaryskillsandtogetherprovideFUSwithbalancedministry.

“IseeMichaelasintheleadershipposition.Ithinkhe,forthewholecongregation,isthesenior,theleader,the,youknow,finalsayerofallthings.Idon’tknowifheis,butthat’showIkindofseehim.IseeKellyasthecommunitybuilder.Hersermonstendtobemorereal,day-to-daystoriesthatIcanrelatetomore.WhereasMichael’saremorefocusingonthemindandintellectual.That’showIthinkofthetwoofthem.”

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“MichaelgivestheintellectualfocustotheworshipservicesandKellygivesthewarmthandthesparkandholdingusalltogetherkindofthing.”“Ithinkit’sgreatthatwehavetwoministersandIthinkit’sgreatthattheyeachbringtheirownthingtoit.““I’mgladwehavemale/femaleasleadership.Ithinkthat’svery,veryimportantsobothgendersfeelrepresented.”“Theybalance.KellyhasthatfeelingoffamilyandMichaelhasthatintellect.Wow,whenwelosehim,we’regoingtoreallysuffer.”“HeisalittlebitmoredistantinpersonalrelationshipsthanKelly.KellyisthewarmhugpersonwhereasMichaelistheintellectual.Buttheybalanceeachother.SotheyneedeachotherandIthinkthestaffmustassign,whenacongreganthasaproblem,whetherit’sKellyorMichaelwhowillrespondtoacertainsituationorproblem.Whoisbettersuitedtoit.Theyhavetheirstrengthsandtheirweaknessespersonallyandprofessionally.”

Q11Theme:TwointervieweesexpressedconcernaboutKelly’scapacitytofulfilldemandsofherexpandedministrywhichnowincludeprogramsonceledbyAssociateMinisterKarenGustafson.

“IthinkKellydoesawonderfuljobwiththeyouth.Ithinkshe’sverygoodwiththatandshe’stakenonlayministry.Ithinkshe’stryingveryhardwiththat.Andsheisaveryupbeatperson,averyoutgoingperson.Ithink,andthisisnotherfault,shedoesnothavethecompassionwithageandwithexperienceandwithtragedy.She’snotthereyet.Thatdoesn’tmeanshewon’tbethere,butsheneedstimetodevelop.Andit’snotfair,Ithink,totrytohavehertakeontheseotherroleswhereshereallyisnotinaplacetodothat.Maybeshe’sawareofitandthatcan’tbeaveryhappyplacetobe.Ithastobeuncomfortable.SoIhavecompassionforher.”

“Ithinkshe’sawonderfulhumanbeingandIthinkshetries.She’sgivingitasmuchasshecangiveintermsofwheresheisherliferightnow,withlittlechildrenandalife.Ithinkwe’refortunatetohaveherbutwe’remissingtheheartrightnow.Ithinkit’sverydemandingalreadyandshedoesagreatjobwiththatbutIdon’tthinkthere’senoughenergytimeandprobablypositioningbecauselifepositioningisveryimportant,atleastthisgroup[thosebeinginterviewedwhoweremainlyseniorandolderFUSmembers]canrelatetoit.Youknow?Itchangesovertime,laterinlife,that’sall.”

“Butwe’restillmissingthatwarmfuzzymaternalbecauseKelly,sheistryingtotakeiton.Asaresult,whatI’mseeing,andIhavetoprefacethiswiththefactthatIcomefromaministerialfamily.SoIknowhowministersworkbehindthescenesandwhatthey’recalledontodo.ShehasallthestuffthatKarentookon.She’sbeingdumpedon.Andshe’stryingtodoitandshecan’t.There’snotenoughofhertodoit.Andshe’sdoingtheREstuff.Theyneedhelpwiththeday-to-daydemands,ismyassessment.Thereisthatsortofmissinghole.”

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12.WhatrecommendationsdoyouhaveregardingMichael’sandKelly’sministryatFUS?FourthemesstateorimplyrecommendationsregardingMichael’sandKelly’sministryatFUS.Fiveadditionalthemesmakerecommendationsforthecongregation.

RECOMMENDATIONSREGARDINGMICHAELANDKELLY

Q12Theme:RecommendationswerestatedorimpliedregardingMichaelonthefollowing:

• Hisdemeanor:Moreapproachable“IknowtherearesomepeoplewhothinkMichaelisveryapproachable.IguessIdon’tseethat.”

• Wishesforhappinessandmorefun“Iwishheseemedhappier.”“IwishMichaelcouldhavemorefun.”

• Moreself-revelationsinsermons“IhaveonewishandIguessIcouldmakeitasarecommendation.InalltheyearsthatMichaelhasbeenhere,Idon’thavethesenseofreallyknowinghimdeeply.Iwouldlikemoreself-revelationinhissermons.”“Sermonsarealreadylessintellectualwithmorepersonalrevelations.Hedoesdomorerevelations,personalrevelationsthanheusedto.Imean,he’snowherenearKelly’slevel.”

• Hisworkloadorresponsibilities:“overworked”

“MysenseisthatMichaelisoverworked.Hedoestoomuch.”• Delivering“Children’sMessages”duringservices:morechildcentered

“Michaelshouldtrytotailorhis’children'smessages‘moretothechildren.”

“Michaelhasaseriousdeficiencyinpresentingthechildren’smessage.Itjustneedstobefixed.Wereallycan’tkeepgoingonwiththat.SomeofthetalksareactuallynotokforkidsandIthinkitcomesfromaninterestinimpartinglessonsandstuff,buttheydon’twork.Andtherehavebeenacoupleoftimeswhereitwasnotgoodforachildtohear.”

• Usefewerwordsduringguidedmeditation

IwouldlikeMichaeltouselesswordswhenhedoestheguidedmeditation.Imean,allofhiswordsarewonderfulwords,butIjustgetlostiftherearetoomanywords.

• HisroleintheMadisoncommunity:maybealargerone

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“Iwonderifthereisn'talargerroleforMichaelinworkingwithoutsidecommunityorganizations.”

Q12Theme:RecommendationswerestatedorimpliedregardingKellyonthefollowing:

• Keepgrowingbecausesheisverycapableandeducated

“Sheprobablyneedstokeeppushingherselfandpushingtheboundariesofwhatshecandobecauseshe’saverycapableandeducatedpersonthatcouldprobablydoawholelotmorethanshethinks.”

• Watchforburnout

I’mconcernedthatKellybringstirelessnesstothecongregationthatcouldburnherout.”

"WellKellyhasalotonherplateandshereallydidn’tstartouttobeapreachingminister.Thatwasn’theroriginalposition.Sothisisatimeoftransitionforher.Atthesametime,she’stheministerforQuestwhichisatremendousamountonherplate.”

“It'sokaytositsometimes-sheshouldknowshe'snotresponsibleforallofus.Shedoesn’thavetotakethaton.”

Q12Theme:RecommendationsstatedorimpliedforbothKellyandMichaelonthefollowing:

• Delegatemore.Ifcan’tdelegatethenrequestresourcestosupportthem

“TheyneedtodelegatemoreIthink,bothofthem.Andthenwhattheycan’tdelegate,theyneedtheresourcestosupportthem.”

“Ithinkthisisonemoreexamplewherelayministerscouldplayalargerrole.Ithinksomeonelike[nameoflayminister]whohasdonethisformanyyears.Suchacapableperson.Manypeoplelikeher,whocouldstepin.”“Iwishtheyhadmorehelp.”

“Theyarestretchedthin.Ithink...Ihopethatmosteveryonerealizesthat.ButIdo.”

• Takealargerroleinsocietalandlocalissues

“Ijustwonderifthereisn’tmoreofaroleinsomeoftheselargerconversations[referringtosocietalandlocalissues]...thatourministerscouldparticipatein.”

• Changesinservices

“Itwouldbeniceiftheysortofteameduponceinawhileandbealittlemorerisktakingasfarastopicsandstructureoftheservice.”

“Iwouldliketheministerstogotothebackofchurchandgreetpeopleinsteadofhangingoutinthefrontandwhoisthemostassertivegoesupandtalkstothem.“

“Ithinkinthebeginningofworshipservicetheyshouldjustswitchthesingingwiththesilence.Becausewhenyouhavethesilentmomentatthebeginning,everybodyisstill

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comingin.Thekidsaretalkingintheback.Iftheystartedwiththesingingpiece,andthenputthesilenceone,you’dgetawholelotmoresilence.”

• Greatertransparencyregardingwhattheydo

“Iwouldlikemoretransparencyonwhattheministersdo.”

Q12Theme:RecommendationsthatstateorimplynoneededchangesinKelly’sandMichael’sministry.

“Keepdoingwhatthey’redoing.Theybothdoitverywell.”

“Can’tthinkofanything[recommendations]inparticular.”

RECOMMENDATIONSFORTHECONGREGATIONTOCONSIDERQ12Theme:RecommendationtoformagrouptonurtureKellyandMichael.

“And,youknow,Isupposeit’spossiblethatwecouldformalittlegroupofpeoplethatarequitesmart.Idon’tknowwhothatwouldplayoutwith.Iknowthattonurture,nurturetheministersbecausethey’reputtingtheirwholeoutrightthereintheirownways.”

Q12Theme:Hireaparttimeorfulltimethirdminister.

“Ifwehavethemoneytobringinaparttimeministerthatmightbeaseniorandmightbeabletoworkwithseniors,Ithinkthereareministersinourstatewhodon’treallyhaveahomerightnow.I’mthinkingofRaySweetupinDoorCountywhodoesstuffdownherefromtimetotime.”“Ifourchurchevergetstothepointagainthatwecouldaffordtohaveathirdministerbecausewe’regettingsolarge,Ithinkthatwouldbegreatbecausepeoplelookfordifferentthings.”“Thechurchcanafforditnow[hireathirdminister].It’snotabigdeal.Thechurchisingreatshapeoncetheyrefinancedthemortgage.Soonafterwards,oncerefinancingwasdone,itchangedeverythingbecausewewerebasically,literally,intheholewithnotenoughincomecomingin.Oncethemortgagewasrefinanced,weareinverygoodshaperightnow.”

Q12Theme:FUSleadersandmembersneedtotalkaboutMichael’sretirementandtheupcomingleadershiptransition.

“I’mconcernedaboutwhathappensduringtheeventualtransitionfromMichaeltowhomeverisnext.WhenIwasakid,Iwatchedachurchpullitselftoshredsoverthat.Thatexperienceworriesme.”

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“Idon’tknowatwhatpointthechurch,theleadership,whereMichaelleadstoconfrontitbutweknowhe’llbeleavingsoon.IknowhewillbeveryresponsibleandIknowheprobablyhasaplan.Itseemslikeit’stimeforthattobesaidoutloudandtalkedaboutratherthanpeoplelikemesayingit’sinevitableandit’sgoingtobesoon...tohavethecongregationstarttoconfront,cope,adjustanddealwithit.”

Q12Theme:Makelayleadershipmorevisible.

“ThoseleadersthatwehaveneedtobemorevisiblebecauseIthinkpeopledon’tknowwhotheyare.AndI’vetwistedsomanyarmstostanduponthatpodiumonaSundaymorningtogiveannouncements.Idon’tknowhowtodoitanybetterandthatistheplacetheyshouldbe.Ithinkweshouldrequirethatthechurchleadersdothatjobonarotatingbasis.I’mthinkingalloftheBoard,andI’vetalkedtoalloftheBoardmembersaboutthisandsomeofthemdon’twanttodoit.ButifitwererequiredasaBoardrequisite,thenthey’ddoit.”

Q12Theme:Educateaboutthehistoricmeetinghouse.

“...what’sinterestingaboutthemeetinghousethingisthere’snorealexposuretoit.Whenyou’reanewmember,youdon’ttakeatourofthechurch.Theydon’ttalkaboutthehistoryofthechurch.There’sanassumptionsomehow,mysteriouslyagain,thatyouknowaboutit.”“Ireallythinkthat[meetinghouseguides]shouldbeincludedsopeopleareawareofit.Nobodystandsupbeforethewholecongregationonceortwiceayear,tryingtorecruitnewguides,andsays,‘I’mthatpersonandthisiswhatgoesonandsoon.’That’simportantbecausetheyraiseafairamountofmoneyandit’s,again,ahugeconnectiontothepublicwhocomeinandtourtheplaceallthetime.Itmeansalot.Butnothavinganyofthathistory...andthere’sanassumptionthatweallknowit.Andwedon’t.Wehaveahugeamountofpeoplenowwhodon’tknow.”

13.IsthereanythingelseyouwanttotellusaboutyourexperienceatFUS?Theopportunitytosayanythingelseaboutinterviewee’sexperiencesatFUSresultedinthefollowingeleventhemes.

Q13Theme:ThecongregationmaynotadequatelyacknowledgethehardworkofformerBoardpresidentsoncetheirtermsexpires.

“Thechurchdoesnotknowhowtoacknowledge.Theydon’tknowhowtosaythankyou.Whenpeoplearedeeplyinvolvedandgivetheirheartandsoulandtimeandtreasure....Myhusbandwasapastpresident.Nooneeversaidtohim,’Thankyoufordoingwhatyoudid.‘Whenhesteppeddownasbeingpastpresident,itwasasifheneverexistedhere.Nooneacknowledgedhimordidanything.Noonesaid‘thankyou’.Hewasn’thurt.Iwashurtforhim.Sothislackofattentiontothekindnessthatweshoweachotherasfriendsandcongregantsdoesn’tcomefromthetopdown,Idon’tthink.“

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Q13Theme:Calledministersshouldexpressmoregratitudetocongregantsfortheirservicetothecongregation.

“Ithinkthereisalackofgratitudeonthepartofthecalledministerswhendealingwiththecongregants....Itencouragesmorebickeringbetweenpeopleandnotthatgratitude,that...’Wow,you’reabusyperson.You’respendingallthistimehere.Ireallyappreciateyourservice.’AndIthinkthat’saproblem.Ido.Ithinkatorientation,wecouldjusttweakitalittlebitandbesothankfulforwhatsomanypeopledoontheiroffhours.”

Q13Theme:Congregationalsocialjusticeactivitiesshouldbemorepublicizedandcelebrated.

“Andtherehavebeenanumberofpeoplewhohavesaid,’Wehavenoideawhat’shappeninginsocialjustice’becausethey’renotdoinganyofit.Wedon’tknowwhatitmeans.Eventhoughthereareprogramsaboutitandthingslikethat.IhappentogotoSalvationArmyearlyinthemorning,6o’clockinthemorning.SoIwasmentioningthattosomeone.Theysaid,’Golly,ifIknewthosethingsweregoingonIwouldpledgemorebecauseIthinkthat’ssomethingthechurchshouldbedoing,butIdon’tknowthechurchisdoingthosethings.’”

Q13Theme:Strengthenandexpandthecongregation’suseofsocialmedia.

"Ihaveappreciatedtherecentefforttousetechnologymore,socialmedia.Mostofmyliferevolvesaroundit.Ikeepmycalendarelectronically.WhenfiguringoutwhatI’mdoingnext,I’mlookingatcalendars,thatsortofthing.Andagainonthenoteofkindofdoingthings,havingopportunitiestoparticipatethatdon’trequirelongcommitmentsandalotofplanning.That’sanotherthingthattechnologyisusefulfor.Justremindersofwhat’sgoingonrightbeforeithappens.Invitationstoparticipate.Callsforvolunteers.Thatsortofthing.Whenpeoplehavealotofchoicesonwhattodo,it’sveryhelpfultohavebothinvitationsandannouncementsdonefrequentlyandclosetothetimeoftheevent.”

Q13Theme:Makethecongregation’sstaffmorevisibletothewholecongregation.“...there’sanotherissuewhichistherearesomanynewstaffthatwedon’tknow.AndwesawthemattheOlbrichthingbutthenyoudon’tseethem.Monicahasbeendownacoupleoftimesatoneoftheservicesbutyoudon’teverseethem.That’stoobad.”

Q13Theme:MembersexpressedgratitudefortheimpactFUShashadontheirlives.

“Iwouldn’tbethepersonIamtodaywithoutit,withoutFUS.It’skindofthecenterofmyworldforeducation,growth,entertainment,achancetosinginthechoir,socialjustice,service.It’sjustwhereIputmytimeandenergyandIamsureIwouldn’tbethesamewithoutit.”“Iwilllikewiseexpressmyappreciation.Michaelgaveasermonapproximatelythreeyearsagoaboutwhatisimportanttohaveinyourjobandwhatmakesitworthwhile.IwasgoingthroughthestageofmylifewonderingwhetherIshouldcontinuetoworkinunpleasantcircumstancesornot.Itwasverytimely.Itreallyhelpedme.”“I’mgladwejoinedandit’sbeengoodforus.It’sbeengoodforourkids.”

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“FUSisareallyspecialplaceintermsofwhatitisandwhatitrepresents.Whothemembersareandcertainlywhotheministersare.Idothinkit'sonus,asmembers,asacongregationwehavethemajorityoftheresponsibilityformakingthatknown.”

Q13Theme:TheFUScommunityismoreopentodifferentviewsandbeliefsthaninthepast.

“Ithinkthecongregationismuchmoreopentotheismwhereasit’snot’theremustbesomethingwrongwithyou...youhaven’tacceptedatheismyet.’Andnowit’swhateveryoubelievein,it’sok.““IthinkofUnitarianismasaquestioningreligion.It'saplaceforquestions.Idon'tcomefortheanswers,Icomeforthequestions.”

Q13Theme:TheFUSCommunityhaschangedandismorewelcomingthaninthepast.

“SoIcansaywhat’schanged.MywifeandIwouldoftencommentonitwhenwestartedattending.Wewouldexperiencepeopleaswecamein.Wewerewellacquaintedwithpeoplebutwewouldencounterpeopleaswepassedthem,lookingatournametag.Notatusbutatournametags.Andiftheydidn’trecognizethename,Imean,ifyouweren’tonthefacultyattheUWandyoudidn’thaveanamethatwasknowninthecommunity,youweren’tworthtalkingto.Andthat’sdifferent.So,Ithinkit’sdefinitelyimproved.”

Q13Theme:Thereisconcernthatgrowthwillleadtomorefragmentationandalackoffocus.

“Ihearcommentsofwantingtogrowthecongregationsbutatthesamepoint,itreallyfeelslikethere’salimittowhatthesizecanbetobeabletoaccommodatethat.”“Isometimeswonderifwedon’tfragmentourselvestoomuch,totrytobeeverythingtoeveryone.Itjustseemslikesometimesweshouldfocusmore.”

Q13Theme:The“boundaries”betweenFUSmembersandministers.

“WhenwemovedtoMadisononeofthereasonswechoseMadisonwasbecauseithadareputationasaliberalcityandithadaverylargeUnitarianchurch.Allmypreviousyearsofchurchdoingwerewithsmalltomediumsizedchurches.Wedidchurchnightanddayifyouwantedittofunctionlikeachurchshouldbe.It’sadifferentexperienceforme.Atourpreviouschurch,mywifeandIwerebestbudswiththeministerandherhusbandsotheyweren’treallyourministersbecausewewerebestbudsso...wewouldgotothetheaterwiththem,wenttoconcerts.Wenttodinnerwiththemallthetime.Itwasaverycloserelationship.ThatrelationshipIdon’thaveherewithanyoftheministers.It’sverydifferent.It’sokbutnotthesame,Ifeel.”“I’mremindedofKaren’ssermonwhereshetalkedabouthowtherelationshipbetweenaministerandacongreganthastohavedifferentlimits.Thecongregantcantelltheministeranythingbuttheministercan’ttellthecongregantanything.”

“Thethingisit’sanimportantthing.Thereareboundaries.They’reimportantbecauseifyouendupfeelinglikeyou’reapttotakecareoftheminister,itceasestobeahealthycommunitysothere’sopeningyourselfup,like,youknow,butnottoomuch.It’sahardboundary.”

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Q13Theme:Interviewparticipantsweregratefultobeaskedtoparticipateinthesmallgroupinterviews.

“Iappreciatebeingapartofit.Ithinkit’sgreat.”“Whatyoutwohavedone,it’samazingwiththequestions.”I’mgladyou’redoingthis.Thankyou.”“Thisisawonderfulformat.”“I'vebeenamembersince2007andI'veneverbeforebeenaskedformythoughts.”

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AppendixB

CalledMinisterQuestions,ThemesandQuotes

ThefollowingsixquestionswerecreatedbytheMinistryReviewTeamandsenttothecalledministers,MichaelandKelly,witharequestthattheyrespondinwriting.Theydidsograciously.ThethemesidentifiedbelowarewrittenbytheMinistryReviewTeamandthewordsandphrasesundereachquestionarequotedfromeachminister’swrittenresponsetoeachquestion.

1:WhatdoyoubelieveyourcoreministerialresponsibilitiesarewithintheFUSfaithcommunity?

MichaelSchuler’sResponsestoQ1

Q1Theme:Michael’s“topofthemind”ministerialresponsibilitiesarehands-onmanagerialandsupervisorytasks.

• “headofstaff”• “supervisetheworkofboththeAdministratorandtheSocialJusticeCoordinator”• “strongcollaborativerelationshipwithothermembersoftheSeniorStaff”• “personnelandhiringissues”

Q1Theme:Michaeltakesresponsibilityforhighestlevelfinancialplanningandexecution.

• “budgetbuildingandmonitoring,fundraising,capitalneeds&priorities”

Q1Theme:MichaelisakeypresencewhoshapesagendasontheBoardofTrusteesandallitscommittees.

• “accountabletotheBoardofTrustees”• “createmonthlyBoardagendas,aswellasplanforperiodicParishMeetingsandTown

Halls”• “IsitontheBoard-appointedcommittees–Personnel,Governance,andFinance”

Q1Theme:ProgrammaticallyMichaelworksintheareasofworshipandadulteducation/spiritualenrichment.

• “overseeingandmonitoringtheworshiplifeofthecongregation”• “coordinatemostofthememorialservicesformembers,aswellasafewweddingsand

childdedicationseachyear”• “conductingclasses,writingforFUSpublications,andworkingwiththeQUESTprogram”

Q1Theme:PastorallyMichaeloffersprogramstotheelderlyinretirementvillages.

• “IoffermonthlyprogramsatbothCapitolLakesandOakwoodRetirementcommunities”

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Q1Theme:Michaelcontributeshistoricalmemoryandcontexttodiscussionsoffuturedirectionsforthecongregation.

• “functioningasourinstitutionalmemory,abletodescribe’thewaywewere‘andtoprovideahistoricalcontextfordiscussionsbearingonFUS’sfuturedirection”

Q1Theme:MichaelisthepublicfaceandspokespersonforFUS.

• “publicfaceandspokespersonforFUS,communicatingwithlocalmediaandcommunityleadersparticipatinginforums,demonstrations,andasapresenceinorganizationswhoseprinciplesalignwithourown.”

Q1Theme:MichaeltakesresponsibilityforbeingthekeeperoftheVisionofMinistry.

• “IhaveassumedprimaryresponsibilityforkeepingtheTrusteesawareofourVisionofMinistryandtheprocessthatshouldbefollowedinestablishing,re-visitingandassessingsame.”

KellyCrocker’sResponsestoQ1

Q1Theme:Kellyseesherministryasbeingcenteredoncreatingcommunity,largeandsmallandacrossgenerations.

• “Asyouknowmyresponsibilitieshavechangedoflate.WhereasbeforeIwouldhaveeasilyanswered“religiouseducation”nowIwouldhavetosaymycoreministerialresponsibilityiscreatingcommunityingroupslargeandsmallacrossthegenerations.”

• “Betweensmallgroupsandlayministry,morepresenceinworship,Questandyouthgroup,Ihavemanyopportunitiestodowhatfeelslikeweavingpeopletogetherintocommunity.”

• “AlloftheseonthelistarewaystocreatecommunityandmakeconnectionsinthislargeandlivelyplacewhichishowIseemyroleintheorganizationatthismoment.”

Q1Theme:Kelly’sministerialresponsibilitieshavechangedinthelastyearandsheloveswhatsheisnowdoing.

• “TheotherdayIfoundmyselfsaying‘InowhavetheministerialrolethatIlove.’”• “thesenewresponsibilitiesfeellikeawonderfulexpansionofworkthatIlove.”

Q1Theme:Underhernewleadership,Kellycitesthelayministersprogramasanareaofsuccessfulrenewal.

• “Thelayministrygroupisfunctioningnowataveryhighlevelandtheyseethemselvesasagentsoftransformativerelationshipinourcongregation.Theyarerespondingtoneeds,reachingouttonewandlong-timemembersandmakingrealconnections.”

Q1Theme:Kellyisco-creatingandco-leadingnewprogramsincludingaComingofAgeParentConnectionsGroupandagriefsupportgroup.

• “therecentadditionoftheComingofAgeparentgroupsthatIhavebeenco-leadingisworkthatfeelsdeeplymeaningfulandveryimpactfulinthelivesofourmembers.”

• (includingrunninganewlyforminggriefsupportgroup)

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Q1Theme:Kellyhassupervisoryresponsibilityforfourstaffmembersandoverseesstaffmeetings.

• “StaffSupervision(Leslie,Janet,Jeanne,Lynda)includingoverseeingweeklystaffmeetings”

2:Discusstheresourcesyouhavebeenprovidedtomeetthoseresponsibilities,andidentifyadditionalresourcesthatwouldallowyoutobetterfulfillyourcoreministerialresponsibilities.


Q2Theme:Kellyhasbeenassistedbya10hourperweekyouthassistantandfeelsthataddinghourstothatjobdescriptionwouldbehelpful.

• “TheadditionofaparttimeYouthProgramCoordinator(10hoursperweek)hasbeenextremelyhelpful.LyndaMcAfeefillsthatpositionandherpresencehasallowedmetonotworryabouttheadministrativepiecesofyouthprogramming.AdditionalhoursinthatpositiontoincreaseyouthpresenceinthecongregationandalsotoworkwithourCampusMinistryprogramwouldbeextremelyhelpful.”

Q2Theme:KellycitesanongoingLeadershipDevelopmentProgramforcommunitymembersasbeingimportantforthefuture.

• “Anothercongregationalresourcethatwouldassistmewouldbeanongoing,intentionalLeadershipDevelopmentProgram.”


Q2Theme:Physicalresourcesofspaceandequipmentareserviceable.

• “privateoffice–smallbutserviceable–andaworkingcomputer”

Q2Theme:Humanresourcesofadditionalclericalassistancearenotpresentandnotdeemed

necessary.

• “Clericalandadministrativestaffdoesacommendablejobofsupportingtheinstitutiongenerally,butIdonotnow,norhaveIeverhadadedicatedstaffpersontowhomIcouldassignworksuchascopying,makingappointments,composinglettersorproofingdocuments.”

• “Ihaven’tlobbiedforapersonalassistantandatthispointdoubtthatIcouldutilizesuchapersoneffectively.”

Q2Theme:Divisionofresponsibilitiesandoverallworkloadandworkhoursarenotburdensome.

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• “Splittingresponsibilitiesamongoneormoreministerialcolleagueshasbeeninvaluable,andmyabilitytomanagemyowncorefunctionshasbeenenabledbytalentedanddedicatedministersand,morerecently,interns,whohavetakenuptheslackinotherareas.Idonotfeel’pulledinalldirections‘likesomeministersthatIknow.”

• “I’musedtoperformingroutinetasksanddon’tresentit,andhavegrownsoaccustomedtoasix-dayworkschedulethatitdoesn’tseemburdensome.”

3.WhatdoyoufindmostsatisfyingaboutbeingacalledministeratFUS?


Q3Theme:ThepeopleofFUSandthepositivecommunityspiritmakeministryatFUSenjoyable.

• “ThisisagreatcommunityandIthoroughlyenjoythepeoplewhocomehere”• “Iverymuchenjoymemberinteractionsandthepositivespiritthatcharacterizeslifeat

FUS.”

Q3Theme:Michaeldoesnotsocializewithmembersorstaffbecauseheneedstimetohimself.

• “Irarelysocializewithmembersorstaffbecausetheprofessionalroleissopeople-orientedthatIneedtostayasunencumberedaspossibleduringmyoff-hours.”

Q3Theme:Michaelfindshisprofessionaperfectfitforhistemperamentandeducation.

• “Ihavefounditanear-perfectfitwithmytemperamentandpost-graduatetraining”

Q3Theme:Michaelsaysheisnotexperiencing“professionburnout”andfindstheworkengagingandenjoyableevenafter40yearsinministry.

• “it[ministry]affordsaministertheopportunitytowearmultiplehats,engageinanynumberofinterestingactivitiesandinquireintomanydifferentfieldsofknowledge.Evenafterfortyyears,eachweekunfoldsalittledifferentlyandeachtopicthatIchoosetostudyandreflectuponis,initsownway,engaging.”

Q3Theme:Michaelisexperiencingsomediminishmentofstaminafor12-hourworkdaysandmultipleeveningmeetings.

• “EventhoughIdon’thavethestaminaIusedtofor12hourdaysorthementalacuityforasuccessionofeveningmeetings,Idon’tfeelstagnantandonmostdaysenjoywhatI’mdoing.”


Q3Theme:Kellyfindshumanrelationshipstobethemostsatisfyingaspectofherministry.

• “Startingwithstaff–eachdayIamamazedthatIamabletoworkwiththishighlytalented,committed,innovativegroupofpeople.”

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• “Seeingthecommitmentandthedevotionofourmembersisalsoextremelysatisfying.Theyenjoybeinghere,theygetinvolvedinmakingithappenandtheycaredeeplyaboutthefutureofthisplace.”

Q3Theme:Kellyseesthestaffworkstyleasbeingcollaborativeandfun.

• “Weenjoybeingtogether,weworkinahighlycollaborativesetting,wedogoodworkandwehavefun.It’sawonderfulmixthatmakesthisafantasticplacetowork.”

Q3Theme:Kellyfindsherworkmeaningful,aprivilegetobepartof,andnurturingofherownspirit.

• “Itisextremelysatisfyingtohearhowmyworkchangespeople’slivesindeepways.Beingabletocelebratesomeone’slifeattheirmemorial,learningaboutwhatwasimportanttothemandhowtheychosetospendtheirprecioustimeisagift.Celebratingthebirthofnewchildren,welcomingthemintoourcommunityandjoiningwithcouplesontheirweddingdays,theseareallwonderfulmomentsthatIgraciouslyamallowedtosharewithourfamilies.”

• “Westartedthese(COAparentgroups)inpartbecausewewereworriedaboutthenumberofparentswhostoppedattendingFUSaftertheirchildrenfinishedCOA.Whatwediscoveredwasthatformanyoftheseparentstheyareinneedofagrouptolookattheirownjourneysanddiscoverwhatcouldbenextforthem.Thisisamissingpieceoftheirlivesandweareabletoprovidethatspaceforthem.Itissosatisfyingtohearthemshareopenlyanddeeplyabouttheirstruggles,fearsandworriesandalsowhatbringsthemjoy.Thisisoneexampleofcommunitythatnotonlybringspeopletogetherbutfeedstheirspiritsandmyspiritaswellintheprocess.”

4.WhatdoyoufindmostchallengingaboutbeingacalledministeratFUS?


Q4Theme:Kellyseesneedandhasmoregoodideastobuildcommunitythanshehastimeintheworkdaytoaddresstheneedsorexecutethegoodideas.

• “NotbeingabletodoallthethingsIfeelthecommunityneedstohavehappen”• “Therejustisn’tenoughtimeinaday”• “It’sthehavinggoodideasandknowingyoucan’tfollowthroughbecauseofcurrent

responsibilitiesthatisachallenge.”


Q4Theme:Thedemandsofworkareunceasingwithno“downtime”torelax.

• “Itneverfeelslikeonecanrelaxandcoastforabit.Thedemandsareprettymuchunceasing.”

• “Theongoing,dailyandweeklychoreshavemeantthatinmy28yearshereIhaveveryseldomtakenadvantageofthemonthofstudyleavestipulatedinmycontract.NorhaveItakenmyallottedfourweeksofvacationmostyears.”

Q4Theme:ItfeelstoMichaellikethereisnotenoughtimetostudyanddoresearchforpreachingandteaching.

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• “Oftenitisveryhardtosqueezeinsufficientresearchandstudytime–whichisessentialforthekindofteachingandpreachingministryIpursue.”

Q4Theme:ThedemandsofworkhavetakenapersonaltollonMichael,leavinghimwonderingifhehasmissedsomethinginhispersonallifeoutsideworkandoutsideFUS.

• “Ilovemyworkbutamalsoawarethatitsintensityhasattimestakenitstoll.ExceptforthetimeI’vesetasideforfamily(includingmy90+parentsatthispoint),IhaveverylittlelifeoutsideofFUS.SometimesIwonderwhatImighthavemissed.”

Q4Theme:MichaelandthewholeFUSorganizationexperiencedgreatstresswhenissuesofauthorityandadministrativefunctionsarose.

• “AtcertainperiodsofmytenureatFUScongregationalpoliticsandconflictedrelationshipswithadministrators/COO’shavebeenverystressful.ThingswereespeciallydiceyattimeswhenthesupervisoryauthorityforcertainstaffpositionswasvestedinlayleadersandadministrativefunctionswereassumedbyBoardmembersortheirdesignatedrepresentatives.”

Q4Theme:Therehasbeenadeclineinorganizationaltensionsincethemovementtoapolicygovernancemodel.

• “Fortunately,theshifttopolicygovernancehasmadelifeconsiderablyeasier,andalthoughithasresultedinmoreresponsibilitiesonmypart,therehasalsobeenasignificantreductioninorganizationaltension.”

Q4Theme:MichaelfeelscomfortableinaCEOroleandcreditscapable(andsometimesauthorityassuming)administratorswithmakingitwork.

• “AtleastsomeofmycolleaguesinlargechurcheshavenotprosperedintheroleofCEOorChiefofStaffandfeltoverburdenedbymanagerialduties.Ihavenotfoundthattobethecase,thankstosomeverycapable(ifsomewhatimperious)administrators.”

Q4Theme:MichaelfeelsthatstaffissueshavebeenresolvedwellandhefeelssupportedbytheBoard.

• “Withrespecttoourpastadministrators,Iamgratefulwe’vebeenabletomanagetransitionsinthatpositionsmoothlyandwithminimaldisruptionofouroperations.Generally,theBoardofTrusteeshasbeenbothunderstandingofmyconcernsandsupportiveofmydecisions.”

5.WhatsuggestionsdoyouhavethatwouldallowtheministryatFUStobemoreeffectiveinrealizingitsmission?Notethatthiscouldincludechangestoaspectsofyourrole,otherstaffroles,thephysicalplant,thewaywehavesetpriorities,memberinvolvement/cultureandtheprogramswepursue.


Q5Theme:Realizationofmissionwouldbeenhancedbyaddingathirdministerandaspecialistinvolunteerrecruitment/developmenttothestaff.

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• “Acoupleofadditionalstaffpositionswouldcertainlyhelp,mostnotablyathirdministeroritsequivalent(whileourrecentinternshavedoneacommendablejobwedon’tenjoythecontinuityadedicatedministerialpositionwouldprovide).Aspecialistinvolunteerrecruitmentanddevelopmentwouldalsobeextremelyuseful.Butbothofthesearebig-ticketitems.”

Q5Theme:Morevolunteer“staff”couldenhancemission.

• “Somelargercongregationswithlimitedresourcesarenowexperimentingwithpart-timevolunteer“staff”tohandlecertainoftheseroles.OurlargechurchinAtlantahassixvolunteer“coordinators”whoeachwork10hoursaweek.”

Q5Theme:Currentstaffisawell-oiled,self-motivatedmachineandchangesinprioritiesarenotneeded.

• “Idonotreallyfeelthatamajorshiftinemphasisand/orprioritiesisinorderforanycurrentstaff.Weareaprettywell-oiledmachine.Staffmembersknowwhat’sexpectedofthem,knowwhatworksandareself-motivated.”

Q5Theme:Changestothephysicalcampusarenotneededtoenhancemission.

• “Generallyspeaking,Ithinkweareingoodshapewithrespecttoourphysicalcampusandtheopportunitiesitaffords.”

Q5Theme:Moreseriousvisioningformissionandmorestrategicplanningwouldenhancerealizationofcurrentandfuturemission.

• “Iamnotsurethatwespendenoughtime–andthisappliestoourlayleadershipaswell–engaginginthekindofgenerativediscussionsthatcanleadtoinnovationandincreasedrelevancy.Therehasbeenadearthofstrategicplanningandserious’visioning‘inrecentyears,whichmeansthatwemaybefallingbehindtheculturalcurveincertainrespects.Whilestaffandtheministerialteamarecommittedtoexcellence,wecan’taffordtobecomplacentaboutcurrenttrendsandfuturepossibilities.”

Q5Theme:Programmaticchangesthatattractmentobeinvolvedinthemissionareneeded.

• “...programmaticchangesthatmightinduceourmalemembersandassociatestobecomemoreinvolved.Somanyclasses,socialjusticegatheringsandotherFUSeventsthatIattendhavefew,ifany,menpresent.Wedobetterthanmanycongregationsinbringingmentoourweeklyservices,butmostseemtobeonlymarginallyactive.Whatmightwedotochangethatpicture?I’mnotsure,butit’scertainlyworthexploring.”


Q5Theme:Realizationofministrywouldbeenhancedbyaddingathirdfull-timeminister.

• “Theeasiestanswer(andthemostunrealisticone)istogobacktothreeministers!”

Q5Theme:Realizationofministrywouldbeenhancedbyassistancewithyouthandcampusministry.

• “moretime[hoursorpersonnel]couldbedevotedtoyouthprogrammingandcampusministry.Thatwouldbethebiggestassetforme.”

Q5Theme:Creatingacommunity-widecultureofserviceandvolunteerismwouldenhanceministryrealization.

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• “Wehavehadmultipleconversationsinmanydifferentmeetingsaboutthelackofvolunteers,theneedtocreateacultureofserviceandvolunteerismandIthinkit’stimetoputsomegreatmindsinaroomandfigureitout.Itdoesseemlikeaculturalshiftbutitseemslikeonewecoulddowithtimeandenergydevotedtoit.”

6.Lookingaheadoverthenext5years,whatdoyouthinkarethebiggestchallengesFUSfacesinfulfillingitsministerialmission?WhatsuggestionsdoyouhavetohelpFUSovercomethosechallenges?


Q6Theme:Kellyseesthechangeofministerialstaffasthemainchallenge.

• “Inthenext5yearswearegoingtohaveabigtransitioninourministerialstaff.”

Q6Theme:KellyiscommittedtoFUSduringandaftertheministerialstaffchange.

• “AtthispointIamcommittedtostayingherethroughthistransitionandbeyond,knowingthattherearemanyvariablesthatcouldchangethatplan.”

Q6Theme:Kellyseesthechangeofministerialstaffasanopportunitythatwillrequiretwothings:opennesstonewideasandexcellentcommunicationamongmembersofthecongregation,thesearchcommittee,andstaff.

• “Thisisgoingtorequireawillingnesstobeopentonewideasandnewlearnings.”• “Inthattime,whichIthinkismoreofanopportunitythanachallenge,wewillneedto

focusonclearandtransparentcommunicationbetweenthesearchcommitteeandthemembershipandstaff.”


Q6Theme:Thecommunityisstaff-drivenandexperiencingadecliningnumberofvolunteerswhowilldoworkinthecommunity.Thistrendthreatensmissionrealization.

• “Adeclineinthenumberofmemberswhoarewillingandabletofillimportantvolunteerholes.Weneedtomakeastrongercasefortheongoingimportanceofvolunteersinwhathasbecomeastaff-drivenoperation.”

Q6Theme:Questgeneratesdeeperconnectionstothecommunityandamotivationtovolunteer.

• “QUESTprogramhascertainlyhelpedinthisrespect,strengtheningparticipants’connectiontotheinstitutionandmotivatingthemtodomore.”

Q6Theme:Michaelhasaconcernthatexpenseswilloralreadyareexceedingincome.

• “FlatpledgingandadeclineinthenumberofindividualsandfamiliesaffiliatingwithFUSinrecentyears.”

Q6Theme:ImminentretirementsofMichaelandDanwillchallengethecommunity.

• “Preparingthecongregationforthesechangesandtailoringthemessagesothatitfeelsmorelikeanopportunitythanalosswillbeimportant.”

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Q6Theme:Addressinginfrastructureanddebtissuesischallengingthecommunity.

• “Planningforacapitalcampaigntoaddressinfrastructureanddebtissues.Wecannotputsuchacampaignoffindefinitelybutseriousquestionsaroundtimingandtheimpactsuchacampaignmighthaveontheoperatingbudget(ifcapitalcommitmentscausepledgestodecline)needtobeasked.”

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AppendixC

FUSStaffQuestions,ThemesandQuotes

1.Whenyouheartheterm,FUSMinistry,whatreadilycomestomind?

Q1Theme:Itiswhattheministers,staff,volunteersand[FUSmembers]dotonurtureFUSmembersandprovidetransformativegrowthopportunities.

“Twoideas-whattheministersdo(caringformembers,layministry,lifejourneys,beinganintentionalcommunity)andwhatministryteamsandstaffdo(transformativegrowthviarelationshipsandworkingwiththecommunity,growingbylearningtoworkasateam,andaboutspiritualityasitisfoundininterdependence.”

“FUSprogramsthat’minister’totheneedsofthemembersalongwiththestaffandvolunteerswhoimplementtheprograms.”

“Ourpurpose!Ithinkaboutthemultitudeofwaysthatweministertothepeoplewhowalkthroughourdoors—membersandnon-members—andtothecommunitybeyondourwalls.Ourministrynurturespeople—mind,bodyandsoul.Itistheumbrellaunderwhicheverythingwedorests—ourworshipservices,oureducationalopportunities,oursmallgroups,ourmusic...thewholeshebang!”

Q1Theme:Theterm“ministry”canbeconfusingforbothstaffandmembers,andcanevenhavenegativeconnotations.

“WhenIfirstheardthetermaswebeganthePolicyGovernanceProcess,Ihadanegativereaction.Iwasreactingtothenoun,asIwasnotaminister.AndthenIunderstooditasaverb-’attendstotheneedsandwantsofothers’andIunderstoodmoreofwhatwewereabout.”

“WhileIunderstand,Iseepuzzlementonthefacesofsomeinourcongregationasitisused.Manyofthosefeelitistoochurchyorhaveareactionfromanegativeexperienceinafaithcommunity.”

“Whatisministry?Atfirst,Ithoughtthatyouwereaskingmeabout’whattheministersdo,’andIdon’tfeelatallinaplacetotalkaboutthatkindofministry.ThenIthoughtoftheVisionofMinistry...Idon’tthinkmyuncertaintyisuniquetome.Iknowthatthisentiredenominationfeelsthepullbetweenatraditionalworship/spiritualeducationkindofmember’sdemandsandthedemandsfromothermembers,andpotentialmembers,toexperiencespiritualityentirelythroughajusticelens.Ithinkthereexiststhechallengeandtheopportunityforleadershipandclergytobringclaritytothosequestions,tobringthecongregationtogetherintheanswers.”

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2.HowisyourworkatFUSrelatedtotheministryofFUS?

Q2Theme:FUSstaffhaveanimportantroleintheministryofFUS.Theirwork:

A. Providesopportunitiesformembertransformationthroughlearning,inspiration,beingpartofalarger“whole”,andpositivelyimpactingsociety.

“[The]programisgroundedinthisgoalofopportunitiesfortransformationthroughlearning,doingthings,andbuildingcommunityrelationshipsaswellasthegoalofeffectivelyhelpingsociety.”

“Iseemyroleprimarilyasaleader,facilitator,andeducator:tohelpcreateanatmosphereinwhichvolunteerscanlearn,beinspired,andfeelpartofsomethingbiggerthanthemselves.”

“CREprofoundlyministerstoadultsaswell,providingwaystoconnectwiththeirownUUidentity,to’giveback’and/orpositivelynurturethenextgeneration,andtodeveloprelationshipswithotheradultsthroughteachingorcoordinatingothereventsfortheprogram.”

B. HelpsmemberslivetheUUPrinciples.

“IcoordinateteamsthatarelivingUUprinciplesoutinthecommunitythroughservice,advocacyandbuildingrelationships.”

C. Helpsmembersdeepenandbroadentheirunderstandingofvaryinghumanexperiences.

“[Ourwork]helpsourkidstobetterunderstandandappreciatetheworldaroundthem...andthevalueofbeinginasupportivecommunity.”

“VolunteersandIofferthemeansforgreaterunderstandingofvaryinghumanexperiencestothecongregation,throughproximityandeducationalprogramming.”

D. Providesanopportunitytoofferindividualmembersupport/care.“Doingtheworkinteamsinvolvesalotofthekindofpersonalmemberministryaswell,whichisintegraltothevolunteercoordinatorpartofmyjob,aswellastheday-to-dayofbeingstaffinthebuilding.”

E. CreatesandshapesprogramsandactivitiesthatcarryouttheVisionofMinistry.

“InmypositionallIdoisrelatedtoministry.Inmyconnectingpeopletoresources,meetingvisitors,managingNewUUclasses,andasastaffmembertothelayministers,IdomybesttocarryoutthemissionandthevisionofFirstUnitarianSociety.”

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“Wehaveanopportunitytoanalyzeandcreateprogramsthatengageourcongregation.Wecanofferspiritualdeepeninginawayotherorganizationscannot.Wehaveacollaborativestaffthatiswonderfultoworkwithandexpertsintheirfields.Usingthesestrengthsforourcongregationisawin-winsituationforall.Weenjoyworkingtogetherandgreatideascomefromthis!”“HowareweinteractingwiththeVisionofMinistry?Isitchangingtoooften?Howdoesstaffgiveinput?Asinanyprofession,staffregularlyhaveideasabouthowtodothisbetter.”

3.WhatarethegreatestchallengesfacingtheFUScommunityoverthenextthreeyears,anddoyouhaveideasonwhatcouldhelptheministers/staff/membersaddressthosechallenges?

Q3Theme:FUScanbeoverwhelmingforneworbusymembers.Thereisaneedtofocusonimprovingcommunication.

“FUSisoverwhelmingfornewmembersoranymemberswithverybusylives.Itcanfeellikealargeuniversitywithdepartments.Inspiredandactivemembersoftenwantittofeellikeaverysmallchurch,wherethingsmightbedecidedinoneeveningthataffecteveryone,andwherethewholecongregationmightmorereadilyfocusonjustoneareaorissueatatime.Atthesametime,manymembersjustfeellikeit’sdifficulttostayontopofanything,withoutreadingallourpublications,showingupweeklyandbelongingtoatleastacoupleofsmallergroups/activities.”“Abigareaofhelpwouldbecommunicationimprovementinallitsforms,whichwoulddiminishthesenseofoverwhelmandsavealotofstafftime.Fromobvioussignageoutside,toanelectronicmessageboardmonitorateachentry,tosimplifiedpublicationsandonlinepresences...thesepracticalthingsmattertohowfriendlyandusablewefeel.That,inturn,willmakeiteasierforustofocuson,andformemberstobeapartof,ministry.”

Q3Theme:Weneedtogetbetteratcelebratingallthatwealreadydosothatmemberswillfeelinspiredbywhatthecommunityisaccomplishingandconnectedtothemission.

“Idon’tthinkthatI/weliftupthegoodthingsthatourministryteamsarealreadydoingenough.WiththeadventofournextCommunicationsCoordinatorandanewwebsite,aswellasincreasedsocialmediapresence,Ithinkwecanimproveonthat.“

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Q3Theme:Weneedtomakesurethestaffsharebestpractices,collaborateandhaveanopportunitytoprovideinputtoseniorstaffandtheBoard.

“Weneedallthesupportwecangetasstaffonwayswecandoourbesttocollaborate,shareinformation,coordinateuseofthebuilding,etc.”

“Ourtechnologysystemsneedtobekeptupdatedandadequateforourdailycommunicationandfinancialneeds.”

Q3Theme:Theministersseemchallengedbytheworkloadandcouldusemoresupport.

“Itseemslikethereductionto2ministershasbeenaloss.”

“Ibelievethesizeofourcongregationneedstohavethreeministersreinstated.Ihaveseenbothofourministersrunraggedtheselasttwoyearsanditisnotsustainable.Providinganinternshipexperienceisgreat,buttheaddedworkandsupervisionisaconcerntoourminister’sworkload,inmyopinion.”

Q3Theme:Upcomingstafftransitionswillposeachallengetothecommunitywhileprovidingopportunitiesforchangeandimprovement.

“Therewillbethechallengeofseekingthereplacementforalong-tenuredSeniorPastorandsoonafter,awell-establishedMusicDirector.Inmyopinion,thesesearcheswillbecrucialtothefutureofministry/membershipatFUSandshouldnecessitatenationalsearchesbytopnotchcommitteeswhohavegonethroughavisioningprocesstodeterminewhatministry,worshipandmusic,shouldlooklikeinthefuture.”

“These[SeniorMinisterandMusicDirector]transitionsprovideopportunityasmuchasgrievingandIthinkweneedtobeveryintentionalaboutquestioninghowandwhywedothingsandhowwewanttomoveforward.Ihopethatwe’llchallengeourselvestothinkoutsideofthebox,tobecreative,andtoseeksignificantwaystoengageourFUScommunityintheprocess.”“IthinktheabovementionedretirementoftheSeniorPastorandMusicDirectorwillprovideanexcitingopportunity,aswellasanimportantchallengeforre-visioningtheworshipandmusiclifeofFUS.“

Q3Theme:Concernsaboutmembershipnumbers,support,andparticipationinprograms.

“...theagingoftheadultchoirsanddecliningparticipationinouryouthandteenchoirs.Thedecliningsupportforeducationwithinthestate,andthereductionofmusicprogramsinourschoolsarecontributingfactors.”

“Membership.Howdowesustainournumbers?Shouldwebroadenourconceptofmembershipandinwhatway?Howdoweknowwhenwearesuccessfulinengagingandprovidingforourcongregation?”

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“Iamconcernedaboutnothavingastrongenoughbaseofsupportfromour’younger‘generation(50andyounger)ofadultstoreplacethesupportthatourstalwartshaveprovidedovertheyears.”

“Iwouldliketoseeusservemoreasacommunitychurchandshedabitofourreputationasachurchforthe’academicelite.’”

Q3Theme:Concernsaboutlimitedresources.

“(Weneeda)wayofaddressingourfacilityreplacementandrepairfundssothatwhenafurnaceorheatingsystemgoesout,thefundsareavailable.”

Q3Theme:WeneedtocontinuetolookforwaysforstaffandFUSmemberstocollaboratemoreeffectivelyandfrequently.

“Iwouldlovetoseeabreakdown,oratleastadiminishing,ofthehierarchywehavehereandofthestaff/memberdichotomyandmovemoretowardacollaborativeapproachthatincludesbothstaffandmembership.”“Themorethatwecanempowerthese[socialjustice]teamstokeepgoing,thebetter.Wecandothisbyhelpingstafftocollaborateaswellasconnectingtheseteamsjusticeworkintothefabricofthecongregation,acrossdepartments.”

4.Fromyourperspectiveasastaffmember,whatarethemostexcitingopportunitiesfortheministryoftheFUScommunityinthenextthreeyears?Doyouhaveideasonwhatcouldhelpthecalledministers/staff/membersactonthoseopportunities?

Q4Theme:Wehaveanopportunitytocontinuetolookforwaystoimprovethelevelofinternalcollaborationandleveragetheexpertiseandexperienceofthestaff.

“WecouldofferaseriesofretreatswithBoard,staff,andotherleadingmemberstotakealookattrends,analyzewhatweofferandreallybethoughtfulaboutwhatprogramsweprovide.Weneedtodothistocreatebudgetsandkeepourmembershipaliveandcontemporary.”

“Ithinkwehavesomereallywonderful,uber-competent,andcreativenewpeopleonourteamandI’dreallyliketoseeministersusethisasanopportunitytochangethecultureofhowweallworktogether.”

Q4Theme:Wehaveanopportunitytousetechnologyinnewways.

“I’mexcitedaboutusingtechnologyinnewwaystobothreachourconstituentsandtostreamlineourwork.”

“Ournewwebsite(onceit’slaunched!)willprovideforsomeadditionalwaystoconnect/engagemembersandseekers.Anewdatabasecanoffergreatopportunitiesforhowwetrack,find,andcommunicatewithourmembers.”

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Q4Theme:Wehaveanopportunitytobecomeabiggerpartofthecommunity,butitmayrequireadditionalresources.

“Inmyarea,theopportunitiesforFUStobealiveandresponsivememberofthecommunityjustkeepgrowing.”

“Manypeoplehavealwaysknownthat’FUSdoesgreatthings,’andIthinkwehavetheopportunitytogrowthat.”

“Wealsodothisbestwhenwecanberesponsivetowhatisgoingon,whichmeansthatwehavetoleavesomestaffandvolunteertimeandenergyandbuildingspaceforwhatcomesup.Ifwearetooburdenedwiththesamesetof’annualevents’it’shardtodothis.”

5.IsthereanythingelseyouwouldliketotellusaboutministryatFUSfromyourperspective?

Q5Theme:Continuetolookforwaysofbeingmorewelcomingtothosewithdisabilities.

“Tobeconsistentwithawelcomingministry,weneedtoworkonourdisability(un)friendliness.IwastoldthisbymemberswhenIarrived4yearsago,anditwasreinforcedbymyownuseofaknee-scooter,andsometimeswheelchair,overthelastyear.”

Q5Theme:WorkhardertohelpourmembersunderstandhowFUSworks.

“MostmembersthatItalktodon’tknowwhat“PolicyGovernance”is;membersandstaffstrugglewithhowexactlyministryteamsaresupposedtoworkwithrespecttoministry.”

Q5Theme:Re-examineourprogramsandconsiderbeingmorefocused.

“Wehavestruggledwithprogramparticipationforquiteawhilenowanditmightbearipetimetothinkoutsideofthebox.Personally,Ithinktherecouldbegreatenergyandmomentumaroundtheideaofscalingbackonour’programs‘(Madisonissoincrediblyrichineducational,spiritual,andenrichmentopportunities)andperhapsinsteadshiftingourfocustocommunityoutreachandgrowingourUUidentity/denomination.”

Q5Theme:FocusmoreonbuildingourUUidentityandconnections.

“PerhapswecanmoreclearlydefineourselvesasUUsthroughthevehicleofcommunityengagementandbynarrowingourprogramstothosehavingastrongerUUfocus.”

“KeepinthestreamofthenationalUUAmovement.Ourwiderperspectiveoftheworldwillserveuswell.”

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“EncourageFUStoofferprogramsinMid-AmericaRegionalAssemblyandourUUAGeneralAssemblytosharewhatweknowandhowitworks.”

Q5Theme:ExpressedappreciationfortheopportunitiesFUShasprovided.

“WorkingatFUShasbeenthemostchallengingandrewardingsegmentofmycareer.”

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Documents

FUS Triennial Review of Ministry 2016 FINAL Report€¦ · their responsibilities, resource constraints, job satisfaction, and concerns/opportunities they see. Each Called Minister