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2013-2014 ANNUAL REPORT

The Reverend Doctor Kathryn L. Ellis, Minister Tim Styer, Moderator

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

CHURCH OF THE RESTORATION

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration 2013 - 2014 Annual Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE REPORTS

MINISTER’S REPORT ...................................................................................................................................... 1

MODERATOR’S REPORT ................................................................................................................................. 4

MINUTES OF RESTORATION CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS ...................................................................................... 6

FINANCE ANNUAL REPORT .............................................................................................................................. 9

MINISTRY REPORTS

JUSTICE COUNCIL ........................................................................................................................................ 19

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION & SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM ...................................................................................... 21

ADMINISTRATION, PROGRAM AND ACTIVITY REPORTS

2014 SERVICE AUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 25

BOOKREADERS ........................................................................................................................................... 26

BUILDING MAINTENANCE & PROJECTS ............................................................................................................. 27

JAZZ VESPERS ............................................................................................................................................ 28

FOLK FACTORY ........................................................................................................................................... 29

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION ......................................................................................................................... 31

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION ......................................................................................................................... 32

BUILDING RENTALS ..................................................................................................................................... 33

MISCELLANEOUS FUND RAISING ..................................................................................................................... 34

AUDIT REPORT .......................................................................................................................................... 37

BYLAWS ................................................................................................................................................... 43


EXECUTIVE REPORTS


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MINISTER’S REPORT

The Reverend Doctor Kathryn Ellis

It was a good year for Restoration. We continue to grow in spirit, in members and in worship attendance. You have strong lay leadership who work well together; the board and moderator want to be transparent and open in their work for the congregation. This year, we were fortunate to have a student minister. Maria McCabe completed her field experience for Lancaster Theological Seminary and has asked to be our intern minister for 2014-2015. Worship Our worship continues to deepen and strengthen. This was the third year for our worship associates program. Many of you have told me how much you appreciate their contributions to worship, and the worship associates continue to appreciate the opportunity for learning and spiritual growth. Worship Associates for 2013-2014 included Jeanne Allen, Cynthia Bradley, Sharon DuPree, Rita Fitzgerald, Sandy Fulton, Annabel Grote, Holly Jobe, Bernadette Lloyd-Sobolow, Sarah Skochko, Jim Walters and our ministerial field experience student Maria McCabe. Jim concluded his service during the year. Cynthia, Jeanne, Sandy and Bernadette completed their 3-year terms at the end of this church year. They will take a break as worship associates and may return if they like after a year.

The worship associates and I met monthly to plan worship and to think about our liturgy. This year in addition to my training, David Glasgow, who is music director at the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley, presented a workshop for our worship associates. David is also a speech coach and an actor. He was very encouraging to our worship associates and gave us all new ideas. Together, we continue to learn, refine and experiment with our audiovisual equipment. We post video of the four most recent sermons on the website and have begun experimenting with live-streaming our entire worship service. We continue to use monthly themes for worship; each month I showed a movie related to the month’s worship theme and showed it in the sanctuary with our. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that I learned a lot about our varied taste in movies! Attendance at the movies ranged from 2 to 20. This year’s themes and movies were:

September Community Babette’s Feast October Hospitality Babe

November Gifts/Discernment Akeelah and the Bee December Love Despicable Me January Justice To Kill a Mockingbird February Healing The Hedgehog March Vision Howl’s Moving Castle April Mission Whale Rider May Nurturing The Rise of the Guardians June Play Toy Story

By the end of June, I led 34 worship services at Restoration and one at West Chester as part of the ministers’ sabbatical exchange program; attendance at our worship services averaged 52 with a range from a low of 25 to a high of 75. We cancelled one worship service because of dangerous icy conditions.


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Our music director, Jane Hulting, the Restoration Singers and congregational musicians continue to provide us with high quality, varied music on Sunday mornings. Domita Satchell initiated the return of Jazz Vespers in February with support from Tim Styer, Brenda Ridley and with my encouragement and participation. We are so fortunate to have these skilled musicians coming to Restoration. We began a new way of expressing joys, sorrows and prayers. In the transept under the Universalist history window, we now have a low table and a carpet donated by Steve Workman and Mike Foy. One can sit in this space to meditate before our worship services or at other times, light a candle and rite your joy, your sorrow or your prayer into ta leather bound book. Membership Brenda Ridley hosted a successful Visitors’ Breakfasts. Jim Walters and Brenda led a New UU group. We welcomed 6 new members in October and certified 82 members with the Unitarian Universalist Association in January. We gladly welcomed 5 more new members in March. Pastoral I do short term counseling with individuals and families as requested. I visit hospitalized members and members at rehabilitation facilities. This year, I celebrated two legal same sex weddings. The first was for Cynthia Bradley’s daughter Tamara and her wife, Kristen. The second was for our members Mike Foy and Steve Workman. What a joy both these ceremonies were! Board and Leadership Restoration has effective, hard working leadership. I met monthly with the board and approximately weekly with our moderator, Tim Styer. I led a board retreat on October 25 and 26. The board discussed their sense of purpose and their sense of Restoration’s vision and mission. I also met monthly with the Minister’s Sounding Board and with my mentor, Rev. Howard Dana until I was awarded Final Fellowship by the Ministerial Fellowship Committee this winter. Adult Spiritual Development This year, my primary adult spiritual development work was Beloved Conversations which I co-facilitated with Portia Hunt. We had 10 participants in this small group that explored racism in our lives in the light of the spirit and the sources of our inspiration. Thanks to a gift from Mike Foy, Jim Walters and I were able to show the Unitarian Universalist history DVD series, Long Strange Trip. It was well attended with great questions and discussions. It’s an interesting way to learn more of our religious history. Religious Exploration (Children and Youth) I met regularly with our Religious Exploration Coordinator, Katie Hughes, and with Fern Culhane, our RE committee chair. We said goodbye to Katie at the end of the year. Fern and I met with parents and teachers to plan for the future of our children’s religious exploration program. We will begin to search for a new coordinator as soon as possible and hope to fill the position in the fall.


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Justice and Service August – celebration service, bell ringing for 50th anniversary of 1963 civil rights march on Washington PUP Americans in Struggle Film Series Heeding God’s Call – t shirt “Memorial to the Lost” in May showing of the movie Trigger NPIHN – four families Change for change Denominational Affairs Part of a minister’s responsibilities include meetings, worship and work beyond the congregation for Unitarian Universalism. I attend a monthly Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association chapter meeting, meet monthly with Philadelphia UU ministers’ small group, and meet monthly with my mentor, Rev. Howard Dana. As colleagues, Unitarian Universalist ministers covenant to support one another. One way that we do that is by attending each other’s special events. I was part of Rev. Aija Simpson’s installation service at the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley, and I attended Rev. Greg Pelley’s ordination service with our student minister, Maria McCabe. I attended the JPD annual meeting in April and the 2013 Ministry Days and General Assembly in Louisville, KY. I plan to attend the 2014 Ministry Days and General Assembly in Providence, RI with several Restoration representatives. At that GA, I will be acknowledged for receiving Final Fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I serve as my UUMA chapter’s “Good Offices Person.” This means serving as a minister to the ministers especially when they are concerned about an issue. I worked with several colleagues whose congregations were experiencing distress. This is not work that I enjoy, but it is work that I feel called to do to support both ministers and congregations and because of my previous experience. Other denominational responsibilities included serving as the registrar for the Harper’s Ferry Ministerial Study Group, meeting with Unitarian Universalist Seminarians at Lancaster Theological Seminary and encouraging a new UU congregation in Lancaster County. Continuing Education Ministers are expected to continue their own education and spiritual development. As you probably already know, I read a lot! I have a weekly voice lesson and a weekly yoga class. I attend a monthly interfaith spiritual direction group for clergywomen. In November, I attended the Harpers Ferry Ministerial Study Group. Rev. Dr. Fredric Muir of Annapolis led an inspirational three days of study and reflection on “The Urgent Promise of Unitarian Universalism for the 21st Century.” I took a two day training to become credentialed as a Healthy Congregations facilitator and a one afternoon seminar on“ Preaching by Heart: The Art of Public Speaking Without a Script.” From Sunday April 27th to Wednesday, April 30th, I participated in a JPD ministers’ retreat in Lewes, Delaware. The theme was “Returning to Ritual” led by the Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed. From this retreat, I encouraged the board to invite Rev. Dr. Morrison-Reed to Restoration in 2015. It was a busy and a good year of ministry! I appreciate our ministry in this community.


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MODERATOR’S REPORT

UUCR Board of Trustees

Tim Styer

Officers: Moderator - Tim Styer, Assistant Moderator - Cynthia Bradley, Treasurer - Mike Foy, Secretary - Fern Culhane Trustees: Brenda Ridley, Eric Saunders, Maggie Friedenberg, Linda Hansell, The Board met at least once each month for a total of 12 times during the period. The board undertook management and governance issues in its work. In addition to the annual congregational meeting in June there was a special congregational meeting in October 20th, 2014 and a Town Hall Meeting held on February 2, 2014. The period 2013 - 2014 was the fourth year with our minister, Reverend Dr. Kathy Ellis who by all measures has restored trust and faith with the congregation's minister. This period was also very busy and robust for congregational activities both internal and external. The following are some of the major activities and issues taken up by the Board:

August 2013

Board approved two measures that broadened the congregation's commitment to justice issues and anti-racism

o Voted to be a co-sponsor of a proposed 8th UU Principle addressing racial injustice o Voted to covenant with UUPLAN (Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative

Advocacy Network) with a budget commitment equal to $5 per member.

Flea Markets returned at a long absence. Assistant Moderator, Cynthia Bradley organized church members to bring back the much vaunted "Restoration Flea Market" on September 28, 2013. The flea market was a success and contributed over $400.00 to the church treasury.

Board approved to start a window replacement campaign in honor of James Napper, the recently deceased son of long time member and past Moderator, Marion Napper.

Discussion started on the Board level about starting a major capital campaign in honor of the Church's upcoming 200 year anniversary. The name of the campaign would be 20-20 vision.

October 2013

Special Congregational meeting held on October 20th. Discussion was held about co-sponsoring an 8th principle related to racial justice. The congregation voted instead to adopt language related to the 8th principle to be included into our Church Covenant.

The congregation voted to covenant with UUPLAN (Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network)


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December 2013

Board approved the purchase of new pew cushions and to make a donation to the Justice Council for a cause relating to mass incarceration in memory of deceased long-time members Helen and Chuck Oerkvitz. The money came from estate funds of Helen Oerkvitz.

The Board discussed bringing back Jazz Vesper services to Restoration and approved moving forward on the project.

February 2014

In conjunction with the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, Jazz Vespers returned on the third Sunday of February. Vesper services will be held on the third Sunday of each month.

The Justice Council proposed to the Board to donate $3.000 to The Center for Returning Citizens for its work in helping returning citizens (ex-offenders) and the issue of mass incarceration.

Live Streaming of Sunday worship services began on a limited basis. Later modifications included blocking worship associates names and not streaming Joys and Sorrows due to personal security concerns.

Americans in struggle film series began. The series focused on major social and economic justice issues in most recent American history including; public school funding and mass incarceration.

March 2014

"Under the Sea" auction was held on March 7th netting the church over $8,0000.

Second successful flea market held March 23. The flea market was held indoors with most of the stuff sold by Restoration.

April 2014

Board approved a proposal by long-time member Dot Feely to borrow funds from the endowment to install a wheel chair lift in the church to improve the accessibility of the church.

May 2014

Successfully completed pledge campaign with the theme of “We are the Ones We’ve been Waiting For”. Pledge campaign raised over $160,000. Budget was presented at annual budget meeting.

June 2014

Annual Congregational Meeting Held June 8th, 2014. The Moderator noted that this was the most active agenda for an annual meeting in at least the near history of the church. Several important and historic measures were voted on by the congregation.

The budget for fiscal year 2014 -2015 was passed unanimously

The congregation approved new language to the Church’s Covenant to reflect the spirit and intention of the proposed UUA 8th principle regarding racial justice.

The congregation voted to commence a fundraising campaign for a wheel chair elevator to be installed in the church.


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Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Sunday, June 8, 2014 @ 12:45 pm

12:50 PM Meeting convened Rev. Kathy Ellis read the Preamble to our church covenant as the chalice was lit:

Because we have expressed that: Love is the doctrine of this congregation, The quest for truth is our sacrament, And service is our prayer. To journey toward spiritual wholeness,To dwell together in peace,To seek knowledge in freedom,To share our strength in fellowship,Thus do we covenant…

1. Approval of the Annual Budget for 2014 - 2015 Michael Foy, our treasurer, explained the process we used to create our budget. Following the Stewardship Campaign’s completion it was clear that we had to slightly change the proposed budget to accurately fit the pledged income for the upcoming year. This requires that we vote down the officially proposed budget in order to then vote for a better version. Mike walked us through the changes between the two versions. Bernadette S. made a motion, seconded by Linda H. to vote to not approve the original proposed budget. This motion was approved. Secondly, Jim W. moved and Bernadette S. seconded that we approve the better version of the budget as recommended by our Treasurer. This also was approved by the assembled members of the congregation.

2. Nominating Committee Report and Voting for new members for the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee

Before turning to the actual report and voting for new committee and board members, Tim Styer, our moderator, explained about an unintended noncompliance with By-Law requirements that a slate of candidates must be posted 30 days before an election. He offered two possible solutions for the situation: we can continue with the current board membership until the 30 days from the posting of this slate and then hold another congregational meeting to vote on them or we can ask for a unanimous approval from the assembled members of the congregation to use the slate and go forward with the voting. Jim W. moved that we unanimously approve the solution of going forward with the offered slate today. Julia B. seconded the motion and it was duly approved unanimously by the members present. The Nominating Committee was introduced and thanked for their work: Jim Walters, Bridget Flynn, Portia Hunt, and Cynthia Bradley. We gave them a grateful round of applause. Jim W., as the representative of the current Nominating Committee, presented the slate. For the Board of Trustees, we acknowledged and thanked Eric Saunders and Maggie Friedenberg for their service. Mike Heinsdorf and Ralph Johnson were introduced as the newest candidates for the Board, and Fern Culhane was acknowledged for volunteering to have a second term. Michael Foy is stepping down as Treasurer of the Board and Board member. A replacement has not been found so Michael agreed to continue on as a caretaker of the Treasurer’s role while the Nominating Committee continues to search. He will not continue on the Board but will be available for questions and will prepare reports for each Board Meeting. Mike is also ready to train and support a new Treasurer. Harald G. made the motion to approve the slate of Board of Trustees and Mike F. seconded it. We voted and the slate was approved.


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Jim W. then explained that the Nominating Committee is a 4 person committee with 3 members elected by the congregation and one member serving from the Board of Trustees. Cynthia B. is the representative from the Board. Portia H. was elected last year and is remaining for a second year. Bridget F. had resigned earlier in the year and Jim W. is stepping down. Jean Hurst is nominated to replace Jim W. and will have a one year term while David Dubbeldam is nominated for a full 2 year term. Harald G. made the motion to approve the slate for the Nominating Committee and Brenda R. seconded the motion. The vote was taken and the slate was approved by the congregation. Appreciation was expressed for all the work done by our elected church members. Tim S. also acknowledged the current members of our Audit committee: Domita Satchell, Eric Saunders, and Jim Walters.

3. Motions to be considered and voted upon by the congregation (in the order discussed)

a. The Board of Trustees proposed that we, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration become a teaching congregation. Rev. Ellis explained that as a teaching congregation we would be responsible for a financial stipend for an intern, we would provide an internship committee to meet monthly with our intern, the minister will meet weekly with the intern, the congregation will commit to communicate and give feedback to the intern while treating the intern as a true minister who provides services, classes, and counseling for our congregation. We discussed the issues of funding, providing a real office for the intern minister, and whether the decision is a permanent one (yes, if we decide we want it to be so). Annabel G. made the motion that UUCR will become an official teaching congregation of the UUA, David D. seconded the motion and it was approved by the voting members.

b. The Board of Trustees proposed that we approve the amended language for our Church Covenant created by the Justice Council in order to reflect the church’s commitment to antiracism and multiculturalism. Numerous members spoke about the proposed language and shared reasons why specific words were added. Everyone was excited by the suggestion from the floor of modifying the proposal by adding the word “strong” to the phrase “To build a strong, diverse and multicultural Beloved Community…” Thus, Larry H. made the motion to endorse all the suggested additions and revisions proposed by the Justice Council with the addition of the word strong in the phrase cited above. Mike F. seconded this motion and the congregation approved our amended Church Covenant.

c. The Board of Trustees proposed a set of plans to address accessibility issues in our church building by adding a wheelchair lift to and from Fellowship Hall. At the April 2014 Board of Trustees meeting, Dot Feely presented a clear description of a growing issue with the limitations of access in our building. The stairs to and from the Fellowship Hall preclude the full participation of our members and guests, also community members and folks seeking to rent our building. She detailed several recent situations where guests had to give up and leave as they couldn’t get down the stairs to our Fellowship Hall. The Board has worked on this issue at various points through the years considering several different possible solutions and pricing out the costs of these ideas. It was clear that the best solution for our church is to create a wheelchair lift using the coat room at the entrance to the sanctuary which is above the anteroom in front of one of the restrooms in the


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basement. The Board voted in April to use funds already in place for improvements to the building (we had reserved them for a hoped for future Capital Campaign which would include this very construction) and then to borrow from the endowment for the additional monies needed. In this way we can quickly address an overdue problem, while also going forward on figuring out how to raise the money needed to repay the endowment. We agreed to bring this to the congregation for approval. We decided to present this to the congregation in two steps. First to get approval for the project itself and then for the plans to finance the project. Mike F. described the project to the congregation. Harald G., Larry H., and Mike F. were already working with the architect to prepare the necessary drawings. The architect will also interface with the city for the required permits and inspections. The chair lift will be enclosed. Linda H. and Annabel G. moved and seconded the motion to approve this project. The congregation voted yes! Secondly, we discussed financing the costs of this project. The Board currently has $29,000 set aside for a future capital campaign to address big building projects and $9,000 from an anonymous donor. The Board projected that we will need at least an additional $40,000 for the chair lift to be completed. A vigorous discussion followed with strong opinions about fiscally responsible ways to go about paying for the project. Clearly, no one was proposing that we not go forward with the work. Annabel G. made a motion that we begin a fund raising effort for the chair lift immediately. Mike F. seconded the motion. The assembled members of the congregation voted to approve the motion. Mike F. then presented some additional ideas that the Board had generated as alternatives to borrowing from our endowment to help cover the costs of the project. These ideas included working with a bank that offered a 3.25% interest to take a loan or arrange a line of credit. The line of credit doesn’t require that we take money out, and if we do, we can pay it all back as quickly as we can with no penalties. Further discussion ensued. David D. then moved that in addition to having a fund-raising campaign, the congregation will approve the use of a line of credit from a bank which the board can apply for in order to have it at the ready if needed to cover any shortfall from the ad hoc fund-raising committee. Bernadette S. seconded the motion and it was approved.

As all the items on the agenda have been covered, Jim W. made a motion for the adjournment of the June 2014 Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration. Mike F. seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved at 2:30 PM! Respectfully (albeit tardily) submitted by Fern Culhane, Board Secretary


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UUA COMMON ENDOWMENT FUND PORTFOLIO AND OTHER BEQUESTS

Mike Foy, Treasurer

In October 2007, Restoration‘s endowment portfolio, which over the years had consisted of a variety of stocks, bonds and funds, many of which the church had inherited or had been spun off from stocks, and which was managed somewhat loosely by members of various investment committees, was converted to a group of funds in the Calvert Socially Responsible Fund Family. This portfolio, which conformed to the recommendations of the UUA for socially responsible investing, was maintained by the Janney Montgomery Scott Company, the same Philadelphia brokerage house that has held Restoration‘s endowment funds for many years. In April 2013, at the recommendation of the Finance Committee and with concurrence of the Board, our endowment monies were transferred to the UUA’s Common Endowment Fund. As the name implies this is a “common” fund managed by experts at the UUA. Individual investors cannot determine investment directions.

Endowment Valuation

Fund as of July 1, 2013 - $191,499.25

Fund as of June 30, 2014 - $212,726.35

Net Change of - $21,227.10

Restoration has also been a standing beneficiary of the Haney Fund Trust, from which a distribution totaling $3322.82 was deposited in 2014. We will receive a check from the fund each December. As a fair share congregation Restoration received $16,210.16 in grant monies from the Pennsylvania Universalist Convention during fiscal year 2013-2014 in support of our general operating fund and Religious Exploration program. Following the guidelines of Restoration‘s Endowment Policy, which was approved by the congregation on April 6, 2008, $6831.36 was withdrawn from the endowment portfolio for operating expenses during the 2013-2014 fiscal year and $2927.76 was withdrawn from the endowment portfolio for deposit into Restoration‘s Special Contingency Fund for emergencies, which is held in a savings account at Susquehanna Bank. A loan of $10,000.00 @ 3.25% interest for 60 months was taken from the endowment in October 2009 to cover the costs connected with the Fellowship Hall floods in August 2009. Repayment of this loan at $184.26 per month began in July 2010. $2211.12 was paid back to the endowment in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. According to this schedule this loan will be fully repaid to the endowment in June 2015.


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MINISTRY REPORTS


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JUSTICE COUNCIL

Bruce Pollack-Johnson, Chair

One of our ongoing efforts this church year was to sell Equal Exchange Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and other products. Kudos to Peter Johnstone and all of the others who helped make this possible. The money we raised more than covered the expenses of our weekly UUCR coffee hour. We continued our monthly “Change for Change” program, where any coins put into the collection plate each week would accumulate and the total would be sent to a different nonprofit organization each month. Beneficiaries included: UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ), the Philadelphia Unemployment Project (PUP) Film Series, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)/UU Service Committee Phillippines Fund, Joseph Priestley District (JPD) Journey Toward Wholeness (JTW, anti-racism initiative), Martin Luther King Day of Service, Stenton Family Manor (via Kathy Baxter), UUPLAN (UU Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network), Murray Grove (for UU summer camp), Heeding God’s Call (anti-gun-violence organization), and Frontline Dads . For the first few months of the church year, we ended our meetings in the 2013-14 church year with a discussion of Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow, about how mass incarceration and the criminal justice system have turned into a new system of racial control. In September, Justice Council, in cooperation with people from the post-Jubilee (anti-racism workshop) group hosted periodically at UUCR, crafted wording for a proposed 8th Principle on structural racism and other oppressions as follows:

Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions

The UUCR Board approved calling a Congregational Meeting October 20th to discuss this Principle, see if we wanted to adopt it as a congregation, and see if we wanted to recommend it to the UUA. At that meeting it was decided to incorporate the language of the 8th Principle into our UUCR Covenant. This wordsmithing was done by Steve Workman, Pat DeBrady, Kavita Goyal, Bruce Pollack-Johnson, Tim Styer, Cynthia Bradley, and Kathy Ellis, and was officially approved by the congregation at the Congregational Meeting on June 8th. The congregation also encouraged that the 8th Principle be discussed in other congregations around the UUA. Bruce Pollack-Johnson served as UUCR’s liaison to the Joseph Priestley District’s (JPD) Journey Toward Wholeness (anti-racism) team, and served on the planning team for the November 2013 Racial Justice conference at the Unitarian Society of Germantown (USG). Pat DeBrady and Ione Vargus served on a panel of elders as part of that conference. The end of the conference included a Teach-In on Mass Incarceration attended by hundreds of people, including many of our members. A number of our members attended the UUPLAN annual meeting in December, and have been active in various issue areas. UUCR designated $3000 of a gift from Helen Oerkvitz to go toward work related to mass incarceration, and we decided this money should go to The Center for Returning Citizens (TCRC),


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providing referrals and services for people returning to society from prison, led by Jondhi Harrell, who was a primary organizer of the Teach-In. UUCR led and participated in a number of different projects for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in January. Projects included making soup and working Stenton Family Manor. Kathy Baxter has been volunteering on a regular basis at Stenton Family Manor. From February to April, we co-hosted with PUP the Americans in Struggle film series (with discussion after each):

Feb. 12: Let Freedom Sing (music in the Civil Rights movement; discussion led by Rev. Joe Williams, of the Dixie Hummingbirds)

Feb. 26: Broken on All Sides and Stolen Dreams II (on mass incarceration; discussion led by Matt Pillischer, filmmaker of Broken on All Sides)

Mar. 12: Inside Job (on the financial crisis of 2008; discussion led by John Dodds, head of PUP)

Mar. 26: WalMart

Apr. 9: A Force More Powerful (on nonviolence)

Apr. 23: Fighting Back (Civil Rights school integration) and Our Schools Are Not For Sale (about Philly public schools)

May 14: Trigger (on gun violence) From February through June, 12 members participated in the Beloved Conversations covenant group curriculum on small-group discussion and dialogue about matters related to race from a perspective of spirituality, deep sharing, and learning from each other, facilitated by Kathy Ellis and Portia Hunt. This began with a 2-day retreat led by Manish Mishra-Marzetti (minister at the Cherry Hill UU church). Additional groups will be offered next year. In addition, we participated in the UUSC (UU Service Committee) Guest at Your Table program, and many from UUCR participated in the Interfaith Peace Walk. Plans were also made for a workshop for White Allies at the end of September, to be held in conjunction with a JPD People of Color Caucus meeting, with joint activities planned afterwards for all participants.


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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2013 -- 2014

Fern Culhane Due to the departure of our Religious Exploration Coordinator in June, there is just a single report about our program year. We provided Sunday School programming and Child Care for every Sunday, July 1 through June 30 except the one Sunday when church was cancelled due to the weather.

Religious Exploration Committee Fern Culhane Linda Hansell Len Reiser Katie Hughes, RE Coordinator

Religious Exploration Staff Katie Hughes, Coordinator Callie Sobolow-Lloyd, Nursery Caregiver Isa Reiser, Nursery Caregiver

Teachers and Volunteers Fern Culhane Elaine Faino-Morrison Brenda Ridley Carla Stephens Len Reiser Linda Hansell

Registered Nursery children: 4 with 3 or 4 visitors Registered Sunday School children: 6 with 3 or 4 visitors From late June through early September, we conducted a Super Cool Summer Sunday School program focused on the 7th principle with the central theme of the importance of pollinators in our world. The students learned about the variety of pollinators and the many types of native bees. We surveyed the church property to consider how to be a better environment for pollinators and collected and shaped pieces to create homes for some of the native (non- colonizing) bees. The younger children were ably supervised by our Nursery caregivers, Isa and Callie. For the regular September through June portion of the year, we resumed our Super Cool Sunday School format with the alternating Sundays structure, to accommodate both different learning styles and the ability to have our teachers attend some church services each month. Brenda Ridley provided the Craft Sunday programming which she connected to other aspects of congregational life such as making personal journals. Our Religious Exploration Coordinator, Katie Hughes, led a monthly chapel gathering where the children conducted their own style of worship with elements such as a chalice lighting or the sharing of joys, sorrows, and concerns, but also games and activities to support the topic or theme of the Sunday. On the Sundays between these two stand alone programs, there were two distinct classes. The elementary-aged children used a curriculum called Dr. Seuss Changed My Life, while our youth worked with the Tapestry of Faith curriculum called Heeding the Call: Qualities of a Justice Maker. Respectfully submitted by Fern Culhane, Chair of the Religious Exploration Committee


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ADMINISTRATION, PROGRAM AND ACTIVITY REPORTS


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2014 ANNUAL SERVICE AUCTION

Sarah Skochko

This year saw big changes for the annual service auction. Nevertheless, it was a success. We raised a total of $9,526 (at last count), which surpassed our fundraising goal. The attendance was unprecedented, and it was a wonderful social event for the community. The theme for 2014 was "Under the Sea." Costumed attendees were able to wander the Sanctuary during the cocktail hour and Silent Auction, sampling seaweed snacks and signing up for events as scenes from under the sea played on the big projector screen. Later, everyone headed down to the fabulously decorated Fellowship Hall for dinner and the live auction. Between Cynthia Bradley's original limericks and Gary Sobolow's performance as auctioneer, the audience was kept well-entertained. In past years, the auction had been held in November. By continuing to hold the auction in March in the coming years, we hope to avoid wintertime calendar congestion. From a financial perspective, it is also more convenient for people's pocketbooks if the auction falls after Christmas, but before the annual pledge drive. During the event, attendees voted on the theme for next year's auction, and the overwhelming favorite was “Slumber Party” with a tentative date of Friday, March 6, 2015. Perhaps the biggest change was that after hosting the auction for some 18 years, Mike Foy and Steve Workman began transitioning out of leadership this year, and it took approximately a dozen other people to fill their shoes. In addition to Mike and Steve, the hard-working auction committee included Cynthia Bradley, Dot Feely, Sandy Fulton, Annabel Grote, Portia Hunt, Maryellen Norek, Barbara Pauluch, Leigh Peranteau, Brenda Ridley, Gary Sobolow, and Jane Zaitz, with Sarah Skochko at the helm. Planning for 2015 should begin sometime around November, and everyone is welcome to volunteer.


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BOOKREADERS

Dot Feely, Coordinator The Restoration BOOKREADERS group has been meeting regularly for more than thirty-three years. Meetings are usually held once a month on Saturday afternoons in Hale lounge at the church. The books that are discussed are chosen by the group and reflect its varied tastes in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Selections for July 2013 through June 2014 were: The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Master of the Mountain by Henry Wiekcek Readers choice of any crime novel by Elmore Leonard Drift by Jonathan McGoran Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers My Promised Land by Ari Shavit Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan A First Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi The group enjoyed its traditional brunch in Hale lounge on New Year’s Day. The BOOKREADERS group welcomes new members. For information on the current book, meeting date and location, call Dot Feely at 215-572-5247 or email her at [email protected].


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BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND PROJECTS

Mike Foy, Chair of Building & Grounds

The building maintenance projects of note for 2013-2014 were: In addition to routine maintenance issues, several projects were brought to completion:

Pew cushions were ordered and installed. Monies for the project were from a bequest left by long time member Helen Oerkvitz.

The main chimney was cleaned and relined with the retired chimney at the back of the church sealed off.

A major upgrade to the electrical service to the sanctuary and Hale building was completed with new electrical panels installed and old wiring removed. More work needs to be done on upgrading outlets and lighting.

Initial pricing was secured for a wheel chair lift connecting the sanctuary level with the Fellowship Hall. The accessibility project was authorized by the Board and approved by the Congregation at the annual meeting. Funding for the project will be secured through a special campaign with any balance covered by a line of credit.

The final installation of storm windows has been completed thanks to a special fund raising campaign in memory of James Napper. The Board authorized that the balance of monies needed for the project be supplemented from the anonymous donor fund.


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JAZZ VESPERS

Domita Satchell Tim Styer shared his story about his introduction to Restoration with me one day. He was walking past the church and hear jazz so he decided to enter and enjoy. Tim expressed a desire to re-establish the Jazz Vespers services originally established by Adrienne Morrison.

With the help of Don Gardner and Lovett Hines of the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, the Jazz Vespers Services returned to Restoration on February 16. Kathy Ellis provided the spiritual inspiration and the Clef Club Intermediate Youth Ensemble, under the direction of Will Wright, provided wonderful musical inspiration leaving everyone smiling and energized.

Will Wright returned with the WWDT Organ Group providing the musical inspiration for the March 16 Vespers Service and Maria McCabe providing the spiritual inspiration.

Vocalist Gaille Hunter accompanied by Andy Trackman on the piano provided the musical offering for the April 20 Vespers Service. The Vespers Service started to become an anticipated service for several returning UUCR members as well as guests from the community.

Philadelphia Clef Club instructors and their talented, gifted students returned to play together on May 18.

The June Vespers Service, the last for the fiscal year, was on Father’s day and provided a special treat with something different that captured the theme for the month. The Jazz Tap Trio with hoofer Robert Burden, accompanied by Tim Motzer on guitar and Mike Pietrusko on drums delighted the congregation with the art of music played through dance. They provided a soulful and inspiring gift.

Rev. Kathy Ellis, Maria McCabe and Tim Styer led the Jazz Vespers worship services – welcoming the congregants and artists, lighting the chalice and providing words or quotes of inspiration.

Desi Lewis assisted with the fliers and posters, order of service design and production and e-newsletter entries. Mike Foy made sure there was a bank for change, checks to pay the artists and an announcement on the church sign when possible.

Many thanks to the Restoration members and friend who attended and supported as they could.

Special thanks and much appreciation to the Vesper Volunteers – Tim Styer, Brenda Ridley, Pat Garske, Janet Mason, Barbara McPherson, Melvin Murphy, Fern Culhane and Cynthia Bradley who helped spread the word and provided that special UUCR hospitality.

As Ann, a frequent Jazz Vespers guest, says about the service ‘Another lovely Sunday afternoon!’

Come share the experience….


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FOLK FACTORY

Bruce Pollack-Johnson

The mission of the Folk Factory is to promote the interactions between music (especially folk music) and progressive social change (justice, human rights, peace, and environmental sustainability). We also provide a "tiered career ladder" for people interested in performing music in public, from singing a song informally in our Open Circle to being invited to headline a concert. We try to bring socially conscious musicians to play in Sunday services whenever possible, and provide a reason for diverse people of all ages who are the kind of people likely to be interested in Unitarian Universalism to come to Restoration and get a feel for what we are like. Folk Factory volunteers have always been a nice mix of UUCR members and people who have nothing to do with the church (at least initially). We also try to produce benefit concerts for progressive nonprofits, and give publicity to progressive events happening in the Delaware Valley. This has been a good year for the Folk Factory. All of our concerts were successful musically (and most in audience size), we had a solid volunteer base, and the Open Stage/Open Circles were mostly well attended. We have been able to continue to offer childcare for concerts, but it has not always been used. Our publicity this year has been quite good, but we can always do better. Our email list continues to grow (we're over 300 now), and many people are finding us through our Web site, www.folkfactory.org . We are getting close to the point where we may start to lose some of the cost savings from bulk mail for our flyers, because so many people have switched from snail mail to email. If you have anywhere you can post flyers or spread the word about our concerts, please let us know, or just do it! Organizational offices or meeting locations of progressive nonprofits are especially appropriate. Our schedule included regular Open Stage/Open Circles on September 26 and October 24, and People’s Choice Open Stage/Open Circles (with audience voting on the Open Stage performers) January 23, February 27, March 27, and April 24 as well as the following concerts:

February 15, 2014: Liam Gallagher (Benefit Concert for Project Learn School Service Trip, with Peter Joseph opening)

March 15, 2014: Charlie King and Karen Brandow April 5, 2014: Anne Hills May 3, 2014: Tom Gala (Benefit Concert for Project Learn School) June 16, 2013: People’s Choice Concert (top vote-getters from the January-April Open Stages), with

Morgana Warner-Evans, Tony Berardi, Jim West, Harry Rothwell, and Mike Holliday We would like to thank Bruce McNeel for his beautiful flyer design and production, David and Pam Chaplin-Loebell for maintaining our Web site and email list, and the following members of the committee and volunteers for their help: Bruce Pollack-Johnson (Chair, Treasurer, flyer text composition, press releases), Linda Pollack-Johnson (childcare coordinator, food/supplies, bulk mailing Goddess), Karl Zielinski, Joe Fanning, Linda Hansell, Nancy Cunningham, Kate Casano (sound), Ken Brodsky, C.J. Fitts, Jenny French, Jeanne Allen, Harry Rothwell, Ben and Jamie Polson, and everyone else who has helped.

http://www.folkfactory.org/


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Because of the connections to Accessibility and progressive issues, Folk Factory has been most closely connected with the Justice Council. As always, we would be delighted if any other church members/friends would like to help us out with flyer production and distribution, volunteering at a concert or Open Stage/Open Circle, or any other behind the scenes work to support what we do (putting out flyers, etc.). Please call me (Bruce) at 215-848-6246 or email me at [email protected] if you think you might be interested in helping in any way, or have suggestions about performers you’d like to see us bring in. We don’t restrict ourselves to folk music per se, but try to maintain our focus on “music and progressive social change”. We continue to encourage announcements about progressive petitions, demonstrations, boycotts, etc., at all of our events, so let us know if there’s something you want to put out or announce at any event we have.

mailto:[email protected].


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INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

Jane Hain Internal Communications activities for the past year have involved the following components: Directory – Desi Lewis, with the help of Kathy Ellis and Larry Hain, was responsible for

maintaining the church database. Desi was responsible for creating the 2013-14 Directory report from this database. It was emailed to all active members and friends with addresses in the fall. Copies were printed for those who did not have email addresses. The entries are being kept up to date via the church database throughout the year.

Quarterly Newsletter – Jane Hain is responsible for publishing the quarterly newsletter. She produces a .pdf file which Desi emails to our members and friends who have email addresses. Jane also creates a hard copy version which is printed and mailed to those who do not have email access, and also placed around the church for visitors to read.

Web Site – As Webmaster, Jane is responsible for Restoration’s website administration – She

maintains all pages and posts weekly information updates including the newsletter, upcoming events, Board information, forms and documents.

Online Weekly Newsletter – An on-line weekly newsletter is produced and distributed by Desi Lewis.

Annual Report – Desi and Kathy are responsible for creating and emailing the Annual Report. Hard copies are made available for those members and friends without email addresses.


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EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

Janet Mason

This past year, UUCR has had increased press coverage and photographs published in local news outlets. New member Janet Mason has been working with Cynthia Bradley on the communications committee. The purpose of the photographs and news items published after the events is to inform the wider community about the activities of the Church and its involvement in church and community life. NewsWorks.org (The Philadelphia website of WHYY public television) -- has published photos of the Jazz Vespers series on its Facebook Page. Scoop USA (a local African American paper) -- has published photos and a write up of the UUCR Jazz Vesper guests -- the Youth Ensemble from the Philadelphia Clef Club -- on its front page The Chestnut Hill Local (a local paper covering Northwest Philadelphia) -- has published a pre-concert photo and interview with Jazz Vesper solist Gaille Hunter The Chestnut Hill -- Mt. Airy Patch (an AOL nationwide local news network) published photographs and write ups on the following (a partial listing):

The UUCR T-shirt memorial to those killed by gun violence (with Heeding God's Call) http://patch.com/pennsylvania/chestnuthill/mtshirt-memorial-to-those-slain-by-guns-on-lawn-of-uu-church-on-stenton-avenue#.U9g2Six0zrc

UUCR features Youth Ensemble of the Philadelphia Clef Club at its Jazz Vesper series

http://patch.com/pennsylvania/chestnuthill/clef-club-brings-jazz-vespers-with-unitarian-universalist-church#.U9g3cyx0zrc UUCR's annual silent auction -- themed "creatures of the sea"

http://patch.com/pennsylvania/chestnuthill/e8176f2e-652c-44b6bce6839e50911bb9#.U9g4mCx0zrc


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BUILDING RENTALS

Dot Feely, Event Coordinator Building rentals provided a good source of income (almost $6000, above budget in every category) for Restoration in FY2013-2014. Our beautiful buildings and the facilities are popular in the community for holding many different kinds of celebrations and meetings. The Fellowship Hall, with the little lights sparkling around the ceiling, is an ideal space for parties for children of all ages. Hale Lounge offers a more intimate space for smaller meetings. We charge various fees for rentals depending on the nature of the events and the abilities of the renters to pay. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year the following rental events were held at Restoration: Two Choral Recitals by the Philadelphia Womens’ Music Project in the Sanctuary followed by a receptions in the Fellowship Hall.

Two Weddings were held in the sanctuary. The April 12 wedding of Emily Geiser (David Simpson’s granddaughter) to Paul Christiansen was followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.. One graduation party and two birthday parties were held in the Fellowship Hall. One Funeral Repast was held in the Fellowship Hall. The annual Fifth District Christmas Party, hosted by our neighbor Christine Meadows was held in December. Chris has been holding these very well-attended parties for many years at Restoration. Four Stress Management Workshops, led by Natalie Bliss, were held in Hale Lounge. Open Circle Art Miron, local psychologist and musician, holds forth at an Open Circle in Hale Lounge every third Thursday evening. This is a venue for musicians and other performers to play their instruments, sing and recite. Art “passes the hat” at the conclusion of each session and Restoration receives the hat contents as income. Soul Line Dance Classes, led by popular local Soul Line Dance Teacher Tina Allen, are held throughout the year on various evenings and on Saturdays in the Fellowship Hall. The Scene (formerly the Singles Scene) has been meeting in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday evenings for 34 years. Kirtan Chanting Joseph Anthony leads Kirtan chanting in the Sanctuary on Sunday evenings.


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MISCELLANEOUS FUND RAISING

Dot Feely, Coordinator

Miscellaneous fund raising efforts brought in considerable income to Restoration in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Book Sales The supply of used books, DVDs & CDs, VHS & audio tapes and jig saw puzzles that are donated to our Library in the Fellowship Hall by members, friends and neighbors in the community seems to be unending. The Library is a popular spot for browsing during coffee hour each Sunday. Other groups that use the Fellowship Hall during the week also browse and buy, judging from the monies that are found in the honor box early each Sunday morning. Two community “BIG BOOK SALES” were held in the Fellowship Hall on the Saturdays of July 6, and September 7. These sales as well as sales throughout the 2013-2014 fiscal year brought in $1,204.00. This is all profit. There is no expense except for the time spent by volunteers to set-up, act as Hall Monitors, cashier and take down the display of books at the close of the sale, the value of which is incalculable. We could not mount sales like this without lots of volunteer help. Any leftover books in September were put outside around the tree well for our neighbors to take free of charge, although many put donations in the envelopes provided for that purpose. Holiday Bargain Shoppe During the first three Sundays prior to December 25, the Holiday Bargain Shoppe is open in the Fellowship Hall. It has been operating since the 1980s. The original idea was to recycle decorations and other holiday items that were no longer wanted by our members and friends, but it has been expanded to include unwanted gift items, jewelry, china, glassware, pictures and picture frames, household items and handicrafts. The Holiday Bargain Shoppe has become a very popular and profitable fund raiser, bringing in over $836.00 in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Flea Market Cynthia Bradley coordinated a Community Flea Market on Saturday, October 5. Many spaces were sold to vendors and customer traffic was very good. Restoration had its own “White Elephant Table”. Even a PGW crew digging a hole across the street on Stenton Avenue, which raised clouds of dust and made a lot of noise, did not deter buyers. Income from the Flea Market was $877.00. Goodsearch Rebate Program Goodsearch.com is a search engine that donates half its advertising income, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine by hitting the Goodsearch button link on the Restoration web site or go to http://www.goodsearch.com. Be sure to enter the “Unitarian Universalist Church of the restoration” as the charity you want to support. Staples Business Rewards Program A percentage of any personal or business Staples store, catalog, or online purchases will be credited to Restoration’s business account by showing a Staples Business Rewards card (#005970318-1) or giving the church’s telephone number (215-247-2561) at the time of purchase.

http://www.goodsearch.com/


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In addition, if you turn in your used printer cartridges to Staples (no purchase necessary - just give Restoration’s Rewards # or telephone #), Restoration will receive a $2.00 credit for each cartridge. Used cartridges can also be left on the table in the Duo Room, where they will be picked up for delivery to Staples. The cartridge credits, along with purchase credits, really add up. They help to defray the cost of Restoration’s office supplies. Supermarket and Other Rebates: These rebates brought in about $79.00 to Restoration in the 2013-2014 FY, primarily from our Pathmark Shoppers. The Pathmark Community rewards program replaced the old Genuardi’s eScrip Program.after the Genuardi Supermarkets went out of Business in 2012. It works the same way in that purchases made at any Pathmark Supermarket using the Pathmark Advantage Club Card or the New Pathmark Perks Card will earn 1% for Restoration monthly. If you shop at Pathmark please make sure that you register you Advantage or Perks card with Dot Feely, coordinator for the program, so that your purchases can benefit our church.


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AUDIT REPORT


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TECHNICAL NOTE

Accounts Receivable. We found that a receivable of $27.75, which had appeared on our balance sheet for Fiscal 2013, was still posted on the system. This amount represented a bounced check which Quickbooks had automatically entered as a receivable. However, we discovered that the amount had actually been repaid, along with the resulting bank charge. Unfortunately, the repayment had been entered incorrectly—in a way that had not removed the receivable. Before concluding the audit, we made a new entry, dated June 30, 2014, to record the payment properly and to clear the receivable. This entry affected both the balance sheet and the income statement.


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BYLAWS

of

THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF THE

RESTORATION

[Amended June 1989, May 1997, February 1999, May 2000, June

2004, March 2009, March 2012]

ARTICLE I: NAME This organization, originally incorporated as

"The Second Independent Church of Christ, called Universalist, of

the Northern Liberties of the City of Philadelphia", shall continue

to be known under its new name as "The Unitarian Universalist

Church of the Restoration".

ARTICLE II: AFFILIATION This Church, as a member of the

Unitarian Universalist Association and the Pennsylvania

Universalist Convention, is pledged to cooperate in raising funds

and in fostering and extending all the interests of the Association

on the continental, district, state and local levels.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: [Admission] Any person who by signing the

Membership Book declares the intention to support the goals of the

Church and Unitarian Universalist Purposes and Principles shall be

welcomed for membership by vote of the Trustees.

Section 2: [Status] Membership may be maintained by

involvement in Church programs and/or financial support of

record.

Section 3: [Termination] Any member's name shall be dropped

from the rolls at the request of the member. If a member who has

been absent for one year cannot be contacted, the name of the

member may be dropped from the rolls by vote of the Trustees.


45

ARTICLE IV: CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

Section 1: [Annual Meeting] The Annual Congregational Meeting

shall be held during May or June on a date designated by the

Trustees. At this meeting Officers and other Trustees shall be

elected and such other business as may be deemed appropriate

shall be transacted.

Section 2: [Budget Meeting] At the Annual Meeting, or at a

separate meeting prior to the Annual Meeting, the Board shall

submit the proposed budget to the congregation for review and

approval. The Secretary of the Board shall post the proposed

budget at least two weeks prior to the meeting. At this meeting

there shall be approved an Auditing Committee to audit the books

of the Treasurer and their report shall be submitted to the Board no

later than the Board’s December meeting.

Section 3: [Special Meetings] A Special Congregational Meeting

shall be called by the Secretary upon the order of the Board of

Trustees, upon written application of any five Trustees, or upon

written petition of ten percent of members over 18, or 25 members

over 18, whichever is fewer. The call to meeting shall state the

purpose of the meeting, and the business conducted at the meeting

shall be confined to the stated purpose.

BYLAWS of UUCR Page 1 of 7

Section 4: [Notice of Meetings] Congregational Meetings shall be

duly announced by written notice deposited in the United States

mail not less than ten days in advance, stating place, day, hour, and

the nature of the business to be transacted. To conserve resources,

any member may waive the notice by United States mail and elect

in writing to receive notice in person or by electronic mail.

Section 5: [Quorum] A quorum shall be fifteen percent of the

members, except that where laws or these Bylaws impose special

voting restrictions the quorum shall be fifteen percent of those


46

eligible to vote.

Section 6: [Voting] Members shall have the right of voice and vote

on any matter pertaining to the Church except that:

1) [1] a member under the age of 18 shall not vote on contractual

obligations nor on election of Board members and Officers;

2) [2] a member of less than six months standing shall not vote on

sale or purchase of real estate nor on election [call] or

dismissal of the Minister; and

3) [3] a member who does not regularly support the Church

financially may not vote unless the Board waives this

requirement on the grounds of financial hardship.

All decisions shall be by majority vote of those present and voting,

except where otherwise provided. Use of secret ballots shall be at

the discretion of the Moderator, by request of any three members

present and eligible to vote, or pursuant to Section 7 below.

Section 7: [Method of Election] Balloting shall be by voice vote,

except in cases of more than one candidate for an office, secret

ballots shall be used.

ARTICLE V: BOARD of TRUSTEES

Section 1: [Composition] There shall be eight members of the

Board of Trustees - four of whom shall hold the offices of

Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Secretary, and Treasurer - elected

in staggered terms. Each Trustee shall be a member of the Church

at least 18 years of age.

Section 2: [Term of Office] Trustees shall be elected by the

congregation for terms of two years, or for the remainders of

unexpired terms.

Section 3: [Duties and Powers] The temporal affairs of this Church


47

shall be administered by the Board of Trustees. This Board shall

have charge of the administration of the church and care of its

properties. The policies and actions of all officially affiliated

organizations shall also be subject to its approval. Between

meetings of the congregation, the Board shall have the powers of

the Church itself, except those reserved to the full congregation by

law or by these Bylaws, provided that the Board shall not authorize

conveyance nor mortgaging of real estate or enter into contracts

involving expenditures that exceed five percent of the annual

budget without congregational approval by majority vote of those

present and voting at a duly called Congregational Meeting. The

title of all properties owned by the Church shall be vested in the

church under control of the Board. The Board shall have authority

to employ or dismiss any employee of the church except the

Minister, who is called and dismissed by the congregation. See

Article VIII, Sections 3 and 5.


Section 4: [Regular and Special Meetings] The Board of Trustees

shall meet within one month after the election of Trustees and

Officers and at such regular intervals thereafter as the Board may

decide. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the

Moderator or by any three members of the Board upon notice to

each Board member stating place, date and hour.

Section 5: [Quorum and Voting] Five members shall constitute a

quorum, and decisions shall be by majority vote of those present.

Section 6: [Vacancies] Any vacancy on the Board may be filled by

interim appointment lasting until the next Annual Meeting, from

members of the Church more than 18 years of age, by vote of the

Board. Any remainder of the unexpired term shall be filled at that

Annual Meeting through election by the congregation.

Section 7: [Removal] If a Trustee is absent from Board meetings

for three consecutive meetings, without notice and without


48

reasonable cause, or is absent from Church services for six months

or more, the Board may declare that office vacant by a majority

vote.

Section 8: [Recall of Trustees or Members of Nominating

Committee] Upon written petition of ten percent of the members

over 18, or 25 members over 18, whichever is fewer, a Special

Congregational Meeting shall be called within 30 days. The

purpose will be to recall the Trustee and/or Nominating Committee

member, which shall be accomplished by a vote pursuant to Article

IV, Sections 5 and 6.

Section 9: [Limitation on Liability] A Trustee shall not be

personally liable for monetary damages for any action on or after

January 27, 1987, or any failure to take any action on or after such

date, unless:

[i] the Trustee has breached or failed to perform the duties of his

office under Section 8363 of the Pennsylvania Directors Liability

Act [relating to standard of care and justifiable reliance] and

[ii] the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful

misconduct or recklessness.

The provisions of the Section shall not apply to:

. [i] the responsibility or liability of a Trustee, pursuant to any

criminal statute or

. [ii] the liability of a Trustee for the payment of taxes pursuant to

local, state or federal law.

Any repeal or modification of this Section shall be prospective

only, and shall not affect, to the detriment of any Trustee, any

limitation on the personal liability of a Trustee of the Church

existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS


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Section 1: [Number] The Officers of this Church shall be a

Moderator, an Assistant Moderator, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2: [Qualifications] All Officers shall be members of the

Church at least 18 years of age, and shall be designated as

members of the Board of Trustees for their term of office.


Section 3: [Moderator] The Moderator shall preside at all meetings

of the congregation and of the Trustees, shall appoint all

committees unless otherwise ordered, shall be an ex-officio

member of all committees except the Nominating Committee, the

Ministerial Search Committee and the Committee on Ministry, and

shall perform all other duties appropriate to the office. The

Moderator may vote only in case of a tie.

Section 4: [Assistant Moderator] The Assistant Moderator shall act

for the Moderator in the latter's absence and shall assist in

coordinating activities of the Church and in carrying out the

policies of the Board of Trustees.

Section 5: [Secretary] The Secretary is responsible for and shall

oversee a record of all meetings of the congregation and of

Trustees, subject to their control; shall oversee the maintenance of

a list of names and addresses of the members of the Church; shall

notify Officers and other Trustees of their election; shall give due

notice of congregational and Board meetings; shall prepare the

needed reports for Church business; shall have the care and

custody of the seal and documents belonging to the Church, unless

otherwise provided for; and shall perform all other duties

appropriate to the office.

Section 6: [Treasurer] The Treasurer is responsible for and shall

oversee the collection and receipt of all monies belonging to the

church; shall deposit same in such bank or other financial

institution as may be designated by the Board of Trustees; shall


50

make quarterly reports to the Board; shall pay all bills duly

authorized by the Board; shall keep accounts of all transactions in

the books of the Church, which shall be examined annually by the

Auditing Committee; shall make a report at the Annual Meeting;

shall in conjunction with the Moderator and the Chairperson of the

Finance Committee, have custody of all records of property

belonging to the Church; and shall perform all other duties

appropriate to the office.

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Section 1: [Nomination] The Nominating Committee shall consist

of four members, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of

Trustees. The chairperson and two members who are members of

the Congregation who are not members of the Board shall be

elected at the Annual Meeting. Nominations for these positions

shall be made by the current nominating committee.

The chairperson and two members shall be elected by the

congregation for terms of two years, or for the remainders of

unexpired terms, resulting in three two-year cycles of one

committee member each for a maximum of six years. A committee

member completing three consecutive terms (six years) may not

stand for re-election for at least one year. If before that year

expires the Board appoints the former committee member to fill a

vacancy until the next Annual Meeting, such interim service shall

bar the committee member from standing for re-election at that

time.

The other member shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees at

the next Board meeting following the Annual Meeting. Any

vacancy on the nominating committee shall be filled by the Board

of Trustees by interim appointment lasting until the next Annual

Meeting.



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Section 2: [Duties] The Committee shall solicit suggestions for

nominations for Officers, Trustees and its replacement member(s),

select nominees, verify their willingness to serve and shall present

its slate of nominees to the Secretary thirty days prior to the

Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall post this slate prominently

within the Church. Within one week of such posting any additional

nominations by other members shall be presented to the Secretary,

and upon the Secretary's verification of such nominees' willingness

to serve, these nominations shall be similarly posted. All

nominations shall be given equal publicity in all Church media.

ARTICLE VIII: MINISTER

Section 1: [Qualifications] Only ministers who hold fellowship in

the Unitarian Universalist Association shall be called as ministers

of this Church. In any interim, the Trustees shall have the power to

supply the pulpit until a minister is chosen.

Section 2: [Search and Nomination] A Ministerial Search

Committee shall be nominated by the Board and elected at a

Special Congregational Meeting called for this purpose. The

Search Committee shall give due consideration to the rules and

guidelines established by the Unitarian Universalist Association. It

shall present the results of its search in the form of a nomination

for final action by the congregation.

Section 3: [Calling] Action on this nomination shall be by majority

vote of the congregation at a Special Congregational Meeting

called for this purpose. If the vote is favorable, a letter of

agreement, including all terms of employment and understanding

between the Board and the Minister, shall be approved by the

Board and signed by the Moderator and the Minister.

Section 4: [Conditions of Employment] The Minister's salary shall

be reviewed annually at the time the Church budget is being

formulated. Other contract provisions shall be reviewed


52

periodically, but at least every three years.

Section 5: [Departure] A three month notice by Minister or Church

is required for termination of the agreement except where a

different length of time may be agreed upon. Such termination by

the Church shall require action by secret ballot at a regular or

special Congregational Meeting for which due notice has been

given of the proposed action. [Due notice shall be as indicated in

Article IV, Section 4].

ARTICLE IX: FISCAL YEAR The fiscal Year shall run from

July 1st through June 30th.

ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION A decision to dissolve this Church

for any cause shall require a four-fifths vote of those present and

voting at a regular or special Congregational Meeting for which

due notice has been given of this proposed action. In case of

dissolution of the Church, all its assets, subject to all just and legal

claims, shall vest in the Unitarian Universalist Association to be

held in trust for a future Unitarian Universalist Church in this city

or for the furtherance of Unitarian Universalism in some other

way.


ARTICLE XI: FINANCE Investments of the Church shall be

overseen by a Finance Committee that shall act in an advisory

capacity to the Board. The Committee, consisting of the Treasurer

and two or more other members appointed by the Moderator for

three-year terms with the approval of the Board, shall select its

own chairperson. After serving two consecutive three-year terms

or six consecutive years, committee members shall not be eligible

for reappointment for at least one year. Three members of the

Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall meet at

least three times during the year and shall make an oral and written

report to the Annual Meeting. The Finance Committee shall have

oversight over all investments, assets, stewardship, and fundraising


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initiatives, including planned giving, subject to approval of the

Board.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS These Bylaws may be amended

at any meeting of the congregation provided the proposed

amendment has been included in the notice calling the meeting.

Adoption of any amendment requires a two-thirds vote of the

members present and voting, except that Article X may be

amended only by a four-fifths vote. Amendments shall go into

effect immediately upon adoption.

ARTICLE XIII: AVAILABILITY Copies of these Bylaws shall

be available to all members of this Church.

ARTICLE XIV: INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1: [Right to Indemnification] The Church shall indemnify

any person [an "Indemnitee"] who was or is a party or is threatened

to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,

suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or

investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a

Trustee or Officer of the Church, against expenses [including

attorneys' fees], judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement

actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with

such action, suit or proceeding, whether or not the indemnified

liability arises or arose from any threatened, pending or completed

action by or in the right of the Church, to the extent that such

person is not otherwise indemnified to the extent that such

indemnification is not prohibited by applicable law.

Section 2: [Advance of Expenses] Expenses incurred by an

Indemnitee in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or

proceeding shall be paid by the Church in advance of the final

disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an

undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such

amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not


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entitled to be indemnified by the Church.


Section 3: [Procedure for Determining Permissibility] To

determine whether any indemnification or advance of expenses

under this Article is permissible, the Board of Trustees by a

majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees not party to such

action, suit or proceeding may, and on request of any person

seeking indemnification or advance of expenses shall be required

to, determine in each case whether the applicable standards in an

applicable statute have been met, or such determination shall be

made by independent legal counsel if such quorum is not

attainable, or, even if obtainable, a majority vote of a quorum of

disinterested Trustees so directs. The reasonable expense of an

Indemnitee in prosecuting a successful claim for indemnification,

and the fees and expenses of any special legal counsel engaged to

determine permissibility of indemnification or advance of

expenses, shall be borne by the Church.

Section 4: [Contractual Obligation] The obligations of the Church

to indemnify any person under this Article, including the duty to

advance expenses, shall be considered a contract between the

Church and such person and no modification or repeal of any

provision of this Article shall affect, to the detriment of any

Indemnitee, such obligations of the Church in connection with a

claim based on any act of the Church in connection with a claim

based on any act or failure to act occurring before such

modification or repeal.

Section 5: [Indemnification Not Exclusive; Inuring of Benefit] The

indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this

Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which

one indemnified may be entitled under any agreement, vote of

members, Trustees or otherwise, both as to action in such person's

official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding


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such office, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors

and administrators of any such person.

Section 6: [Insurance, Security and Other Indemnification] The

Board of Trustees shall have the power to:

. [i] authorize the Church to purchase and maintain, at the

Church's expense, insurance on behalf of the Church and

others to the extent that power to do so has not been

prohibited by applicable law,

. [ii] create any fund of any nature, whether or not under the

control of a Trustee, or otherwise secure any of its

indemnification obligations and

. [iii] give other indemnification to the extent not prohibited by

statute.
