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I'm writing to let you know that I'll be leaving my position as the New England Regional Lead at the end of July.
My departure is bittersweet. Over the last nine years, I have been inspired by story after story of creative, generative congregations and leaders retooling Unitarian Universalism into a relevant and transformational presence in communities across New England. I will miss you!
And I am leaving to take up work that is absolutely captivating to me. I will become a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School, where I will work to support the emerging landscape of millennial spirituality at the edges of and beyond traditional religious institutions. I will carry into this new role everything I've learned from our people, and from so many of you.
My departure may add to a sense of instability in UUA leadership, but I sincerely hope you will not let it. I am not leaving out of protest or conflict. I have tremendous confidence in Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, our Association's new president, and I genuinely believe we are at the beginning of a new chapter in Unitarian Universalism. You will continue to be served by the remarkable New England Region staff team, who are quite simply among the finest religious leaders I know.
Friends, as I leave, I ask that you double down on your commitment to our associational faith and to our UUA. Liberal religious congregations may be a singular hope in our hurting world, but no congregation or leader on their own has an iota of the power or moral voice that we do when we stay connected in covenant. Unitarian Universalism is literally comprised of covenanted communities - isolated, we are virtually powerless. But together, well, that is another thing entirely.
I can't wait to see what you do together! I will be rooting for you all.
In faith,
Rev. Sue Phillips
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