At the Dec. 8th Congregational Meeting we repeated the "circle group" discussions first conducted on Sunday, Nov. 24th, at which time the congregation considered three versions of a mission statement initially proposed by the mission committee.  In this second round of group discussions, a total of 123 members and friends broke into 9 small, randomly selected groups to discuss three newly proposed versions of the mission statement, based on the congregational response to the initial proposals.   A tenth group of 12 youth from RE, along with 2 adult facilitators, joined the exercise.  At the end of an engaged and lively session, the groups reported verbally to the congregation.  Some very clear common threads ran through the output, and the groups generated eight specific proposals for a final mission statement, which were significantly more similar than they were different.

 

On Sat., Dec. 14th, the mission committee met and analyzed the congregation's response, including the notes of the ten groups, which reflected the initial votes on the three proposed versions and the specific suggestions made by individual participants; the groups' verbal reports and their proposed final mission statements as well as other communications from CUC members and friends. We were struck by how significantly the congregation has moved toward a consensus. Our task was to compare and consider this input and arrive at a final mission statement for CUC.   As a result, all 5 members of the mission committee agreed to propose the following mission statement for the congregation's approval:

 

CUC is a welcoming, multi-generational congregation that embraces diversity.  Our mission is to:

• Nurture each other in our spiritual journeys,
• Foster compassion and understanding within and beyond our community, and
• Engage in service to transform ourselves and our world

 

The "pocket sized "version: 

Nurture Spirituality

Foster Compassion

Engage in Service

 

A Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12th to continue our work on the mission statement - hopefully to joyous conclusion!  We will conduct a vote on the proposed final mission statement, via confidential individual ballot.  A 67% (2/3) majority is required to adopt the final mission statement, pursuant to a vote taken at the Dec. 8th Congregational Meeting, at which time we voted on the percentage of votes necessary for approval of a final mission statement.  A total of 112 confidential ballots were cast.  The winner was "67%", by a substantial margin of 71 to 41 (the other choice was 80%).  As a result, our mission statement will be approved if 67% or more of the votes are cast in favor of it. 

 

We are delighted with the enormous progress achieved in the last four weeks.  The sincere and persistent efforts of the entire congregation in bringing us to this point are deeply appreciated by the mission committee.  A final push across the finish line in January is the last piece to the puzzle.  Let's keep moving forward - together.

 

Mission Committee

 

Mary Cavallero

Joe Majsak

Randy Marshall

Al Rocchi

Janice Silverberg