Our “Community Chat” is an opportunity for all CUUC members and friends to provide input and ask questions of the Committee on Ministry.
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The Committee on Ministry plans to hold its final Community Chat of the program year following the service on Sun May 22. This “chat” will once again take place in a hybrid format to accommodate in-person attendees (in Fellowship Hall) as well as remote attendees who participate via Zoom.
Returning to live activities after a second hiatus due to Covid is a likely focus of the conversation but, as always, the chat is an opportunity for CUUC members and attendees to discuss any of their concerns about the life of the congregation. One area of particular interest to us is your perspective on how best to further facilitate one of the recommendations coming out of last year’s congregational Racial Bias survey that asked each CUUC committee to update its mission statement or covenant to more overtly acknowledge and counter the risk of unintentional racial bias or exclusionary behavior in our activities. Once again, we ask that remote participants clearly identify themselves for the chat.
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Mission: Help the congregation fulfill its mission by making recommendations to the Board of Trustees and minister. Be attentive to the mission and to the covenant among the congregation members of commitment to that mission.
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Feedback: Carry out the ongoing review of the Minister and CUUC’s four areas of ministry: Worship, Justice, Education, and Pastoral (Congregation Member) Care.
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o Gather data on key issues from the congregation, such as by conducting surveys.
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o Make recommendations from feedback.
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o Communicate key recommendations to the Board of Trustees and the congregation.
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Education:
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o Make the congregation aware of CUUC’s mission (brochures, orientations, newsletter editorials, worship services).
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o Make the congregation aware of the responsibilities of the COM.
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Consultation: Consult with the minister and leadership of the congregation:
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o Encourage minister to establish annual goals.
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o Make recommendations to the ministers in respect to enhancing the quality of their leadership.
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Ordination of Ministers: Make recommendation on ordination of prospective UU ministers and authorization of certain members to represent CUUC in the officiating of weddings and memorial services (separate from the congregation’s ministerial search processes).
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Conflict Management: Initiate and oversee processes of reconciliation when there are conflicts between a CUUC member and another member, a CUUC staff member, or the Minster. The COM does not perform conflict resolution but manages it.
