2004 Report of the Minister
A year ago as I wrote my report, our country was beginning
what was to be a quick attack on Iraq. We Unitarian Universalists
worked hard to articulate and promote our values. Today the
issue that’s most front and center is “gay marriage,”
and again, UU’s are working hard to articulate and promote
our values. The Church of the Larger Fellowship adds its voice
around the world in Quest, on-line, and in our relationships
with our members every day.
Meanwhile, the work of our church continues in other ways,
both new and long established. A vision for years and still
a dream a year ago, our cyberminister, Jone Lewis Johnson,
is now in place. We had to start small at a quarter-time,
but to begin our commitment to cyber staffing at all is a
real mark of progress.
Our prison ministry, the only one in the UU universe, is
gathering new members and new pen pals right and left. The
CLF’s religious education on-line curriculum plan has
been fleshed out and refined, and our Church-on-Line program,
soon to serve international groups, is ready for launching.
But perhaps our biggest news is that our relationship with
the UUA, which a year ago I described to you as “awkward,”
has stabilized in two ways:
First, we have entered into a five-year agreement that
calls both for free rent for the CLF and the continuation
of $12,000 each year from the UUA toward the support of
our small groups. Our Annual Program Fund obligation will
be 4.2% of our operating budget (the same as for other large
churches). For example, in 2005, the UUA will give the CLF
the equivalent of $25,296 in rent and grants, and the CLF
will give the UUA $18,600 for the Annual Program Fund. (Under
the former agreement we would have paid both rent and APF
totaling approximately $25,000—and we would have received
nothing in 2005). Further, our commitment to maintaining
generous APF donations to the Association enables us more
easily to foster ties between our members and the UUA. This
agreement creates a clear, smooth, and happy interaction
between the two organizations.
Second, after years of conversation with the UUA, our fantasy
of sending the CLF’s children’s magazine, uu&me,
to every Unitarian Universalist is about to come true. As
of June, as per our board’s vote, uu&me
will cease to exist in its present form and will reappear
in September as a four-page centerfold insert in every issue
of the UU World. We believe this is a wonderful step
for the movement at large, as well as a clear opportunity
to get the CLF’s name into every UU household on a
regular basis.
Finally, I want you to know that I constantly receive compliments
about…you! “What an amazing board you have,”
they say. “Can’t you find anybody who’s
been around the denomination a little?” they joke. “Are
you nuts?” they ask, “setting yourself up to deal
with all those smart people and all their energy?!”
And “You have such nice people on your board. What did
you do to deserve that?!” Well it may be true that I
don’t really deserve such a great board, but I do appreciate
each one of you, your service to this congregation and to
Unitarian Universalism. And I thank you.
Jane Rzepka, minister
Church of the Larger Fellowship
March 30, 2004
Last updated June 12, 2005
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