Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Emerald Coast

Hello to all. We’ve really started this year with a bang – we’ve had average of over 100 attendees to our Jan-Feb services, and a high number of people taking part in the 2nd Hr programs – 68 at our Jan 24th Sunday. I bet you can tell I love statistics! I do, and I think they help us gauge how we are doing. The biggest number is the kids attending our Religious Exploration programs – averaging over 20. We started our current RE approach being led by a professional RE Director with 2 or 3 kids attending. Our Fellowship’s commitment to the children’s RE programs and to our adult RE programs during 2nd hr is really showing not only numerical increases, but improvements in quality – reflected by the attendance increases and in the number of people who consistently support them.

So what happens next? We are nearing the end of our current Canvass Drive, asking our Members and Friends to step forward and fund our special religious community we have here. We will see where we are at the end of February, but early indications are we are doing very well. We need each in our Community to step forward and assist in the financial support of this most special place.

And what now? We seem to be becoming limited, again, by space. Yes, we have room for all who attend our Sunday Services, but we are limiting what we can do during 2nd Hr. We have little to no room for additional classes. Our kids’ programs must be combined and one moved back to 1st Hr; our Adult Classes are restricted to 3 or 4 a Sunday because of limited space. We have a number of members come forward with new and exciting programs for 2nd Hr, but can’t add them – no room. So we need to look at how we can add more room, more flexibility. Our various Committees and our Board will begin looking at options, short and long term options.

And each of us can join in. We need volunteers and ideas. Come join in this exciting time. Our Members and Friends stepped forward when we realized we’d outgrown our older building. We now need to look again at how we support our growing Community. Come join in the fun!

In Fellowship,

Denny Lauer

Well, we have another new year starting – new President and Executive Board, and new Board Members – and the President’s first Newsletter should list their goals and ‘vision’ for the Fellowship, and what they wish to accomplish this year. OK, I’ll tell you what I want to accomplish, but our Fellowship already has stated it’s goals and vision, so what I want to accomplish is to help the Fellowship strive for those – not to set my own vision or path. My job is what many of our previous President’s have done, which is to assist and coordinate the path and vision set by the members.

Our Fellowship has grown from a small group of friends and neighbors into one of the larger UU communities in the MidSouth District. Once, we were focused on just keeping the doors open (yes, we still are battling the Budget Crisis) but we now strive to build a safe place for each of us to grow spiritually, and to build a community that not only supports each other but our larger community. I know, I’ve overused the word ‘community’, but I think that is a word we need to overuse. We are a Community and need to keep that in mind, especially those of us that have taken on specific leadership rolls. One of our main tools is the exercise of the democratic process. This means our committees, boards and individual leaders need to focus on working for the common good, not our own personal wishes and views. But each Fellowship member needs to keep in mind that we have given our committees and boards responsibilities. We don’t tell a committee, ‘you have responsibility over this unless you make a decision I disagree with’. We need to insure a proper process is followed, not that the committee or board comes to the right, i.e. my, decision.

We are transitioning from a small individual-action Fellowship into a Process Fellowship. Before, individuals would see what they believe needed to be done and go do it. We’d appreciate their work and their commitment. But now, we are working through committees and processes that reflect the overall democratic process and what is best for the Fellowship in meeting its goals and vision.

I’ve held many positions in the Fellowship over the 20+ years I’ve been a member, serving on the Board and on most of the committees, but never President. Why? Because I saw my ‘leadership’ approach to be in conflict with what our Fellowship needed. Being a military person, the democratic process wasn’t the proper model – you researched an issue, discussed options, prioritized them, presented them to either the person or committee in charge which then made the choice. And the decision was then executed. Process was important and this works well in committees and for certain Board actions, but not for the overall Fellowship leadership. Working here, I slowly learned the importance of ‘consensus’ and working the democratic process.

So, hopefully, I won’t let my personal views and goals interfere with what is best for the Fellowship, and I hope each of us see our Fellowship as a place to become involved, at the level we are comfortable with, and join in.

In Fellowship,

Denny Lauer

Don Harrison

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.” — T.S. Eliot

As we transition to a new year of fellowship and new leadership, I find myself in that strangely familiar posture of both looking backward and looking forward simultaneously. There is much that we can find to be grateful for over the past year, from buying down our mortgage and installing a new HVAC to celebrating our accreditation as a Green Sanctuary. Our congregation has supported Opportunity Place and the generosity of our members has fed their residents. There is the remembrance of shared fellowship in Family Nights and potluck gatherings as well as the successful Dining for Dollars meals together in small groups. We found ourselves inspired and entertained by Peter Mayer and called to introspection and spiritual growth by our minister Rod Debs, and guest speakers including Nels Oas. We have weathered challenges together and celebrated successes together. In the year to come, we will have many more opportunities for service, caring fellowship and spiritual growth. I want to thank this beloved community for your support and friendship over this past year. I look forward to hearing new voices, including each of yours, as we continue our journey together into the new year. Remember that we are willing to be changed by your presence among us.