Introducing Congregational Ministry Committee members:
Tiny Anderson andersontb@valp.net 543-3290
Fred Boyer boyer@valp.net 582-4417
Lois Von Ryik Lvr1@cox.net 897-2162
Deborah Baker bakerd1@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us 499-0198
Rod Debs minister@uufec.com 225-3826.
“Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.” Mikhail Gorbachev (Nobel Peace Prize, 1990)
Unity is often spoken of but without explanation of how to attain unity in diversity. Democratic processes decide that one side wins and has control. By reason and rhetoric, sometimes by misinformation, incorrect or incomplete information, we are coerced to the unity of conformity. The real challenge is unity in diversity.
In his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Disputing, contradicting and confuting People. . . get Victory sometimes, but they never get Good Will, which would be of more use to them.”
In the religious community, the counsel of elders that we call the Congregational Ministry Committee (CMC) is the most important committee of the congregation. Recognizing that each one of us ministers to one another, the purpose of the Congregational Ministry Committee is to strengthen the quality of ministry within the congregation—all our ministries to one another.
Anytime any of us hears a concern or anxiety a fellow member has, it’s all our job to take those concerns to the committee chairperson or staff responsible for that area of our Fellowship activities. Concerns that don’t seem to get addressed can eat at us. Unmet concerns can undermine our relationships and distract from our mission of “service, spiritual growth and caring fellowship.” So the CMC members’ task is to listen and to hear any concerns anyone might feel are not being addressed.
The Congregational Ministry Committee will research concerns to get accurate information, to get concerns to those who can do something about them, and to get back to you with the results. Sometimes a committee or staff will appreciate hearing of the concern and will be able to “fix it.” Sometimes more information itself will resolve your concern. Sometimes the CMC will only be able to communicate your concern though others do not agree with your proposed solution and can only “take it under advisement.” Members of the CMC will take each concern seriously and follow up on them.
Periodically, the Congregational Ministry Committee will revisit the UUFEC Mission Statement and Congregational Covenant of what we do here. The CMC will facilitate a review of committees and staff effectiveness in carrying out our Fellowship mission and goals so that we can constantly improve and adapt to new circumstances. Review and Renewal is for strengthening all congregational ministries, committees and staff alike.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) wrote: “We must love them both – those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it.”
“Take courage friends,
The way is often hard, the path is never clear,
And the stakes are very high.
Take courage.
For deep down, there is another truth:
You are not alone.” –Wayne Arnason