Passin’ Through 

As with most UU congregations during the pandemic, maintaining “interim work” at UUFH has been a challenge to say the least. How to take a deep dive into values, theology, unresolved issues and emerging practices when just holding things together takes so much time and energy? When money gets tight, how are your leaders supposed to sit before the big questions interim ministers are hired to pose?

Some examples:

●     What does your history tell you about your present and future?

●     What are the specific values that guide your biggest decisions?

●     What is work of your ministers (community as well as parish), and what is the work of the congregation?

●     Who in the county, region, country and world await your help?

●     To whom/what is UUFH most accountable?

●     How well are you taking care of your young?

●     Are you ready to better embrace antiracism/anti-oppression/multiculturalism

●     Are anxiety, conflict and differences named and addressed?

●     How well are your leaders/paid staff supported in their work?

The really good news is, your two previous and current boards have not abandoned the big-picture charges that come with 21st century leadership. When I make suggestions on how to copy vital congregations’ good habits, I can count on a fair hearing.

For my part, I continue to spend time doing what the congregation studies experts call “ad-ministry”, using UUFH’s committees, teams, task forces and board to offer new and better ideas. In other words, introducing change at the leadership level.

But to borrow another page from research and lived experience with religious communities, the most vital have a broad understanding of how leadership – like those communities themselves – can become stuck. The good news here is there are lots of resources on how to lead during and after COVID. The challenge is to pitch this information to everybody else.

In that spirit, I invite you to click on this link to our UUA Southern Region’s latest newsletter. It’s chock full of resources for leaders and beyond, so consider subscribing yourself. Meantime, know that your leaders and I remain focused on the immediate, but not just the immediate. We will not cover in depth all the big questions, but neither will we let this interim opportunity slip by.

Blessings and thanks,

Don