President’s Report – September 2011
New beginnings…having faith and taking a risk
How was your summer? As we get back into our regular routines in September, I hope you had a great one. With the slower pace of our hot and sunny “dragon fly summer” giving way to the fast start up of many fall activities, September is a busy time. Personally, I am feeling rested, revitalized, and ready to pick up the pace…and what a MAJOR change of pace! My wife, Erin, and I are travelling to China this month to adopt our new 8 month old daughter, Emily. It has been a very looooong 5 year wait, but now that she has arrived, we are over the moon.
I have always enjoyed being Dad to my 2 kids, Cole and Carmen (now 28 & 25). And I get to do it again. I am so looking forward to parenting with Erin. Emily is her first child and this has been a dream of ours for a long time. Parenting has to be one of the most difficult but rewarding things we can do and Emily will certainly add a new dimension to our lives and family. We will all learn, grow, and no doubt, she will teach us many things. This kind of change, though, means I need to take a step back, prioritize, and respect my limitations… or, as writer, Stephen Covey recommends, “put first things first”! So, as a result, I am cutting back on some of my church activities and will step down as Board President as of the AGM in October. I will, however, complete this last year of my 3 year term on the Board as Past President.
New beginnings are exciting, but can cause anxious moments of insecurity and feeling not quite up to the job. I know this is a natural feeling, usually unwarranted; however, I felt the same way when I became President two years ago. As with parenting, new roles are risky, full of anxiety but, ultimately, are very rewarding. As my Dad still says, “You get out of it what you put into it”! As a new President, I wasn’t sure of what I was getting myself into, but quickly realized that we all want the best for our church. That simple fact was the key in making the job enjoyable. Furthermore, our Cluster Model, linking Board members with Committee Chairs, works very well in clarifying responsibilities, distributing tasks, and improving two-way communication. I also appreciated the many opportunities to “think outside our church” and learn more about our national governing body - the Canadian Unitarian Council and the wider UU denomination. A bonus has been the chance to meet some great UUs from across Canada all experiencing similar challenges and joys in their churches. After serving as President, I have a better understanding of our potential as a faith to have a positive effect on our community, city, and the wider world.
I am honoured to have had the opportunity to serve you and, reflecting on my term, I have been blessed with a fabulous group of committed and talented board members, staff, committee chairs, and congregants. I also want to thank Millie, our wonderful minister, for being so easy to work with…she has taught me a lot about listening and patience.
I took a risk as Board President and, after a positive two years, I encourage you to think about taking one yourself. How do you want to get further involved in your church? What kind of leadership position are you interested in? I guarantee that whatever you choose, it will prove to be a rich experience. As a growing congregation, we need to be proactive in supporting members interested in leadership positions. When we are all pulling in the same direction, we help create the strong and positive vibe that exists in the church these days. Like parenting - commitment, effort, and dedication bring numerous unexpected gifts. Experience the joy of being involved!
In closing, I am reminded of Rev. Rick Davis’s message in his sermon “The Call” to honour Millie on the morning of her Installation Service. Rick is the minister of the UU congregation in Salem, Oregon, where Millie served as the Director of Religious Education for many years. He stressed the importance of a “Shared Ministry”…that ministering is not just the responsibility of the minister. Instead, we all minister to each other in a variety of ways and, in addition to Millie, each of us has a calling to answer (if we listen closely enough) and a responsibility to contribute.
So, please take some time to think about how you want to share your gifts in our beloved community and let me know if you are interested in talking further about leadership opportunities and joining the Board. Email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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