President’s Report – December 2010

As we grow… we need to do things differently

As each of us adjusts to the new era of Rev. Millie’s leadership, personally, I feel relief in leaving behind our anxious inward focus of the past few years without a settled minister. Replacing this is an energetic and positive vibe within our four walls and this feels good…very good! Millie’s strong leadership means the Board can refocus on what it should be doing - long range planning, improving communication, developing policies, and supporting our staff, committees, and congregants. It also provides opportunities to reach outside our four walls… to help others to help themselves.

Here are a few recent examples of how our reaching out to others:

(more information at http://uuwinnipeg.mb.ca/social-justice)

• Our new “Share the Plate” program, where once a month, we share the Sunday morning collection with a non-political, local, registered non-profit organization whose principles are congruent with Unitarian Universalism. (Last month we donated $444 to Rossbrook House, a neighbourhood centre providing programming for Winnipeg’s inner-city youth.)
• Our hospitality to other UU congregations at our Western Regional Fall Gathering in October
• Inviting, hosting, and fundraising for Bruce Knotts, Executive Director of the Unitarian-Universalist United Nations Office in New York.
• Rev. Millie’s collaboration with and membership on the Manitoba Interfaith Council, and in the UU world, her mentorship of both student and ordained ministers.
• On Sunday, November 7, we welcomed four new members into our community. We are now close to 190 members, not counting the large number of “friends” who attend regularly but haven’t actually signed the members’ book… yet. Growth means change and to ensure sustainability, we need to be aware, deliberate, and intentional about change as we grow. Well known Unitarian Universalist Rev. Robert Latham, author of "Moving On From Church Folly Lane: The Pastoral-to-Program Shift," describes an important difference in the relationship to community in times of growth. “In the smaller congregations, "Community" is the end goal and is regularly celebrated. However, as the church grows, the focus shifts to the church's mission, and Community is a by-product. Yet, ironically, when Community is a by-product of a group of people working together towards a healthy vision, it is much stronger than when people seek Community for its own sake.”

So, as we grow in a number of dimensions, I ask you to take a few minutes to reflect on Rev. Robert Latham’s comparison chart below. Where do you find yourself and our church as we grow?

From Moving On From Church Folly Lane: The Pastoral to Program Shift by the Rev. Robert T. Latham.

In Faith, Craig Edwards