Board of Trustees Update

Your Board of Trustees is hard at work!

Along with the Finance Committee, the Board of Trustees is a critical part of the 2026 budget setting process. The Board will soon begin a Ministerial Assessment process which will culminate in a report to the congregation in July of 2026. UUSIC Leadership, with the support of the Right Relations Committee, is continuing to engage with the Hope 4 Us team.

2026 Budget 

The Board and Finance Committee are working on a budget that will strengthen the Congregation’s financial position so that:

• Pledges and earnings from the General Endowment Fund cover the majority of our operating expenses and revenue from rentals, camps, and fundraising play an appropriate supporting role.
• We have adequate and sustainable funds for building repairs and maintenance.
• We have sustainable resources to offer competitive wages and benefits to our minister and staff.

To do this, in addition to significantly paying down the mortgage, we’re aiming to reduce expenses by 10% in 2026. At the same time, the Stewardship Committee is working to reverse pledging trends which have been flat for several years.

The Board and Finance Committee are committed to finding savings that will minimize impacts on our staff, who are our biggest asset.

We are all in this together! You can support these efforts by making your annual pledge before the October 26 deadline. And, if possible, by increasing your pledge! If you have suggestions or ideas for reducing expenses or increasing revenue you can email them to: [email protected]. 

Ministerial Assessment

In alignment with Board Policy, the Board has charged itself with undertaking a Ministerial Assessment during the 2025/2026 congregational year.

UUSIC Policies and Procedures Manual 6.3-5
Every 3 years the Board and Minister will assure there is an evaluation of the Minister on their wider pastoral role.

. . . The goals of the evaluation are to call the congregation’s attention to the mutual, relational nature of ministry and the respective responsibilities of all who contribute to its success, and to help the Minister remain motivated, creative, and flexible.

The Committee’s report to the Board, together with a written response from the Minister, will be published to the Society along with the Board’s plan for addressing any recommendations it may contain.

The Board has chosen to use the UUA’s Fulfilling the Call Workbook to guide the assessment process. This resource identifies 9 specific “Duty Areas” for which UU Ministers are responsible, and lists specific observable tasks and skills in each area. 

The assessment will be conducted as a series of conversations between the Minister and congregation members, staff, and Ministry Team Leaders who have direct experience working with the Minister in each Duty Area. Each conversation will be led by a Board member, and will focus on assessing that Duty Area’s associated skills and tasks. Notes will be taken and compiled for the culminating report as well as shared with the Minister.

This process aligns with UUSIC’s commitment to Shared Ministry and our Right Relations covenant. We are excited about this opportunity to learn from each other and support the Minister in “remain(ing) motivated, creative, and flexible.”

Please let me know if you have any questions about the Ministerial Assessment process.

Hope 4 Us

Over the past several months, the Hope 4 Us Team has been hearing from congregation members and learning more about the challenges and patterns we experience as a congregation. UUS Leadership met with the H4U Team in late September to learn about and discuss next steps, so stay tuned for more updates.

The H4U Team is always open to hearing from congregation members. If you would like to talk with the Team about your experiences at UUS you can email them directly at: [email protected]. You can learn more about the H4U Team here: Meet the Coaches. 

Thank you for what you do to make UUSIC a community that strives to live out our values of mutual respect and kindness. 

Sarah Ross

President,
UUSIC Board of Trustees