What Are You Called To Do?
When LoraKim gave up her parish ministry at our Fellowship, she told us that she was called to a different ministry. And she asked us what we personally felt called to do. That was a difficult question for me at the time, and I had no answer. I had never quite thought about being called to do something. It sounds so “churchy,” and Heaven knows I didn’t consider myself a churchy person. But as the weeks went by and I found myself agreeing to take on ever more responsibility at our Fellowship, I realized that I was being called into these leadership positions and that, indeed, I have been called all my life into public service of one sort or another. I just never thought of it as being “called”, but that is certainly the right term for fulfilling a personal need to work with others.
So I ask you—What are you called to do? And in particular, what are you called to do here at the Fellowship? Perhaps governance is not your bag. Maybe you are called to teach. How could you use that calling here to support the Fellowship? Could you teach an RE class to the children? Could you give a talk at Adult RE? Could you start a circle that provides teaching and learning opportunities for you and others like you?
We need volunteers in many areas at our Fellowship. People to work with membership, people to take on causes of Social Justice, people to sing in the choir, people to help run the auction, and yes, people to take on leadership positions. Our Fellowship runs on volunteer service. So next time someone asks you to serve on a committee, or to take on some other responsibility, think carefully about it. If it is not what you really want to do, what could you do instead? What are you called to do to serve our congregation?
In Fellowship, Lynne
"You will find as you look back upon your life that the
moments when you have truly lived are the moments when
you have done things in the spirit of love."
—Henry Drummond |
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by Lynne Capehart, 2011–12 Congregational President
Leading Us Forward
This column begins my first official communication as incoming President of the UUFG Congregation. I am excited to have this opportunity to work with all of you. It is an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I am taking this on with confidence that you all will help me do this job to the best of our combined abilities. I thank you in advance for that help and for working with me to make our congregation shine. I also thank Judith Kendall for the wonderful example she has set for the past two years and for the help she has given me to prepare for this role.
The congregational president can’t do the job alone, and I will be working with a great Governing Board. We began our work recently with a Board retreat where we became better acquainted with each other and where we spent time discussing and developing goals for our year together.
We identified three areas where the Governing Board will put its efforts over the next twelve months. First and foremost is a goal to enhance congregational participation in the decision-making processes of the Fellowship. As part of this goal, we intend to revamp the budgeting process to try to avoid some of the problems that resulted this year. We also will be working to facilitate the congregational goals and priorities set at the Town Hall Meeting last February.
Our second goal (not a very exciting one, but a necessary one) is to review our congregational operating documents and make sure they say what we think they are supposed to say. Consequently, we will review the Policy Manual to make sure it is complete and consistent and try to finish up the various committee charters, so committee members can understand exactly what their committee is expected to accomplish.
Our final goal is to support the membership initiatives of the Membership Committee. We invite all members of the congregation to consider themselves ex officio members of the Membership Committee as we work to retain our present members and invite new and returning visitors to our Fellowship to join our community. Please join me and the rest of the Governing Board as we welcome visitors, new members, and all of our present members too. Let’s have a great year!
In Fellowship,
Lynne |
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