A couple of weeks ago I attended the annual off-site training for my company. This year we learned about incorporating “agility” into our workplace. I’m sure not all of us are immersed in corporate trends, but it’s probably no surprise that businesses are reacting to the dynamic shifts in our technology by being more responsive and adaptive.
A church is not a business, and a lot of what brings me to church is to escape the digital world; however, the underlying fabric of our communication is changing, and we may need to be more responsive and adaptive in order to address the needs of our members and community.
As luck would have it, the Board has been exploring how we are structured and has been consulting professionals who specialize in the non-profit sector. Personally, I didn’t realize how much opportunity is out there for us to explore, nor did I realize that how we are structured might be limiting our ability to think and plan long-term.
Our objective is to better position us to fulfill our mission while giving volunteers more ownership in their roles. The Endowment Committee has approved funding for a consultant, Dan Hotchkiss, to host a workshop examining ways to structure our Fellowship to make us more successful. In particular, our vision is for the Board to focus on long-term goals and communicating with members, and for staff and volunteers to provide the day-to-day operation of the Fellowship.
The hope is that we will inspire our leaders to serve on the Board, rather than discourage them with having to “keep the lights on by committee.” Meanwhile, we’ll provide the authority and resources to inspire the doers in the Fellowship to get their jobs done without endless meetings and delays.
UUFH is a wonderful place, and our commitment to social justice and respect for all people and faiths puts us in a unique position to be a unifying force in our community. As we become more (dis)connected by our devices, and attendance in faith communities declines, our role is going to be even more critical, so that we can be there when people look up from their phones to find the emptiness inside.
I hope you will be able to attend the workshop on Saturday, June 2. We’re providing lunch!
— Joe Criscione, President