In June 2024, ESUC members will be electing a new slate of Board members and Nominating Committee members. These members are charged with guiding our congregation to fulfill our mission as we live our UU and ESUC values. The Nominating Committee is asking you, the members of ESUC, to nominate people you feel have the qualities, skills, and commitment to lead us – and this includes nominating yourself if you have any interest!
We are seeing a renewed energy in our community as we enjoy the stability of a new settled minister and the warmth and joy that Rev. Maria Cristina brings to our congregation. As we continue to grow into our values, involvement in leadership and governance is more important than ever, as well as more rewarding.
We are also interested in hearing from you about ways you’d like to become involved in teams other than governance. We can help to channel your interests towards involvement in many teams, not just governance related. There is no better way to become connected to the ESUC community than to become involved.
For more information, please look over the Board job descriptions in the link below. These descriptions will give you an idea of the positions and time commitments. We have also included a link to our nominating forms below. Or, if you’d prefer, please complete the Nominating Committee Survey regarding leadership development at ESUC. We look forward to hearing from you!
The Bylaws Task Force, a sub-group of Policy & Governance Committee, has been developing proposals for changes to our bylaws for members to vote on at congregational meetings. We were created in spring of 2020 and include Grace Colton (P&G member), Marcy Langrock, a rotating SLT member, Ryam Hill , Mary Anderson (P&G member), and David Langrock (Board Liaison). We were empowered by the Policy and Governance Committee to look at ALL of East Shore’s Bylaws to ensure that they are up-to-date, comply with Washington State Law, conform to UUA standards, minimize oppression, and are useful and easy to understand.
What does the last phase include?
The Task Force plans to conclude this project by East Shore’s June 9, 2024 Congregational Business meeting. This is an aggressive schedule that includes review of the bylaw sections that cover committees and ministry teams, ministers, congregational meetings, public witness activities, elections, Officers & Trustees, and the appendix. A review of each bylaw includes input from various stakeholders from throughout the congregation and includes the Board, Staff Leadership Team, and Reverend Maria Cristina as the primary stakeholders of these sections. This last, and final phase began at the conclusion of East Shore’s Congregational Business meeting in December 2023.
What is the timeline?
Following stakeholder input, the congregation will be invited to comment and react to revisions and updates. The Bylaws Task Force has begun talking with the Board and lay leadership about possible changes. In March 2024 we will offer several discussion forums for congregation wide input. The Board will approve a final revised version of the bylaws at their May Board meeting. Also, the Bylaws Task Force will offer several Information Forums in early June before the June 9 congregational meeting. At the June 9 meeting, the congregation will vote on the revised bylaw document.
In today’s diverse and dynamic world, creating welcoming and inclusive ministry teams is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and unity within the church community. This year, the Board and the Budget Committee asked teams to change how they think of finances in an effort to keep within our budget. As Board President, I understand the importance of inclusivity, and I believe it can be achieved without straining the budget. Here are some examples of how ministry teams can work on creating a rich and vibrant church community without spending a dime.
Emphasize Inclusivity in Leadership: To promote inclusivity within ministry teams, it’s essential to start from the top. Encourage your leaders to embody inclusivity through their actions and decisions. Provide training on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to help them understand the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of making everyone feel heard and valued. The Nominating Committee used this to help guide them in finding individuals for the current Board. Keep in mind, many employers offer this kind of training, so you may have the skills in your group already and don’t know it!
Leverage Existing Talent and Skills: As a stay-at-home mother with a passion for gardening, skiing, painting, and dancing, I’ve learned that harnessing existing skills and interests can be a powerful way to foster inclusivity. Encourage members of your ministry teams to share their talents and interests with others. These activities create opportunities for meaningful connections within the church community without added expenses. For example, I have seen my children thrilled to go to classes taught by Tom Ball, sharing his knowledge and skills of tech with our children. And Wenda Collins shares her skills in art to create logos helping the Outreach Team and children’s stories for the RE program.
Foster Cross-Team Collaboration: Effective collaboration between ministry teams can significantly enhance inclusivity. Encourage teams to share resources and ideas, collaborate on events, and support each other’s initiatives. This cross-pollination of ideas can lead to innovative approaches without requiring additional funding. For example, Porchlight creates opportunities to bring in Ministry Teams to provide dinners, giving the teams an opportunity to do a fun, social justice activity together, while also supporting another ministry in the church. Also, the Earth and Climate Action Ministry (CAM)Team has worked with outside groups to host events here, like the 250 trees they helped pass out during the pandemic! (link: https://esuc.org/300-trees-give-away/)
Create Inclusive Communication Channels: Effective communication is key to inclusivity. Establish a variety of open and inclusive communication channels where members can voice their opinions and concerns. This can be done through regular town hall meetings, suggestion boxes, or online forums. Ensure that all voices, including those on the margins, are heard and respected. By actively listening to diverse perspectives, your ministry teams can better address the needs of the entire congregation.
As we work towards a more welcoming and inclusive church community, let us remember that the greatest resources we have are the passion and dedication of our members. By harnessing these resources wisely, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and included.
East Shore is very fortunate to have a substantial endowment to assure the long term success of the congregation. The endowment was established in 1983 and has received donations ever since. Legally, it is a “quasi-endowment.” There have been many donors and in accordance with the charter and policies, the principal can be used in accordance with the Charter.
The Endowment Committee Charter allows for an annual distribution to the operating fund of 3.5% of the 3 year average market value as of December 31, providing it will not drop the balance below $900,000. Additional withdrawals up to $100,000 above the annual distribution can be approved by the Board of Trustees. Above that amount requires a congregational vote with a quorum of 25%.
As of the end of October, the balance in the endowment is about $980,000. Funds are deposited with Charles Schwab in Socially Responsible investments. East Shore has an assigned fund manager who provides a detailed report quarterly to Financial Stewardship and the Endowment Committee. He is also available for consultation at any time.
The Charter anticipates that the endowment would grow sufficiently to meet all of the Capital need for the future. That has not happened and to assist in the funding of East Shore’s capital needs the 2024 budget allows for the creation of a separate Building Reserve Fund to handle scheduled major repairs over time while maintaining at least the minimum balances in the Endowment fund.
Donations to East Shore are always welcome. It is hoped that many folks will include East Shore in their wills or trusts. Special donations can and should be designated to go to Operating, Endowment or now the Building Reserve. Undesignated funds will remain in the Operating Fund.
East Shore is a self-governing church, as are all UU congregations. We are members of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations. That means we covenant with other UU congregations, receive resources and opportunities from the UUA, send delegates to General Assembly, and pay dues. We decide how we will govern ourselves. There is no UU ‘home office’ that dictates how we govern ourselves.
Our own bylaws and policies guide us. Our value of Justice and the 5th principle, which supports using a democratic process in our congregation, motivates us in our governance choices. Our bylaws require congregational meetings.
What is a Congregational Meeting?
The most important opportunity for all ESUC members to participate in governance is at our congregational meetings. ESUC members vote on our annual budget, Board and Nominating Committee elections, call a minister, approve bylaw changes, and other topics specified in the Bylaws. A congregational meeting is led by ESUC’s Board with support from their Policy & Governance Committee and other volunteers. Currently, they happen twice a year.
How Should I Prepare for a Congregational Meeting?
The best way to learn, get educated, and ask about what you are voting on is to prepare before a congregational meeting. There are two ways to do that:
read your Notice of Meeting and the materials that come with it, following any links to more details. All members receive a Notice 14 days before a scheduled meeting.
Attend informational sessions – At least 2 budget Town Halls are offered, and Informational Forums when other items are to be voted on, such as bylaw changes. These events are designed for asking questions, learning, and educating yourself about what you are voting on.
What happens on the day of a Congregational Meeting?
Meetings are held immediately after worship in the Sanctuary and online. There is a pause after worship for the change in activities to happen. During the pause, members check in so we can establish quorum and get food/drink before taking a seat. Those online stay connected.
Families are welcome. The usual space available during worship for children to play is also available during the meeting or you can signup for offered childcare.
What happens at a Congregational Meeting?
Congregational Meetings are rather formal events. Much of how they are run is prescribed by our bylaws. This is to be transparent, clear, consistent, and enable all views to be heard. We use Robert’s Rules of Order to keep expression of views fair and balanced. The expectation is that questions have been answered prior to the meeting, leaving this time for pro and con debate.
Voting is usually by hand raise or acclimation and can be done online during the meeting.
Typically, agenda items are moved and seconded, then members can speak their viewpoints on the proposed action, then a vote is called.
The published agenda can’t be changed so what is on the agenda will not be changed after it is published or during the meeting.
Meetings typically are an hour long. Occasionally shorter, as it was when we called Rev Maria Cristina or longer as it was for a Holly House vote.
If you have any questions about this article, contact [email protected].
The Bylaws Task Force develops proposals for changes to our bylaws for members to vote on at congregational meetings. A subgroup of Policy & Governance Committee (P&G), we were created in spring of 2020. The P&G Committee’s Task Force includes Grace Colton (P&G member), Marcy Langrock, a rotating SLT member, Ryam Hill , Mary Anderson (P&G member), and David Langrock (Board Liaison). We were empowered by the Policy and Governance Committee to look at ALL of East Shore’s Bylaws to ensure that they are up-to-date, comply with Washington State Law, conform to UUA standards, minimize oppression, and are useful and easy to understand.
What has the Bylaws Task Force been doing so far?
After we started, WA state law governing non-profit bylaws were completely revised resulting in a need to replace ESUC’s Articles of Incorporation. The Articles are a foundational document required by state law in order for East Shore to exist. Bylaws flow from the Articles of Incorporation and also require member approval. The revised Articles were approved by members of our congregation.
There has also been revisions to ESUC’s Bylaws approved over 5 congregational meetings from October 2021 through this December 2023. We had aggressively aimed to finish the bylaw review by June of 2022.
The need to revise the Articles and create new Board Policies has caused that timeline to be revised. We now expect to finish December 2024. There will be proposed bylaw changes for members to vote on at the next two congregational meetings. The last batch will be the largest, at the June 2024 congregational meeting.
What will the Bylaws Task Force be doing?
What remains for the task force to review are the bylaw sections that cover committees and ministry teams, ministers, congregational meetings, public witness activities, elections, Officers & Trustees, and the appendix. The Board, including the Staff Leadership Team, is the primary stakeholder of these sections. So, we will be working closely with the Board both individually and as a whole.
How can I get prepared to vote at a congregational meeting?
The best way to learn, get educated, and ask about what you are voting on is to prepare before a congregational meeting. Read your Notice of Meeting and the materials that come with it. All members receive a Notice of Meeting and associated materials 14 days before a congregational meeting. Informational Forums will be offered so you can ask questions and hear other perspectives. These events are for learning about what you are voting on.
There is, comparatively, more time to ask questions and learn in an Information Forum than there is at a congregational meeting where the emphasis is on hearing viewpoints not on learning the facts. Congregational meetings assume you have read through the material before the meeting.
How can you be involved?
Your participation is crucial in this project! The Bylaws Task Force wants your suggestions, comments, and questions. These will help guide us in our work. The earlier in the process we receive your thoughts, the more thoroughly they can be addressed before voting. If you have comments about the above sections or any aspect of this work, attend an information forum, email[email protected] or any other member of the Task Force. We want to hear from you.
There will be additional Forums, e-blasts, and Beacon articles through June 2024 to let you know what’s up. The Task Force counts on your review of the material and understanding of the facts before congregational meetings.
Watch an introductory video HEREabout the Bylaws Project.
You can read our current Bylaws here and Policieshere.
