Board News - January 2018

Happy New Year from the Board of Trustees!

This fall was an especially busy time for me, but I resolve to do better in providing regular updates in 2018. It seems that people often wonder exactly what the Board of Trustees does. I'll have more to say on this in the months to come, but would like to start by sharing some of our near-term goals.

Read more: Board News - January 2018

Board News October 2017

Fall always brings a sense of settling in to routines and rhythms at ERUUF. While the Board’s work will cycle as well, we also have some longer-term strategic goals. To begin with, we will be re-examining ERUUF’s Ends statements, which were written more than ten years ago at the beginning of our policy governance period. The Ends statements reflect who we aspire to be as a congregation, and guide both strategic and program planning.

Read more: Board News October 2017

Board News September 2017

Greetings from your 2017/2018 Board of Trustees! My name is Kristi Chilton, and I have the honor of serving as the Chair of the Board this year. I would like to provide an overview of what we have been doing since the program year began. This summer, we welcomed Albert Hardy, Helen Wolfson and Mike DeBellis to the Board. In addition, Chuck Kimpel will be with us for another year. The other members of the Board are Rev. Deb Cayer, myself, Julie Edmunds (Secretary), Dave Mills (Finance Liaison), Kat Moran, and Barb Sheline.

Read more: Board News September 2017

Board News - May 2017

Board of Trustees (BoT) Report to ERUUF–May 2017

Submitted by Barbara Sheline, Trustee

Pulse Survey
The board reviewed the results of the Pulse survey. The Pulse is done yearly by the BoT, asking congregants to reflect on what goes on at ERUUF. The Pulse survey results help the minister team and the BoT keep in touch with the congregation and inform planning. The results of the Pulse survey will be summarized at the annual meeting. The graphs of the data and comments will be available on the ERUUF website.

Read more: Board News - May 2017

Board News - Nov. 2016

by Julie Edmunds, Trustee

In his book Governance and Ministry, Dan Hotchkiss talks about the paradox involved in church governance—the need to balance the “transforming power of religion” and the “stabilizing power of organization.” How do we construct and maintain structures and policies that provide us with the support and flexibility to realize our vision of transforming lives? This question is one that frames the work of your Board of Trustees. In our October meeting, we discussed several issues that get at the core of this issue.

Read more: Board News - Nov. 2016

Board News - Oct 2016

David Tucker, Trustee

Mahatma Gandhi said that only a person who never loses hope can be a leader. As I write this, I know that there is great pain and suffering in our community... in Charlotte... in Tulsa... and around the country and the world. And yet, for all of that, I am filled with deep hopefulness. Why? The great start the Board is having this year; and the wise, wonderful leadership of our congregation by Rev. Deborah Cayer and the rest of the marvelous staff and lay leadership at ERUUF.

Read more: Board News - Oct 2016

Board News - April 2016

David Tucker, Trustee

The ERUUF Board of Trustees, in its work on behalf of our Fellowship, draws inspiration for its work from many sources. For example, we have a covenant for the Board that we adopt at the beginning of each ERUUF year, and which we strive to live by together to help us in our work and in our relationships with each other. Another source of inspiration for many of us on the Board is an essay written by a prominent liberal theologian of the 20th century, James Luther Adams: "The Five Smooth Stones of Liberal Religion." Looked at through the lens of this very important and wonderful essay, I wish to update you on our recent work on the Board.

Read more: Board News - April 2016

Board News - February 2016

Ginny Fox, Trustee

As a new Board of Trustees member, I’ve had an awakening. I have to admit that, prior to now, the BOT seemed to me to be a bit like the stars, I always knew it was there, though I didn’t often stop to look at it.

Now that I have had the honor to become a trustee, I see what important work is done by the Board to maintain ERUUF’s functioning as a healthy congregation. I’ve also been overwhelmed with the sincerity, devotion, and commitment to ERUUF by my fellow Trustees, and that of our Ministers and staff.

Read more: Board News - February 2016

Board News - January 2016

Elizabeth Dunn, Secretary

I normally feel like a 27-year-old, although that illusion fades when I look in the mirror or focus on the fact that I am 40 years older than the Duke undergraduates with whom I interact every day and a two or three decades older than most of my library colleagues. Still, at 59, I am blessed with good health, few aches, and a reasonable amount of energy. Another great blessing is my long cultural memory. These feel like dark times: the climate change crisis, racial and religious conflict, gun violence, and free-floating anxiety about unpredictable terrorist acts. The thing is, America has been here before.

Read more: Board News - January 2016