GA
Can Be Rewarding for Congregation Presidents
Denise Rimes made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving a family beach vacation
several days early so that she could attend General Assembly this past
year. "As the new president of my congregation (First
Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, Va., with 425 members),
I thought it was important to learn more about the Association so that
I could represent my growing congregation."
Rimes was one of 284 presidents who attended GA as part of a program
in which the top leaders of all UU congregations are specifically invited
to the annual meeting of congregations. The invitation included partial
payment of GA registration fees. GA 2006 was the third year of the program.
Rimes came home from GA with more than sand in her shoes. "My experience
at GA far exceeded my expectations," she says. "I brought
back pages of notes on practical and achievable ideas that other churches
have implemented. I met folks from around the country who were filled
with good ideas and encouragement. As a new leader, I came to appreciate
the mountain of resources that exist at the association and district
level."
Susan Lankford, president of the UU Church
of Berkeley, in Kensington, Calif. (511), attended her first GA
in 2002. "GA was eye-opening for me," she says. "It gave
me perspective on our movement and on the commonalities of our congregations
and the ways in which my congregation is distinct. I learned that we
are behaving in some ways that hold us back. And UU University was a
great help in understanding congregational dynamics." UU University
was a day and a half of workshops for congregational leaders that preceded
GA this year. It will be repeated at GA 2007 in Portland, Ore.
"Being with so many committed UUs clarified for me both my own
deep religious identity and the importance of growing it in our congregation,
where so many know only our particular church," she says.
Adds Diane Duesterhoeft, immediate past president of First
UU Church of San Antonio (336). "Three of our presidents have
gone to GA in recent years, and the one thing we all agree on is it
helps us feel more connected with the UUA. San Antonio can feel like
a long way from Boston."
Jennifer Mason was president of Northlake
UU Church in Kirkland, Wash. (98), from 2002 to 2004 and attended
her fourth GA last year. "I'm starting to see signs that our church
culture is changing," she says. "Our religious education program
is growing, we're getting more members, and we have an active social
justice committee. I think at least part of that is due to ideas we
brought back from GA."
UUA Moderator Gini Courter says the program to bring presidents to GA
has been "beyond successful," adding, "Unitarian Universalist
congregational polity relies on the participation of congregational
leaders, both lay and clergy. If congregations don't send leaders to
General Assembly, the GA can't engage in meaningful conversations and
decision-making about the future of our faith."
"Every year," she says, "we have a larger number of leaders
at GA. The change in the delegate body at GA is real and audible. There
is less 'me,' and more 'my congregation.' That's success."
Courter says GA has become more responsive to congregations' needs in
the following ways: providing presentations on breakthrough congregations
that have overcome difficulties to achieve growth and vitality; workshops
specifically for congregational presidents; and shifting the schedule
so that all of GA takes place within the same week to better fit vacation
schedules. The UUA's program to bring presidents to GA continues for
GA 2007. Courter noted that GA is both a "state fair" which
has something for everyone, and now there is more emphasis on also making
it a "town meeting" where congregational leaders can gather
to do the work of the Association.Look for details in late winter at
uua.org/ga.
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