<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">FUUSM Community,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The following is a summary of the recently completed
Dialogue Sessions.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1.5in;text-indent:0.5in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">THE DIALOGUE
SESSIONS</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BACKGROUND</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response to a significant level of frustration within the
congregation from people feeling they have not been heard, a motion was passed
at the Annual Meeting in April to have “congregational style” meetings for the
purpose of congregational feedback on the minister’s performance and
specifically excluding the minister. The
absence of the minister was believed to be necessary so that those who wanted
to speak during the meetings could do so openly.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Board subsequently determined they could not call a
congregational meeting and exclude the minister. And the minister declined to
voluntarily exclude herself. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">So, an independent steering team was formed to implement the
motion. And, after talking with a church
member, Rev. Kat reconsidered and agreed to absent herself. The Dialogue Sessions proceeded as unofficial
congregational meetings and were scheduled for July 26 and August 23. A
third session, September 6, was added later.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A BRIEF SUMMARY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Attendance at the sessions was good … 49, 36 and 43 for
sessions 1, 2 and 3 respectively. That
size is equal to or greater than the typical attendance at annual
meetings. The content of the group in
attendance was also significant … they were a large portion of the hands-on
core of the church. By size and content,
the voice of this group was substantial.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We first heard statements of first-hand experiences from a
total of 24 people. Positive and negative
experiences were about evenly split. And
an overwhelming majority of the attendees said they were better informed after
this sharing.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We then heard a summary of the Board’s Ministerial
Performance Review Process and a summary of the latest evaluation. This process is only in its second year, and
most attendees were unaware of how it worked.
There were lots of questions and comments on it. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We then had an open comment period. 10-15 people shared their views on the
minister’s performance. These were
mainly people who had not made first-hand experience statements. So we heard from just about the entire group.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">And in the last session, we
were able to draw a conclusion from these sessions. Based on the first-hand experiences and using
Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association resource material, the group did
reach a preliminary finding of a behavioral issue. Instead of finalizing the finding, the group
chose a healing approach and voted in favor of this recommendation to the Board
… <b>We
recommend the Board contact our UUA representative within 1 week and ask for
advice and assistance on this matter.</b> <span style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The group also voted in favor of a second
recommendation to the Board … <b>We recommend the Board contact our UUA
representative for advice on how we can give input to and discuss issues
related to our minister’s performance.</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Follow-up … The Board has contacted our UUA
representative, and next steps are being discussed.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">TAKE-AWAYS</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As the steering team, we acknowledge that
these Dialogue Sessions have created turmoil in our congregation. Some people are upset because they view
the sessions as a trial and that Rev. Kat’s absence was unfair. A more accurate analogy would be a grand jury
… to investigate and see if anything is really there. By intent and conduct, that is what we tried
to do … investigate.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are reasons to look beyond the current turmoil and be
hopeful about our future. During these
sessions, the true character of our congregation was revealed … a group of
people who are dedicated to our affirmation and who have become bonded to each
other through trying to live it. Even in
disagreement, people listened, became better informed, treated each other with
respect, and discussed and decided TOGETHER.
And in the end, WE listened to our good UU hearts, and WE chose a
healing approach for ourselves and Rev. Kat.
</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We are very grateful to all who invested their time and
patience to participate in these important meetings.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Your Dialogue Sessions Steering Team,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Karen Binkley, Nancy
Luthy, Darryl Ting</p></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><br></div></div>