[Fuusm-l] FUUSM Congregational Feedback Meetings

[Darryl Ting]

Dear FUUSM Community,



At the end of the annual congregational meeting in April, (under “Other
business for the Good of the Order”), I made a motion that there be
“congregational style” meetings for the purpose of congregational feedback
on the minister’s performance and specifically excluding the minister.
After discussion, the motion was passed.

To learn more about why I made this motion, what I proposed, and what has
happened since … please read on.



Why this motion …

Prior to this, the method of congregational feedback was through
congregational surveys.  I pointed out that the survey approach had some
significant flaws, notably that the survey questions limited the scope of
the feedback, that survey feedback is one way and isolated (no dialogue for
clarification and no benefit of hearing other people’s feedback), and that
everyone’s feedback counts the same regardless of the amount of interaction
they have.  The cumulative impact is that despite the surveys, there is a
significant level of frustration within the congregation from people
feeling they have not been heard.



What I proposed …

Special congregational meetings to allow the congregation to provide
feedback.  That approach would provide better, clearer feedback by
eliminating the above-mentioned flaws of surveys.  More importantly, it
allows people to express themselves directly … in their own voice, and
unfiltered.  And it allows us to form a more informed collective view
through the sharing of our individual views.

Why exclude the minister’s attendance?  I wanted to encourage feedback, and
it is not uncommon for people to be reluctant to give or receive negative
feedback.  It is just an emotionally difficult thing to do.  The absence of
the minister would make it easier for people to speak up.



Follow-up …

At the May 8th Board meeting, the Board determined that it could not call a
congregational meeting and exclude the minister.  The minister declined to
voluntarily exclude herself.  Therefore, the Board could not implement the
motion.



Following the Board decision, a steering group (Karen Binkley, Nancy Luthy,
and myself) was formed to develop a plan to implement the motion.  Our
target for communicating the details of that plan is the end of May.


Thanks for reading to the end,

Darryl Ting
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