| | | |

Vision of Ministry 2024-2025

ByKaytee Rairdin

Each summer the Board of Trustees, minister, and staff develop a Vision of Ministry for the coming congregational year. The annual Vision of Ministry provides goals and direction to the minister, staff, and lay leaders as they develop programs and initiatives that are in line with the UUS mission and vision. This work builds on conversations from many areas of the congregation, as well as from emerging trends and needs that we’re recognizing in the wider community. It is intended to serve as a framework to guide and inspire more than a checklist of todo items. 

We’re excited to share with you our Vision of Shared Ministry for August 2024 – June 2025. The Board and staff worked on developing this vision in June, and the Board formally adopted it at their July meeting. 

This year’s Vision of Shared Ministry carries over many of the themes from last year. But this year we’re more specifically highlighting our intention to develop and strengthen our capacity for practicing shared ministry together. We have also adjusted other items that we feel deserve particular focus.

We hope that you’ll join us in engaging with this vision over the coming congregational year in a variety of ways.

In Community,
Rev. Diana Smith, Minister
Jeff Walberg, Board of Trustees President

2024-2025 UUS Vision of Shared Ministry

Nourishing resilience as a community:

  • Creating joyful resistance to extremism; 
  • Building bonds within our congregation, with allied groups, and with our surrounding community;
  • Preparing for and attending to impacts of the November 2024 elections;
  • Leaning into our covenantal tradition as we creatively and compassionately engage in difficult conversations and conflict;
  • Journeying towards spiritual and community wholeness by deepening our anti-racism, anti-oppression, and climate justice work;
  • Building financial security into the future by focusing on long-term stewardship.

Strengthening and developing our shared ministry:

  • Continuing to develop our culture of shared ministry at all levels of congregational life;
  • Developing and clarifying the policies and norms by which the Board, staff, committees, and teams can best work together, share authority, and practice accountability;
  • Developing leadership skills and creating space for people to try new roles in a supportive environment;
  • Engaging with our minister’s sabbatical as an opportunity for building congregational capacities.

Practicing welcoming, hospitality, and community care:

  • Providing a beacon and a sanctuary for those seeking meaningful connections or a refuge from social or political oppression;
  • Sharing responsibility for welcoming and integrating visitors, as well as caring for members;
  • Making creative use of our building;
  • Cultivating sustainable practices, setting realistic expectations, building on the positive, and practicing patience;
  • Resisting perfectionism and cultivating open-mindedness together.

Similar Posts