FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA

A UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION

2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103
Office (215) 563-3980 www.philauu.org Fax (215) 563-4209

To: All Members & Friends of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
From: Board of Trustees – Heather Speirs, President; Christiane Geisler, Vice
President; Mark Peterson, Treasurer; Karin Tetlow, Secretary; Patrick Ream,
Trustee; Steven Tomcavage, Trustee; Tricia Way, Trustee;
Ministry Leadership Team – Reverend Nate Walker & Anne Slater, Co-chairs;
Mark DeCourval, Diane Frey, Carol Peterson and Chris Trace
Date: May 17, 2009
Re: Congregational Blueprint

After two years of work, we are pleased to submit the following “Congregational Blueprint.”
What is a blueprint? It is a master document consisting of Ends, Interpretations and Means. The
Board of Trustees took information from the congregation to develop Ends, which clearly
prioritized the mission of the church by identifying what impact we want to make, for whom, and
at what cost in terms of monetary and human resources. The Ministry Leadership Team
interpreted them, which were later deemed by the Trustees to be “reasonable interpretations” of
the Ends. Once refined, the various Ministry Teams reflected upon how their programs served as
Means by which to achieve the Ends as interpreted by the Ministry Leadership Team. Said
another way, the church leaders were asked what activities were being aligned to this larger
vision? The results were profound – thanks to months of intentional dialogue we know where
we are going, for what purpose, and how we want to get there. And that’s the joy of it all: to
collectively participate in an intentional community!
What’s the next step and how does it relate to you? First, we invite all leaders to spend the
summer developing Ministry Team goals to achieve in the next year and to articulate how they
further advance these Ends. Said another way, what programs will each team implement in the
next year that will contribute to this larger vision? Second, the Board and Ministry Team will
collect the proposed Means from each Team by August 1, 2009 and have a retreat to reflect upon
how they paint a larger picture for the year ahead. At this time, the Board and MLT will
articulate a monitoring schedule to make sure that each Team is receiving necessary attention/
support to achieve their programs. Finally, this time next year, we’ll have collectively crafted
yet another Blueprint demonstrating how the congregation is taking shared responsibility for
living intentionally. We’ll repeat the process the next year then the next, and in five years we’ll
look back on this original document and reflect upon how the Policy Governance model, fully
implemented, helps the congregation reach its full potential.

Proposed 5.17.09 1
Table of Contents

Cover Letter Page 1

Table of Contents Page 2

Glossary of Policy Governance Terms Pages 3

Global End / Mission Statement Pages 4-6

End I. Membership End Pages 7-8

End II. Moral & Spiritual Growth Pages 9-12

End III. Social Justice Pages 13-16

End IV. Sustainability Pages 17-18

End V. Preservation Pages 19-21

End VI. Safety and Accessibility Pages 22

End VII. Transparency Pages 23-24

Table of Contents 2
Glossary of Policy Governance Terms

Ends
The term Ends refers to the effects an organization seeks to have on the world outside itself. Its
work will cause something to be different for someone at some cost. The concept embraces
three parts:
a. The impact, difference, change, benefit or outcome to be obtained in the lives of
consumers or consumer-like populations, often referring to results. This answers the
question: what benefit?
b. The identity, description, or characteristics of the consumers or populations to receive the
results, referred to as recipients, answers the questions: who benefits?
c. The monetary expense, relative worth, or relative priority of a result or set of results, or
the comparative priority of certain recipients rather than others getting the results,
referred to the costs, answer the question: at what cost?

Reasonable Interpretations
Any “reasonable interpretation” means just that. Carver says, the Board is not to judge the
monitoring data based on the standard of their own personal preference. “Would I have made
that decision?” is a different question from “Is that decision or outcome a reasonable
interpretation of the End, policy or executive limitation?” The first question compares the
performance of the Ministry to an unstated and individually determined criterion, exactly the
“shoot-from-the-hip” comparison that the board has determined not to make! The later compares
performance of the Ministry to a group expectation that we previously known and agreed upon.
For more about this process re-read Chapter 8, pages 190-191 of Reinventing Your Board.

Means
The “means” are the programs that demonstrate how the Ends are being met. After the Board
approves the interpretations the MLT will list the means (the programs or processes) by which
the Ends are achieved. Eventually the Board will monitor these Means.

Monitoring
The monitoring process is designed to review the data that directly addresses the interpretations
of the Ends. For example, the consistency of the hospitality hour is one of the Means by which
we achieving “hospitality” as interpreted from the first End statement. This program would be
included in the monitoring report that demonstrates that the Ends are being met.

Glossary 3
Global End / Mission Statement
We are an intentionally diverse community that values the legacy of our historic urban ministry
and our community center. In affirming and promoting Unitarian Universalist principles, we
foster peace, sustainability and justice in our community, our city and the world.
a. Defining who: “We” is interpreted to mean the members, friends, staff and long-term
tenants who seek to achieve this Global End / Mission Statement in relationship to our
neighboring community, our city and the world.
b. Interpreting the Benefits:
i. Diverse Community: We intentionally form a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-
oppressive congregation. This includes, but is not limited to, diversity in race,
ethnicity, culture, language, age, talent, mental and physical ability, education,
proximity to the church, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexuality, political
affiliation and belief.
ii. Historic Urban Ministry: A congregation established in 1796 by historic figures
such as Joseph Priestley; a historic church built in 1886 by the famed architect
Frank Furness; located in the heart of the center city Philadelphia
iii. Community Center: A beacon where residents and visitors gather for cultural,
civic, wellness, educational and spiritual events.
iv. Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources:
1. There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm
and promote: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity
and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another and
encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; a free and responsible
search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; the goal
of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the
interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
2. Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources: direct experience of
that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves
us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and
uphold life; words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us
to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the
transforming power of love; wisdom from the world's religions which inspires
us in our ethical and spiritual life; Jewish and Christian teachings which call
us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves; humanist
teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of
science and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit; spiritual
teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life
and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
3. These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious
community.
v. Peace: Awareness of the history of human domination, “peace” is the absence of
violence in all our relations.

Global End / Mission Statement 4

 vi. Sustainability: The capacity to maintain current needs and express the greatest
potential in the present while preserving the natural, material and human resources
to sustain the congregation indefinitely.
vii. Justice: Awareness of the systems of power, privilege and prejudice, “Justice” is
the quality of being fair and reasonable in all our relations.
c. Interpreting who benefits: Every current and future member, friend, tenant or visitor, as
well as our community, aware that the work of church is the transformation of society.
Narrative
We are Unitarian Universalists, who are historically rooted in two religious traditions.
The Unitarian heritage has affirmed that we need not think alike to love alike and that God is
one. The Universalist heritage has preached not hell but hope and courage, and the kindness and
universal love of God. In this way, we are grounded upon thousands of years of Jewish and
Christian teachings, customs and experiences.
In 1770, for example, John Murray began preaching the doctrine of Universal salvation
after he was shipwrecked on the Jersey shore. His message was simple: there is no original sin, a
loving God offers no threats of eternal damnation – we are born of love and return to love. A few
years later, in February 1796 Joseph Priestley – a respected British scientist and philosopher –
preached his first sermon in Philadelphia at the Universalist Chapel on Lombard Street. Having
already planted seeds of moral and spiritual growth, Priestley’s message blossomed when, under
his guidance, a group of influential Philadelphians formed the Unitarian Society of Philadelphia,
which had its first meeting in June 1796. We are heirs to their legacy.

Means to achieve the Global End/Mission

The Means by which peace, sustainability and justice are achieved are articulated in the pages
ahead; in addition the first End, Membership, further defines and explains what Means are used
to build and sustain an intentionally diverse community.
Historic Urban Ministry: The location, architecture and décor of our church reflect the legacy
on which we build our current ministries. Often in worship, orientation sessions and tours, our
legacy is uplifted with the intention to inspire and to motivate. In addition, our historic urban
ministry is highlighted when speaking at city or regional or national events, such as testifying at
the planning and zoning committees, presenting at district events or even when representing the
church at national events such as the Laura Towne celebration in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Community Center: Being a community center is a critical part of our identity as an
organization. According to our Development Working Group, the First Unitarian Church of
Philadelphia has an annual public value of over $1,000,000 a year. This was calculated with the
help of Partners for Sacred Places by selecting 10 of our biggest rental programs and assessing
their public value. These calculations took into consideration the amount of clergy and staff
time, square footage of our building, utility expenses, number of church members and
community members served, and rent paid. The public value of many of these programs reflects
the relatively low square-footage rental charge at First Church compared to our neighbors.

Global End / Mission Statement 5

Example of Annual Public-Value-Tool Calculations
R5 Productions (all-ages drug/alcohol free concerts) $139,600
Little Miracles (childcare and after-school care) $137,860
Other Cultural Events (theater, music, art, dance) $ 85,624
Narcotics Anonymous (meetings and dances) $ 67,976
Beacon Center (childcare) $ 64,112
Church of Ageless Wisdom (worship services) $ 23,898
Total $519,070

In other words, even though First Church charges each of these groups rent, we are offering extra
value to them, and the hundreds of people served by them, by providing very affordable and
centrally-located space. These calculations do not reflect the unquantifiable value of offering
sanctuary to vulnerable groups, such as people in recovery.
Listed below is a comprehensive summary of the cultural, wellness, spiritual, civil and
educational groups that have participated in the rental program at First Church in the last year:
• Spiritual: Church of Ageless Wisdom; Art of Living meditation group; non-
denominational Christian group; Adiang meditation; Greater Philadelphia Church of
Christ; psychic fair; Khalsa Yoga Center concerts; Iftar Dinner; Interfaith worship;
Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy; Mount Calvary Church.
• Wellness: Narcotics Anonymous; aerobics; yoga; movement education; wrestling;
children’s dance classes; Islamic Relief Fund Day of Dignity providing homeless services
and medical treatment.
• Cultural: R5 concerts; children’s music classes; Black Women’s Art Festival;
Philadelphia Theatre Workshop; Inspira Theater; Philadelphia Classical Symphony;
Oscuro Quintet; Sena Dance; Jalsah music/dance performance; Raina Rose concerts;
Dolce Suono Chamber Music; Philadelphia Young Artists; Nice People Theatre; Magic
Rabbit productions film shooting; Philadelphia Classical Symphony; Philadelphia
Classical Guitar Society; Philadelphia Dance Society; Oscuro Quintet; Luscinia Choir
from Czech Republic; Holly Near concert; Philadelphia Fringe Festival concerts and
dance performances; Hoffmaster Children’s puppet show; Philly Pride movie screenings;
Traverse Arts Project; Christian Association poetry reading.
• Educational: Little Miracles and Beacon Center
• Civic: Common Cause public forum; Obama Campaign Training; political action voter-
registration training; Uhuru Black Power movement; Americans for Democratic Action;
Black Radical Congress; Neighborhood networks; Cross City Library Branch; Partners
for Sacred Places; anti-tax lobby; City Year Philadelphia.

Global End / Mission Statement 6

End I. Membership

1. We commit to build and sustain a diverse congregation.

a. Interpreting “Diversity”: We intentionally create a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-
oppressive congregation. This includes, but is not limited to, diversity in race, ethnicity,
culture, language, age, talent, mental and physical ability, education, proximity to the
church, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexuality, political affiliation and belief.
b. Interpreting who benefits: Every current and future member, friend, tenant or visitor, as
well as our community, aware that the work of church is the transformation of society.
c. Interpreting the number “I”. Our first priority is to achieve this end.

Narrative from State of Congregation Address

As contemporary Unitarian Universalists, we build upon the prophetic words and deeds
of our forbearers and find comfort in a religion that is not contained in any single book or creed.
Our religious authority lies in each individual, nurtured and tested in the congregation and the
wider world. In a spirit of humility and openness, we are called to seek truth and meaning,
wherever found, through experience, reason, intuition, and emotion. As part of a living tradition,
we draw from the teachings, practices, and wisdom of the world's religions. In this way, we
intentionally build and sustain a diverse congregation. We celebrate our theological diversity
each time we gather. For example, one may be sitting next to someone who identifies as a
humanist who is sitting next to someone who practices in the earth-centered traditions, who will
shake hands with someone who draws primarily from the wisdom of Buddhism or Taoism.
Unitarian Universalism has been influenced by many traditions: mysticism, theism, skepticism,
naturalism as well as feminist and liberation theologies. It is informed by our direct experience of
mystery and wonder, beauty and joy. It is enriched by the creative power of the arts, the guidance
of reason and the lessons of the sciences. We are Unitarian Universalists.
When asked who we are, we say with joy, that we are an intentionally diverse
congregation. This includes, but is not limited to, diversity in race, ethnicity, age and abilities.
Our membership is also diverse in socio-economic status, education and proximity to the church.
We are diverse in gender identity, sexuality and political affiliation. Each person is like a unique
flower whose beauty we all take responsibility for nurturing. So when asked who we are, we say
we are a multicultural community; we embrace the beauty and wisdom of all the world’s
cultures. We are an anti-racist congregation; we take seriously the commitment to achieve
equity in all our relations. We are an anti-oppressive congregation in that we take seriously the
commitment to mindfully confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the
transforming power of love. In order to be such a community, we must individually and
collectively be open to experience moral and spiritual growth.

Membership 7
Means to Achieve the End of Diverse Membership
• Membership Ministry Team:
a. The monthly “UU & You” orientations are designed to build the church’s
membership and educate visitors about our multicultural, anti-racist and anti-
oppressive historical and contemporary ministries. This is done through video,
presentations by the minister, small group discussions, question and answer
exercises and informational packets.
b. The membership ceremonies that have taken place eight months a year for the
past two years not only welcomed new members but also reaffirmed current
members’ commitment to the community.
c. Membership bios are posted in the order of service, on the website and photos of
members are posted in the front of the church and on the website.
d. Biannual new-member receptions help sustain those who recently joined and
connect them with long-term members.
e. In the last seven months we have welcomed 34 new members, which is in
addition to the 50 we welcomed last year.
• Food Ministry
a. Food is an excellent way to sustain a diverse congregation. We do so by offering
hospitality (coffee and food) after 3 services a month; a monthly all-church pot
luck; as well as small group Circle Dinners and special events such as the auction,
an Iftar Ramadan dinner, the Passover Seder, etc. Each of these activities
expresses culture, community and connection.
• Communication
a. One way to sustain a diverse congregation is to find multiple ways to disseminate
information. For example, we offer weekly e-Beacon newsletters for those on
email; we post information on our website as well as on social networking sites,
such as Facebook and MeetUp and Yahoo listserves for the Young Adult and
Interweave group; we also distribute via the U.S. postal service mail to those
without the internet; as well as in seasonal brochures, weekly announcement
sheets and weekly verbal announcements from the pulpit.
• Worship & Music Ministries
a. Each service is intentionally crafted to be a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-
oppressive experience. This includs choosing themes and subjects as well as
lyrics to hymns and choral selections, readings and guest speakers. Theological
diversity is a cornerstone to Unitarian Universalist worship. For example, last
year we hosted a series entitled Peace is Possible that explored world religions
such as Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Native American spirituality, Paganism,
Buddhism, Taoism, the Nowruz Persian New Year, Atheism and Religious
Freedom and five services about Christianity (theology of Paul, Christmas Eve,
Communion, Marys in the bible, guest speaker Cheryl Walker). This exploration
of religious pluralism has helped build and sustain a diverse congregation.

Membership 8
End II. Moral and Spiritual Growth

2. We create and sustain a welcoming, safe and caring spiritual community that enriches,
inspires and encourages moral and spiritual growth across the lifespan.
a. Defining who: “We” is interpreted to mean the members, friends and staff of the First
Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.
b. Interpreting Benefits:
i. Moral and Spiritual Growth: Moral and spiritual growth is achieved through the
ethical and non-material development of an individual and community, such as
virtues, beliefs, intellect, emotions and spiritual practices.
ii. Spiritual Community: A spiritual community is defined as a body of people who
promote and affirm the principles and sources of Unitarian Universalism as part of
their religious identity. Our spiritual community embraces religious pluralism and
seeks to understand and experience that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in
many cultures.
iii. Welcoming Community: We ensure that people of every age, ability and identity are
authentically integrated into the First Church family.
iv. Safety: Safety includes emotional and physical security, with special concern for
children and vulnerable adults because every person has inherent worth and dignity.
v. Caring: We take shared responsibility for developing a network of mutual support.
c. Interpreting who benefits: These will benefit members, friends and visitors at all stages
of their lives.
d. Interpreting the number “II”. Our second priority is to achieve this end.
Narrative from State of Congregation Address
Moral and spiritual growth is achieved when, through worship and religious education, we
wrestle with the provocative social issues of our time. We grow ethically by studying the non-
material part that is in each of us – the virtues, the beliefs, the ideas and emotions that reside
within. We ask ourselves, how do we process these feelings and present them to the world. But
we are not alone in this quest. The truth is, only when we gather as one strong body do we have
the power to create a spiritual community. Only as a collective do we have the power to make
our interactions resonate with meaning. We understand that it matters what we say and how we
say it. We know that our words can either harm or heal. We know our thoughts can destroy or
create. In these ways, we seek to enrich and inspire and encourage one another to experience
moral and spiritual growth across the lifespan. This is why it is so critical to nurture the infant; to
encourage questions in the child; to provide a safe-space for the youth to explore; to allow young
adults to express themselves; to create a place where adults know that they matter, they belong;
to respect and honor our elders by joining with them in the reverence and wonder of the cycles of
life. We are all part of one human family. We seek to enter dialogue with one another in mutual
love and respect, honoring our varied backgrounds and paths. We are called to stretch and
deepen our faith through religious education, creative engagement, and spiritual practice in our
congregations and in our lives. With this knowledge we know we are all connected. We
cultivate and share our beliefs. We grow and learn. We cultivate our faith and work together to
put our faith into action.

Moral & Spiritual Growth 9

Means to Achieve the End of Moral & Spiritual Growth
• Worship & Music
a. The primary way a religious community experiences moral and spiritual growth is
through meaningful, relevant and compelling worship services. In addition to the
Peace is Possible series, described in the means to achieve the End of
“Membership,” the following service topics helped to enrich, inspire and
encourage moral and spiritual growth in the last year: death penalty; UU
principles; Jewish-German reconciliation; morally engaged politics; anti-
discriminatory policies related to gay rights; transcendentalism; feminist theology;
African pilgrimage; animal rights and ethical eating; non-violent resistance; racial
justice; letting go of control, expressing trust and practicing self care; healing
one’s religious past; women who found their voice; letter writing; spirituality of
sustainability; legacy of racial justice; mothering the motherless child.
b. The greeter/usher program and membership follow-up for visitors helps to create
a welcoming community.
c. The establishment of a Music Associate program elevated the leadership of a half-
dozen professional musicians in the congregation who share the spirituality of
music in worship. This proved to be very helpful with the absence of a music
director this last fall.
• Caring Ministry Team and Pastoral Support
a. The First Unitarian Church is known by many as a caring community with a rich
network of mutual support. The Caring Ministry Team assists the minister in
responding to those in the congregation who have joys and accomplishments or
difficulties and losses. The team meets monthly to write cards to those with joys
and concerns and Caring Associates officiate the Sharing of Names each Sunday
morning. Many Associates and Caring Team members have directed calls, sent
letters or placed visits to members and friends.
b. Reverend Nate has performed over 34 weddings, civil unions, memorials/funerals,
baby dedications and bridging ceremony and spends an average of 5-10 hours a
week with pastoral counseling. He is especially thankful for the care he receives.
• Adult Religious Education
a. In the last year, members of the community offered over 22 classes, programs and
groups for adults to gather in small groups to sustain their moral and spiritual
growth. Those offerings included: Feminine Luminous body; Writing as a
Spiritual Practice; Building Your Own Theology I; Advanced Building Your Own
Theology; Ethics; Theater Discussion Group; Seeking the Goddess in Nature;
Building the World We Dream About; hosting of the Alliances for Racial Justice
conference for the district; Native American Spirituality for Women; Alchemy;
Conversations on Forgiveness; Heatlh and Spirituality; Gnosticism; Men’s Group;
Meditation group; monthly Depression Support Group; monthly Grief Support
Group; Women’s Book Club; American Heretics: Eight Unitarian Heroes;
Spiritual & Financial Abundance; and Money Matters. Among UU Churches in
the Joseph Priestley District, our congregation is known for having the most
robust Adult Religious Education program in the region.

Moral & Spiritual Growth 10

 • Safe Congregation Ministry Team. This year we implemented a comprehensive Safe
Congregation Handbook, held a congregational event to educate the members and friends
of best practices to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from emotional, sexual and
physical abuse. The Director of Religious Education and Minister attended training on
this subject and the Minister worked with tenants to educate them about best practices,
aware that we are not only made up of members of the church but the wider network that
helps to make First Unitarian Church a community center.
• Religious Education: Children and Youth
a. Hosting of a CRE Visioning session in the fall, which resulted in the revitalization
of the newly named Religious Education Ministry Team (note how the C in CRE
was removed so as to be more inclusive of the Youth who are not “children”).
b. Children and youth programs have provided stimulating curricula and programs
designed to interest children and youth and the numerous volunteers who teach
classes are deeply engaged in the moral and spiritual development of the youngest
members of the congregation. Those include classes for the infant through
primary grades with two paid nursery care providers; elementary grade classes;
and middle school classes.
c. The chapel services and homilies allow for a sense of community and spiritual
expression, through music, rituals, sharing and reflection. We have increased the
number of Time for All Ages to two per month because of the request of parents
and youth for truly intergenerational worship services.
d. A comprehensive sexuality-education program has been implemented, bringing
together those students in 5th and 6th grade and their parents. This has been led by
Gene Search and his wife Carolynn Search, volunteer who are discerning their
potential as religious professionals.
• Young Adult Ministry
a. Throughout the fall the Young Adults offered monthly contemporary worship
services and a number of retreats and programs that were open to all but specific
to young adult interests. This not only created a welcoming and spiritual
community but the program provided meaningful opportunities for moral and
spiritual growth.
b. Although the Young Adult Ministry Coordinator and team leaders have
recommended discontinuing the coordinator position, our intention is to offer just
as robust programming in this area as seen in the past.
• Personnel
a. For the second year in a row, the staff has been engaged in a 360-degree
personnel review process. This entails each staff member completing a self-
assessment and comparing it to feedback offered by the direct supervisor and, if
appropriate, from the leadership of a relevant ministry team. In this context, a
structured opportunity is created to allow for each staff member to grow, to reflect
upon their vocation and gain the necessary support to achieve their goals.

Moral & Spiritual Growth 11

 • Rental Program
a. As a community center, the rental program has partnered with numerous tenants
to offer programs that fall into the following categories: spiritual, wellness,
cultural, civic and education. Many of these programs offer moral and spiritual
development opportunities as well as help to create a culture of hospitality, safety
and care. In this context, there has been a 21% increase in the number of events
held in the building over the first nine months of the fiscal year as compared to
the same period last year. In the last two years, the church programs/events have
increased from 30% to 56%, which means over half of the number of events
taking place in the building are church related; less than half are rentals. This
suggests a commitment on behalf of the congregation to offer more programs that
promote moral and spiritual growth.
• Ministers in Training
a. Ten leaders associated with the church have approached Reverend Nate for
vocational counseling to discern their potential in becoming a religious
professional. Five have developed a formal, regular and documented mentor-
student relationship. For example, Reverend Nate supervised Gene Search,
during his 400-hour field-education placement through Lutheran Theological
Seminary. This included meeting at least 10 times per semester for reflection on
theology, leadership and ethics in ministry. Reverend Nate has met with each
student and candidate for ministry before and after they offer a worship service
and provided comprehensive feedback, which served as a structured opportunity
to experience moral and spiritual growth.

Moral & Spiritual Growth 12

End III. Social Justice

3. Inspired by the historic and contemporary activists of First Unitarian Church, we work
towards a more just, peaceful, compassionate and equitable congregation, urban community
and world.
a. Defining the historic and contemporary activists: Our modern advocacy is a direct result
of the progressive ministries born from the establishment of our congregation in 1796.
Our legacy also draws upon the prophetic women and men throughout time who
advanced the cause of human rights.
b. Defining who: “We” is interpreted to mean the members, friends and staff of the church,
who collectively take shared responsibility for our social activism. “We” is also the
individual members, friends and staff of the church who through their right of conscience
put their faith into action.
c. Interpreting the Benefits
i. Justice: Aware of the systems of power, privilege and prejudice, “justice” is the
quality of being fair and reasonable in all our relations.
ii. Equality: Aware that everyone has inherent worth and dignity, “equality” means that
everyone is entitled to the same civil and human rights.
iii. Peace: Aware of the history of human domination, “peace” is the absence of
violence in all our relations.
iv. Compassion: Aware of the desire to know and to be known, “compassion” is
understanding without judgment.
d. Interpreting who benefits: Our activism and advocacy benefit those who suffer including
the underprivileged, marginalized and disenfranchised individuals and groups. The
activists and advocates also benefit from making these benefits possible. Our urban
community includes our immediate neighborhood, Center City, as well as the larger
Philadelphia metropolitan area. The world is defined as all of humanity and the planet
Earth.
e. Interpreting the number “3”. Our third priority is to achieve this end.

Narrative from State of Congregation Address

We are inspired to put our faith into action, because of the historic activists who rose
from these pews to make the world more just, peaceful, compassionate and equitable. Take for
instance, William Henry Furness, our first minister. Beginning in the 1850s he planted the seeds
of social justice in his anti-slavery sermons. Member Laura M. Towne took that message to
South Carolina to found the Pen School at the height of the American civil war, the first school
the educate free slaves. As the first African American female to be published in the United
States, member Frances Ellen Watkins Harper planted those same seeds in her poetry and in her
lectures on Women’s Rights and the abolition of slavery. Many years later, Victor Carpenter
planted the seeds social justice as the congregation joined him in demonstrating against the war
in Vietnam. This congregation continued to plant those seeds in the 1970s when it voted to
allow the church building to put up as collateral for the Philadelphia Bail Bond Project.

Social Justice 13
 Today, each of us plants the seeds of social justice when we participate in Rebuilding
Together and renovate Philadelphia homes. We spread the seeds of social justice when we
participate in Books Behind Bars or Winter Shelter or the after-school tutoring, or English-as-a-
second-language classes. We put our faith into action when we become a center for interfaith
dialogue, promoting the principles of understanding, peace and justice. We put our faith into
action when we collect and serve food and clothing to our homeless neighbors, who so
desperately want what we all want – a life of dignity.
We embody social justice when we become aware of systems of power, systems of
privilege and systems of prejudice. We begin by acknowledging our part in perpetuating these
systems, and then working to heal them, and ourselves, through acts of compassion, peace,
equity and justice. Our goal is to be fair and reasonable in all our relations. We believe that
everyone has inherent worth and dignity. We believe that the ideal of equality is made real only
when all citizens have access to the same civil rights and every person on the planet is honored
because of certain inalienable human rights, such as life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In this way, we desire to know others. We desire to be known. This is a basic act of compassion
– to understand without judgment. This is a basic act of peace – to understand the history of
human domination and to create a world where there is an absence of violence in all our
relations.
Both Unitarian and Universalist histories are inseparable from social and political action
over the years. Over half of our congregations are officially Welcoming to the bisexual, gay,
lesbian and transgender community. In 2007, a coalition that included Unitarian Universalists
successfully lobbied for increasing the minimum wage. And last month in Washington, UUs
joined 3,000 activists and faith community leaders to meet with members of the Obama
transition team and key congressional leaders. Their purpose was to partner together to promote
universal health care, immigration reform, and the creation of new jobs. Our activism and
advocacy may benefit others, but we too benefit from making justice possible. We not only serve
members of our congregation, but understand that we are part of a larger world and that how we
think and what we do affects our neighborhood, our city, our country, the planet earth and all
who live thereon.
This is the essence of our social justice ministry. It begins by articulating what we
believe and then putting our faith into action. We do so because of our deep longing to be made
whole. We do so because we feel a responsibility to serve. You see, our activism and advocacy
may benefit those who suffer, but we too benefit from making justice possible. We are wounded
healers – tending to our own wounds by healing the wounds of others. In this way, we stand
with and for the individuals and groups who are underprivileged, marginalized and
disenfranchised. This is our highest ideal: to serve both members of our congregation and our
urban community. Our highest ideal is to help to repair the world by collectively offering
significant contributions to humanity and to the planet earth.

Social Justice 14
Means to Achieve the End of Social Justice
• Worship & Music. The primary way for the community to engage in social justice is
through the raising conscientiousness through worship. To be inspired, aware and
knowledgeable about various injustices is the first step in motivating others to take
action. It is therefore crucial for worship be built upon issues that are contemporary,
relevant, urgent and that promote equality, peace and compassion. An overwhelming
number of the worship services offered this year have been designed with this in mind.
• Restructuring Social Justice. The Social Justice Ministry Team has reviewed various
models for social justice and advocacy and researched ways of engaging the
Congregation as a whole in the Church’s social justice work. They have restructured the
team to oversee and assess the Church’s ongoing social justice efforts and has developed
a timetable for implementing their goals. They held an information session on May 3rd to
present their proposal and get feedback from the congregation. In addition, the team
conducted a survey of the congregation with the intention of compiling a “First Church
Social Justice Resource List” as tool for individuals with similar interest to connect with
one another. This list will provide the congregation with a starting point for the selection
of a year for next year in addition to developing a three-year strategic plan to support the
theme selected.
• Social Justice Programs. Although the ministry team does not self-identify as being a
cohesive group with a unified vision, a great deal of ministry was achieved this year in
this area. For example, members of the congregation were involved in the following
activities:
a. traveling to New Orleans to rebuild homes destroyed in the Katrina hurricane;
participating in the annual Rebuilding Together program in Philadelphia and
donating half the collection plate to the program;
b. engaging in a literacy program through Books Through Bars by collecting and
distributing books to those in prison; volunteering in a literacy program to teach
children to read;
c. hosting the annual Center City Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to express our
mutual respect and commitment to preserve peace and compassion; and
participating in an Interfaith Peace Walk in Philadelphia;
d. participating in several homelessness projects such as collaborating with the
Welcome Center, the Winter Shelter and hosting city-wide planning groups to
discern next steps for collaboration; and participating in the Ramadan Day of
Dignity with the Islamic Relief Fund to feed, clothe and provide medical services
for over 400 homeless;
e. partaking and co-leading the regional racial justice program, Building the World
We Dream About; and hosting the district’s Racial Justice Conference; hosting
ADORE films in the chapel to have A Dialogue On Race & Ethnicity;
f. participating in the newly formed UUPLAN: UU Pennsylvania Legislative Action
Network to pass House Bill 300 which would prevent employers from
discriminating based on sexuality or gender identification and to pass a
comprehensive health-care reform bill;

Social Justice 15
 g. participating in the March for Equality on Independence Mall and the National
Equality Rally with Equality Forum; sending Reverend Nate to Washington D.C.
to lobby with the Human Rights Campaign to pass the Matthew Shepard Act and
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; and sending Reverend Nate to
Beaufort, South Carolina to speak about Laura Towne’s racial justice ministry;
h. Reverend Nate and Ed Greenlee editing a book with famed scholars about the role
of religion, politics and law entitled Whose God Rules a Theolegal Nation?, to be
published by Georgetown University Press; and Reverend Nate was asked by the
district to offer his death-penalty sermon at General Assembly.
• Religious Education: Adult, Young Adult, Children & Youth
a. Many of the education programs offered this last year were rooted in social justice
practices. For example, the church hosted the regional Theater Discussion Group
on Interact Theater’s production of Rant; the Men’s Group is deliberate about
creating an anti-oppressive culture that is inclusive and healing; the Young Adults
offered several films and retreats that had racial justice components; the children
and youth have participated in Wintershelter and Books Through Bars as well as
Guests at Your Table. Moreover, many of the curricula and chapel homilies and
time-for-all-ages are geared toward social justice themes.
b. The children’s “All Together Sundays” will now be called “Social Justice
Sundays” involving the children in learning about and in engaging in a project
that promotes justice, equality, peace and compassion.
• UUs for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
a. A new ministry has formed to create a national chapter of UFETA at the church.
The mission is to offer programs on Ethical Eating, mindful-consumption and
animal rights, which not only address the Social Justice End but also directly the
Sustainability End.
• Direct Communication
a. More than ever the leadership is implementing the healing practice of direct
communication. By doing so, those in conflict have the opportunity to speak to
one another in person with the aim of understanding one another; mediation is
offered if needed. The purpose is “to know and to be known” which is the first
step in creating a culture of compassion.
b. In addition, many leaders have implemented the spiritual practice of deep
listening and loving speech, aware that suffering is often caused by unmindful
speech and the inability to listen to others. The purpose is to cultivate loving
speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve
others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering,
leaders have become determined to speak truthfully with words that inspire self-
confidence, joy, and hope. More than ever leaders are modeling how not to
spread news that is not known to be certain and not criticizing or condemning
things of which they are not sure. Together we are seeking to refrain from
uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or
the community to break. We remain determined to make all efforts to reconcile
and, if able, to resolve all conflicts, however small.

Social Justice 16
End IV. Sustainability1

4. We care for and seek sustainability in our relationships with the earth, its vital ecosystems,
and the human and non-human animals who inhabit it.
a. Defining We: “We” are the members, friends and staff of the First Unitarian Church of
Philadelphia.
b. Defining Sustainability: the capacity to maintain current needs and express the greatest
potential in the present while preserving the biodiversity and natural ecosystems and the
natural, material, financial and human resources to sustain the congregation indefinitely.
c. Interpreting Benefits:
i. Relationship with the Earth: As stewards of the Earth we believe it is our
responsibility to care for, tend to and nurture the environment by practicing mindful
consumption of natural resources and by practicing renewal and sustainable disposing
of our waste.
ii. Relationship with vital ecosystems: We are aware that we are but one part of a
dynamic and complex network of plants, animals and microorganisms and their
environments, interacting as a functional unit.
iii. Relationship with human animals: We value the state of connectedness between
human individuals and groups that involves mutual dealings, aware that we are but
one kind of animal on this vast planet.
iv. Relationship with non-human animals: We value the state of connectedness with
living organisms that feed on organic matter and have specialized sense organs and
nervous systems allowing them to respond rapidly to stimuli, which includes
mammals, birds, reptiles, fish or insects.
d. Interpreting the number “4”. Our fourth priority is to achieve this end.

Narrative from State of Congregation Address

In the spirit of justice, we believe it is imperative to care for the Earth, its vital
ecosystems and all living beings who inhabit it. We are relational creatures, capable of both good
and evil. We have experienced enough brokenness, including in ourselves, to seek the power of
forgiveness and reconciliation. We are called to make choices that help to heal and transform
both ourselves and the world, and to move toward solidarity with all beings. Why? Because we
believe it is our responsibility to be stewards of the Earth. We believe in the beauty and holiness
of the Earth and in turn become more willing to relinquish material desires. In this way, we
recognize the need for sacrifice as we build a world that is both just and sustainable. We are
called to be good stewards, restoring the Earth and protecting all beings. As we manifest this
vision, we cast yet another and another circle, ever widening our circle of compassion.

1
To be reviewed by the new Ministry Leadership Team and approved by the new Board.

Sustainability 17
Means to Achieve the End of Sustainability
• Recycling Program
a. This year the Property Ministry Team and Building Superintendent implemented
a building-wide recycling program for all church and tenant programs thanks to
the Business Administrator renegotiating a contract with a trash company.
• Going Paperless
b. This year we implemented the e-beacon, saving the church over $3,000 in printing
and postage costs, while continuing to print and mail newsletters to the 40 people
in the congregation who do not have access to the internet.
• Financial Sustainability
c. Last year the Business Administrator and Minister did a study of the withdrawals
from the endowment, concluding that if we took the same amount we had in the
last 4 years we would have completely depleted the principal of the endowment
by the year 2032. The Board therefore implemented an investment strategy and
policy to ensure sustainability of our investments, thanks to the research and
expertise of the Investment and Endowment Working Group. This group
recommended that we do not take more than 5% of the total Endowment even
though by policy we could take up to 5% of the last 13-quarter rolling average.
This recommendation was implemented in the latest budget with the exception of
the additional $2,000 that will pay for a mini-audit.
• Christina’s Garden and the Memorial Garden
d. The gardens at the east, south and west sides of the building continue to nurture
the vital ecosystems in an urban environment; this is made possible thanks to the
work of Building Superintendent Christina Doe and the Memorial Garden, an
auxiliary organization.
• Worship & Music
e. We have offered multiple worship services directly related to the “Spirituality of
Sustainability” and how to preserve the inherent worth and dignity of “Every
Being.” In these services we sought to raise the consciousness of Unitarian
Universalists’ commitment to be stewards of the Earth by engaging in mindful
relationship with human and non-human animals and the Earth’s vital
ecosystems.
f. In addition, we continue to recycle the front-covers of our programs.

Sustainability 18
End V. Preservation

5. We commit to the preservation and enhancement of our architecturally significant building

while meeting the contemporary needs of our Church and community.
a. Interpreting benefits:
i. Preservation: As stewards to an historic landmark, we use our resources and talents
to sustain the architectural integrity of our building.
ii. Enhancement: As a growing urban congregation we actively improve our facility to
meet the needs of a diverse and technologically sophisticated membership.
iii. Contemporary Needs: These include, but are not limited to, modern worship and
communications as well as a fully technically accessible building.
b. Interpreting who benefits: A twenty-first century congregation includes our members,
friends, visitors and tenants. In addition, these benefits will serve our surrounding
neighborhood and Philadelphia, as well as historians, architects and Unitarian
Universalists who consider the building as a pilgrimage site.
c. Interpreting the number “5”. Our fifth priority is to achieve this end.

Narrative from State of Congregation Address

The goal of sustainability is intricately connected to the preservation and enhancement of
our architecturally significant building while meeting the contemporary needs of our Church and
community. Take a look around. We are acutely aware that water has been seeping through the
stone, which chips away at the paint in our sanctuary. We are committed to restoring our this
Philadelphia landmark. As a growing urban congregation we actively seek to improve our
facility to meet the needs of a diverse and technologically sophisticated membership. These
include, but are not limited to, the needs of contemporary worship and communications as well
as a fully technically accessible building.

Means to Achieve the End of Preservation

• Property Improvements. Thanks to the work of the Property Ministry Team and Building
Superintendent, the following enhancements have been made to improve our facility in
the last year:
a. replaced ceiling fans in Griffin Hall and associated wiring was brought up to
code; repaired damage to wood paneling in Griffin Hall and replaced East door;
b. replaced the floors in the basement restrooms and painted the walls to
complement the new tile floors;
c. installed recycling bins – note the monthly costs for trash and recycling services
are now less than the previous contract;
d. removed old carpet and underlying tile in Emerson Room and replaced it with the
wood floor;

Preservation 19
 e. sanded and refinished the floors in the Fahs office, workroom and repainted and
renovated staff offices and purchased new furniture, and renovated chapel loft;
f. replaced the primary steam pressure-reducing valve and pilot valve;
g. installed handrails at three sets of stairs, and electric panel cover and a fire
extinguisher in compliance with a mandate from insurance company;
h. replaced dishwasher in pantry off the lobby;
i. replaced a major steam trap located in a basement utility room;
j. completed the roof repair over the organ loft—lifted cap stones, installed new
flashing, re-set cap stones in new mortar bed, and re-pointed gaps between stones;
k. repainted all of the woodwork on the Chestnut street entrance porch in the
original color scheme;
l. repaired bluestone sidewalk to eliminate tripping hazards—reset or replaced
smaller paving stones and grounded down edges of larger stones;
m. repaired, cleaned and reinstalled three ventilator panels in the Furness leaded-
glass windows in the Sanctuary;
n. repaired window pane in Van Pelt St. entrance door;
o. installed new lock to front door and buzzer/intercom in the Van Pelt entrance;
p. repaired urinal plumbing;
q. repaired sidewalk slate, a continuation of a project from last year;
r. replaced the broken floodlight over the Sanctuary east gate;
s. purchased additional hearing devices and had experts test and recommend
purchasing equipment for new speakers in the back of the sanctuary and will be
replacing the body microphone; and
t. patched a hole in the masonry wall of the basement, at the request of Little
Miracles.

• Facilities Research and Preparation. Thanks to the work of the Property Ministry Team
and Building Superintendent, the following data was collected:
a. The architectural conservator tested several methods for removing stains from
limestone exterior of church. The architect is finalizing specifications and
drawings for masonry work, and the Property Ministry Team is reviewing them.
b. Bids were collected and research was done in the context of the proposed high-
rise at 2116 Chestnut Street. The working group and Property Ministry Team
completed multiple sun studies, architectural designs and collected quotes for the
following: to monitor the vibration to church during construction; to restore the
LaFarge Rose Window; relight and rewire interior sanctuary; add lighting to
exterior for stained glass illumination; cleaning of sanctuary windows to increase
light into sanctuary; and structural repairs to roof.

Preservation 20
 • Development
a. The Development Working Group researched and submitted six grants to repoint
our building, and prepared a comprehensive case statement. This color brochure
advertises the preservation project by highlighting how the church has been
beacon of architectural excellence and social justice for two centuries; is a beacon
for liberal theology; is a beacon for caring, culture and civic life; is a beacon for
children; and a beacon for surrounding community through a ministry relevant to
the 21st century. The purpose of this case statement is to explain the context and
urgency for completing the preservation project by repointing the joints; repairing
the limestone spalls; shoring up the window lintels; sounding and repairing the
stucco walls; and repairing and repointing the chimney. This vision was
supported and reaffirmed by the leaders who attended the fall Development
Summit.
b. Leadership has considered forming a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation
separate from the church to raise money for the historic building and community
center. In addition, an application is being developed to classify the church as a
national historic landmark.
c. Partners for Sacred Places awarded us with a strategic planning grant that allowed
for consultant Luther Snow to offer two visioning sessions with leaders of the
congregation. This included comprehensive training on “asset mapping” and
“appreciative inquiry” which is resulting in the following action plan. First, in
June, collaborate with a small group of people from Development and Property to
develop a comprehensive business plan to remodel the sanctuary, including case
examples of how the space, ministry, rental program and financing will support
each other. Second, to invite Luther to facilitate the August 21-22 leadership
retreat with the new Board and Ministry Leadership Team. And finally, work with
Luther to offer a worship service on “Congregation Sunday” on September 27th,
the week before “Association Sunday”.
• The 2116 Working Group
a. The Board formed a working group to handle the research and negotiations for the
proposed 33-story high-rise to be built on the current site where the Sidney
Hillman Medical Center is located at 2116 Chestnut Street. The group secured a
pro-bono attorney, collaborated with the leadership of the Lutheran Church and
the Center City Residents Association and the Preservation Alliance as well as
engaged in extensive research, which proved to be helpful when testifying at
multiple city and community hearings. The Board developed a formal negotiating
strategy based on this research was helpful in the group’s deliberations with the
developer. The main concern is that the proposed high-rise, which is 1200%
more floor-area-ration than the zoning code allows, will take away 10 months of
sunlight from the sanctuary, as compared to 3 months of shadow that would occur
with an as-of-right building. It is crucial for the working group to continue to
advocate on behalf of the church in preserving our architecturally significant
building.

Preservation 21
End VI. Safety and Accessibility
6. We seek to be truly welcoming, safe and accessible to the people of all abilities who use our
building.
a. Interpreting benefits:
i. Welcoming & Accessible: We guarantee people of every age, ability and identity will
have appropriate access to congregational information and to all parts of the building.
ii. Safe: A safe building protects from, and does not expose anyone to, danger or risk.
b. Interpreting who benefits: Every member, friend, tenant or visitor who uses the facilities
will benefit from a safe and accessible building. Every person with a physical or learning
disability, including those whose movements, senses or mental processes are
compromised will benefit from adequate assistance.
c. Interpreting the number “6”. Our sixth priority is to achieve this end.
Narrative from State of Congregation Address
Thanks to you, we are a growing urban congregation dedicated to preserve and enhance our
beloved building while meeting the contemporary needs of our community. Why do we seek to
be a safe and accessible congregation? Because we believe that every person of every age,
ability and identity should have equal access to information and to all parts of the building. We
believe that a safe building protects from, and does not expose anyone to, danger or risk. We
believe safety also includes emotional and physical security, with special concern for children
and vulnerable adults. Every member, friend, tenant or visitor who enter our building will
benefit from a safe and accessible building.
Means to Achieve the End of Safety & Accessibility
• Worship & Facility
a. To date, we are not in compliance of this End: not all parts of the building are
accessible. The seeds of a safe and accessible church building were planted when
we built a ramp and installed listening devices, purchased large-print and Braille
hymnals and offering large-print orders of service. These were baby steps. We
recently purchased additional hearing devices and speakers to help with the goal
of building a more sophisticated sound system. The most obvious deficit,
however, is an elevator. Multiple tenants and congregants have expressed their
interest in unifying to raise the funds necessary for such a project: R5 concerts
would benefit because moving equipment up and down the stairs is a burden;
parents from the Beacon Center would benefit greatly from an elevator to hold
their strollers; members and visitors who attend potlucks would benefit from
being able to reach the kitchen. There is no reason why two-thirds of our building
is not accessible.
• Safe Congregation Ministry Team
a. The Safe Congregation Handbook was updated after the fall congregational
hearing, thanks to the feedback offered by members of the church. We offered
training to all volunteer teachers and tenants who work with children about best
practices for creating a safe congregation, free from emotional, sexual and
physical abuse.

Safety and Accessibility 22

VII. Transparency

7. We apply transparency in our governance and ministry in order to build trust and to preserve
the integrity of our democratic process.
a. Interpreting benefits:
i. Transparency: Transparency is defined as appropriate openness and candor in the
church’s decision-making processes. The ultimate purpose of transparency in
governance and ministry is to ensure that the members and leaders are well informed
and better poised to participate in the life of the church. Our intent is that, when
reasonable, all share in decision-making and hold one another accountable for our
shared ministries.
ii. Trust & Democracy: Church leaders contribute to a culture of confidence and mutual
reliance, which renews the spirit of congregational polity. This ensures that the
ultimate responsibility and authority of the organization rests with its members.
b. Interpreting who benefits: Our openness benefits the church leaders, staff and the
congregation, as well as our long-term tenants.
c. Interpreting the number “7”. Our seventh priority is to achieve this end.

Narrative from State of Congregation Address

Another form of accessibility is transparency. We believe that our governance, our
ministry, and our finances should be open to all who participate in our community. In this spirit,
we ensure that all voices are heard, especially those often left out on the margins. Our goal is to
build trust and to preserve the integrity of our democratic process. The ultimate purpose of
transparency in governance and ministry is to ensure that the members and leaders are well
informed and poised to participate in the life of the church. Our intent is that, when reasonable,
all share in decision-making process and hold one another accountable for our shared ministries.
We are called to promote fairness, accountability, honesty, and transparency.
As leaders, our goal is to contribute to a culture of confidence and mutual reliance, which
renews our organizational self-worth. We cultivate our collective self-esteem by having shared
knowledge about who we are and where we are going. In doing so, we affirm that the ultimate
authority of the organization rests with, you, the members.

Means to Achieve the End of Transparency

• Financial Transparency. More than ever, we have developed a comprehensive system by
which the finances of the church are transparent, which are summarized in the monthly
column written by the Treasurer.
a. First, the Board has authorized two sets of external audits, which have demonstrated
the expertise by which the Business Administrator has managed the church’s
accounts.
b. Second, the Treasurer’s role has been redefined as the chief monitor of the church’s
finances, overseeing two working groups to monitor various accounts: the Investment

Transparency 23
 & Endowment Working Group examines the Ameritrade accounts with Abacus as
well as various trusts and savings accounts. The Finance Working Group monitors
the monthly operations and offers advice to the Treasurer, the Board, the Business
Administrator and Minister.
c. Third, the budgeting process builds upon proposals offered by various ministry teams;
charges the Business Administrator and Minister to develop a budget; to present the
budget to the Board at a congregational information session, a congregational Budget
Hearing and a congregational meeting. The budget is posted online, where all have
access to “shared knowledge,” which reinforces the “shared values” that were used to
create the budget and ultimately inspire the congregation to take “shared
responsibility” for achieving the financial goals set forth by the congregation.
• Transparency in Ministry & Governance.
d. The Board has been very proactive about educating the congregation about issues
related to the proposed 33 story high-rise and using the annual State of the
Congregation Address to share the Ends and Interpretations with the congregation.
These have resulted in a deeper appreciation for the collaborative leadership and a
culture of shared responsibility.
e. The monthly articles written by the President and the Treasurer are very helpful in
communicating to the congregation.
f. In relation to personnel, confidential information is held by the direct supervisor and
brought to the attention of the Steering Committee and eventually the Board if
medeation is needed

Transparency 24