For many years, Jim Nelson has served as an esteemed minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF). His sermons are a source of inspiration, combining thoughtful questions with humor and reflection. Jim Nelson has offered his counsel and reassuring presence to church attendees, always striving to assist those in need. He has dedicated untold time and personal strength to benefit members of the community. Jim Nelson is a positive force in the UUCF community. Since he has been at the UUCF, the church has grown significantly and has a much younger face.
We urge the UUCF board to proceed openly and democratically, with extreme care not to act in a way that would jeopardize the legal standing of the church, the rights of its members to be heard, or the right of Rev. Nelson and his family to due process. We must object to the surreptitious manner in which some 47 individuals in the congregation attempted to quietly effect a change in the ministerial leadership of the church, a change so basic, of such importance and with such far-reaching consequences that it must be a matter for the congregation at large to decide.
We request a cooling-off period that provides sufficient time for open discussion, clear communication, and input from all in the church.
From: Friends of UUCF
[address removed]
To: The UUCF Board of Trustees
CC: The UUCF Congregation, Rev. Edward White and the UUA
Enclosed: Petition requesting a cooling off period.
Comments in support of Rev. Jim Nelson.
Letter to UUCF Members and Friends
Dear UUCF Board of Trustees:
The UUCF members, friends and attendees who have signed this letter wish to make the following requests of the church board:
Please find attached a petition signed by congregants from UUCF who support Jim Nelson's ministry here. The petition asks that the board allow "a cooling-off period that provides sufficient time for open discussion, clear communication and input from all in the church." This petition is still open for additional signatures. Also please find attached comments in support of Jim Nelson and UUCF.
In closing, we are hopeful that our congregation can weather this storm. But to do so, we feel very strongly that the board must devote attention, time and resources exploring the opinions of the entire congregation, including the many members and friends who have a highly favorable opinion of Jim and would deeply regret his departure. We hope the comments we submit here can begin this process. We care deeply about our congregation, and we want to be part of the solutions to the problems we face.
Respectfully submitted,
[List is reformatted.]
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Jim Hood Sally Behn Mike Behn Scott Hemmig Rita Hemmig Darcie Johnston John Figlear Kristin Moyer Bill Moyer Cyndi McCrea Ursula Biggers Randy Biggers Marsha Stanley Patty MacDonell Scott Wayne Sally Taylor Robert Taylor Kendall Barrett Stephanie Howard Richard Howard Eric Boggess Pam Jorgensen Tom Jorgensen Anna Grill Mike Grill Daniel Noll |
Laura Noll Cami St.Germain John Wiens Joan Lisante Hood Dawn Sweeney Tim Sweeney Alan S. Green Lea Edwards Laurie P. Lubsen Jean Thoensen Rita Lazar Emery Lazar Patty Williams Sue Moutoux Mike Casey Gretchen Casey John McGowan Jim Daniels Shane Torbert Kristen Ford Cheryl A. Snow Vivian McDaniel Gregory Perrier Michael Boyles Marybeth Turner Eric Franklin |
Barbara Mackie Franklin Craig Dark Linda Dark Kelly Hauber Grant Hauber Laura Wayne James K. Cooper, MD Laurie Alderman Leah Cutler Mariah Cutler Patty Knight Ken Herbert Sally Herbert Jennifer Duncan Nancy R. Tubbs Allan D. Tubbs Tom Richardson Mary M. Richardson Dorothy McGowan Pat Wayne Paul Wayne Vemette Molloy Peter Bostrom Linda Bostrom Walter H. (Chip) Lubsen Jr. |
[The signatures on the petition below were collected between May 10, 2003 and May 28, 2003.]
Petition to the UUCF Board of Trustees
For many years, Jim Nelson has served as an esteemed minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF). His sermons are a source of inspiration, combining thoughtful questions with humor and reflection. Jim Nelson has offered his counsel and reassuring presence to church attendees, always striving to assist those in need. He has dedicated untold time and personal strength to benefit members of the community. Jim Nelson is a positive force in the UUCF community. Since he has been at the UUCF, the church has grown significantly and has a much younger face.
We urge the UUCF board to proceed openly and democratically, with extreme care not to act in a way that would jeopardize the legal standing of the church, the rights of its members to be heard, or the right of Rev. Nelson and his family to due process. We must object to the surreptitious manner in which some 47 individuals in the congregation attempted to quietly effect a change in the ministerial leadership of the church, a change so basic, of such importance and with such far-reaching consequences that it must be a matter for the congregation at large to decide.
We request a cooling-off period that provides sufficient time for open discussion, clear communication, and input from all in the church.
[List is reformatted.]
|
1. Laura Wayne 2. Scott Wayne 3. Marsha Stanley 4. Pat Wayne 5. Sara Short 6. Karin Udler 7. Mark de Oliveira 8. Kenneth Daniels 9. Jim Hood 10. Michael Boyles 11. Marybeth Turner 12. Shane Torbert 13. Anna Grill 14. Michael Grill 15. Danielle Sullivan 16. Michael Sciulla 17. Jessica Snow 18. Pam Brennan 19. Michael Behn 20. Beatrice Van Home 21. Cheryl Snow 22. James Cooper 23. Jean Thoensen 24. Sally Behn 25. Daniel Noll 26. Laura Noll 27. Susan Behn 28. Amanda Adolph 29. John Wiens 30. Craig Dark 31. Linda Dark 32. Michael Wingo 33. Dorothy McGowan 34. Rita Hemmig 35. Scott Hemmig 36. Sierra Hemmig 37. Savanna Hemmig 38. Vivian McDaniel 39. Randall Biggers 40. Biggers Ursula |
41. John McGowan 42. Joan Lisante Hood 43. Diane Cooper 44. Laurie Alderman 45. Patty ICnight 46. Tom Jorgensen 47. Jackie de Oliveira 48. Ed Karoly 49. Robert Taylor 50. Chip Lubsen 51. Mike Casey 52. Gretchen Casey 53. Audrey Kelahcr 54. Ashlyn Casey 55. Douglas Ross 56. Pauline Kelly 57. Patty Williams 58. John Figlear 59. Susan Moutou 60. Marty Pullen 61. Lisa Bradley 62. Vivien Silber 63. Tony Walker 64. Tim Sweeney 65. Kendall Barrett 66. Alan Green 67. Ruth Jackson 68. Lou Kelaher 69. Suzanne Herzberg 70. Perry Mataya 71. Katie Gayle 72. Juan Brown 73. Leah Cutler 74. Mariah Cutler 75. John Adams 76. Thomas Larson 77. Kenny Reff 78. Atoosa Reaser 79. Atticus Reaser 80. Deborah Parks |
81. LigaLidums 82. Wendy Rudolph 83. Kenneth Herbert 84. Sally Herbert 85. Dawn Sweeney 86. Martha Kennedy 87. Laurie Lubscn 88. Alicia Baker Tul loch 89. Sally Taylor 90. Paul Sullivan 91. Vemette Molloy 92. Janet Albright 93. Douglas Parrish 94. Cami St.Germain 95. Emery Lazar 96. Rita Lazar 97. Jennifer Duncan 98. Susan Helig 99. Gregory Perrier 100. Pamela Jorgensen 101. Grant Hauber 102. Kelly Hauber 103. Andy Heaton 104. Darcie Johnston 105. Susan Glomb 106. Kristin Moyer 107. Stephanie Howard 108. Nicholas Sherwood 109. Cyndi McCrea 110. Eric Franklin 111. William Moyer 112. Eric Boggess 113. Patricia MacDonell 114. Allan Tubbs 115. Andrew Jackson 116. CherylKaroly 117. Dia Pullen 118. Mary M. Richardson |
From: Friends ofUUCF
[address removed]
Dear UUCF Members and Friends:
We are writing to share with you the enclosed open letter to the UUCF Board of Trustees. Our hope is to help unite our congregation and to work toward a positive resolution of the current strife that has saddened us all. We have delivered the enclosed letter, together with dozens of personal comments regarding this issue, to UUCF board members. Rev. Edward White of the Alban Institute, and the UUA. A copy of the letter has also gone out to everyone listed in the UUCF directory of members and friends. The comments are too voluminous to mail easily to the entire congregation, but we would be happy to share them with anyone upon request.
We have asked the board to slow down, to make sure that all voices within the church are represented, and above all to work with the congregation to heal the apparent rift that has opened between the board, some members of the church, and the Senior Minister. We feel that the only way everyone can win is if we work together to resolve the conflict that our congregation is experiencing.
We realize we may be criticized for the fact that our petition and letter include, in addition to members of long standing, the names of some new members, prospective members, and long-time attendees who have not officially signed the church membership book, as well as a few who are under age 16 and ineligible for membership. We feel that all those who call UUCF their spiritual home are entitled to be heard, even though some may not have a vote as stipulated in the bylaws.
As a spiritual community, we try to foster an environment of mutual responsibility, trust, kindness, and respect. We also hope to build fair and democratic processes to administer the congregation, and to cultivate channels of communication that allow us to work together. These things are not easy to do, especially when emotions are running high. But we believe very strongly that we can do them, if we work together.
For more information please visit http://www.friendsofjimnelson.com. We encourage anyone who chooses to communicate their support to email comments to info@friendsofiimnelson.com and sign the online petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/Jim.
We hope you will join us in working to unite UUCF.
Sincerely, Friends of UUCF
P. S. We hope that as many people as possible will participate and express their views in this issue, regardless of their positions. Many of you may not be aware that only active members are allowed to vote in congregational matters. To become an active member, you must sign the membership book and make the minimum pledge of $75. There is then a 10-day waiting period before you have full rights of participation in the church.
CC: UUCF Board of Trustees, Rev. Edward White, and the UUA
[This probably is the correct link although there is a
date discrepancy.]
Enclosed:
May 30th Letter to the Board of Trustees
Petition requesting a cooling off period