I've been a member of UUCF for ten years. In that time, we have almost doubled in size. Our church community is not what it used to be. We have gained some things of value. We have also lost some things of value. I would like to mention three areas where changes are of special concern to me.
The first is community. Our growth has expanded the opportunity to appreciate the diversity of our membership. Yet I hear from those who feel alienated from the larger UUCF community. To the extent that these perceptions may be real, I believe we must look at them as challenges for all of us. They are not disruptive, whining complaints to be ignored.
For several years, I devoted much of my time to personal growth issues. I became less defensive when someone criticized me. I learned that it was much more constructive to listen to the criticism. Criticism is not condemnation. It becomes so only with intemperate words.
The second area where change is occurring is communication within our community. Our current board has taken major steps to improve this. I applaud them for their efforts. I also recognize that much more needs to be done. Details of plans once could be effectively disseminated through conversations over coffee hour. This won't work in a community of more than six hundred.
Communication is a two-way street. Speech must be heard to become communication. Even more, there must be listening, which is more active than simply hearing. There has been much speaking in the past year; we need to spend more time listening. Some of our members have been so distressed by the quality of the speech on our e-mail list that they have chosen to withdraw from it. If you choose me to serve on the Board, you have my pledge that I will listen to all ideas and comments without judging.
The third area of challenge for us is compassion. In our diverse congregation, we must constantly strive to understand the needs of others, as well as their joys and sorrows. Jim said it well last Sunday. To paraphrase him, in giving we receive, and being kind is the most important thing. In addition, I believe that the truth, when spoken with love, is our best route to healing.
These three "C's" - community, communication, and compassion - will lead to making a fourth "C" easy - commitment: commitment of ourselves to our community, and our time, talents and treasures to its support. It is for these reasons that I ask your support for election to our Board, with the pledge that building our community is now and will be my highest goal.