Our theme for September is Vision, fitting for us right now as we embark on a process to create and vision for UUCV for the next five years. Yet I confess that I am struggling to find an inspiring way to express our vision in our present context. Back in my Berkeley days I remember the bumpersticker, “Think globally, act locally.” It still has power, yet now thinking globally feels harder – especially in the realms of politics and economics – and can lead easily to an unhelpful sense of despair. It feels more manageable to think locally and act locally.
Luckily, we are all responsible for creating a vision for the church. I am grateful that we have such thoughtful, committed and caring people to dream together. I can envision many possibilities, yet perhaps my most significant role is holding the spiritual questions. What are you called to bring into the world – in your life and in the church? What inspires you? What spiritual connection will sustain you in that calling?
Together, over the next weeks and months we will be asking, “What is our story at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura? What is the story that we tell? What is the story we hope that others will tell about us?”
We ask those questions in the context of significant transitions.
- The irreplaceable Beverly Jordan will leave us – sometime between November and March – after nearly 5 years of service to UUCV. We are a better people, a stronger community because of her presence among us. She has helped us discover gifts we might not otherwise have seen. As sad as we are at her departure, we now have an opportunity to keep blossoming and living into what Beverly taught us we are.
- We are facing a significant budget deficit in the coming years. Deficits definitely produce their share of anxiety, yet once more we have an opportunity to evaluate what we need and want as a congregation and consider how and what we have resources for. My own anixiety is lessened by knowing that – even in the face of a deficit – the church is in strong financial shape. We have greater reserve funds than in any church I have experience with.
At least two more questions arise: What will we do with our gifts? As a generous people, what can we create in the world?
There are two opportunities to begin asking these questions.
- The board is hosting a Congregational Conversation to begin planning for addressing our deficit on Sept. 16 after church at 11:30
- The 5-for-5 Visioning (task) Force* will be holding a BIG Vision Saturday on Oct. 6 from 9-12. It’s only the beginning of a process that will need your participation and input in many formats. I hope many of you will be able to attend one or both of these events.
We’ll find our way through these transitions together.
In times like these – within the church and beyond – I have never been gladder that we share the ministry of the church.
With love, Rev. Dana
* George Owens has stepped down from our 5-For-5