Greetings,
As we near the end of our most unusual church year we are winding up our meetings with congregants to hear their thoughts on our church-wide goals for the next three years. Many congregants have given their input through group meetings or individually. We are already seeing themes emerge across the congregation.
There are still opportunities to share your ideas. There will be two open meetings for anyone interested in participating this week: · Tonight from 7:00-8:00 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82505974404), Meeting ID#825 0597 4404 · Sunday from 11:30-12:30 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83029973574), Meeting ID#830 2997 3574
The Zoom links are also in the Front Steps and you can give your input online here: (https://www.firstunitarianportland.org/about-us/board/board-of-trustees/).
We are in the middle of our annual church voting process. We are voting for members of the Board and the Nominating Committee, as well as three changes to our bylaws. There was a glitch in the mailing so the deadline to return your ballot has been extended by one week. We want to hear from all voting members; if you haven’t yet returned your ballot, we hope you will do so.
One of the bylaws changes on the ballot is whether the church should adopt the 8th Principle, which calls us to greater awareness of systemic racism and to working to overcome oppression wherever it appears. The Board endorses the adoption of the 8th Principle.
We are approaching the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. Looking back over this past year, we are proud of the activism we witnessed from members of our congregation who participated in the protests, and of the opportunities for reading, reflection and discussion of racial justice offered to people in Portland and across the country. We would like to acknowledge the leadership of our Director of Social Justice, Dana Buhl, our program staff who provided book groups and discussion groups, and the work of so many of our social justice groups in the effort to establish a more just and equitable society.
In service,
Mindy Clark
Moderator