THE 2011 OPERATING FUND DRIVE by Bob Dorroh, Chair of the Stewardship Committee

Sally Wood and Neal Stoltzfus are the co-chairs for the drive this fall for the 2012 operating fund. The Stewardship Chair is an elected member of the Finance Committee whose greatest responsibility is the operating fund drive, and I am blessed that Sally and Neal have agreed to serve as co-chairs for that drive.

We have retained a consultant, Mark Ewert, from the UUA Congregational Stewardship Services. Many of you have already seen him, since he was here on an assessment visit January 14-16 and spoke briefly from the pulpit on January 16. Launch Sunday (for the drive) is October 2, and closing Sunday is October 30. September 23-25 is Orientation Weekend. There will be several orientation sessions, and everyone is urged to attend one of them.

 President Michael Hebert and Vice-President/President Elect Sally Wood have attended  the Dwight Brown Leadership Experience at Texas Women's University in Denton, TX August 7-12 as part of the Class of 2011. DBLE, as it is called, is described as"an intense and deeply spiritual experience that focuses on a deep submersion in activities that train participants who serve Unitarian Universalist congregations as servant leaders to their congregations and elders of the faith. DBLE attendees have included individuals who serve as president and in other positions of leadership.

 Our church was represented by five delegates when the 2011 Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations General Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 22-26. Delegates l included Rev. Steve Crump, Diana and Bob Dorroh, Rev. Beth Williams, and Don Hoppe. Don led a workshop entitled "Countering Spiritual Violence Against BGLT Youth," which focused on the use of religion to bully GBLT kids. This year’s GA will mark the 50th Anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. Our delegates joined thousands of fellow Unitarian Universalists from across the country in this historic UUA General Assembly. You can keep up with GA happenings at www.uua.org/ga; and on Social media Twitter and Facebook. 

The dedication of the new sanctuary of Community Church Unitarian Universalist in New Orleans on April 10 was the realization of the hopes and dreams of its members, five-and-a-half years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church building and reduced the membership by nearly one-half - from 96 to 50 members. The minister, the Reverend Jim VanderWeele, said in an interview a few days before the dedication, quoted in an article in uuworld.org, that "This has been a long journey. So many people worked so hard believing in Community Church, and now we’re back in our own sanctury." That sanctuary now sits on a pad three feet higher than the former building and reflects the members’careful plans to construct a green building. A recent grant to the church will help finance the installation of solar panels on the roof, further extending their commitment to living green. As importantly, the rebuilding of their sanctuary and restoring normalcy to their church community is a testament to CCUU members' determination to sustain a liberal religious presence in New Orleans, as they continue to serve and contribute to the city's rebuilding.

 Our church has had a long-standing relationship with CCUU, and those bonds were deepened following Hurricane Katrina, when some of its members were extended hospitality by members of our church. Several CCUU members attended our services in the months following during their temporary displacement and relocation to Baton Rouge and were welcomed into our church family. Office space and use of facilities was accorded to Reverend VanderWeele for several months. We also contributed financially through our church Hurricane Relief Funds, and through dedication for two years of 1% of our annual pledge funds in the amount of about $7,000 divided equally between CCUU and the other two area churches, First Church in New Orleans, and North Shore in Hammond, both of which continue on the hard road back to recovery.

 A video of the journey from destruction, rebuilding and the dedication can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VXEFKJ1480.

 A thank-you note from Rev. VanderWeele to Penny and Earle can be found on our church’s website. We share the joy of members of Community Church in realizing the fulfillment of their hopes, dreams, and plans for a new sanctuary.  (submitted by Rebecca Cureau)

Past Events 

Senior Youth Quentin Cavell and Kelsi Coburn attended the Gulf Coast Rally at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, TX the weekend of January 14 - 16, where they enjoyed meeting and exchanging ideas and practices with UU youth from churches throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.  Youth Advisor Christy Wyatt also attended, along with Joe and Kimberly Coburn, who served as parent chaperones.

Reverend Earle Ramsdell, Director of Pastoral Care, was invited to share his reflection on his life and spiritual journey, or "Odyssey," at the Annual Southwest UU Ministers Association Retreat held in Camp Allen, TX, January 17-20.  Rev. Ramsdell and our Senior Minister are active members of SWUUMA

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