Minister’s Update at the Congregational Meeting on December 7, 2025
Given this political moment, and the particular juncture that we find ourselves at here, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what the meaning of Church is. What is our purpose?
Depending on who you ask, Church means different things and looks different ways. I have just 3 models of church to share today – all of which come from within our UU context.
About 15 years ago a Social Justice empowerment handbook included this model of church, called the Gilbert Model:
It reminds me a bit of our mission statement:
Living compassionate lives (caring community)
through spiritual growth (religious education/faith formation) and
just action (moral discourse and action).
At the center is what people usually experience when they first start exploring Peoples Church –
that is: Worship, and the celebration of life.
Any single component of this model is not enough.
→ We are more than a social club, an academic study group, or an activist organization. Those might stand alone in a different setting.
But for us here at Peoples Church, each of these aspects is a vital part of the whole.
This model makes me ask questions like:
How do these categories overlap and bleed into one another?
How do we break down the silos between these traditional program areas?
How do we encourage cross-pollination and collaboration?
2) Now, the next model is more about growing membership depth and breadth by helping people engage in the life of the church. I first encountered this model last year or so.
Shaped like a spiral, it shows the path someone might take when getting involved.
People interested in Peoples Church might start on the outside by being curious, and are invited to become visitors. If folx feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging, they start engaging on a regular basis, getting more and more connected. At some point, they consider themselves friends of the congregation, engaged in ways that speak to their gifts and strengths, eventually stewarding the congregation with their time, talent, and treasure. Over time, they are integrated into the congregation, serving as leaders and also as elders on their own faith journey.
Notice, this model doesn’t say HOW or WHERE someone gets engaged and involved.
Maybe it’s through worship,
but maybe it’s through our website or via social media?
Maybe it’s by participating in social justice actions,
or trying out faith formation opportunities.
In this model, we don’t see “programs” defined by lines and boundaries.
Instead, there’s a spiral movement – always being called into deeper engagement with the life of the congregation in ways that are meaningful and enlivening. The further that people move along the spiral journey, the richer the life of the congregation as a whole.
And because the spiral journey is co-created by the people of this congregation, it’s worth asking:
where are YOU on your journey?
And how might you invite people along the spiral journey, too?
3) Then there’s a model I learned about just recently that is represented by this image called “Community Building Map to Deeper Joy.”
The map of building community includes metaphors like: Bonding Harbor, Opening Up Beach, Forest of Affirmation, Cliffs of Exclusivity, Covenant Lighthouse, Healing Springs, Stretching River, Canyons of Deeper Sharing, and Tepid Bay
This model actually includes an evolving collection of games, songs, activities and practices that are designed to help us foster inclusive, multigenerational congregations.
The questions I have with this model include:
What would we gain by experimenting with multigenerational community building?
Are we open to experiencing deeper joy?
I share these three models as resources to keep in mind as you reflect on the updates you’re about to hear from the leadership today.
Which of these models will help us move into what we – as Peoples Church – are called to be next?
As for my brief update, today I want to focus on the “Administry” of the church, which is taking up much of my bandwidth lately.
So, let me begin with my deep gratitude for the staff here at Peoples Church.
There are three new staff members have started since we last met in May – and they all are doing amazing work for this congregation:
Bridget Laflin, our creative and courageous Interim Director of Faith Formation;
Rishi Wagle, our accompanist extraordinaire, and
Brittany Youngbear, our oh so helpful custodian
Of course, there’s also
Matt Wilde, our steady-in-a-storm internet outreach technician,
and (last but not least)
David Kind, our Congregational Administrator who has been with us for over a year. The big news is that David recently moved to California to start seminary. Thankfully, David has agreed to continue working with us from afar – until February if needed. And he will help me train a new Congregational Administrator once that person is hired. Of course, there’s a lot he CAN’T do from afar, so if you’d like to help out temporarily with the hands-on tasks, please let me know.
In the meantime, Kathy Juba is serving with me on the Hiring Team – to search for a new Congregational Administrator. Please help spread the word about the job opening!
There are just SO many other thanks to give as well – to the UN-paid staff!
Think of:
the Worship Associates
the behind-the-scene worship team,
the Building and Grounds team,
those who decorate our spaces or spiff up the library.
The members who serve on the Board and Nominating Committee
Those who work with our children and youth
The finance team.
The greeters and food bringers.
The Care Team of card-writers.
Music makers
Just so many thanks!
It's worth noting that there’s not a single person doing the good work of this church who isn’t ALSO dealing with personal things in their lives – so we give thanks for all the ways that we give.
Let me know if you have any questions you'd like me to answer. And thanks again for the honor it is to serve as your called minister for the last (almost) 2 and a half years.