Church Leadership and Committees
Congregation
As in all Unitarian Universalist churches, the leaders of UUSMC are the members who, in good standing and contributors of record, vote on key issues that affect the lives of the whole congregation.
Board of Trustees - 2011 - 2012 Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is elected at the UUSMC’s annual meeting and has oversight for most of the operation of the congregation (budget, property, building use, and outreach, for example).
Minister
A settled minister is called by the voting membership of UUSMC to guide the spiritual and pastoral life of the congregation. In the absence of a settled minister, an interim minister may be hired to provide these services and to advise a ministerial search comittee in its search for a new minister. UUSMC’s interim minister is the Reverend Larry W. Smith.
Director of Religious Exploration - Stefanie Anderson
The Director of Religious Education is responsible for implementing the Religious Education program for children and youth including teacher recruitment and training and curriculum implementation.
Director of Music - Kristen Tosh-Morelli
The Director of Music is in charge of selecting the music, rehearsing the choir, and arranging for guest musicians.
Office Administrator - Debra Damiani
The Office Administrator is responsible for much of the hands-on, day-to-day work of the church office. UUSMC office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
And lots of committees full of dedicated and enthusiastic people:
Bookkeeping
The Bookkeeping Committee is in charge of UUSMC banking. It makes deposits of all funds, writes checks, and sends appropriate documents to the government. The committee also assists in the annual audit of records and uses a computer database to keep track of all records. It reports to the Board of Trustees.
Caring Community
The chairperson of the Caring Community works with the minister and calls and sends cards when anyone in the membership is ill or has death in the family. This committee helps arrange meals and other forms of support as appropriate.
Capital Fund-Raising
The chairperson of this committee works with the Finance Committee. The Capital Fund-Raising Committee is charged with campaign for funds for the land and facility.
Denominational Affairs
This committee keeps track of Joseph Priestley District (JPD) and Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) meetings, correspondence, and notices. The chairperson attends meetings of JPD.
Facilities
The Facilities Committee arranges for Sunday morning and special event set-up of chairs, tables, and hymnals. A family or a couple of people take one Sunday a month.
Finance
The Finance Committee is responsible for planning the annual budget and its distribution, and it works with the bookkeeper and Investment sub-committee. This committee organizes the annual canvass and special fund-raising events.
Greeters
This committee ensures that two greeters are available for Sunday morning, calls visitors who sign the guest book, and gives those names to the membership chair and the minister.
Hospitality
This committee arranges coffee and refreshments following the Sunday service and makes sure people sign up and that supplies are on hand.
Membership
The Membership Committee keeps track of membership. It also sends notes to visitors and new members and arranges newcomer gatherings, maintains the directory, and hosts the Membership Fair.
Ministry Liaison
This committee facilitates communication and education about ministry with the minister, the congregation, and the Board of Trustees.
Music
This committee works with the Director of Music for Sunday Services music.
Newsletter
The editor creates monthly newsletter, The Grist, with information submitted by membership and submits it for publication on the web site.
Nominations
The Nominations Committee finds and submits nominees for the Board of Trustees to the annual meeting in May.
Publicity
The Publicity Committee produces articles, ads, and press releases and distributes them to the local media.
Religious Education for Children
This committee organizes, with Director of Religious Education, teacher recruitment and training. It keeps track of and organizes child care needs. The committee works to enhance the program and find new projects and curricula.
Religious Education for Youth
This committee arranges programming for our Youth I & II groups and advises the Coming of Age program.
Religious Education for Adults
This committee works with the minister to provide adult programs dealing with a wide variety of subjects and concerns.
Social Action
The Social Action Committee works to keep the congregation informed about and involved in various issues of social justice. It also helps arrange social action programming.
Social Events
The Social Events Committee arranges special events like potluck suppers and the Passover Seder.
Sunday Services
This committee works with the minister and staff to create Sunday morning services, particularly the monthly lay-led services and the summer services.
Welcoming Congregation
This committee facilitates the Welcoming Congregation program to educate the congregation about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues and concerns.