Leadership Council Update

Dear Plymouth,

We have a lot of exciting things happening and essential updates. We pray you stay safe and cool as we battle the heat and wildfires. 

Raise the Roof Campaign for Our Home and Theirs!

This past Sunday at worship, we showed a video highlighting our exciting capital fundraising event, Raise the Roof. (Click this link if you have not seen the mini video!)

Our fantastic new roof was paid for using our capital reserves. We are grateful that this fund could cover the cost when needed, but we would be remiss if we did not do the fundraising necessary to reimburse that fund for future emergencies. Furthermore, recognizing that everything we are is a gift from God – and being grateful and generous with those gifts – as we pay for our roof, we will also raise funds to provide a roof for our neighbors in need. 

Plymouth lay leadership, with staff input, identified Rainbow Villages (a project of Foothills Unitarian Church) as the beneficiary of our fundraising tithe. Our youth group connected with Rainbow Villages earlier this year, through the Youth For Change event. In the wake of the tsunami of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and hate sweeping our nation, we want to join Foothills and our broader community in creating sanctuary and support for transgender and nonbinary people and their families seeking a haven away from states with anti-trans laws. 

We are excited to Raise the Roof for Plymouth and Rainbow Villages! Please contribute to this one-time event from August 19 to 23. To learn more or get a head start, visit the Raise the Roof page. 

Fitness Review Update
Leadership Council is still awaiting the outcome of the fitness review involving our senior minister, Rev. Hal Chorpenning. This review is being conducted by the Committee on Ministry from the Central Pacific Conference of the UCC. The committee is comprised of UCC ministers who have experience and have also undergone specific training. These ministers are committed to ethics and justice while being purposeful and strategic. The well-being of the local church is their priority. They have conducted interviews with various people since mid-May and continued through June and July. We know this is a complicated and multilayered situation, and we also understand that the committee is exploring circumstances that go back for years. Some may not see why we are in this situation, and others may feel wronged. Both of these experiences can be true. For general questions about the Fitness Review process, check out this article from the Rocky Mountain Conference.  

While we have yet to determine when the process will be complete, we understand it may be at the end of the summer. At the same time, we have been in regular contact with our Transitional Conference Minister, Rev. Erin Gilmore. We will promptly communicate the outcome of the fitness review when we learn it. We ask for your continued prayers, especially for Hal and for those who raised the concerns that initiated this process. Meanwhile, Plymouth's staff and volunteer leadership are and will continue to sustain our vibrant ministries.

Interim Ministry Transition Team
In the early spring, the Leadership Council established a subcommittee to plan for the next steps in the life of our congregation following Hal’s retirement. George Theodore, Sara Myers, Terri Schulz, and Lynne Soraci are examining the recommended models for an interim period. This team feels it would be best not to move quickly but to spend significant time envisioning the church we want to become. The team has been tasked with identifying an interim model that will best fit Plymouth’s situation, and they will send their recommendation to the entire Leadership Council for discussion and approval. One theme that has emerged from their discussion is the importance of a spirit of collaboration. We are excited to see how this theme threads throughout the lay leadership, our staff team, and the congregation as we discover together the next season of Plymouth. 

Gratitude and Good Wishes to Phil
Finally, Plymouth’s church administrator, Phil Braudaway-Bauman, informed the Leadership Council that he will leave at the end of August. Phil expressed that he will be moving on, as "the church has entered a new season" and he wishes Plymouth well. Leadership Council members and staff are identifying options to ensure a smooth transition of his financial and administrative duties. We’re grateful to Phil for his years of dedication to Plymouth; his expertise and attention to detail have been great assets to our congregation.

Again, Plymouth is well-equipped with staff and dedicated lay leadership. Please reach out if you have any questions or comments. 

Peace,
The Moderators, Adam, Terri, and Heather

Plymouth’s Leadership Council:
Adam Redavid, Moderator * Terri Schulz, Vice Moderator * Heather Siegel, Past Moderator * Megan Campain, Clerk * George Theodore, Treasurer * Assistant Treasurer, Elaine Kim * Mackenzie Wiggs-Campos, At Large * Sara Myers, At Large * Don Bundy, At Large * Lynne Soraci, At Large