VIA 2008

A Ship Called VIA

Energized by congregational input, in particular by information gained from the Searching for the Future (SFTF) weekend, the Vision Into Action (VIA) team is starting its voyage into the uncharted territory of our future.  We are starting with a core group of 5 (in addition, our ministers will also be ex-officio members of this group) and plan to grow multiple other groups that will each act as a task force for a specific area of interest.  Fortunately, we have much to guide us – goals from the SFTF weekend, our Mission, our newly written Vision statement (also from the SFTF weekend), and the ongoing wisdom, experience, energy, and input of the congregation.

The range of newly articulated congregational goals is broad, and can be grouped into ways in which we come together (social and service activities for youth, for young adults, for adults, as well as intergenerational activities), ways in which we deepen our lives (adult enrichment, youth and children programs/RE, green sanctuary), ways in which we help heal the world (outreach, publicity, social action), and issues of institutional support (buildings and grounds, staffing, financial security).  The data is messy (for those of you interested in more detail, condensed goals from SFTF will be posted on our website) and many items relate to each other, and don’t just stand alone.  As an example, green sanctuary related issues connect to issues of our buildings and grounds, to strengthening our internal community (adult enrichment, RE, intergenerational activities, etc.), growth, community outreach, social justice, etc, etc.

As a starting point, VIA is getting a Campus Development Task Force in place, charged with exploring options for making a significant aesthetic change at UUSS in the medium-term future, in a way that ties in with many of our newly articulated goals.  More will follow. 

Change is in the air – most of us can feel it.  Allowing this change to be tangible and visible to all is part of our quest.  We want everyone to feel the invigorating salt air.

Members of the VIA Task Force include Carol Doehne, Barbara Gardner, Barbara Hopkins, John McMillan, Candy McMorris, as well as our two ministers, Douglas Kraft and Roger Jones.