Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana Seeking the Spirit | Building Community | Changing the World
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About

Our lively congregation of more than 500 members is a vibrant and accepting liberal religious community, celebrating diverse beliefs and supporting individual searches for truth and meaning.

We are an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation that is passionate about social justice, promotes lifespan religious education, and supports an active campus ministry.

We are a caring community that values all individuals. Join us and experience the warmth of community.

  • Contact

    Office Hours and Phone Number

    Monday - Friday, 9 am - 3 pm

    Church office main line: 812-332-3695

    Email Addresses

    For general questions: info@uubloomington.org

    The Reverend Constance L. Grant, Interim Lead Minister: grant@uubloomington.org

    Abby Gitlitz, Congregational Board President: pres@uubloomington.org

    Amanda Waye, Director of Administration: admin@uubloomington.org

    Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education: kimball@uubloomington.org

    Susan Swaney, Music Director: music@uubloomington.org

    Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator: connect@uubloomington.org

    Hans Kelson, Technology Coordinator: hkelson@uubloomington.org

    Mandy Skinner, Office Assistant/Communications Coordinator, and Jo Bowman, Office Assistant: office@uubloomington.org

    Read Staff Bios

    Location

    Visit us at: 2120 North Fee Lane, Bloomington, IN 47408 | Map and Directions

    Mailing address: PO Box 8132, Bloomington, IN 47407

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  • Our Ministers and Staff

    Ministers

    • connie-grant-300x298 Reverend Connie Grant, Interim Lead Minister
    • Rev. Forrest Gilmore Reverend Forrest Gilmore, Affiliated Community Minister

    Program Staff

    • SK-3.30.22-225x300 Dr. Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
    • Anabel Watson Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
    • 2018-Sue-Swaney-web-lg-234x300 Susan Swaney, Music Director

    Administrative Staff

    • A-Waye-headshot-cropped-201x300 Amanda Waye, Director of Administration
    • Jo Bowman Jo Bowman, Office Assistant
    • Mandy Mandy Skinner, Communications Coordinator
    • hanskelson Hans Kelson, Technology Coordinator
    • 2015-09-16-Jeff-Stone-225x300 Jeff Stone, Custodian
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  • Our Beliefs

    In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.

    Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.

    Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Our shared covenant (our seven Principles) supports “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Though Unitarianism and Universalism were both liberal Christian traditions, this responsible search has led us to an inclusive spirituality drawn from six sources: from scriptural wisdom to personal experience to modern day heroes.

    Unitarian Universalists believe more than one thing. We think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:

    We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, and in our values, as expressed in our seven Principles. We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.

    Learn more about Unitarian Universalists from a variety of beliefs and backgrounds: Atheist/Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and more.

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  • Our Mission and Vision

    Our Vision Statement

    Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World

    Our Mission Statement

    In this liberal religious community of inspiration, love and action:

    • we celebrate life
    • we nurture one another
    • we welcome all
    • we care for the earth and
    • we work for the common good.

    — Approved at Congregational Meeting, June 7, 2009

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  • Our Stories

    Church Timeline

    1949:  Unitarians first organize in Bloomington when a small group of Indiana University faculty and students create a Fellowship under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association. Meetings are lay-led and held in members’ homes and at the Indiana Memorial Union building.

    1950-2015:  By 2015, our congregation grows to over 450 members. Our current property, purchased in 1964, undergoes several additions.

    1999:  With a capital campaign totaling nearly $1,000,000, we nearly double our square footage with the construction of our Meeting Room and additional office and classroom space.

    2011-2014:  Green Spaces Capital Campaign supports improved landscaping and parking, energy efficient windows and doors, better playground and drainage.

    Today:  We have a membership of over 500, and our staff includes ordained ministers as well as professionals in charge of religious education, church administration, membership, and music.

    Elof Carlson, our designated congregational historian, has written about 100 Prologue UU History for You pieces for our semimonthly newsletter since 2012. These have been compiled chronologically with five accompanying short essays as an e-book for you to download or read.  The surprising effect of reading the Prologue Histories in chronological order is that they create a history of the Unitarian and Universalist movements: PROLOGUE HISTORIES by Elof Axel Carlson (June 2016)

    Plus, a site of broader historical interest:

    Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society

    Our Ministers, Since 1958

    Rev. Paul Killinger, 1958-1963

    Rev. David A. Johnson, 1963-1970

    Rev. John Young, 1970-1977

    Rev. William R. Murry, 1977-1981

    Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman, 1981-1987

    Rev. Dr. Clarke Dewey Wells, 1987-1988 (interim)

    Rev. Bruce Johnson, 1988-1992

    Rev. Peter Weller, 1992-1993 (interim)

    Rev. Barbara Carlson, 1993-2005

    Rev. Mary Ann Macklin, 2002-2022

    Rev. William T Breeden, 2002-2014

    Rev. Emily Manvel Leite, 2005-2023

    Rev. Dr. Douglas Wadkins, 2014-2016 (interim)

    Rev. Scott McNeill, 2016-2020

    Rev. David Clements, 2020-2021 (interim)

    Rev. Connie Grant, 2022-2024 (interim)

    Board Presidents 1948-present

    Past Presidents 1948-present

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  • Our Governance
    Chalice Logo, Green, 200x200 Ends Statements

    Preamble

    In policy governance, the board sets forth Ends Statements which establish our general principles as well as what our congregation aspires to do. These statements expand upon our congregation's vision statement of "Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, and Changing the World" and our congregation’s mission statement (below) to provide spiritual and governance guidance to the ministers, staff, and lay leaders.

    UUCB’s mission statement, adopted by the congregation, along with the Vision Statement, at the June 7, 2009 Congregational Meeting:

    “In this liberal religious community of inspiration, love and action:

    • we celebrate life
    • we nurture one another
    • we welcome all
    • we care for the earth and
    • we work for the common good.”

    The term "Ends" refers to the fact these statements are not policy that dictate "means" or how things are done but are, rather, our expected outcomes. The Ends statements were adopted by the board in September of 2010 during the transition to policy governance and are a living document maintained by the board with input from the congregation. These Ends statements were revised in 2021 following the congregation’s decision to adopt the 8th principle.

    By adopting the 8th principle, we have committed ourselves to working to build a multicultural Beloved Community in which people of diverse racial, ethnic, educational, class, gender, sexual orientation backgrounds and identities come together in mutually-respectful, loving, and caring relationships to seek justice within our congregation, the local community, and in the broader world.

    Policy I. Ends Statements

    Seeking the Spirit

    UUCB exists to:

    1. Provide members from a variety of faith traditions with a liberal, universally accepting spiritual home.
    2. Provide compassionate spiritual care to congregants without the burden of restrictive creeds, tenets, covenants or preordained beliefs.
    3. Provide a space where people from diverse backgrounds with different perspectives can freely gather to explore their beliefs.
    4. Provide people of all ages with opportunities to grow together spiritually through liberal religious education and practice, leadership, and community action.
    5. Encourage adherence to the Seven Principles adopted by the UUA and to the 8th Principle adopted by the UUCB.

    Building Community

    UUCB exists to:

    1. Build a liberal community dedicated to accountably dismantling racism and other oppressions both within itself and in the larger community.
    2. Build an accepting community inclusive of diverse gender orientations.
    3. Build a welcoming community where those from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds feel that their experiences and perspectives are valued.
    4. Build an active community where members share their time, talents and resources for the common good.
    5. Build a thoughtful community where people can explore ideas and perspectives without trepidation or fear of rejection.
    6. Provide members, ministers and staff with an environment where they know that they will be welcomed and valued.

    Changing the World

    UUCB exists to:

    1. Encourage leadership and participation in efforts to eliminate prejudice, injustice, and oppression within the community and in the world at large.
    2. Provide members with the means to undertake projects fostering social justice and community welfare according to their interests.
    3. Provide members with ways to contribute financially and otherwise to good causes within the community and in the world at large.
    4. Partner with other congregations and organizations in efforts to foster positive social change.
    5. Engage with and encourage the UUA to build a diverse and multicultural beloved faith community.
    6. Encourage leadership and participation in projects that foster ecologically sound, sustainable, and livable communities, both locally and throughout the world.

    View this document in PDF Form

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    Bylaws and Policies

    Bylaws

    The official Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington were written and adopted by the Congregation, and are amended by formal vote of the membership. Last revised 10-22-2023.

    UUCB Bylaws - October 22, 2023

    Board Policies

    Our Board Policies, adopted by vote of the Board of Directors, augment and clarify day-to-day church operations. Last revised 10-19-2022.

    UUCB Board Policies - October 19, 2022

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  • Welcoming-LGBTQ An LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation

    We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

    As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

    • honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
    • celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.
    • incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual,  transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.
    • affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.
    • affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.
    • advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

    We recognize that there’s always something more to learn, and remain open to deepening our understanding about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

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  • Green Sanctuary Badge A Green Sanctuary

    Our Green Sanctuary Task Force and our Green Grounds/Green Building group have taken the lead

    Green Sanctuary Task Force Logo Green Sanctuary Task Force

    The Green Sanctuary Task Force on Global Climate Change helps promote mindful, Earth-centered living, working to educate and motivate individuals and institutions to take positive steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • New Website

    This new website was built by Hans Kelson and Mandy Skinner, with input from Rev. Grant.

    Like any website, this is still a work in progress. We know that there are still a few pages missing, and some content may not be 100% correct. If you find any issues, or you want to give us any feedback, please do so here: New UUCB Website Feedback Form

    For now, the old website is still available at old.uubloomington.org. The public archive will be taken offline after we're confident that all relevant content is fully migrated, as the old site contains harmfully outdated information.

    We hope you enjoy the new website!

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  • Search Committee Nametag Ministerial Transition Process

    We are currently in the process of selecting a new settled minister for our congregation. Our Interim Lead Minister during this time is Reverend Connie Grant.

    The Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is excited to share updates with you and get your input! Please explore these pages to learn more about us, the process, and how to participate in it.

    You can contact us at search@uubloomington.org.

    About Our Search Committee

    Ministerial Search Committee group photo

    From L to R, bottom row: Ann, Denise; middle row: Von, Mary Beth, Christine; top row: Olaya, Mike

    Denise Breeden-Ost (Chair) makes her own hats, writes a lot, and is immeasurably grateful to live among trees. She is a spouse, parent, and Zen student, and works with Women Writing for (a) Change. Denise arrived at UUCB as a teen in the 1980s. Her past involvement includes serving on staff; religious education for children, youth, and adults; Sunday Services Committee; Green Sanctuary Task Force; and Choir.

    Christine Banister is a lifelong UU and served on the Minister's Advisory Council and Search Committee for a new DRE at her previous church in Massachusetts. Involvement during her two years at UUCB includes the Habitat Task Force, RE Development Team, and UUCB Parents Group. Outside of church, she is an Architectural Designer with a career in public interest design and service learning. Christine is mom to Cora (age 6) and Nolan (19 months).

    Olaya Fernández Gayol is a highly energetic and loud human who is passionate about science, technology, and improving systems. She is from Spain, and works remotely disrupting traditional scientific publishing. She started attending UUCB in the summer of 2022, and is active in the Spanish conversation and piano groups. Most recently she was a member of the Stewardship Team. In her free time, she enjoys cooking/baking, hiking, reading, playing music, and being crafty in general.

    Ann Kamman joined UUCB in the early 80s. She’s a second generation UU from Urbana, IL. She has served on our Board of Directors and currently works with the Women’s Alliance, Bazaar, the Auction, Green Grounds, and walks regularly with the Wednesday Walkers. Outside of her UU life, she volunteers with MC-IRIS (Monroe County – Identify and Reduce Invasive Species) and chairs their annual native plant sale. She is a recycling fanatic, has 2 daughters (20 and 22) and 4 cats.

    Mike McGregor joined the church in May 2014. Since then he has sung in the choir and participated in various activities including working for the annual Bazaar, delivering auction items during the pandemic, and taking church members to appointments as part of the Caring Committee. He served on the Leadership Cultivation Committee this past year. During his 31-year tenure at Indiana University he served on many search committees, vetting applicants for faculty and administrative positions.

    Mary Beth O'Brien loves writing, being outside, and lots of time with friends and family. She is the Creative Director at Women Writing for (a) Change Bloomington. She joined UUCB in 2002, and has been involved with children’s RE, the Green Sanctuary Task Force, mentoring youth, Caring Committee, and volunteering whenever possible. Mary Beth (“MB”) is mom to Auggie (17) and Marina (13) and married to Matt Zink.

    Von Welch grew up in UUCB, went away to college and returned in 2011. He served on the UUCB board from 2012 to 2018. He is married to Ruth Aydt since 2004, retired from Indiana University in 2022 as associate vice president for information security, is an amateur woodworker, and serves on the boards of Beacon Inc. and Constellation Stage and Screen.

    calendar-clipart-xl Timeline

    The Search Committee's work began in June of 2023, and will be complete in April of 2024. See a detailed timeline here!

    Completed

    In Progress

    Coming soon

    1 | Search Committee is Established

    Late Summer 2023

    The Board worked hard to establish a seven-person slate of candidates from over 120 individual nominations that has the trust of the congregation and will work hard to hear all of our voices in the search process. Since their election at our June 4th Congregational Meeting, the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) has been hard at work learning about the search process, and attended an orientation retreat with the UUA Transitions Office on August 20th.

    2 | Congregational Survey:

    Fall 2023

    As an inclusive and thorough analysis tool to assess our ministry context and needs, the survey is an opportunity for members and friends of UUCB to move toward a different future with a new minister. The survey will collect basic demographic data and ask ministry-related questions that can be used to spur conversation for cottage meetings and focus groups. A link to the survey has been sent to all congregants, and the search committee will allow about a month for completion and submission. The survey results will then be compiled and shared with the congregation, and will become part of the documents packet the search committee prepares for potential candidates.

    3 | Breaking Barriers, Building Beliefs (B4) workshop on Saturday, November 11 with Rev. Patrice Curtis

    Fall 2023

    UUCB is committed to full equality and ongoing learning about anti-racism and anti-oppression. Attendance to this workshop on November 11th (10 am to 2 pm) is strongly encouraged for all members, and is mandatory for the search committee, board members, and other church leadership. Rev. Patrice Curtis (she/they) will cover issues around race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, visible and invisible disabilities and health concerns, and sexual orientation. Afterwards, the search committee will complete an evaluation and summary for the documents packet. Please register online by Thursday, November 9.

    4 | Cottage Meetings and Focus Groups:

    Fall 2023

    Members and Friends of UUCB are invited to participate in cottage meetings and focus groups for congregational input. Cottage Meetings are open groups of congregants that provide an opportunity for people to hear and build on what others say, whereas Focus Groups are targeted at specific groups within the congregation. Both the cottage meetings and focus groups will take place after the survey results are compiled, so the survey can be used as a springboard for further group conversation.

    The Search Committee held the following meetings:

    • Sat 10/14 @ 10am (Library)
    • Sat 10/14 @ 3pm (Library)
    • Sun 10/15 @ 11:30am (Rm 112)
    • Sun 10/22 @ 11:30am (Library)
    • Fri 10/27 @ 1:00 pm (Bell Trace)
    • Sun 10/29 @ 11:30am (Library)
    • Sun 11/5 @ 11:30 am (Zoom, link in calendar)
    • Sun 11/5 @ 11:30 am (UUCB Library)
    • Tue 11/7 @ 6 pm (Zoom, link in calendar)
    • Sun 11/12 @ 2 pm (Meadowood)

    5 | Congregational Record:

    December 2023

    The Congregational Record (CR), or Search Profile, is the search committee’s opportunity to present itself to potential ministers in the MinistrySearch system. Ministers are interested in a balanced and nuanced view of our congregation, so the CR will honestly describe our congregation and its needs, rather than present a snapshot of us at our best. The information in the CR comes from several sources, including the survey; cottage meetings and focus groups; the collective wisdom of the search committee; and our congregation’s last certification to the UUA. Congregational Records are released to ministers on December 1, at which point the contents will also be shared with the congregation.

    6 | Potential Ministers Indicate Interest:

    January 2024

    Potential ministers indicate interest through the MinistrySearch system, and the first round of video conference interviews will begin in mid-January after the MSC has had a chance to look at all applicants. Interview questions will be standardized so that all interviewees are asked the same set of initial questions, and questions asked will reflect the values of the search committee and our congregation.

    7 | Pre-Candidating:

    February-March 2024

    Once the list of applicants has been narrowed down to 3-4 ‘pre-candidates’ by mutual selection, each is invited to come to Bloomington for a weekend with the MSC. Components of the weekend include a tour of the building, a social dinner gathering, a three-hour interview, a tour of the area, a neutral pulpit service (the pre-candidate acts as a visiting minister to a nearby congregation so that the MSC may experience a service), and a final lunch discussion/interview. Spouses are often part of the “sell” for a minister and often need to experience the area for both family and employment possibility reasons, so they are welcome at all events except the interview and final lunch.

    8 | Candidate Selection:

    January-March 2024

    References and reference checking are an important part of the search process, and there are two to three phases of reference checks in the ministerial search process for search committees. References are the opportunity for confirmation of how ministers depict themselves and for the search committee to ask their own questions from their own perspectives. Ministers also do their own research by talking with interim ministers, regional staff, and previously settled ministers. Research on potential candidates will go beyond references the ministers recommend themselves to include: someone in the ministers’ current congregation or congregation last served; a research call with a UUA regional staff person; and other developed references based on the search committee’s desire for deeper clarity about a pre-candidate. Once the search committee has selected a candidate, they have the option to ask the candidate for additional references within the current congregation or workplace where the minister is serving. Upon mutual selection by the candidate and a unanimous vote from each member of the MSC, the selected candidate will be announced to the congregation and invited to attend candidating week in April.

    9 | Candidating Week:

    April 21-28, 2024

    Candidating week is the opportunity for the congregation to meet the ministerial candidate. The MSC will establish a schedule for the week that allows for the congregation to interact with and vote on the candidate. During the candidating week, the candidate leads services on both Sundays. Other events for the week include: at least one congregation-wide open session; meetings with staff and the governing Board; other meetings with affinity groups, task forces, and committees; a meeting with area clergy; and check-ins with the MSC. The candidate is the go-to minister for the congregation should something arise during that week. The week will conclude with a vote to call the candidate as our next Settled Minister.

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    list-clipart-xl Congregational Survey

    The congregational survey is now closed. We will be releasing summary results on this page in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please attend our cottage meetings for more opportunities to tell the search committee what this congregation is and what we want and need in the new minister.

    Sessions will be added to the Timeline page as they are scheduled.

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    Perspectives-logo-square Perspectives from the MSC

    This is a list of all the Perspectives articles we have contributed so far. Click on the links to learn more about the process and our updates.

    November 2023

    Ministerial Search Committee group photo Ministerial Search Committee News - by Von Welch

    There is a lot going on right now! We continue to hold Cottage Meetings and hope you take advantage of one of these opportunities to share your thoughts with us. The latest schedule can always be found on the UUCB website and outside of Fellowship Hall. And thank you for your survey responses - over 200 of you completed the survey and we’re working hard to process those responses. Stay tuned for the results!

    The Ministerial Search Committee invites the whole congregation to a special Breaking Barriers, Building Beliefs (B4) workshop on Saturday November 11th, from 10am to 2pm, at UUCB.

    Participants are welcome to gather at 9:30am for socialization ahead of the workshop. There will be a break for lunch. Please bring your lunch. We’ll have snacks available as well. Childcare will be provided.

    B4 workshop participants will:

    • Consider the hopes, expectations, and concerns they have for a new minister
    • Learn more about the ministerial search process, and
    • Explore how creating categories and putting people in them can interfere with choosing the best candidate.

    To register: Please register online here by Thursday, November 9.

    As part of the registration process, you will be asked to complete a pre-workshop survey.

    Rev Patrice Curtis

    The workshop will be led by Rev. Patrice K. Curtis (she/they), UUA Transformational Interim Ministries Director. Patrice will also be a special guest in our pulpit on Sunday, November 12th.

    Patrice collaborates with and supports interim ministers and Directors of Children’s Ministries in amplifying and practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion within congregations, and in disrupting unhealthy patterns that make Beloved Community difficult to realize. Before the UUA in 2020, Patrice served four congregations and as Program Director with UU Justice Ministry of California.

    Before ministry, Patrice served on several non-profit boards; taught marketing research to lower income entrepreneurs; and was a US government foreign affairs program and policy analyst focusing on countries afflicted by civil conflict and climate disasters. Patrice is a life-long humanist, with spiritual practices rooted in mindfulness and meditation, and is currently focused on Tibetan Buddhism.

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    October 2023

    msc-feature From your Ministerial Search Committee

    Please complete the Congregational Survey by October 15!

    In case you don't know: this congregation is in the process of seeking a new settled minister. Reverend Connie Grant, our Interim Minister, will be with us until next August, when the new minister arrives. This fall, the search committee's task is to learn as much as possible about what this congregation wants and needs in our next minister. Our Congregational Survey on ministry is out now, and ready for your responses.

    Fill out the survey online

    Some questions we have heard…

    • Who should fill out this survey? We want to hear from everyone who considers themselves part of this congregation! Members, friends, and staff; newcomers and long-timers. If you're here every week, if we haven't seen you in a while, or anything in between, we need to hear from YOU.
    • What if I already filled it out? Thank you! We've heard from nearly 120 people so far.
    • If I haven't filled it out, what's the deadline? October 15.
    • What if I can't fill it out online? Paper copies of the survey are available in the church office, or ask a Search Committee member.
    • What should I do if someone in our community hasn’t heard about the survey? If you know someone who hasn't gotten the survey, please share the link with them, or let us know who they are—this will really help us get input from as many people in our congregation as possible.

    Your response to the survey is important. It helps the search committee and possible ministers understand who we are as a congregation, and what we want and need in a settled minister. Survey responses will also shape the questions we ask during focus groups and cottage meetings in October and November, when we hope you will join us for more open and in-depth conversation.

    If you have a question not answered in this article, you can contact the Ministerial Search Committee anytime at search@uubloomington.org. And you can find us every Sunday after the service in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall, along with a timeline of the search process and updates on our work.

    Thank you for your participation in this valuable search process!

    Denise Breeden-Ost, Chair of the UUCB Ministerial Search Committee.

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    September 2023

    Search Committee Nametag Ministerial Search Committee Update

    Group Photo of the Ministerial Search Committee

    Greetings from Denise Breeden-Ost, Chair of the UUCB Ministerial Search Committee. We’re ramping up and we want to engage with you this fall! How can you stay informed about what we’re doing and how can you connect with us? Thank you for asking…

    First, as I expect most of you know, our congregation is in the process of seeking a new settled minister. Our interim lead minister, Rev. Connie Grant, will be with us until the new minister starts in August 2024. The Ministerial Search Committee is charged with finding a good match for our congregation among the ministers who are seeking a congregation. This is a long and careful process and after our orientation retreat last Sunday, we're wading into it in earnest.

    Over the course of this fall, much of our task is to understand as much as possible about what this congregation wants and needs from a new minister. We'll be sending out a survey to all members and friends; search committee members will meet with different groups in the congregation; and we'll host open meetings where anyone can come and share their thoughts. Everything we hear will be brought back to the Search Committee and will guide our work: both as we present our congregation to potential ministers, which happens near the end of this semester; and in our discernment process after ministers apply in the New Year.

    How do you find out more? How can you participate? Three things:

    • Check out the display in the hallway outside Fellowship Hall by the childcare rooms. You'll find photos and bios of Search Committee members, along with a timeline of the whole Search process showing where we are now. Other updates about the search will be posted there too
    • Read your UUCB Friday Update and Perspectives Newsletter! We’ll regularly have articles and events reminders.

    Search Committee Nametag
    • Talk to us! We're relying on you to share your questions, your needs, your wants, your concerns, and your dreams for this congregation. This includes taking part in the Congregational Survey, showing up for listening sessions, and talking with individual committee members. You can find us by our green-lettered name tags during Community Hour or can reach us anytime via email to search@uubloomington.org.

    I'm excited by the energy, openness, and commitment I see in every member of this committee. All of us look forward to sharing this journey with all of you.

    Denise Breeden-Ost, Chair of the UUCB Ministerial Search Committee

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    August 2023

    Greetings from your Ministerial Search Committee

    Searching

    Christine Banister, Denise Breeden-Ost, Olaya Fernández Gayol, Ann Kamman, Michael McGregor, Mary Beth O'Brien, and Von Welch are honored to begin the work of finding a settled Lead Minister for our congregation. Since being elected by the congregation on June 4, we've been learning about the Search process and getting to know each other. We'll have an orientation retreat with the UU Transitions Office in late August, and you'll be hearing a lot from us as we move into the fall semester.

    One of our first tasks after the retreat will be crafting and sending out a Congregational Survey, to gather the perspectives of everyone in the congregation. As we move on into the fall, we'll be creating many opportunities to connect with and listen to you, the members and friends of UUCB, including in-person and virtual small-group gatherings. Please participate in this process and share your point of view! Hearing from everyone will help us understand as clearly as possible the many facets of who we are as a congregation and what we're looking for in our ministry--an essential part of searching for a new minister.

    Photos and bios of all Search Committee members will be up soon, both at church and on the website. Please feel free to talk to any of us at coffee hour or wherever you find us--we're listening, and we're taking notes! You can also email questions and thoughts directly to the full Search Committee, at search@uubloomington.org (Mike McGregor will be responding to emails during August).

    We look forward to the coming months of listening, discernment, and collaboration with you, our congregation.

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