Moving Forward Together: UUFR’s Five Year Strategic Plan

by Sandy Pearce

Step into the future with me for a short while. I invite you to think about who UUFR is called to be in our next chapter of congregational life. I am excited to update you about the development of UUFR’s “Moving Forward Together” Five Year Strategic Plan. I am chair of the Strategic Plan Task Force and the other members of the Task Force are:
Gisela Fleming
Alison Hurwitz
Russ Outcalt
Jacques Roeth
Laura Dupre
Phoenicia Schwidkay

UUFR’s Board of Directors started this strategic planning process in November 2021. They gathered and analyzed data and information about UUFR and our wider community and other UU churches in North Carolina and in other states. They asked the Board’s Committee on Ministry to conduct loop groups to gather input from congregants about their ideas for the strategic plan. The Committee on Ministry facilitated 9 sessions, for 79 congregants and summarized over 400 comments in a report to the board.

The members of the Committee on Ministry are:
Nancy Stone –Co Chair
Billy Liles – Co Chair
Irene Cygan
Rachel Wellons
Dora Kripapuri

Since January, the Strategic Plan Team has been creating a draft strategic plan for discussion by the congregation. I am proud to say that we have come to consensus on a draft plan and are offering Congregational Conversations after services in person and by zoom, on Wednesday nights, and with committees, ministry teams, and chalice circles. To peak your interest, I would like to share the vision and high level goals in the plan:

Vision:
UUFR aspires to be a loving community that is intentionally inclusive, spiritually nourishing, and committed to leading social justice change.

Goals:
 Be welcoming to all who seek a liberal religious community.
 Inspire our spirits
 Nurture connections at all stages of life
 Champion social justice at UUFR and in our wider community
 Create a vibrant campus and staff infrastructure at UUFR

To read the Draft Summary Chart of the Strategic Plan, use this link.


To talk about the details of the plan, the objectives and strategies, we invite you to Sign up here for a conversation with us to voice your feelings and opinions about this draft plan at this link. It is your plan and we need your input.


In the summer, there will be a congregational survey that will serve several purposes including receiving feedback about the draft strategic plan. In the fall we will host a town hall to present and discuss the final strategic plan before the congregation votes in December at the congregational meeting.

Let’s move forward together!