We write this month’s Board update together as a reflection on the merging of past and future. One of us is closing their term as Board chair, and the other is preparing to step into the role. In this moment, we are standing in a threshold that offers a meaningful invitation to reflect and anticipate. April’s theme of embracing possibility and May’s focus on awakening curiosity feel deeply relevant to this moment, as well as where we are as a congregation.

In April, the Board convened and facilitated the annual congregational meeting, where we shared updates on ongoing efforts within UUFM to support our community and to highlight strategic plans for the long-term sustainability and growth of our congregation. The annual meeting surfaced underlying tensions related to the financial realities we face, as well as the importance of shared governance, democratic processes, and human-centered dialogue. As is often the case when deeply held values and real fiscal constraints meet, we experienced moments of covenantal stress.

Following the annual meeting, the Board reflected on the ways harm occurred in that space. We shared a response with the congregation that named these impacts and outlined initial steps toward restorative action. We know that responses like these are received in different ways. Some people experienced our message as a strong and loving effort to take responsibility and move forward together. Others experienced it as insufficient or blame-shifting, reflecting a desire for greater accountability and transparency. As Board members, we must hold space for these diverging interpretations and make sense of the important insights each offers into how we show up for one another and where we are being called to grow.

The last few weeks have led us to reflect more deeply on the meaning of transparency. One interpretation of this past month is that the Board has not been transparent enough in communicating the congregation’s financial situation or our rationale for what we viewed as strategic planning. Another perspective is that our public meetings and posted minutes constitute an appropriate level of openness. The truth is that transparency is not only about what is shared but also about how it is received and understood. While it is easier to focus our attention on the intention we hold, it is equally, if not more, important to also reflect on our impact. Information is not enough. We also need relationship.

In times of complexity and volatility, the work of staying connected becomes even more essential. There will always be multiple perceptions of governance work, and there will almost always be disagreement within a community. Yet when we ground ourselves in mutual love and respect, we nourish our capacity to remain curious about how different perspectives might complement one another rather than divide us. This has been a primary focus of the Board’s work together this year, and we have seen how strengthened sense of togetherness and mutual respect have allowed us to engage mindfully with even the most challenging conversations we have faced this year.

The Board remains committed to the work of making sense of UUFM’s financial reality. We do so with clear awareness that some outcomes may be difficult. Even so, we believe there is space for creativity, shared problem-solving, and faithful alignment with our UU values. Based on feedback we have received, we will also strive to offer more frequent updates so that important information can be digested over time, rather than all at once.

In addition to the financial health of the congregation, the Board has also dedicated time and attention to the question of building and grounds stewardship. We have been working with Dan Swenson to understand the scope of his work, and we have formed a small task force of Board members to explore options as he prepares to step down at the end of May. We are grateful for Dan’s contributions and are approaching this transition with care and intention.

As we move into a season of awakening curiosity, we invite each of us to embrace that practice, especially when it feels most challenging. Curiosity opens space for understanding, repair, and possibility. As a Board, we remain committed to governing with love and walking alongside this community in the shared work ahead.

In community,

Mac Benavides and Sage Phipps-Hinkle