Searching for the Future Workshop Results

The Executive Board invited Barry Finklestein to run the “Searching for the Future” Workshop in order to develop our new Mission and Vision Statements.  The workshop was held at UUFM December 14 and was well attended by 53 congregants, almost half of our membership!  A committee of facilitators completed a three-hour training session the evening before.  Our facilitators were Judy Nickelson, Scott Tanona, Eli Martinson, Elke Lorenz, Marisa Larson, Mark Clarke, and Jessica Sievers.  These volunteers dedicated six to 18 hours, or more (Eli), over just those two days.  We also want to thank everyone who participated, made childcare possible, brought food, and helped with setup and cleanup to make this workshop a success.

Through Sunday’s service December 22, if one looked around the sanctuary, one would see just a sampling of the large flipchart papers covering three of the sanctuary’s walls from the six three-hour sessions.  Workshop attendees had opportunities for personal reflection, brainstorming, and smaller-group collaboration.  At the end of each session, the goal was to have each group adapt their own mission and visions statements.  If it sounds like three hours was a long time, it went by fast!  If it sounds like a challenge, it was!  During the wrap-up session with Barry and Jonalu, the facilitators’ task was to take all of this information and boil it down to two sentences: our new UUFM Mission and Vision statements!

A mission statement is a concise, powerful statement of our core reason for being: “We are dedicated to challenging ourselves and society into wholeness.” 

The vision statement is the image of an ideal future five years hence: “A vibrant, inclusive congregation, UUFM is widely known as a safe haven and a force for social justice.”

If you have questions, or wish to continue the conversation, please see a Board Member:  Mark Mayfield, Rob Morrison, Jessica Sievers, Eli Martinson, Cathy Hedge, Les Loschky, or Lily Colburn.  Again, I’d like to thank all of you for your hard work and support in this effort!

On behalf of the Board,

Jessica Sievers, Immediate Past Board Chair