On behalf of my Trustee colleagues, I want to thank all the voting members who responded to phone calls and took part in the on line survey to develop the list of trusted members to serve on the search committee. To all the members who were willing to serve whether you were chosen or not, thank you. The Board and, in particular, Kristen Leddy, and Randy Burnham spent many hours working with your list of named trusted members who had indicated willingness to serve. We all struggled to take into account the range of skill sets, talents, breadth of involvement, constituency representation, and demographics. We think this final slate of nominees is a stellar group of our fellow members, all of them deeply committed to this congregation and to Unitarian Universalism.
The following people are nominated to serve on the search committee for the next senior minister of the Unitarian Church in Westport, subject to your approval at the June 8 Annual Meeting. In alphabetical order:
Jim Cooper
Member since 1997.
I have served in RE since joining, and have been a Youth Group advisor since 1998. Also serving as an Usher, and on Youth committees. A sustaining member of UGNO for fun and community.
I have always been involved in working with Youth; as an athletic coach and in our congregation. I am always enlightened and educated to the changes which I must make to keep pace with our younger constituents. I value and honor what has worked in the past and the wisdom of my generation. I also welcome with less trepidation fresh change. I feel I offer a balance of both ideals. My 11-yr-old son is participating in RE, and I want this to be strong for our family.
I want to serve on this committee to uphold the best of what we have, to be bold enough to suggest we forfeit some traditional and comfortable for growth and sustainability, and to encourage even better UU ministry, if this is to be found.
Charles Harrington
Signed the TUCW book in 2002.
A lifelong Unitarian, Chuck was an elected representative of his church at the 1961 meeting in Syracuse, NY approving the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America to create the UUA. Growing up, he participated in many church activities and, in particular, as member and officer of LRY (Liberal Religious Youth) at the local, state and district level in both high school and college.
After joining TUCW, he became a member of the Partner Church Committee and went to Alsoboldgogfava with the church group in 2004. He was a member of the Vision 2028 Ministerial Study Group in 2004- 5. He has been an active participant in Small Group Ministry leading three different groups (two at one time). He was an early member of the Steering Committee of SGM focusing on placing new members in groups. Chuck has been a member of the Men’s Choir for several years, and this year he sang with the Christmas Eve Choir and the Special Projects Choir. He has recently joined the Year Round Stewardship Committee.
Chuck retired in 2013 after 45 years teaching at Columbia University as Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Psychology and Education, which may explain why he has time for new assignments. “The Vision 2028 focus on ministry at TUCW can become reality if we work hard and choose well!”
Linda Hudson
Member since 1984.
I am a third generation UU, active in all things in the congregation. – have been a Trustee and BOT Chair, Our Whole Lives sexuality teacher, Tag Sale co-chair, Summer Worship coordinator, delegate at several General Assemblies, now-and-then RE teacher, served on myriad committees over the years, including two searches for an associate minister.
My current activities include: Worship Associate, choir, occasional soup-maker, youth chaperone, Small Group Facilitator.
My breadth and length of involvement are my strengths; my excitement to serve is tempered by the weight of this awesome responsibility.
Thank you for your trust.
Kristen Leddy
A member of The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport since 1998, Kristen has been very active in the RE program at many levels. She taught 4th through 7th grade classes and served as an OWL Parent Group facilitator for three years covering both the 6th and 8th grade curriculum. This was followed by four years of facilitating OWL classes for 8th graders.
Kristen has been part of five Search committees, including chairing the committee that brought Interim minister Roberta Finkelstein in 2013. She is a member of the Safe Congregations Committee and served on the Board from 2007 to 2013 as the liaison to Religious Education. Most recently she served as Chair of the Transition Team for Rev. Roberta.
Kristen and her husband Kevin live in Wilton with their three children, Ryan (22) who is a recent graduate from the University of Richmond, Erin (20) who studies at Bowdoin College and Morgan (16) who is a sophomore at Wilton High School.
“I know that there are strong, energized,skilled candidates to be found and I’m excited to match their skills with the vision of our congregation.”
Carrie McEvoy
Carrie has been a member of TUCW for three years. She has been a member of the choir, is the facilitator for her neighborhood circle, and has served on the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee for two years, the last year as the chair. Carrie’s skills include an analytical approach to problem solving, the ability to listen to multiple points of view before forming an opinion, and she brings a unique perspective as a new member. Carrie believes that the search committee performs a task that is very important to the success of TUCW, an organization she very strongly wishes will thrive in the coming years, and is excited to learn more about who we are as a congregation, then use that knowledge to help select a person who will guide us on our spiritual paths. Carrie is very honored to be included on the slate of candidates for the search committee, and if elected, will keep close to heart the needs and hopes of the congregation who has entrusted her to serve them.
John Mason
I have been a member of TUCW since 1999. I served on the Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2012. I am a member of three choirs. Currently I am a member of the Year-Round Stewardship Committee and the Annual Budget Drive Committee. In the wider movement, I have attended UUA General Assembly, UUA Large Congregation Conferences, and UU Metro Dictrict and Shelter Rock meetings. I have spent my career as a marketing director for book publishing companies, and bring my skills in marketing and communications to my work for the church. I want to serve on the Search Committee because I care passionately about our church. It is critically important to choose a Senior Minister who will unite us, care for us, inspire us, and lead us effectively into a bright and flourishing future.
Catherine Onyemelukwe
WHEN JOINED TUCW 1994
PAST AND CURRENT CHURCH RESPONSIBILITIES
- Endowment Committee Chair, 1994-2000
- Social Justice Council formation, first president 2003-2007, member 2007-09
- Racial Justice Task Force, chair, 2006-present
- Summer services presenter
- Odyssey presenter
Chamber Choir, Women’s Choir, Special Projects choir, forever
Capital campaign co-chair, 2002?
- Annual canvass volunteer, frequently
- Year Round Stewardship Committee, member and secretary, 2013-current
- Annual budget drive co-chair, 2013-present
- Frank’s Purse, Fundraiser 2013
THE SKILLS I BRING
- Organizational ability
- Strategic thinking, planning
- Attention to detail
- Broad knowledge of congregation and members
- Familiarity with history of church
- Sense of humor and perspective
WHY (briefly!) I WANT TO SERVE ON THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
I want to work closely with a dedicated group of people to:
- delve deeply into what we want in our new called minister
- have the opportunity to explore these desires with other congregation members
- meet candidates for the position and look for a match
Anita Pfluger
I ‘signed the book’ in May, 1990.
I have been involved with the music program since joining the church. I serve as the choir librarian and joyfully sing in the Women’s Choir, the Chamber Choir, and the Special Projects Choir. I am a member of the Beardsley School Committee, volunteering weekly in the Beardsley Library and coordinating several library volunteers. I am a regular reader at Read Aloud Days, and twice a month I read to students in a sixth grade reading class.
Over the years I have supported and taken part in many Social Justice initiatives and activities. I have participated in several Odyssey programs and led one on Non-Violent Communication. I am a member of a Small Group that has met for the past 7 years. I have served on two separate Nominating and Leadership Development Committees and this year was a Visiting Steward for our annual pledge drive.
While I retired in 2006 from a career in education, I am an effective and innovative teacher and administrator. I am detail oriented, organized, reliable, and a good listener. Independent, yet collaborative, I am energetic, active, and dedicated to our church community.
As a long-term member of this church I am absolutely committed to finding the best possible candidate to be our new settled minister. I am eager to be part of a team dedicated not only to conducting a vigorous and thorough search process, but also to meeting the hopes and dreams of the congregation. I am humbled by the honor and awed by the responsibility of serving on the Ministerial Search Committee.
Kathy Roberts
Joined in January 1986
I served on the BOT in the late 80’s and again in the early 2000’s. During both terms I filled the position of Clerk. I was particularly honored to serve on the Search Committee that recommended we call our first Associate Minister, John Tolley. During most of my years at TUCW I have been active in our Social Justice projects. I served as chair of the former Social Responsibility Committee and remain involved with the Social Justice Council, Anti-Racism Committee, and Advocates for Prevention jof Gun Violence . Currently I am a Neighborhood Circle Facilitator.
In addition to leadership skills, commitment to TUCW and enjoyment of working with others, I believe the breadth of my experience at TUCW will add value to this new Search Committee.
I wish to serve on because I believe deeply in this church community and feel that calling the most suitable minister is key to our continued strength in the future.