Clara Barton and Mass Bay Districts announce regional staffing

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Clara Barton, Mass Bay and Ballou Channing Districts

Its official – the Clara Barton and Mass Bay Districts have approved a shared staffing model.

March 4th the UUA posted a new CBD/MBD Leadership Development Director position on its HR website.  This position will be one of four full time staff shared by the two districts.

I had the honor of facilitating  a February dual district board retreat discussing this.  Congratulations to all involved.

Here is an excerpt of the announcement sent via both districts’ e-newsletters:

We are pleased to announce that the Boards of Directors of the Massachusetts Bay District and the Clara Barton District have each voted unanimously to undertake a new shared staffing arrangement on a two year interim basis beginning July 1, 2010.

In their resolutions, both boards stated:

“We make this decision as an affirmation of the following values:
to expand the reach of Unitarian Universalism,
to increase and model collaboration between
regions, staff and congregations, and
to build the capacity of our districts to more effectively express
and fulfill our purposes.”

The new structure will include the following four positions:

  • District Executive
  • Director of Faith Formation
  • Director of Congregational Development
  • Director of Leadership Development
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Sunday in Sharon, MA

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unitarian Church of Sharon, MA before their building project. There is now a structure behind and to the right of the sanctuary.

Sunday I had the pleasure of guest speaking and leading a program at the Unitarian Church of Sharon, MA with our district executive, William Zelazny.  Our focus was on the possibilities and potential associated with a new building and a new minister arriving in the Fall, search willing.

Three weeks ago the Sharon congregation opened a new addition and renovation including a three level elevator.  I remember when my home congregation in Providence, RI, opened its new building after years of study, design and a lengthy build.

New buildings make us look at congregational life with fresh eyes.

  • How do we do this?
  • Where does that go?
  • How do people know to go from here to there?
  • What signs do we need?
  • Where do we need greeters?
  • How do we need to change?
  • How can we meet the opportunities of the days to come?
  • Now that we have a 5 start building, maybe we should have a five star…

Of course, these are all things we should be asking regularly even without new buildings.

Photo credit: Flickr

Filed Under: Event Reports