by The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto
In our Leadership Experiences, we teach congregational leaders the dynamics of change. One tool, called “The Roller Coaster of Change” shows how new initiatives begin with excitement for those proposing a change. That excitement immediately runs into system inertia and negative reactivity. Leaders experience a rapid downward sensation as objections and criticism appear. Congregants react to a sinking sensation that something is about to be lost and are unclear about what is to be gained. There is confusion, even anger amidst the anxiety no matter how good the idea is or who offers it.
Like a roller coaster plunge, the de-forming stage of change is scary. Things feel out of control. A point comes at which an idea is dropped or begins to re-form in a new way. If leaders stay calm through the fear, hope returns, better informed by the critical reactivity to lead to a new point of excitement.
The truly hard part is that leaders and followers are often at different places on the up, down, up cycle.
Just over four years ago, your District Boards all met to consider a new way of doing our shared ministries and cross-District collaboration. The idea was to spend less time and money on District management and to free up our dedicated volunteers to actually serve congregations. Since then, all four Districts worked together to form the Southern Region, embraced our UUA Ends as our own, and concluded you did not need over 40 people to manage 4. There is now a unified budget and, as of July 1st, all our staff (10 in total) will be fully employees of our UUA, supervised by the UUA Director of Congregational Life. The goal of broader engagement in ministry is envisioned in a new Council of Elders who will work collaboratively with the UUA field staff to increase our capacity of service to the congregations. Additionally, an advisory team will work with the Director of Congregational Life and the Regional Lead to ensure the efficacy of staff services.
This process has been its own roller coaster ride — with all the attendant feelings of excitement, discouragement, confusion, and, occasionally, conflict. Now, your Board leaders are on the upside of hope. The next step rests with the congregations.
This April 18th, delegates to all four District Assemblies will be asked to do away with the governance or business management component of Districts. Delegates will vote on a formal resolution to empower the Boards to “go out of business," and to establish the initial membership of the Elders Council.
Let this be a sincere request that you send delegates to your District’s gathering. They can be fully informed by reading materials sent to each congregation and posted on the Region’s website: http://www.uuasouthernregion.org. An FAQ sheet is posted there as well. You can speak directly with Board Leaders and staff during an up-coming webinar on the plans March 12, 28, or 29. Of course, Board members and the Region’s field staff are also available to hear your concerns or respond to your questions.
It is not true that only babies like change. Those who believe in our future and who feel the urgency of instilling our life-affirming, life-giving values of the free church and liberal religion to a troubled society are eager to change in ways that empower us to do more ministry. Gandhi urged, “Be the change you wish to see in the world!” Come be part of this change. Help us bring more hope, more joy, more justice to the world.
The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto
Southern Region Lead Executive & Congregational Life Staff Member
khurto@uua.org or 239.560.5628
