UUSD Board Committees

Awards:  Coordinates the annual awards nomination and selection process for special recognition and outstanding service awards to members and others in the community.

Capital Campaign:  Tasked with raising money to finance the purchase of land and/or a facility that would meet the needs of our growing congregation.

Communications:  Promotes Unitarian Universalism and the vision, mission and activities of UUSD in Sussex County, DE and neighboring areas.  Activities: the monthly newsletter, The Beacon; Internet outreach via the UUSD website, Facebook, and other social media; advertising UUSD and its activities in local newspapers and media.

Denominational Affairs:  Informs the congregation about important decisions and activities of the UUA, JPD, and other UU organizations and encourages active participation of UUSD members in them.

Facilities:  Organizes volunteer maintenance, minor repair, cleaning, and painting projects.  Monitors fire alarms, heating and plumbing systems, major repair needs, cleaning service, trash disposal, and pest control.

Finance:  Monitors the overall financial health of the congregation, and coordinates the development of the annual budget.  Responsible for long-range financial planning, including the update of the strategic financial plan and The Cloud Society (planned legacy giving).

Fundraising:  Responsible for planning and sponsoring church-wide fundraising events including the Annual Church Auction. Develops and coordinates other church social activities.

Green Sanctuary:  Works to build awareness of the significance and complexity of environmental issues; encourages personal lifestyle changes; engages in community action on environmental issues; strengthens the connection between spiritual practice and Earth consciousness; and works to heal environmental injustices through such activities as Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Beach annual clean ups; seminars and education classes. UUSD received accreditation as a Green Sanctuary in 2011.

Membership Growth and Retention: The purpose of the Membership Growth and Retention Committee is to devise and execute strategies and activities for increasing and retaining membership at UUSD. Based on our mission to create a liberal spiritual home for people of free faith, our goal is to become a bastion of free faith in Southern Delaware.

Land and Building: Researches available real estate and the ways and means to purchase property, either land for construction of a new church building or property including a building that can be made suitable for the needs of UUSD.

Lifespan Faith Development:  Supports and leads our children and adults in their spiritual and religious lives.  Researches, plans and implements the Sunday School Program for children from birth through high school using volunteer teachers.  Offers opportunities for fostering spiritual growth among adults in its Adult Education Program.

Long-Range Planning:  Monitors progress on existing long range plans, facilitates the development of new long range projects when necessary, and brainstorms solutions to congregational needs based on input from the board, committees and the membership.

Membership:  Welcomes all searching for a progressive religious home.  Greets visitors at Sunday services, and follows up visits with letters or phone calls.  Sponsors events to help visitors, friends, and new members get to know UUSD better and become involved in the life of the congregation.

Music: Overseas the music program and provides support and input to the Music Director who oversees and coordinates the music contributions to the Sunday service and other Church events.

Pastoral Care:  Assists the Minister in providing pastoral care to members of the congregation, either in the Minister’s absence, due to Sabbatical leave, vacation or illness, or in the event that the needs of the congregation temporarily exceed the ability of the Minister to attend to them concurrently.

Personnel:  Oversees evaluation and counsel with paid staff of UUSD.

Social Justice:  Through advocacy, activism, education and witness, engages the congregation and community in various local, national and global issues promoting equality, peace, human rights, and sustainability.  Includes GLBT rights, immigration, and social and environmental justice.   Activities: holiday and other giving to those in need; food bank donations including produce from the community garden; Friday Film Series (with Lifespan Faith Development); participation in celebrations such as Martin Luther King day and gay pride day.

Stewardship: Organizes and conducts the annual pledge campaign.  Addresses and nurtures the spiritual and financial contributions of the members.

Transylvania Partnership:  Works to support UUSD’s ties with Transylvanian Unitarians by becoming a partner to a church in Tordatur, Romania.

Worship:  Responsible for the logistics of Sunday worship services as well as the programs for those services when our minister is not in the pulpit.  Trains ushers and worship associates to support the Sunday services.