The Way Forward Task Force

Following Up and Moving Forward

Click on image to download and view pdf of March 2007 PowerPoint presentation to LUF.

You can download and view
the Way Forward Strategic Plan of December 2006.

A Message from .The Way Forward. Task Force:
November 21, 2006
(also in the November 2006 newsletter)

For the past few months, the task force has been working to bring forward recommendations for the Fellowship to consider in terms of ministry, physical space, programming and membership. As we approach the presentation of recommendations to the Board, it may be useful to remind everyone of the purpose of The Way Forward Task Force as defined in the terms of reference.

The purpose of this task force is to make explicit recommendations on how to move into the future, based on a thorough analysis of the choices currently facing LUF. Specifically, the task force will:

Articulate the values, principles and beliefs which will ground any recommendations
Develop a set of options that LUF could move forward on
Provide a cost/benefit analysis of each of the option in relation to the key issues (growth, leadership and space)
Make recommendations in the form of an action plan to the board

Our initial work focused on considering core values that need to form the foundation for any decisions to move ahead. As well, we have worked to suggest a decision-making process, based on those values and the importance of the full involvement of all members of LUF.

Based on our core values, the task force believes that the Fellowship needs to work toward both full-time professional ministry and a change of physical space.

The first element of this process has already been moved forward as the Board has incorporated in the 2007 budget funds for professional ministry for the full year. The task force supports this approach and will be putting forth recommendations for implementation, with steps including interim ministry, and a call for a full-time minister. Recommendations will also be coming forward with regard to physical space. The task force plans to present its preliminary recommendations to the Board, in the form of a draft strategic plan, at their December meeting.

David Belrose / Pyteke Blaauw / Carl Rose /
Diane Walker / Peggy Tripp / Julie Stoneberg (ex officio)

Decision Making Workshop Re-visited: / by Julie Stoneberg

On Saturday, October 14, 2006, the Way Forward Task Force offered a workshop to LUFers on group decision making, with a particular focus on how that process might be spiritually based and effective. The twenty-four participants learned and explored together in a cooperative and enthusiastic way that bodes well for our future. Here are a few comments:

.Learning comes in so many interesting packages, often delivered when you least expect it. As a person who is regularly engaged in teaching and learning about human group process, I would have to say Saturday's workshop offered me several deeper insights regarding group decision-making. Insights I will use and take away for further reflection.

First, the participants in the workshop reminded me about the power of experience and wisdom, and how this can add to the depth and breadth of the dialogue. Second, the workshop compelled me to listen to understand; to listen to what was said and what was not said. Third, the experience enriched my understanding about the role of history, power and politics within and around the decision making process. Fourth, the process deepened my understanding of what consensus really is as I connected and reflected back to some of my previous experiences. Finally, the workshop reinforced my belief that working in "right" relationships through difficult issues, when done with compassion, empathy, respect and understanding, can be a spiritual experience.. . Diane Walker, member of the Way Forward Task Force

.Excellent workshop. It made me realize that there are many different options for making important decisions at LUF.. - Sally Pyne

.Enjoyed the workshop. It gave me new hope that we LUFers can improve our group decision making by using the process explored.. - Susan Woods

.The presentation of the Way Forward Task force was excellent in its incorporation of the power point technology; its giving a voice to every member of their committee and its involvement of each individual present in a group task of problem solving. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and hope that we can employ what we learned as we move forward together at LUF.. - Carol Ann & Greg Brumpton

The Way Forward Task Force slideshow

The Way Forward Task Force has recently made two presentations of their work, one to the Board of LUF and one on Wed. Aug. 16, at the evening, mid-week session. The presentations have been well-received by those who have seen them.

The following is a quotation from the Task Force update article in the September 2006 newsletter. (See the newsletter page for the pdf download of the newsletter.) The article is also available on the LUF Leadership page)

"Our first task involved looking back at work that had already been done over the years to unearth common themes and values that have grounded the life of the Fellowship. We believe that these themes and values provide a framework for moving ahead."

Clicking on the slide above will open the Way Forward Task Force slideshow. To return to the LUF home page, click on the back button.

For more information on the spoken content of the presentation, contact any of the Task Force members: Diane Walker, David Belrose, Pyteke Blaauw, Peggy Tripp or Rev. Julie Stoneberg.

The Way Forward Task Force (WFTF):
(report from the September 2006 newsletter)

Since our report in the June newsletter, the task force has been active. We reported then that our first task was to .articulate the values, principles and beliefs which will ground any recommendations. while the next was to .develop a set of options that LUF could move forward on..

Our first task involved looking back at work that had already been done over the years to unearth common themes and values that have grounded the life of the Fellowship. We believe that these themes and values provide a framework for moving ahead.

This work was presented to the LUF board on August 3 and was part of a dialogue with members of LUF on August 16. It was encouraging to have 16 members turn out on a warm summer evening, and there was spirited discussion and feedback about the process presented by the Task Force. The powerpoint presentation .A Look Back as we Take a Step Forward. is available on the LUF web site. Thanks go to Diane Walker for her analysis and development of the presentation. Our working approach is reflected in a document from UUA called .Effective and Spiritually Based Decision Making. available from task force members or online at http://www.uua.org/ga/ga06/uuuwed998.html. We have taken the steps through Framing, Grounding, Shedding, Rooting, and now are at the Listening stage.

The meeting on August 16 was only the start of what we on the Task force see as part of Listening, something we see as essential in order to effectively move forward. Ongoing dialogue among the members and friends of LUF at each step of .The Way Forward. will be vital if we are to arrive at decisions that incorporate our core values. We want to engage everyone in this process so that decisions reached will have been discussed and understood. Look for continuing information sessions (lunch with wine?), newsletter and web site items, possible communiquis, mention in Sunday services, and anything we can do to make this process as transparent as possible.

The Task Force has been energized by the grounding work we have done and we want to share that with the entire fellowship. As we move into options for moving forward, and get into analysis of those options we feel that we are working from a solid grounding in our guiding values, while recognizing their organic and evolving nature.

(The Way Forward Task Force members are Pyteke Blaauw, David Belrose, Carl Rose, Peggy Tripp, and Diane Walker. Julie Stoneberg serves in an ex-officio capacity.)

The Way Forward Task Force (WFTF):
(report from the June 2006 newsletter)

The WFTF has now met three times, and is beginning to identify the ground on which we walk and will build. The following expresses the WFTF.s sense of the historical context for our work:

For years the Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship (LUF) has struggled to resolve or address three key issues. The first issue is related to professional leadership and the hiring/employing of a minister. Currently, LUF is employing a minister on a contract basis. The second issue concerns the building and whether or not LUF should invest in a newer / larger building and home. It is agreed that the current building has problems, some of which include accessibility, RE space, and overall size to mention a few. The third, and final issue is related to the growth/size of the congregation and what this means in terms of membership, budget, and community presence. Clearly, these three issues (minister, building and growth) are historically-based, value-laden and potentially divisive issues, which stand alone as separate concerns, while at the same time are intricately related to each other.

Given the fact that the energy of the LUF Board is focused on the day-to-day operations of the church, it was believed that an independent task force would be able to dedicate the time and energy necessary to examine, debate, evaluate and in the end make recommendation on how to move LUF forward with respect to these three issues and other related concerns.

Specifically, the task force will:
Articulate the values, principles and beliefs which will ground any recommendations
Develop a set of options that LUF could move forward on
Provide a cost/benefit analysis of each of the option in relation to the key issues (growth, leadership and space)
Make recommendations in the form of an action plan to the Board

This task force is accountable to the Board, which is ultimately accountable to the congregation. The Board has charged the task force to come up with a well-researched and realistic future, and it is our goal to present a complete report by June 2007. The WFTF believes in making the process as transparent as possible. To this end, both the Board and the congregation will be provided with regular updates on our work through key messages, the newsletter, verbal reports or other means deemed suitable by the committee. We will present our frames of reference in a report to the AGM on June 11. The WFTF consists of David Belrose, Pyteke Blaauw, Carl Rose, Peggy Tripp, and Diane Walker, with Julie Stoneberg serving ex officio. (This article was prepared by Diane Walker and edited by Julie Stoneberg.)

February 21, 2006 The Way Forward

Your Board, the Trustees of Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, is dedicated to the vision of LUF. We take our leadership roles seriously and are committed to leading with passion and integrity, with the ongoing mission of sustaining a religious community that is dynamic, nurturing, and growing. We believe that the message of Unitarianism, a message of love, human responsibility, acceptance and freedom, should be heard loud and clear in Northwestern Ontario.

We have been in conversation as the first step in a congregation-wide, fully transparent planning process that will guide the future of this community. It is our intention to facilitate a process that is grounded in a right relations covenant in order to engender understanding, cooperation, commitment and results. We have many opportunities in front of us: the potential for extending Julie.s contract with us; the investigation of possible building and ministry options; the necessity for a capital campaign to create resources to put our visions into action; the suggestion to sell our building and rent more suitable space until a permanent new home can be located; the option of offering two services each week, and; the use of advice and counsel from the CUC and from other congregations who have gone through this process. The details will evolve and emerge as we all work together to discover the best way(s) for us to move forward.

With this vision in hand, we believe that a new building and professional ministry are both part of LUF.s future. In this process, we will decide together which next steps are most desirable and most achievable. Taking that best next step, knowing that other steps lie ahead, will take patience and trust. It will mean that we must each evaluate our personal preferences in the light of .the greater good. for the Fellowship. It will involve facing our fears and co-existing with change. It will mean that we must truly live the UU principle that affirms the use of the democratic process. Above all, it will take a commitment to get through this together, because this community, loving one another, is more important than any building or any minister.

The Board.s first step is to nominate a special task force to research alternatives, to collect and analyze data, and to make recommendations as to building and ministry options that will best help to move LUF forward. In addition, we are working to propose an amended budget for 2006 that would include an extension of Julie.s contract with us.

There will be a meeting of the membership following the service on Sunday, April 2 to consider this proposal. Your trust and your input are of the utmost value to us as we take action to create an intended future for Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship.

The Way Forward Task Force (WFTF)documents:

Board Statement: The Way Forward: pdf download.

A document for discussion.

Board Vision for 2006: pdf download.

A document for discussion

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