Ministerial Search News

Notice of Special Congregational Meeting

April 30, 2023, 1:00 pm, UU Asheville Sanctuary

Purpose:  A vote will be taken on calling Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson as Lead Minister of UU Asheville

Dear Member,

Pursuant to the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, the Board of Trustees announces a Special Congregational Meeting at 1:00 pm, April 30th in the Sanctuary at 1 Edwin Place.  At that meeting, members of the Congregation will have the opportunity to vote on the question of calling Rev. Audette Fulbright Fulson to the position of Lead Minister.

All documents relevant to making voting decisions, including information on our candidate that has been put forth by the Ministerial Search Committee, are available on our website.  You have also been invited, and we encourage you to attend the congregational services and events occurring throughout Candidating Week, Sunday, April 23 – Sunday, April 30th.   RSVP for Candidating Week Events.  This Special Congregational Meeting Agenda is posted below.

Included in this notice for your convenience are the:

Agenda of the Special Meeting (click the link to view Agenda)

Absentee proxy ballots have been emailed to all members on record (mailed to those without an email address on file)

The Board of Trustees urges every member to attend.

All members of record as of 12 Noon on Friday, April 21, 2023 are eligible to vote.  Per our bylaws, a Member at UUCA is a person who:

1. Is in sympathy with the purpose and mission of the Congregation,
2. Has completed the UUCA Coming of Age program or reached the age of 16,
3. Has completed a course of study approved by the Board of Trustees or has discussed the matter with the Minister or person designated by the Minister,
4. Has signed the Membership Book, and
5. Completes an annual commitment form and makes an annual recorded contribution.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may complete the absentee proxy ballot that will be emailed to you on Friday, April 21st at 4:00 PM and either mail it back to UU Asheville or drop it off by no later than 12 Noon on Friday, April 28th.   Additional printed ballots are available at UU Asheville.  The email sent to all members will also provide opportunities to print your own copy of the ballot or vote online.

ABSENTEE PROXY BALLOTS MUST  BE RECEIVED BY
NOON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023.

All Members in Good Standing are eligible to vote for our Called Lead Minister.   Eligible members will receive an email with detailed information on how to vote.

Are you eligible to vote? Please visit last’s weeks Special Edition on Voting Information Part I if you need more information.  Individual contributions to the passing of the plate on Sunday are welcomed and greatly appreciated, however, these do not count as a contribution of record unless it was clearly designated as a pledge gift and included your name. It’s not too late to become an eligible member.  Contact the office at information@uuasheville.org or call Tish at 828-254-6001 x 200 ASAP. You must be an eligible member by 12 noon on Friday, April 21, 2023 to vote for calling our Lead Minister.

RSVPs Now Open for Candidating Week Congregational Events

During the week of April 23 -30, there are several congregational events planned to welcome Rev. Audette to UU Asheville. Please RSVP today for our congregational events occurring during Candidating Week. There is a single RSVP form for all Congregational Events.

Candidating Week ~ April 23rd – April 30th 

Meet Rev. Audette Congregational Events

Sunday, April 23rd
11 AM   Sunday Service featuring Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson
12:15 PM   Congregational Reception and Luncheon 

Monday, April 24th
2 PM – 3 PM  Virtual Zoom Reception
Our virtual community and those unable to make an in-person event are invited to our Zoom Reception with Rev. Audette!  This is a great time to connect with Rev. Audette outside of Sunday services in a more intimate setting.  

Tuesday, April 25th
5:30 PM   Dinner
6 PM – 7 PM   Leaning In to Social Justice with Rev. Audette
If you’re involved in social justice or want to be involved, join Rev. Audette as we engage in meaningful conversation around UU Asheville’s social justice work.  Dinner will be provided just prior to this event.

Wednesday, April 26th
6 PM – 8 PM   Dinner & Game Night with Rev. Audette 
Come ready to play and get to know Rev. Audette. Join us for dinner, a chance to ask questions, and an opportunity to show off your trivia skills. 

Thursday, April 27th
2 PM – 4 PM   Reception with Rev. Audette for residents of Givens Estates, Givens Gerber Park, & Deerfield who are UU Asheville members.   The event is hosted at Givens Estates.  Please contact Linda Bair with questions and to receive detailed information.  

Friday, April 28th
6 PM – 8 PM   Family Fun Night
Calling all families and kids of all ages!  Join Rev. Audette for an evening of games, dinner, and fellowship around the campfire.

Sunday, April 30th

11:00 AM  Sunday Service featuring Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson

12:15 PM   Lunch & Snacks

1:00 PM    Q&A with Candidate Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson

1:30 PM    Q&A with Ministerial Search Committee

2:00 PM   Congregational Vote

RSVP Today for our congregational events occurring during Candidating Week.  There is a single  RSVP form for all Congregational Events. 

Ministerial Search Committee
Updates

April 5, 2023 – Dr. Rev. Audette Fulbright Fulson announced as Candidate for Lead Minister! Learn more about Dr. Rev. Audette here.

Purpose and Possibility, September 20, 2022
Gina Phairas, MSC Chair

It’s been 17 years since our congregation last searched for a called minister. That means many of us have never engaged in the work of a ministerial search, and for others it’s been a while. So now is a good time to
reflect on what the search process is all about and what role we all play in finding our new minister.

First, know that the process is well underway. We’ve chosen a committee to help guide us through the search process, but you may be surprised to learn that the committee’s job is not to decide who the next minister should be. Rather their task is to find the minister who can help us realize our vision for UU Asheville.We all have a role to play and the committee can’t play its part if we, the members of UU Asheville, don’t play ours. Our committee needs to know what we want “church” to look like, what role we want to play in our  community, the concerns we have, and what we see as UU Asheville’s purpose. In other words, the congregation tells the committee where we want UU Asheville to go, and the committee searches for a faith leader who can take us there.

The committee members are not looking for their minister, they’re looking for the congregation’s minister, so the committee needs to hear from all of us.

To make that easy, the committee has two tasks for everyone in the congregation:

First, complete the congregational survey. This is your first opportunity to tell the committee your hopes for UU Asheville. Admittedly, the survey is a little long so set aside some time to give it some real thought. You’ll find that the survey will not only help the committee get a picture of who we are, it’s also designed to help you envision what we could be. It’s well worth the time investment.

Second, attend a cottage meeting. In these small group meetings, you’ll once again be thinking about the purpose of UU Asheville, but unlike the survey, you’ll be sharing your ideas with and listening to those of  fellow congregants. It’s an opportunity to begin building the community you want to be a part of.

Those are the two tasks we can all do to help. Complete the survey and come to a cottage meeting. Pretty simple.

While the search process is a time for reflection about who we are, it’s also a time filled with possibility. May we approach the search process with excitement, curiosity, and openness to the possibilities a new minister can bring.

Questions or Comments?

To contact the Ministerial Search Committee, send an email to MSC@UUAsheville.org.

To contact the Board of Trustees, send an email to Board@UUAsheville.org.

To contact our Interim Lead Minister, send an email to Minister@UUAsheville.org.