Farewell to All That

Knowing when it is time to turn the page is an essential skill –  for congregations and for individuals

 

I’ve seen it more times than I can count. A congregation makes  a transition, occasionally to fix something that is broken, but more often to take advantage of new opportunities or meet new challenges. A leap of faith takes place and new directions are launched.So, too, it is with individuals. Listening to your instincts telling you it’s time to change course is an important process to follow through life.

I have heard such “small voices” before and have listened to them to good effect every time over the decades. I hear them now.

Effective 1 July I will leave Stewardship for Us  to provide time and focus to pursue priorities that I think merit my attention now. The bad news, of course, is that I will miss tremendously the satisfaction this work brings and the joy of being a founding member of such a great team. The good news is that the S4Us team is in the best shape it has ever been.

We have built a model that works for everyone. I leave knowing that our terrific and growing team of consultants serves our leaders, congregations, regions, and the UUA superbly.  We have built something special here and there is much yet to be done. And so this was not an easy decision on my part. But it’s time, and I know you are in great hands.

So, What’s Next? 

Like many of you, I am concerned that our country has descended into a near permanent state of tribal warfare. We can be better than this.

I have started a new blog to encourage useful dialogue on a wide range of subjects that I hope will be informative, thought provoking, and fun for readers. This is a site to encourage better dialogues, help clarify our priorities for the conflicts that surely will continue, and will make room for a sense of discovery.

I chose the title Agents of Reason for this new blog as an invitation to think before engaging, and to help carry that message. Readers are invited to join in the conversation.

Agents of Reason examines politics, popular culture, the arts, science and technology, and humor – for a start. This should be a conversation that resonates with those who read this blog , but you will decide that, not me. A book, perhaps two, are the works that might help contribute a bit to the solutions we need. I will be engaging in other venues on political and social issues as time passes, where that can be useful.

If you enjoyed our work together, my live presentations, or my posts on this blog, you might enjoy this new endeavor. Come visit at https://agentsofreason.com and see what you think.

Unitarian Universalism has taught me much over the years, as it has many of you. It continues to inform and inspire how I engage the world going forward. I hope that is true for you as well.

A Closing Note on the Stewardship Work We All Do

The seeds you plant and nourish in your congregation are vital in so many ways. Never forget that while raising the funds and paying the bills are important, they are arguably not the most important results.

Stewardship is living our values, committing to something bigger than ourselves, with our personal resources. It is an important way of saying, “I meant it when I said this is important to me. I commit my time, talent, and treasure to pay it forward.”

Keep up the good work, nurture yourselves and your congregations. Let’s plan on crossing paths – online and in person – sooner rather than later.

 

Bill Clontz                                                                                                                      Blogging at https://agentsofreason.com   
Email: bill@agentsofreason.com