Adult Spiritual Education The committee is responsible for coordinating programs that address adult spiritual growth and religious education. This includes programs for First Hour, short-term classes, ongoing groups, and retreats. The committee works in coordination with the Minister and other committees. The committee solicits input and feedback from the congregation at large on a regular basis to inform program development. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Archivist (reports to Library Committee) (web page) The History of Second Unitarian Church of Omaha is now available on the Internet! In addition to authoring newsletter articles about the history of Second Unitarian Church, the church Archivist has now made much of this historical information available on the internet using LegacySharing.com. The Legacy web site book "Chalice Journeys of the Second Unitarian Church of Omaha" can be accessed by church members and friends who have been registered with LegacySharing.com. Contact the church Archivist for details. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Marcia Leise
Board of Trustees (web page) "The mission of the Board of Trustees is to provide the leadership to make the church’s mission a reality for our religious community."
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the church consisting of eight members elected for three-year terms by the church membership. The Bylaws were changed May 20, 2007 changing the term length from 2 to 3 years. Therefore, there is a transition period with some Board members still serving two-year terms.
The Board meets monthly on the second Thursday at 7:00 PM at church, and all members are welcome to attend.
Trustees with terms expiring June 30, 2011:
- Carol Johnson, Chair
- Tom Peterson, Chair
Trustees with terms expiring June 30, 2012:
- Kathy Bell
- Lorraine Duggin, Secretary
- Don Shennum
Trustees with terms expiring June 30, 2013:
- Cheri Cody, Vice-Chair
- Laura Neece-Baltaro
- Nancy VanderSluis
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Building and Grounds (web page) The committee is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all interior and exterior physical property of the church. Specific duties include: a) Maintaining a current inventory of church equipment and property.
b) Advising the Board of necessary repairs to church facilities.
c) Anticipating future maintenance requirements, and that budget requests account for operating expenses for the physical plant.
d) Aesthetics of the church is a joint responsibility of Music & Worship and the Building and Grounds Committee.
e) Take a leading role in planning and implementing facility expansion and improvement projects.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Caring (web page) The committee’s mission is to build a caring community that will help and support each of our members as we experience the events, stages and transitions of life. The committee, in cooperation with the Minister, is responsible for ensuring that the following functions are carried out. The Caring Committee assumes full responsibility for these functions when a Minister is not present:
a) Sending cards for births, deaths, illnesses and announcing that information in church.
b) Visiting hospitalized and homebound church members and sending flowers when appropriate.
c) Coordinating transportation for members in need to and from church for services and special events. The committee reserves the right to restrict whom it assists based on the committee’s Transportation Guidelines.
d) Assisting with memorial and funeral services and the receptions that follow.
e) Providing and soliciting assistance for members in need.
f) Sponsoring programs to address pastoral care needs.
g) Maintaining a list of volunteers.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Choir Our adult choir performs regularly or as needed by the minister to provide special music for the services. We rehearse Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and again on the Sunday morning that we sing. All are welcome to join us in fellowship, fun......and a little music too! Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Committee on Ministry The Mission of the Committee on Ministry is to monitor, support, and strengthen the work of shared ministry within the congregation in pursuit of our common vision and congregational mission. Specific duties include: a) Educate itself about ministry.
b) Foster a culture of shared ministry within the congregation through education in the form of articles, special events, meetings with committees and groups, and individual conversations.
c) Monitor all forms of shared ministry, lay and clergy, within the congregation.
d) Periodically access the quality and progress of shared ministry provided by the committees, groups, staff, and Minister.
e) Provide consultation and non-anonymous feedback to the Minister, including developing and monitoring progress on goals for the ministry.
f) Develop and encourage direct and responsible communication among the congregation and the Minister.
g) Mediate discussions and/or conflicts with the Minister and the congregation while maintaining an atmosphere of openness and honesty.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ]
Communications Committee Mission Statement: The Communications Committee works closely with the Technology Committee and the Office Administrator, and other committees as requested to facilitate internal and external church publications, and ensure the consistency of printed and on-line materials. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Denominational Connection The Denominational Connection Committee keeps the congregation informed about regional (Prairie Star District) and national (Unitarian Universalist Assn.) activities. The committee encourages church members to attend PSD workshops and meetings, the national UUA General Assembly, and the UU Midwest Leadership School held each summer at Beloit College in Beliot, WI. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Endowment Committee The Church maintains a fund known as The Second Unitarian Church of Omaha Endowment Fund. The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to enhance the mission of Omaha Second Unitarian Church and to promote Unitarian Universalist Principles in the community independently from the annual operating budget. No distributions from the fund will be made until it surpasses $250,000.
Endowment Fund Committee (EFC) is the custodian of the Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund Committee consists of three members, all of whom are voting Members of the Second Unitarian Church of Omaha for a minimum of one year. One member will be elected each year at the Annual Meeting. The term of each member is three years. No member of the EFC shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. The Minister, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and a representative from the Finance Committee are advisory, non-voting members of the EFC. For 2010-2011 the members are Stu Burns, Cy Leise, and Vicki Pratt.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Fellowship (web page) The Mission of the Fellowship Committee is to enhance the vision of the Second Unitarian Church by providing a ministry of welcome and celebration. The committee is responsible for providing for the fellowship hour following the church service and coordinating fellowship events for the congregation. Specific duties include:
a) Providing beverages, snacks, and supplies for the Fellowship Hour that follows Sunday service.
b) Greeting and conversing with visitors during the fellowship hour.
c) Sponsoring and/or coordinating fellowship events such as ice cream social and Sing for your Supper.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Finance The mission of the Finance Committee is to oversee the fiscal health of the church and to marshal the financial resouces to further its mission.We oversee the annual pledge drive, prepare the annual budget, and advise the church on investment issues, endowment concerns, and other financial issues.We meet on the second Thursday of every month at the church.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Fundraising Task Force (reports to Finance Committee) The Fundraising Committee is responsible for church-wide fundraising events. A Chair is usually appointed for each fundraising event. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Library (web page) The mission of the Library Committee is to acquire and provide resources for committees, for programs, and for members and friends in order to support them in their search for truth and meaning. Specific duties include: a) Research, evaluate, and order books based on the mission statement
b) Maintain a shelf list.
c) Maintains the book shelves.
d) Checks books out and in.
e) Responsible for the Macyl Boruff fund.
f) Provide repository for educational materials used by other committees.
g) Be a clearinghouse for used and recycled books.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Harry Wilkins-Book Sale Chair
Long Range Plan This committee is responsible for preparing a long range plan for the congregation about every 5 years. It is also responsible to review and update the plan as necessary. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Inactive
Membership The Membership Committee welcomes visitors & provides them with information about our faith and our church. We honor new members and help them to become active participants in Second Unitarian's Church Community. We meet at 12 noon the first Sunday of every month in the Junior High Room of the church. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Ministerial Salary Review The MSC meets annually with the Minister to review and recommend adjustments to the Minister's compensation. Members of the Committee include a Chair of a Standing Committee, the Board Chair, and a member of the Ministerial Relations Committee. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Ministry for Earth (part of the Social Justice Coordinating Council) (web page) The mission of Social Justice's Care for the Environment Group is to serve as a resource for the promotion of “green” activities and projects. Goals are closely aligned with materials provided by the Seventh Principle Project of the saving natural resources, saving church expenses, promoting sustainable living, worship service and religious education programs, and promoting economic and environmental justice. The Group is the contact point with the national UU Ministry for Earth program. The Care for the Environment Group is an umbrella committee whose membership consists of liaisons to other existing committees; activities fulfill requirements for achieving recognition as a Green Sanctuary church. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Music and Worship The Mission of the Music and Worship Committee is to promote the celebration of life through worship, music and aesthetics in our religious community. This committee is responsible for Sunday sermons for those weeks that the minister is not on the pulpit including the months of July and August. Music & Worship also arranges for the music each Sunday. Church aesthetics is the joint responsibility of Music & Worship and Building & Grounds. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Nominations & Leadership Development The Nominations Committee is charged with seeking candidates to run for election for the Board of Trustees and for vacant positions on the Nominations Committee.
Nominations Committee presents candidates for 2010-2011
Board Nominees:
- Laura Neece Baltero - 3 year term
- Nancy VanderSluis - 3 year term
- Cheri Cody - 3 year term
Nominations Committee:
- JoAnne Draper - 1 year term
- Sue Aschinger - 3 year term
Endowment Committee:
- Stu Burns - 3 year term
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Personnel (web page) The purpose of the Personnel Committee is to represent the Congregation and advise the Minister and Staff on important personnel issues. Stephen Sinclair chairs this committee. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Religious Growth & Learning (web page) The committee's mission is to encourage the learning and living of our Unitarian Universalist principles. We strive to provide a spiritual, accepting, and caring environment where we explore religious ideas together.
a) Provide religious celebration for children and youth by conducting RE Committee events
b) Provide support to the Director of Religious Education in the planning and implementation of the Children's Religious Education program
c) Provide summer RE program (June - Aug) including selecting the curricula and recruiting volunteers.
d) Provide vision for the Religious Education program
e) Provide coverage on Sunday mornings when the DRE is off
f) Provide assistance to the DRE and RE Chair
g) Volunteer in the RE program
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Second Showing Second Showing is a venue for friends and members of the church to display their visual arts. Each month, a featured artist will have their works displayed at the back of the sanctuary for all to see. Contact the committee if you or someone you know are interested in having your works exhibited. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Vija Kopecky
Dodie Robison
Site and Architect Search Committee (SASC) In November 2006 the Congregation authorized the Board to appoint a Site and Architect Search Committee (SASC) with the following goals and responsibilities: 1. Hire an architect to assist in meeting our long-term facility needs either on-site or elsewhere.
2. Evaluate options for expanding on-site to meet the long-term needs of the church.
3. Visit UU churches in the region that have recently expanded their facilities.
4. Evaluate potential properties for expanding off-site.
5. If the SASC finds a property that meets the needs identified by the BNAC, sign a conditional purchase and sale agreement.
6. The SASC will provide a status report to the Congregation
7. The life of the SASC could be 18 months or longer if the committee determines it isn’t feasible to meet our long-term facility needs on the existing site and a suitable site elsewhere can’t be found.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Cheri Cody
Social Justice Coordinating Council (web page) Justice issues are overseen by the Social Justice Coordinating Council and carried out by Action Groups that have been formed around the priorities of Second Unitarian Church:
Become a beacon to the GLBT community
Care for our environment
Close the economic gap in Omaha
Action Groups develop plans around one of the priorities listed above and carry out those plans. Members and friends participate in any of the groups for which they feel passion or commitment. Action groups typically meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month throughout the church year and may meet or sponsor activities between meeting dates.
Our Church supports the UUA call for congregations to become part of the Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO) effort. Second Unitarian is a member of Omaha Together One Community (OTOC), which is an interfaith community organizing effort in the city of Omaha. OTOC has a number of events throughout the year such as house meetings, research actions, and leadership training. Community organizing is one of the most effective ways in which our Church makes a difference for the better in the Omaha community. Link to OTOC web site
The Social Justice Coordinating Council normally meets at Church on the first Wednesday evening of the month from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The Action Groups normally meet on the third Sunday of the month after church from Noon to 2:00pm except December. Visitors are always welcome to participate!
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Technology The Technology Committee enables the mission of the church by acquiring or recommending, monitoring, maintaining and recycling computers and other technology related hardware and software. It also maintains and updates the church's web site. The committee may assist other committees and church staff with technology related issues such as the phone system, copy machine, and sound system.
Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Treasurer The Treasurer is appointed by the Board of Trustees annually. The Treasurer receives and disburses all church funds in accordance with the annual budget and as directed by the Board of Trustees. Accounting is open to inspection by any Member. The Treasurer presents financial reports to the Board of Trustees, to the Finance committee, and at the annual meeting. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Welcoming Congregation (part of the Social Justice Coordinating Council) (web page) The Welcoming Congregation Committee works to promote GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) involvement and membership in our church through outreach opportunities with the GLBT community in our city. We encourage the acceptance, affirmation, and understanding of GLBT issues through education and personal contact with members of the GLBT community as we are an advocate for the civil rights of this community. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ] Writing For Spiritual Growth (web page) We meet on the first Sunday every month, all year long, during the First Hour program. We have evolved and grown into a determined group of Second Unitarians. We printed our second annual issue of “Imagine,” and we invite more members and friends to our monthly meetings. Contact: [ Committee Mailbox ]