BOARD MESSAGE – February 2026

January 30, 2026/

Greetings, folks!

First of all, we truly want to extend our appreciation to all who made time on their Sunday afternoons for our congregational Forums and for the wonderful turnout for our congregational meeting.  From the 50+ people online to the 130+ in the sanctuary, we easily reached the quorum required for our voting.  This process is central to who we are, as we make decisions that affect all of us.

Engaging:  to occupy oneself – to lean into commitment.  This year one of the best ways for us to celebrate 75 years as a church community is to engage in our visioning process – where we want to go as we look ahead. 

This discussion began at a Forum in fall of 2025. In November, many of us met on a Saturday morning to take the conversations wider and deeper. At that meeting, people broke into impromptu focus groups, to articulate the commitments of this church and how we express these commitments in our name, mutual aid (transitional housing), caring for our campus while also caring for the climate, financial sustainability, and volunteering. This process truly laid the groundwork for bigger conversations to come.  This is a Board-lead activity and we look forward to having more of you engaging in this very important process.

We called the outcome of these small groups, “Provocative Areas” because, in each area, we are asked to consider the issue from many perspectives – an insider who has been here for a long time, new members and friends and those looking for us, as well as multi-generational and multicultural.  As you review each of those areas listed here, consider where you might want to engage in the conversation that will be continuing over the coming months.

  • Design a multi-purpose campus that supports spiritual grounding, fosters all generations, preserves and enriches our physical spaces and heritages.
  • Come into right relationship with people and all beings; create a safe, beautiful, welcoming and stable sanctuary by eliminating fossil fuels, developing humane and sustainable solutions and modeling for others.
  • Create a name that becomes an emblem that speaks to the beauty of our welcoming community and embodies our aspirations and plurality.
  • Possess an abundance of flexible resources to support our physical needs, and activities which enhance spiritual growth. Our donors give joyously knowing they are perpetuating UU values. We risk audacious bold asks while also being appreciative and sensitive to individual circumstances.
  • Help address the housing crisis in Contra Costa County that is grounded in empathy and generosity, in ways that discuss, acknowledge and mitigate important risks (based on facts not fear).
  • Engage and support our community and congregation through volunteerism as a way of improving health and well-being supporting our ministers and staff, deepening connections, transforming ourselves and our world.

To engage in this process, please listen for updates to come and also feel free to contact a member of the ministerial staff or a member of the Board to indicate your interest.

In Faith and Gratitude,

Linda Russell, President

2025 – 2026 MDUUC Board of Trustees

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