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Committee Descriptions |
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Building Committee Chair: Monte Hager
The Building Committee serves as the caretakers of the church facility, including the structure, mechanical and electrical systems, and furnishings. (Grounds are covered separately by the Grounds Committee.) The Committee also oversees the comfort of interior spaces, while trying to achieve an efficient use of resources. If needed, they may also manage work by outside contractors, for particular projects.
The Building Committee sponsors work day events, as needed, where volunteers are asked to assist for various projects. Work days are announced on the website, in our newsletter, and through other church communications.
The Building Committee asks all church members and friends to please communicate any noticed problems or issues ASAP. To communicate problems or areas of improvement, please contact Monte Hager. |
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Care Committee Chair: Suzanne Horton
Our purpose is to assure that all Heritage members, friends, staff, and children feel cared for and supported by our church. We listen to the joys and sorrows expressed each Sunday during “Candles of Community” or in conversation, and together with pastoral care provided by the ministers, respond appropriately. This may include sending cards or flowers, publishing news in the “Among Us” e-mail announcements, and/or supportive phone calls or e-mails to individuals to determine if or how we may assist them. We then contact and organize our church volunteers to provide resources such as meals, child care, transportation, visits, shopping, or contact with another member who has experienced a similar illness or difficult life event. We meet quarterly and keep in touch via e-mail or phone. |
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Committee on Ministry Chair: Cindy Berryman-Fink
The Committee on Ministry serves to support and aid the ministers’ success in the congregation. It serves a liaison role between the ministers and congregation, encourages dialogue between the congregation and ministers, solicits congregational feedback on ministerial issues, educates the congregation about the role of the ministers and about effective communication within a congregation, and ensures congregants appropriate access to the ministers. The Committee on Ministry is composed of a member appointed by the Board of Trustees, a member elected by the congregation and a member appointed by each of the ministers. The Committee on Ministry meets once a month. |
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Communications Committee Co-Chairs: Peg Fay Feder & Karen Hager
The Communications Committee is responsible for church communications, including the church website, newsletter, and e-mail announcement lists. Working with individuals and committees, the committee ensures that information presented is relevant and timely. The committee also interfaces with the Board on policy concerning communications issues. |
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Finance Committee Co-Chairs: Peg Fay Feder & Keith Armstrong
The Finance Committee is charged with maintaining and promoting the financial well-being of Heritage Church, in keeping with our community’s mission and principles. The Finance Committee consists of 3 to 7 members. Membership is open to all Members. People who join the committee are asked to serve for a minimum of two years. |
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Grounds Committee Chair: Bob Booth
The Grounds Committee is responsible for our property outside of the building. Committee members are notified by church members and friends when something is broken or requires attention, and they take on the task of fixing the problem or finding outside resources. The Grounds Committee also assists the Building Committee on making repairs to the interior of the church.
The Committee has designated every Tuesday as a work day at the church. When needed, they recruit help and materials for specific projects.
The Grounds Committee asks all church members and friends to please communicate any noticed problems or issues ASAP. To communicate problems or areas of improvement, please contact Bob Booth. |
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Membership Committee Chair: Jim Crocker-Lakness
The Membership Committee exists to sustain and nurture existing members of HUUC, welcome and maintain new members, and educate members about their opportunities and responsibilities. Our responsibilities are: · Greet newcomers each Sunday, give them UU information (we have “Welcome to HUUC” packets) · Provide hospitality during social hour following service (beverages, snacks, and conversation, paying special attention to newcomers) · Call newcomers during the week following their first visit · Hold Get Acquainted Dinners quarterly for newcomers and “old-timers” · Keep updated list of current membership and contact information · Hold new member ceremonies · Contact inactive members to give them opportunity to voice concerns · Discern when a member no longer qualifies for membership; accept letters of resignation; provide this information to the Board · Church directory · Maintain photo wall in foyer · Maintain name tags · Anniversary recognition (10, 20, 30 year membership anniversaries) · Organize Circle Suppers
The Membership Committee meets on the fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Hall.
Our current needs are: members to sit on committee and donations for hospitality hour. |
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Music Committee Chair: Reid Hester
The Music Committee's role is to ensure a meaningful music program is in place at Heritage. We strive to foster and encourage the broad range of musical expressions and approaches favored by the HUUC membership. The Committee oversees the music budget, which includes salary recommendations for music staff and purchasing and providing for the maintenance of instruments and music for musical groups at HUUC. The Committee also offers leadership in the creation and implementation of fund-raising programs that take advantage of the many talents (musical and otherwise) present within our church community. We meet on the first Sunday of every month during the fall and spring in the church sanctuary. |
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Adult Program Council Chair: David Sellers
The Adult Program Council offers a variety of learning experiences for adults, focusing on topics of spiritual growth and theology. Some are based on curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association; others come from our members. A cornerstone of the APC program is the Sunday Forum (meeting 9 am - 10:15 each Sunday before the worship service) with alternate programs focusing on spiritual issues and topical/political/current events. APC also plans the monthly Wonderful Wednesday potluck dinners, held on the first Wednesday of each month, with a program after the potluck. All are welcome to attend the programs or to offer a program for the benefit of the community. Learn more about Adult Programs in the Education section of this website. |
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Children’s Religious Education Committee Chair: Tamilyn Thompson
The mission of the Religious Education Committee is to provide a strong Unitarian Universalist base and to nurture and support the diverse religious journeys of our children and youth. Parents are the primary religious educators for their children. The RE Program offers support and nurture to parents in this role. The scope of the committee involves children from preschool through the eighth grade.
The Children's Religious Education program offers age-appropriate children’s programming every Sunday that Church is in session. The program also offers enrichment programs, rituals, and rites of passage.
The Children’s Religious Education Committee is also responsible for overseeing the Nursery, which cares for babies and toddlers, ages 0-3 years old.
Religious Education Committee members generally serve a three-year term. They are not responsible for teaching (unless they also sign up to be teachers), but instead provide support for the many activities of the program. The committee meets once a month, usually on the first Sunday of the month, after church. |
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Social Action Committee Chair: Chris Sofge
The mission of the Heritage Social Action Committee is to support our shared UU principles through action and service within our congregation, the local community and the broader world. We translate this mission into action and express our shared spirituality through community projects that strive to address real needs in our community and engage the hearts and minds of our members and friends. Our community projects have focused in three areas: 1. The Green Team: an environmental action subcommittee working to raise awareness of environmental issues and move our congregation towards certification as a Green Sanctuary through Earth Ministry. 2. From Poverty to Justice: projects focused on alleviating the burdens of homelessness and poverty within our larger community. We are a support congregation for the Interfaith Hospitality Network; we provide volunteers for the annual Prepare Affair, sponsored by People Working Cooperatively; and volunteers for Crayons 2 Computers, the Cincinnati free store for teachers from schools with a high proportion of low income students. We also hold workshops and seminars to increase awareness of issues. 3. Under Our Rainbow Flag: Continuing our commitment as a Welcoming Congregation, projects focus on addressing concerns and reaching out to the larger GLBTIQ community. These include our newly established Interweave chapter, participation in Cincinnati Pride Fest and the annual Walk to STOP AIDS.
We strive to provide opportunities for members and friends of all ages, interests and abilities who wish to express their spirituality through social action. We warmly welcome all to join, participate in or learn more about the Social Action Committee. For more information, please contact Chris Sofge. |
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Worship Committee Chair: Reese Johnson
The Worship Committee is charged with providing a quality worship experiences for the members and friends of Heritage UU Church. To this end, the Committee oversees the preparation for and execution of services not provided for by Rev. Gupton. These services are either lay-led, by members or friends of Heritage, or led by other ordained clergy. When Rev. Gupton is preaching, the Worship Committee assists by providing a Worship Associate. The Worship Associate helps to prepare the sanctuary for the service and then participates in a leadership role during portions of the service. Other responsibilities of the Worship Committee include coordinating and training ushers.
The Committee is composed of up to seven active members of Heritage, plus the minister (ex-officio). We meet the first Monday of every month at the church from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m.
Current needs: We are always looking for members and friends interested in participating in the conduct of a service. Typical topics are sharing a personal spiritual journey or a call to action. And, of course, we are always open to feedback on the services. |
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Green Sanctuary Committee Chair: Kathy Dunsmore
The mission of the Green Sanctuary Committee (aka The Green Team) is to achieve and maintain Green Sanctuary certification under the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. We strive to bring activities and policies into alignment with the UU Seventh Principle -”Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
The Green Sanctuary program includes goals for the congregation in four focus areas: worship and celebration, religious education, environmental justice, and sustainable living. The Green Sanctuary program strives to: · Build awareness of societal environmental issues among members; · Generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes; · Motivate members to community action on environmental issues; · Build connections between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness; and · Build awareness of and rectify environmental injustices. |