The Board of Trustees
As we close this year, our third year of developmental ministry, we invite you to see this annual report as a living story of who we are and who we are becoming together. It bears witness to our collective journey, our enduring commitment to justice, and the proud legacy built by those who came before us and those who are here now, helping write the chapter still unfolding.
We see the growing strength of MLUC, and we are deeply grateful for our collaborative leadership with Rev. John, the dedication of our staff, the commitment of our teams, and the spirit of our members, who all make this community a soft place to land and fertile ground for the ministries we are growing together. Love is truly rising up here.
We are energized by the increasing numbers of new friends joining us and our expanding intergenerational congregation. There is real energy in learning from one another as fresh perspectives meet the traditions and spiritual practices that sustain us.
Stewardship is a core focus of our work, the stewardship of relationships, spaces, mission, and finances. While the full scope of our church’s progress is covered in this annual report, we wish to highlight these central areas:
Right Relations. The creation of our new Covenant marks a defining milestone in how we aspire to be with one another. We are grateful to the Right Relations Covenant Team for their work with the congregation to develop it this year. With this Covenant and the new supporting policies, we now have a framework for healthy communication, accountability, and compassionate conflict management. A newly formed team will help keep this covenant alive in our daily interactions, connecting how we treat each other to how we live out our mission in the wider community.
Our Facilities. We also continued the investment in our physical home this year, updating our interior spaces to create a more versatile and welcoming environment. These changes provide a natural, physical reflection of our growing community, offering flexible areas that honor our history and what we inherit today while inviting new connections and collaborations to form. This adaptability also allows our facility to serve as a vibrant resource throughout the week, opening up new possibilities to host and engage with the wider community beyond Sunday mornings.
Justice and Care. Last year, the board identified housing as a central focus for our social justice work, providing a broader direction that includes and extends our long-standing partnership with Family Promise. Building on the dedicated work of the Housing Justice Team, the expanded Human Needs Ministry, and the formation of a Justice Team, we authorized the use of the Innovation Fund to capitalize on this energy by creating a dedicated social justice staff position. Together, these steps have breathed new life into our social justice ministry and strengthened our impact in the wider community. We are grateful for the leadership of these teams and look forward to working with our incoming Social Justice Director, Rev. Lisa Schilansky, to deepen this ministry, weaving justice more deeply into the fabric of our church and our relationships with our neighbors.
Finances. We have continued to work toward strengthening the church’s finances as a core part of our shared practice, taking steps toward clearer systems and thoughtful communications about money and generosity. Our next step is an outside reassessment of our annual stewardship program to improve our approach and inform future capital campaigns and legacy giving. At the same time, we are exploring additional mission-aligned uses of our facility as one way to diversify revenue and build long-term financial resilience.
Leadership. A key focus of our work ahead is more intentional leadership development, lifting up and nurturing a generation of new leaders. Our continued growth depends on new ideas and fresh energy, and especially the voices of younger people. This transition into a new season of leadership is not about stepping aside but about stepping forward together and learning from each other.
We look forward to working with you, the many stewards and volunteers, to keep our momentum going and continue this developmental work in the year ahead.
Thank you to all whose generosity and care carry this congregation forward. Developmental ministry asks a great deal of a community. Every step of progress is possible only because you continue to share your unique gifts to strengthen our ministry. As you read this report, we invite you to consider how you might take your place in the unfolding chapters of our shared story.
In faith and covenant,
The Board of Trustees