First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
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First Unitarian Universalist (415) 776-4580 1187 Franklin Street at Geary
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Annual Report from the Senior Minister July 2008 – June 2009 There is a “buzz” about our congregation within the national association of Unitarian Universalists. It’s about our activism in the anti-war movement and our response to Proposition 8, the friendliness of our congregation, our vibrant young adult ministry, and our effective engagement with the media. While we know there is so much more that makes us special, it is good to hear that our good news is spreading. I am encouraged by the way so many of us pitched in last spring and summer, and again in the fall, to achieve marriage equality. As I write we are literally days, perhaps even hours, away from hearing the state Supreme Court’s decision on Prop 8. I recall how, last summer, over fifty members mobilized almost overnight to have a Unitarian Universalist presence at City Hall when same-gender marriage became legal in California. Important to note: this was organized and realized by the laity in one of the best examples of shared ministry I have witness during my three years as your senior minister. Your celebration of my marriage to Stillman Stewart and your applause at hearing of my arrest for civil disobedience is something I will always remember and cherish. We are a destination church for those on the wrong side of unfair and immoral laws. As a result of our activism on the streets were we live, we are now regularly sought out by the media to offer the liberal religious perspective on the issues of the day. More and more newcomers say they first came to us because they heard about what we do rather than what we believe (always a dicey issue anyway). Many of our newest members this year were from the traditionally-hard-to-reach age bracket of eighteen to thirty-five. When I taught the course “Building Your Own Theology” this year I was blessed to find eager learners across the spectrum: folks in their twenties as well as their eighties, long, long time members, and others for whom this was their first encounter with our church and Unitarian Universalism. The neighborhood from which we now draw most of our members is San Francisco’s Mission District. We are a destination church for all who seek a welcoming community for the liberal spirit. One sign of a healthy congregation is its ability to inspire ministerial callings among its members. We currently have more aspirants for ministry than at any other time in my own ministry among Unitarian Universalists. As I continue to serve our church and denomination as a member of the UUA’s Ministerial fellowship Committee (the ministerial credentialing body of our movement), I know I’ll see familiar, local faces among the candidates for fellowship. There are other signs of good ministry at Franklin and Geary: we honored the Reverend Margot Campbell Gross with the title Minister Emerita, we hosted last fall’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service, welcomed Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and California state senator Mark Leno to our pulpit, along with the Unitarian Universalists Association’s own Meg A. Riley (Director of Advocacy and Witness—UUA) and Laurel Hallman (candidate for UUA president). We are a destination congregation for all who wish to go deeper in matters of faith and practice. For me, some of my best and deepest experiences in ministry occur in the shadows of the limelight. To meet with you about your spiritual, emotional and physical needs remains a privilege I do not take lightly. The visits I have with you in your homes or at the hospital is what grounds me in my service to the church. Each time I officiate at your rights of passage—child dedications, weddings, memorial services—I am humbled by the trust you have in me. Every time I fail, you remind me of our shared successes. In these ways and with your continued effort to live out the tenets of a liberal faith, I believe we are poised to grow and change as never before. Let this be my prayer for the coming year. The joy continues, Greg
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