Is it Your Turn at the Table?

Unitarian Universalist churches are fully self-supporting and independent in their governance. That makes us different from most other denominations, in which congregations are subject to binding decisions they did not make. At UU churches, the Board decides the direction of the church based on the church’s mission statement and strategic goals.

Wildflower operates with a seven-member Board which consists of four officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and three regular positions. A term lasts two years, and a person is permitted to serve two terms in a row but no more than that.

In 2022, an even-numbered year, we have four 2-year positions open.  (In odd-numbered years, we have only three.)

Being on Wildflower’s board has, at times, been very challenging. But I have built a good sense of what I am capable of, that I can be a leader, and I have developed a deeper connection to my own sense of community. It has personally been very fulfilling, and I hope that I have had a good impact.
Adam Hegemier

I was on the Board for four years, two as Treasurer and two as President, and I learned so much – leadership skills, teamwork and team building, finance and accounting practices, real estate in South Austin, and congregational polity in the UUA. Moreover, I made lasting friendships in the congregation. Board membership requires one’s time and energy, and the return on that investment was excellent for me!
Jan Austin

The work of the Board is important, but it’s not just work. Many past Board members have cited their Board service as the most meaningful experience they have had at the church. It’s an opportunity to learn more about how the church works, bond deeply with a small group of people, and enhance leadership skills. 

Because we govern ourselves, it is important that every voting member who is able takes a turn at serving on the Board. It takes all of us chipping in to make this church work, and that includes Board service. Is it your turn at the table? Please read the Board member job description and the frequently asked questions as you ponder that question.

What stands out for me from my Board service is how interesting it was and how much I learned. There are so many decisions that need to be made at a church. It was fascinating learning what it takes to make this church work, and it was humbling being a part of the process. And doing it all while working with amazing people, for the benefit of an incredible organization, was just icing on the cake! I really recommend that every member of the church serve on the Board at some point.

Cathy Cramer

If you feel ready to serve on the Board, please fill out the Declaration of Interest in Board Candidacy and email it and the associated documents to the nominating@wildflowerchurch.org. The deadline for submission is May 20, 2022.

The congregation will vote on those who submit the packet at the June congregational meeting, with new board members officially taking office July 1.

Being on the Wildflower Board allowed me to connect deeper, trial new leadership approaches, and reflect on and serve my community with a dedicated group of people. Priceless. Tough at times, but lovely, necessary, spiritual work.
Kristen Rubine

I have been a member of Wildflower since 2009. Over the years, I have volunteered with a number of committees and the OWL program for youth. Joining the Board in 2018 allowed me to see the bigger picture while better understanding the challenges – and growth opportunities – of being a leader. I am most grateful for how much I have strengthened and grown my relationships with other Wildflowers. My family and I feel more a part of this wonderful community than ever before.
Melita Noel

I joined the Board in July 2014, with Mike Ignatowski as President, after a disastrous two years under an interim minister, when I wasn’t alone in having my commitment to the congregation seriously tested. The Board’s job then was to revitalize the community and re-empower ourselves as a congregation, which we did. We introduced electronic communication among Board members, an innovation that enabled us to do what we needed to do, when we needed to do it, while maintaining full accountability. We also strengthened our partnership with Faith by negotiating the first multi-year space sharing agreement to provide a sense of stability that was important for attracting new members and a minister. I only made it through one year, but in that year we hauled ourselves out of quicksand and back onto ground where we could begin to flourish yet again.

Allen Fisher

Serving on the Board is part of my Servant Leadership.  This is not for me, not for my resume, not because I need to serve on one more Board.  It is because there is something that calls me to bring the best of our joint resources, knowledge and experiences to strengthen our Beloved Community. I don’t get joy from working through mounds of numbers on reports, but this is a ‘trust’ I have been given and will do it to the best of my ability, while serving the community and offering clarity and choice and steps to assure our fiscal responsibility.  I do get joy in working with so many other people who contribute in countless other ways, from making our spaces more interesting, colorful and comfortable to assuring our children are supported in the love, fun, learning and joy that surrounds them.  Seeing the scope and breadth of what is touched and by whom while we all work toward this Beloved Community…that gives me joy.
Paula Vaughan

Being a Board member during a particularly tumultuous time in Wildflower’s recent history has been one of the most difficult and major times of learning and personal change for me that life has yet to offer.  Without answers much of the time, I needed to address my need for perfection and control, to open my heart to others, to listen deeply, be accountable for the harm I caused, and learn how to love with humility and clear boundaries. I call that an amazing spiritual journey.
Dee Adams

Serving four years on the Wildflower Board was a huge spiritual growth experience for me, as well as a chance to work closely with some of the most committed, caring and intelligent people I’ve ever known. It helped me develop leadership skills, and above all, it deepened my understanding of our UU faith.
Steve Brooks

The things I liked most about being a member of the Board of Trustees is that it felt like I was deepening my loyalty and devotion to the church and deepening my friendships with my fellow board members.
Sheila Rae

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Larry Thompson