Foothills’ Board of Trustees is calling a special congregational meeting in the Sanctuary at 12:45 pm on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, with the sole agenda item of voting on the the Board of Trustees’ recommendation to call Rev. Sean Neil-Barron into covenant with the congregation as our associate minister. (Note the official agenda is below.)
Per our church bylaws, in order to vote, you must be on the membership rolls at least 30 days in advance of the meeting (by Jan. 11, 2019.) We need at least 10 percent of the membership in attendance to hold the vote, and obviously, we want many more than that to make such an important decision for the future of our beloved community. Please be sure to arrive a few minutes early so that we can have an accurate count. Unitarian Universalist churches are congregationally led – each church is self-governing, relying on democratic principles to make the decisions that affect and guide our congregation. The calling of a minister into settled ministry is one of the most important decisions a congregation can make.
We, the Foothills Board of Trustees, are calling for this vote in response to a months-long process of congregational discernment about Sean’s ministry, how it meshes with our collective hopes and dreams for Foothills, and whether we are ready to enter into a deeper and more permanent relationship with him and his ministry.
Sean was hired as an assistant minister in the fall of 2016, after we formed a search committee and conducted a nationwide search that drew 26 applicants. He has been our assistant minister, a hired position reporting to our senior minister, Rev. Gretchen Haley, for nearly 2 ½ years now. The FAQ we compiled at the start of this discernment process (attached) answers a number of questions about this process and why we feel it is time to make this decision.
Please join us on Sunday, Feb. 10, for this important moment in the life of your congregation.
Sue Sullivan
Board Secretary
Official Agenda
- Establish a quorum
- Welcome and chalice lighting
- Approval of standing rules
- Report from the Readiness to Call Task Force (established by the Board of Trustees at the recommendation of the Committee on Shared Ministry) – with the following motion: Do we, the members of the Foothills Unitarian Church, vote to call the Rev. Sean Neil-Barron as our associate minister?
- Close
Katie believes the best things in life are the result of collaboration and diverse perspectives coming together to produce something greater than any individual could. She is passionate about systems, efficiency and collaboration for better community outcomes. She loves dreaming up the big picture and drafting the roadmap to make it happen. She has a background in operations, fundraising, communications and program development, as well as over a decade of nonprofit management experience in Northern Colorado.
Her greatest joy in life comes from her family. Her husband, Steven, a principal at Wellington Middle School, and daughters Emmaline and Esmae are the lights of her life. Together they love mountains, music and all kinds of food. She is passionate about women supporting other women in all stages of life and especially through the critical moments that make or break us. She believes that one of the most important things in life is to be kind.
Being outdoors makes her soul come alive. It always roots her in gratitude and is one of the reasons she loves living in Fort Collins.