Moving Forward, Together: The Year We Chose Change
Reflections from the 2014–2015 Annual Report
By Ed Busch, Church Archivist
This week I’m continuing my look at the importance of the church annual report. The 2014-2015 church year was a momentous time in our congregation’s history. It was a pivotal year—and the annual report captures it well. It was a year of big decisions, bold action, and deep reflection as the congregation took concrete steps toward a more accessible and sustainable future for its 320 members. Both the Board of Trustees led by Kathy Lovell and our minister Rev. Kathryn Bert's reports detail the many challenges—and accomplishments—of a transformative year.
From the Board of Trustees: Leading Through Transition
Board President Kathy Lovell opened her report with a strong reminder of the Board’s focus: “Our adaptive challenge,” she wrote, was “to shift attitudes about how we related to conflict and stewardship in order to help us fulfill our purpose while finding a solution to the inadequacies (including inaccessibility) of our current building.”
The 2014–2015 year was dominated by the congregation’s pursuit—and eventual purchase—of a new building at 5509 S. Pennsylvania Ave. After months of discernment, congregational site visits, and votes, 89% of voting members approved the purchase at a November 2014 meeting. On February 20, 2015, the property officially became UUCGL’s new home.
Vote at Grove St. building to purchase So. Penn building, January, 2015.
Lovell’s report describes the collaborative visioning and planning process that followed, including “Dream Extravaganza” workshops and the formation of Dream Focus Groups: “More than 30 members participated,” she noted, “helping shape how the new space would reflect our values and serve our programs.”
The Board also made a significant environmental commitment: while deciding not to pursue formal LEED certification, they resolved to “renovate... in a sustainable, energy-efficient, and fiscally responsible manner.”
Other key efforts included preparing the Grove Street property in East Lansing for sale, managing church finances, and proposing bylaw revisions to transfer long-term strategic planning responsibilities to the Board itself.
Lovell expressed deep gratitude to all who participated, concluding with a recognition of the ongoing effort: “The Board is continuing to deal with issues related to construction loan applications, remodeling... and sale of the 855 Grove property.”
From the Senior Minister: A Year of Courage and Change
Rev. Kathryn Bert and Stuart Campbell 2015 Photo Directory.
Rev. Kathryn Bert opened her annual report with joy and a bit of disbelief: “You bought a(n accessible) building! Finally.” She praised the Board’s leadership, noting they “provided transparent leadership and made every effort to communicate (constantly) with members... every step of the way.”
Yet Rev. Bert also reminded us that real change goes deeper than property. Even with the new building secured, she emphasized the enduring need to address cultural challenges: “Our adaptive challenge is far from over... the technical answer to our physical space problems does not lessen our need to work on shifting attitudes about how we relate to conflict, stewardship and our purpose.”
Rev. Bert also described the staff transitions of the year, welcoming new Music Director LB Brown and pianist Lia Wang while bidding farewell to Rev. Kevin Tarsa and others. She thanked long-term staff —“the stability... that makes all these transitions successful”— including Teresa Putnam, Corie Jason, Jeannie Miernik, and Kathy McWilliams.
Our office staff August 2014 -BR: Zachery Lindquist, Teresa Putnam, Jeannie Miernik, Corie Jason, Nic Cable. FR: Kathy McWilliams, LB Brown, Rev. Kathryn Bert.
On worship, she acknowledged missed opportunities for collaboration in the fall but highlighted the continuing strength of lay-led services and the work of the Celebrations Committee, led by Mark McWilliams.
Other notable developments included:
Welcoming 25 new members
Honoring six members who died, with three memorials held
Expressing hope for future weddings pending upcoming Supreme Court rulings
Deep appreciation for Covenant Group leaders and the Committee on Ministry
Rev. Bert ended with gratitude for all those who helped the church thrive during such a demanding and hopeful year.
Committee Highlights: Groundwork for Growth
The 2014–2015 reports also highlight the quiet, essential work of UUCGL’s many committees and here are a few highlights standout:
Celebrations Committee: Provided consistent, meaningful worship services during a year of transition, with special thanks to Chair Mark McWilliams.
Committee on Ministry: Focused on understanding and supporting the church’s adaptive challenge, asking deep questions about leadership, conflict, and cultural change.
Covenant Groups: Continued to grow, providing spiritual connection and small group ministry to many members.
Membership Committee: Warmly welcomed 25 new members and created a more personalized newcomer process, emphasizing relationships over formal class requirements. They also updated brochures, improved hospitality, and worked to “increase comfort and inclusiveness” for all guests.
Worship Associates: Though this group was less active during the year, Rev. Bert expressed intent to rebuild the team in the year ahead.
Children’s Religious Education (RE): Navigated staff turnover while continuing to offer programming for children and youth, with thanks to support from the new RE Assistant and a committed group of volunteers.
Adult RE: Provided a rich variety of programs designed to support spiritual growth, ethical reflection, and community building. This year 15 classes were held with 147 participants. Highlights included:
“Faith Like a River” Series: This Unitarian Universalist history curriculum traced the movement’s evolving identity through powerful stories of courage, change, and commitment.
“What Moves Us”: A program exploring the theological and spiritual grounding of influential UU figures, helping participants engage with personal belief and identity.
Covenant Groups: Though technically separate, these small groups were closely aligned with Adult RE’s goals, offering intimate settings for reflection and connection.
Short-Term Offerings: The committee also hosted one-time or short-term events, such as book discussions and topical workshops, to encourage broader participation.
Finance and Stewardship: Oversaw both day-to-day and long-term financial health, ensuring stability during the building transition.
These committees ensured that while the church’s physical space was in flux, its spiritual foundation remained strong.
Pledge Drive 2014 for the 2015 Budget
A talented and motivated Pledge Drive Committee, led by Susan Rothfuss, launched an ambitious fall campaign aiming to increase pledges to $410,000. They exceeded that goal, raising $416,063 from 236 pledging households, even as they learned midway that a Capital Campaign would also run that fall.
With the campaign theme:
What if …
We are the Ones?
It’s In Our Hands?
Our Actions Change the World?
Love Binds Us?
they hosted four themed events—Worship, Faith Development, Social Action/Outreach, and Beloved Community—to engage the congregation in meaningful reflection and conversation. Guided conversations, a Halloween intergenerational dinner, and testimonial moments during worship all served to connect members emotionally and spiritually to the campaign.
As the report notes:
“Each Sunday in October during worship a UU member shared his or her story about Living Our Covenant… Each Weekly Update had a message about the Pledge Drive.”
Looking Back, Looking Forward
The 2014-2014 year was about more than bricks and budgets. It was about courage, commitment, and community. It was about members showing up—sharing resources, welcoming change, and doing the deep work of transformation.
This annual report reminds us how vital it is to preserve and reflect on our shared history. If you have memories, documents, or reflections from that time—or thoughts about how it helped shape our church today—I’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at uucgl.archives@gmail.com.
As Rev. Bert wrote in her report:
“May we continue to give this congregation our hearts, minds, gifts, and time. You are worth it.”
[With editing support from ChatGPT AI.]
Sources:
Annual Report, 2014-2015
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About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.
I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and IT.
My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.
I look forward to connecting with you through these blog posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.