Pastoral Letter on Homelessness Encampment
To:
The Congregation
From:
The Leadership Staff
David
Anderson, Catherine Foote, Peter Ilgenfritz, and Jim White
December
5, 2008
Dear
Wonderful UCUCC Congregation,
Greetings
to you this Advent season, as we watch for the coming of Christ among us.
In this wonderful season we are reminded that we see the face of Jesus in
everyone around us, and we do the work of this faith community in so many ways,
remaining, through the grace of God, faithful to our calling. Because we
are no longer in “ordinary time” (speaking liturgically), we want to bring
you news of the things that are happening among us, and most especially of the
encampment we have invited to our parking lot “C” and of the ongoing work of
our search committee.
Our
Encampment Hosting Ministry
We
are embarking on an exciting ministry of outreach and hospitality, as the
homeless encampment that has been at University Christian Church has been
invited to move to our Lot C parking (on the corner of 45th and 15th.)
After a faithful discernment process, where all views were respected and
everyone demonstrated deep caring for this congregation and all of its
ministries, we have chosen to move forward with this gospel work. Now we
move forward to implementation. Move-in day was Friday Dec. 5.
We’re
part of a community that has embraced this and we’re in it together – thanks
be to God! And this congregation is willing and committed to making this
work, as well as to help us also stay focused on our regular work while this
special program is underway. While there will be questions, issues and
adjustments, we do think we’ll be fine, and that in March we will be glad for
having had this opportunity.
How
to Get Involved
A
Hosting Ministry Team of congregation members and friends is being formed to
provide support and help this ministry. This team will be led by David
McCracken and will work in all ways as much as possible with the encampment, the
congregation, church neighbors, partners and friends, the city, and others to
help the congregation carry out its vote.
This
committee will address the wide variety of opportunities and issues related to
our hosting ministry, including providing hospitality to the encampment, staying
in contact with our neighbors and with one another, and handling the day-to-day
stuff that will come up. We would love to have you join the team in any
way that feels faithful to you. More information about the Hosting Support
Team and its functions will be available on Sunday. In the meantime, you
can sign up for regular updates and opportunities by emailing HostingMinistry@universityucc.org.
If you have questions, contact David McCracken 206-523-9765 or davidmcc@u.washington.edu.
Financial support for the church can be noted as “Lot C Hospitality.”
Here
are some details of the ministry that have already been worked out:
Parking
for Worship and Other Sunday Activities
Sunday
morning
We
are committed to making sure that every one coming for 9 am
education and 10 am worship will be able to find parking. We are trying to
reserve Lot A on 16th Ave for those with small children or limited
mobility, so feel free to park there if you have a such a need. There will
also be greeters and valets for those that have difficulty walking. In
addition, there will be a van from the UW central parking garage on 15th
& 42nd up to the church. University Presbyterian Church is also
inviting us to use their shuttle bus which comes from that lot and drops folks
off in front of their sanctuary. From there is it a short walk to our
building. A list of other options is posted at http://www.universityucc.org/events/Homeless%20Encampment/Parking.pdf.
We
will help people park, find options, welcome you. So please do come to
worship! We all need to rejoice in God’s presence and call as we gather
to worship the One who has called this church to life 118 years ago and is with
us still!
Weekday
Parking
University
Christian Church has offered us the use of their parking lot for our weekday
events. That lot is on the northeast corner of 15th and 42nd,
and if you use that lot please check in with their office. Parking is also
still available in Lo A, and at times we can even find parking on the street.
If you have any questions about weekday parking, please contact Ann Lev or the
Hosting Support Team.
Our
staff will also be adjusting its parking habits. The dentists across the
alley are significantly impacted by the loss of Lot C for their staff parking.
It is appropriate and neighborly of us to offer to their staff our staff
parking. Our leadership staff will park in the lot at University
Christian. Some other staff will have an assigned spot in the Sortun Court
parking garage. University Presbyterian Church has offered us two spots of their
alley parking, which will be assigned to Office Coordinator JoAnn Dunn and the
office volunteer. (Thank you, University Presbyterian Church). The
rest of the staff will be using Lot A, and signing in.
Permit
We
have applied for a permit, the City of Seattle has accepted our application, and
we have paid the required application fees. Because the City of Seattle
has not yet issued the necessary permits, it is likely we will get a Notice of
Violation, with a threat of fines. We were aware of this possibility when
we took our vote so such action is not a surprise. However the odds that
the church would actually have to pay those fines are small, though not
nonexistent.
Insurance
There
has been a question about insurance coverage, since we have not yet received a
permit from the City of Seattle (though the City has accepted our permit
application and we have paid the application fees). We have been reassured
with the following from the insurance broker, Charles W. Clausing, Vice
President of Willis of Ohio, Inc:
If
a claim were to be lodged against the church or its trustees, e.g., a local
business suffered loss of revenue due the tent encampment, would Lexington view
the church’s not having the permit as a “ . . . willful violation of any
statute or regulation . . .” ? From a purely technical interpretation of
the policy language, it is conceivable coverage would be denied. I believe
that was the essence of Sharon’s good counsel to you. However, would the
insurer ever take such a stance? For any number or reasons, I think the
answer is an emphatic “No”.
I
appreciate board members concerns that there is a possibility, albeit a remote
one, that your D&O policy would not respond. Should exington ever
attempt such a draconian claim stance, that would never be the final answer.
Willis, as an advocate for the UCCIB program, along with UCCIB management, would
exert their combined, considerable influences to convince the carrier otherwise.
The
full text of this memo is available from the Hosting Ministry Team.
In
addition, the church has committed to backing the actions of staff and board
members with the following in Article X the church bylaws.
8. Insurance and Bonding. The church council shall protect
the church against the failure of church officers, including the treasurer, and
employees to faithfully perform their duties through appropriate insurance
and/or bonding.
9. Indemnification. The church council shall protect,
indemnify and defend, through appropriate insurance or otherwise, church
ministers, leadership and support staff, volunteers, and members of church
council and church boards and committees from claims of any kind brought against
any such individuals related to their church-related activities performed in
good faith and within the scope of their employment or council, board or
committee responsibilities, as applicable.
Ongoing
Communication
Regular
updates on how our ministry is moving forward and how folks can get involved
will be available at our website and on Sunday mornings, in our bulletin and in Church
and Home. There are also links to a list of frequently asked
questions, and parking information from the church home page: www.universityucc.org.
And we will offer some reflections on our blog, which is also linked from the
church home page.
Our
Other Ministries
As
we move forward in our hosting ministry we are also aware that there is other
ongoing work in which we are engaged. We are deeply grateful for ongoing
work in social action, our broader work with homelessness including the new
HomeStep families we are welcoming into housing this month, and the support we
offer for other crucial work with those on the margins (the University Churches
Emergency Fund is especially in need of our support in these tough economic
times). And of course we continue with ongoing education of and care for our
children and youth, parish care for one another, thoughtful and prayerful
stewardship that supports our many programs, and a faithful ministry of worship.
Please know that this congregation intends to move all of our work forward
faithfully. So watch your Church and
Home and the website for ongoing information and opportunities.
Search
Committee News
Most
especially as well, we are in the midst of a search process as a congregation,
and we have this message from the Search Committee:
A
joyful season's greetings to members and friends of University Congregational
United Church of Christ, from the 14 of us on your Pastoral Search Committee!
We
have a request of utmost importance for you: If you (and/or all members of your
household) haven't already done so, please take a few minutes and complete the
pastoral-search survey, at http://tinyurl.com/69pc8b
. We need results from adults and kids. The survey will help us tell pastoral
candidates about our church and the qualities we're looking for. It'll also help
us in the selection process.
If
you prefer to complete surveys on paper, you can pick up one in the Narthex on
Sunday before or after church.
But
do it soon, as we're already compiling the data, and we want to make sure your
views are considered along with everyone else's.
Thanks,
and most holy of blessings to you all during this most holy of seasons!
Your
(exuberant and busy!) committee.
P.S.
For greater details, see http://tinyurl.com/65s2we
. Read upcoming .Church and Home. articles and watch the church Web site
for updates in the selection process, and feel free to e-mail us anytime:
pastorsearch@ucucc.org.
A
Blessing
God
be with us and remind us of your presence
as
we move forward together in this ministry of hospitality.
God
come to us and walk with us.
God
give us open hearts and grateful hearts.
God
bless those we welcome in your name.
And
God remind us that you are with us, you of providence and grace,
in
a spirit of memory, thanksgiving and hope,
in
all that you have called us to do in faithfulness to our covenant
with
you and with one another.
Amen
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