November 2025 Board Meeting Highlights

Call to Order and Spiritual Grounding

The November 11 meeting of the UUSM Board of Directors was called to order at 7:00 pm, via Zoom, by President Vilma Ortiz. Other attendees included Vice President Karl Lisovsky, Treasurer Sue Bickford, Secretary Linda Van Ligten, Past President Eileen McCormack, and Board Members at Large Larry Weiner, Cassie Winters, Rebecca Avery, Jef Travis, Jila Tayefehnowrooz, and Anne Bridgins. Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae also attended.

Larry lit the Chalice and read the UU Value of Justice: “We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.”

He also provided the opening reading, A Prayer for this Gathering, by Liala Ibrahim:

Dear God, Spirit of Connection and Creation
Bless this community, gathered in hope and love for our world for one another and for ourselves.
We gather here longing to create a more connected and more just world.
Help us to speak our truth with respect.
Help us to listen with love.
Help us to be patient.
Help us to be forgiving.
Help us to know that here as in all human endeavors mistakes are inevitable and perfection is impossible.
and, oh yes, remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Amen

Attendees provided a personal check-in and answered questions related to our monthly worship theme, “Nurturing Gratitude.”

In her opening remarks, Vilma reminded attendees to speak in turns, wait for others to speak before speaking again, avoid crosstalk, and be mindful of the queue for speaking. She also announced that a Board Retreat will take place on November 15, from 11 am to 4 pm, in Forbes Hall, and lunch will be provided.

Ministerial Search and Transition

It was announced that Ministerial Search representatives will have a Search Conversation with the Board on November 18. A member from the Stewardship Committee will also discuss a plan for the new year, and ministerial transition updates will continue at each meeting moving forward.

Cassie also presented the following report from the Ministerial Search Committee:

“The Ministerial Search Committee has met in person and online to move forward with completing the congregational profile, releasing the congregational survey, and running small group meetings to share hopes for our settled minister search. This work is ongoing. 107 surveys have been completed so far, and zoom and in-person small group sessions to share thoughts are ongoing. We are reaching out to individuals to invite participation in our survey and small group opportunities, in addition to Sunday service announcements and electronic communication channels. We are in communication with the UUA Transitions Team about next steps to publish our congregational profile.”

Finance Review and Treasurer’s Report

Sue reported that when there’s a change in Administrator, a Finance Review needs to be done by the Finance Committee. She moved that Alice Koga, Steve Chinn and Melinda Ewen be appointed to the Finance Review Task Force for 2025-26. Larry seconded the motion and, after some discussion, it passed by a vote of 8 votes in favor and 2 abstentions. 

In her Treasurer’s Report, Sue noted that both our year-to-date pledge income and pledge income this month are higher than originally budgeted: $159,262 in actual receipts vs. the $115,333 originally budgeted.

Sue said, however, that our year-to-date fundraising is lower overall than what was budgeted for this time of the year ($10,500 budgeted vs. $1,619 actual), though we do still have the craft fair coming up later this month. Also, she said, our year-to-date rental income ($29,697) is lower than projected ($32,000), and this month’s rental income is lower, too, than the monthly projection.

Overall, Sue reported that our year-to-date income of $212,196 is 90.9% of what was projected, with year-to-date expenses of $194,389 at 93.5% of our projection. As a result, she said, we expect to end the year with a deficit of approximately $40K. (More in-depth numbers are available on the October 2025 Statement of Income and Expense.)

Executive Session, Minutes, and Membership

After the board moved into Executive Session for 48 minutes, the minutes from the October meeting were unanimously approved as presented, along with the consent agenda and standing reports.

Anne reported that our current membership is 267, and new member James Buck was read into the roll. Anne said there will be a New Member Ceremony on Sunday, November 16, where four new members will be welcomed.

Minister’s Report

In the introduction to his monthly report to the Board, Jeremiah addressed this month’s Soul Matter’s theme of gratitude:

“‘Bismillah’ is the traditional Islamic invocation I offer before every meal,” he said. “While my prayer and meditation practices may be stronger in some periods more so than others, this simple gesture of thanksgiving has remained consistent meal after meal, day after day, and year after year. Literally, it means ‘In the Name of the Divine One,’ and for me it is a profoundly important mindfulness and gratitude practice. It reminds me to approach this mundane endeavor which happens throughout the day as an opportunity to pause and live deeply, fully aware and present to the gifts I have received. It makes me think of the Earth, what I’ve chosen to put on my plate and what I’ve chosen not to put on my plate, and the fact that I have the resources to make such choices and do not have to worry about having enough to eat or clean water to drink.

“For the few moments that I pause, I also then think of the many ordinary blessings that enfold my life–from the rays of the sunlight coming through the windows, to the beautiful verdant trees outside, to the solidity of the table before me, and another breath in my body. I feel truly ‘In the Name,’ encompassed by the loving care of the infinite spirit in so many ordinary ways it is almost inconceivable. For a moment, I enter into the mystery. I offer this practice of mindful eating as one of the many ways I nurture gratitude in my life in regular intervals so that it is as much a way of life as it is a spiritual practice.”

He also invited people to think about they ways they nurture gratitude in their own lives, and what practices people “might you ‘try on’ to discover if they are meaningful and helpful to your life?”

Jeremiah further reported that:

• We’ve gathered for six Worship services as a community since the last board meeting. The Cultivating Compassion service was offered by Rev. Kikanza when Jeremiah was out sick and unable to to lead the service (his originally-planned sermon was rescheduled for later in November, and “will continue the B4 anti-bias work for our ministerial search”). The following week, Kikanza also led the Waiting for Your Miracle service, which explored miracles and self-determination. And then Jeremiah offered Samhain: The Sabbat of the Witches, in collaboration with our community Witches and Pagans, to “celebrate the holiday, learn more about the Reclaiming Tradition, and speak to structural oppressions and how they are addressed in some magical traditions.” Our annual multigenerational Dia de los Muertos service was offered by Jessica Ten-Have Place, with the leadership of Vilma and Rebecca, and it included what Jeremiah guessed was our largest Ofrenda in many years, with a powerful sermon by Jessica. Next, Jeremiah officiated at the annual Garden of Eternity service, which honors members and friends of the community who have died and those memorialized in our garden. And finally, Jeremiah offered our second annual Heritage Sunday service, which celebrated the many generations of members and friends in our community and included a sermon by Karl Lisovsky on his spiritual odyssey as a UU.

• Our Worship Associates Team met this month to build community, review our service plans, take care of Worship Associate scheduling, and attend to other matters in the worship life of the congregation. The Team continues to be strong, with excellent members who bring a variety of gifts to our Sunday mornings.

• We continue to utilize the Soul Matters theme-based ministry in worship services, publications, group, and committee meetings of the congregation. The intent of this model is to provide for spiritual deepening, community building through common reflection, and exploration of themes of spiritual significance. Jeremiah said his contributions to these efforts include a monthly publication and integration of the themes with worship service planning.

• The Pastoral Care Team and Pastoral Executive Team met this month, though Jeremiah was unable to attend because he was summoned to attend to an urgent pastoral matter. He thanked Denise and Linda for their leadership and caregiving, and said that in addition to our community building and spiritual deepening practices, the group reviewed pastoral care needs in the community, and received updates from our Pastoral Associates.

• Jeremiah continues to offer Pastoral Meetings and Spiritual Counseling to members of the community as requested, which he said helps strengthen trust and healthy relations in our communal practice. He also said the pastoral need remains high, and his work has included multiple hospital visits and pastoral calls in the last month.

• Jeremiah has resumed holding weekly, biweekly, and/or monthly Ministry, Administrative, and Governance Meetings with our senior staff members, president, executive committee, worship chair, consulting minister, pastoral co-chairs, and/or other congregational leaders as needed or requested.

• In a Choral Section Leader Transition this month, we onboarded and then welcomed our newest choral section leader, Daniel Voigt on Sunday, November 9.

• Jeremiah has been helping to plan the annual Board Retreat, and is currently developing multiple elements of the event. He said he hopes everyone can attend and and reminded people to bring an item that shares something special about themselves.

• As part of our Office Restructuring, Jeremiah reported that our ad for a new office support position has been posted for a few weeks, but we haven’t had any serious inquiries we wanted to consider. He said we’ve also made some small adjustments to compensation and benefits as part of the broader restructuring, which — to help save money moving forward — replaces two former staff positions with one, and thus requires our congregational administrator to take on additional responsibilities.

• Jeremiah said he is happy to report that the Leadership Development and Nominating Committee is continuing to meet (even though we’re now out of the appointments and elections cycle) to begin working on the leadership development that became part of their charge with the adoption of our new bylaws. 

• The Intersectional Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression Commission (IARAO) is continuing its work, though there is nothing new to report this month.

• The Board Policies Review Team also continues its standing work. Jeremiah said he’s met with team leaders and the board, they agreed to post the policies in the Members section of the UUSM website (with the exception of some more sensitive policies that require more work and careful discernment).

• Jeremiah said he is impressed with the work of the Ministerial Search Team and the speed with which it’s making progress with a highly complex and involved process. In addition to the B4 workshop, service, and survey, he said, team members are also conducting the broader ministerial search survey, meeting with teams of the congregation, holding conversations on Sundays, tabling on Sundays, and regularly providing communications and updates to the congregation.

• Jeremiah met with the Communications Team in the past month, and attendees worked through a ambitious agenda with the dedicated leadership of our beloved Interim Communications Chair, Pam Teplitz.

•  Jeremiah said that last year’s Samhain service generated congregational interest for establishing or re-establishing a UUSM chapter of the Covenant of the Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS), which Jessica has said may also be a good way to attract new members and/or wider community engagement.

• The UU Animal Ministry (UUAM) is implementing the Study/Action issue the Board approved in June. Jeremiah praised the vegan apple strudel that Amy Lacombe provided recently…and said he will be offering a D4$ UUAM meal in a few weeks.

• Jeremiah has been planning a Trans 101 Workshop with the Santa Monica Area Interfaith Council (the event will take place on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 pm at Mt. Olive Lutheran church), and has been providing UU resources to the interfaith community on Trans issues. He said he also continues to meet monthly with the Council and its Leadership Team to build bridges in the large community, and plan interfaith events and initiatives.

• Finally, Jeremiah also continues to meet monthly with the UCLA Medical Center Ethics Committee to discern policy and complex clinical cases. He said he also occasionally helps with emergency consults when requested and he’s available.

In conclusion, Jeremiah said, “Let us dwell in the spirit of gratitude this month as it can help to sustain us when the weight of the world is too much and we need to remember all the blessings that are ours to claim.” He thanked everyone for their leadership and service to our beloved community, and wished all a “Blessed Thanksgiving/Thanxgrieving!”

Director of Multi-Generational Religious Education Report

In her report to the board this month, DMRE Jessica Ten-Have Place wrote that October was a great month for multigenerational programming, including both our annual Dia de Los Muertos service, and a “Witchy Halloween” party to celebrate Samhain. These events, she said, as well as word of mouth promotion and members inviting friends and family to visit UUSM, have brought in three new young families to check out Sunday services and RE programming.

Also, Jessica wrote that, “I felt privileged to return to in-person work during the Samhain/Dia de Muertos/Halloween season, my favorite festive time of year! It was inspiring to work with Vilma on the service, which along with the traditional elements included a homily I wrote relating to a newly released film — my effort to provide a relevant touchpoint for youth and young adults in the multigenerational service. Memorializing our loved ones was touching as always.”

During the Witchy Halloween party (Jessica’s Dining for Dollars contribution that was opened to additional participants), Jessica wrote that, “we also did a ritual of memory for our spiritual ancestors, as well as fun and educational activities like pumpkin carving, tarot card reading, and crafting spell bags. I tried to provide an open environment for people of all backgrounds to learn about paganism/witchcraft by giving both theistic and non-theistic framings for each practice, and got to have some great conversations with both kids and adults about this spiritual path. The party, along with our Samhain themed Sunday service, has started a conversation among members about launching a CUUPS chapter, which I would love to be involved with — in addition to providing community for pagans in our congregation, there is outreach potential in CUUPS for young adults and non-traditional families who are interested in earth-centered spirituality.”

Looking forward, Jessica reported that, “We have also started rehearsals for our winter holiday pageant on December 7th, which will include the traditional “Friendly Beasts” nativity with the younger kids, as well as a new Hanukkah skit co-written with one of middle grade students. We were inspired to include the Jewish holiday to reflect her Jewish heritage, and to reflect our UU value of pluralism.” New families that have recently visited are interested in participating, Jessica said, and the pageant will include roles accessible for all, even those who can’t make it to the rehearsals.

Further, Jessica wrote, “Another big program in the planning and outreach phase is OWL for 7th-9th grade, which will begin in late January. So far two students have registered, with six other families indicating interest. I have been reaching out to our neighboring UCC and UU congregations, both to offer our program to their students and to seek additional trained facilitators to support our program, receiving positive responses from the UU churches in Studio City and Pasadena, as well as the UCC church in West Hollywood. We have more outreach to do before the program is set to kick off in late January, but we’re on track to get the students and volunteers we need.”

Also, Jessica said that some areas of improvement she wants to work on on the coming month are “getting more ‘light commitment’ volunteers involved in RE to bring snacks, help clean up the playground and sanctuary on Sundays, and provide additional nursery support once a month — this would be very helpful for me and our volunteers who can be spread a bit thin on busier Sundays.” 

And finally, she said, “I’m eager to see a finalized version of the safety policies that are being worked on, which will help provide consistency for volunteer training. I’m also excited to get more involved with Adult RE, and possibly hold a workshop in the spring for lifelong learning, which I discussed with the committee this month. There are lots of growth opportunities ahead, as well as new ways to engage more deeply with our current members, and I’m excited to see what grows in the coming month.”

Announcements and Adjournment

Dining for Dollars will take place from February 16-22.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 pm.