Committees

• Adult Education: Chair Needed
  • Our Congregation sponsors an active adult education program. The sessions offer an opportunity to explore a range of religious, historical, and personal topics. Our educational program for adults consists of single-session, or a series, of study and discussion groups and workshops that meet for varying periods of time. Offerings are designed to serve as catalysts for new insights, discussions and action that help to create communities of care, support and concern. We often partner with leaders of our Social Action Committee to examine topics of shared concern, and those that may develop into Social Action programs. Many programs are open to the public.

• Building and Grounds: Kate Comstock Davis (Chair) – building@rockportuu.org
  • Our responsibility is to care for and maintain the building and grounds. We attend to what enhances the worship experience and building use for members as well as how the space may be better utilized by the larger community in order to further the church’s vision statement.

• Canvass: Board of Directors

• Caring: Mary Golden – caring@rockportuu.org
  • The Caring Committee cares for and about the members of our society. We assist the minister with pastoral care by letting the minister know when a member might find it helpful to talk, or would like a visit at home/hospital/nursing home. With permission, we alert members of the congregation about those in need or who would like visitors, flowers, or a telephone call. Cards of caring, joy or concern are sent.
    • Memorial Service Chairs: Ginny Cohen & Jane Sherburne

• Climate Action: Carol Chirico (Chair) – climate@rockportuu.org
  • The Climate Action Group, currently chaired by Carol Chirico, is a group within the Social Justice Committee. The mission is to educate our congregation and community and take action on climate and environmental justice issues. The group typically meets bi-weekly and welcomes new members. Click here for more information about the group.

• Communications: No committee at this time but definitely a need – reach out to our Minister, a Board Member or Congregational Administrator if you are interested in leading this committee and finding volunteers.
  • We promote the benefits of our offerings inside and outside of the church (programs, building, staff and worship experience) with brochures, vision statement, press, website, signs, Mass Bay District link, email, and interfaith email.

• Finance: Michael Davis (Chair)
  • We are comprised of three voting members appointed by the Board. The Treasurer and the Church Administrator shall serve as non-voting ex officio members of the committee. We oversee all financial affairs, including developing and submitting a proposed annual operating budget for consideration by the Board of Trustees, reviewing the financial statement (for the operating, capital and restricted funds) on a monthly basis, recommending and reviewing short- and long-term financial and budgetary goals and suggested strategies for achieving them, providing support to the Administrator and the Treasurer, as appropriate, and initiating and responding to requests from the board regarding recommendations on financial or budgetary policies or issues.

• Fundraising:
  • Thrift Shop: Diane Vella (Chair) – thriftshop@rockportuu.org – click on Thrift Shop in upper right corner for more information
  • FUNdraising Committee: TBD (Chair) – fundraising@rockportuu.org

• Membership: Terri Desmarais (Chair) – membership@rockportuu.org
  • Our main purpose is to welcome visitors and strengthen relationships among new and older members of the church community. We help visitors feel at home in our church community, introducing them to members during Sunday coffee hour and inviting them to Circle Suppers, potlucks, church events and programs. We send information packets on Unitarian Universalism, our church community and a newsletter to visitors who complete a yellow Visitor’s Card. Our biannual New UU Class helps interested visitors understand how the church works, investigate their personal theology and learn more about UUism. Our Mentoring Program helps integrate new members into our community.

• Religious Education: Cindy Sharfstein (Chair) – yre@rockportuu.org
  • Our goal is to provide excellent, informative and nurturing lifespan religious education for church members, friends, and their families. Through a variety of activities (class time, drama and worship), adults and children work in intergenerational or age specific groups to develop personally and to explore UU principles. Click here for more information.

• Social Justice: Betsy Nahas and Kathy Lordan (Co-Chairs) – socialjustice@rockportuu.org
  • Our denomination and congregation have an active, strong, and deeply rooted commitment to social justice. Through education, service, advocacy, direct action, and witness our Social Action Committee encourages and supports members of the congregation in active involvement with justice issues of community and global urgency and concern. To learn about our work and how to become involved, please click here.

• Worship: Roberta Stewart (Co-Chairs) – worship@rockportuu.org
  • Our mission is to provide assistance, support and good counsel to the minister regarding worship; provide high quality and meaningful services aligned with our UU principles when the minister is not in the pulpit, and to enrich the overall worship experience at the church.

• Committee on Ministry: Rev Susan Moran (Facilitator)
  • One of our main functions is to hear members’ concerns, comments and compliments regarding all aspects of congregational life.  Our purview includes ‘ministry’ in all forms, by the settled minister and others.  We meet monthly with the minister to discuss these and other issues.
• Council: Cindy Sharfstein (Chair) – vicepresident@rockportuu.org
  • This working group of Committee Chairs strives to match talents to tasks, nurture leadership skills and serve as a vehicle of communication for setting the calendar for our church year.