June 30, 2020

Dear UUFEC:

All good things must come to an end and so it is with church ministers.

At the June 29 Board of Trustees Meeting, our beloved Minister, Doak Mansfield, officially announced his retirement, effective on Aug 30.  He will be on vacation during the months of July and August, but will be available for emergencies during that time.  Please read his letter below and it will also be mailed to UU members, via US Postal Carrier, for more information.

I want to emphasize that this parting of ways is occurring with great mutual feelings of respect and admiration between Doak, our Board and our Fellowship. We at UUFEC will miss him, and we deeply thank him for the lessons of love and ministry that he has brought to our Fellowship over the past 2 years.

After hearing and accepting this retirement announcement, our Board then turned its attention to questions of next chapters for ministry at UUFEC.  The Board decided that we want to continue to have a minister at UUFEC and we want to take steps as soon as possible in bringing this to fruition.

The board selected a Search Committee consisting of Amy Weisberg, Athena Riley, Josh Ashley and Jane Park to help facilitate this.

This committee will communicate with our regional and national UU organizations to explore next steps and questions of candidate availability, requirements, and hiring processes, along with examining UUFEC resources and needs.  An added challenge is to do this work from what is becoming a very high risk area for Covid 19, in our country.

Stay tuned for the next chapter in this highly unusual year for UUFEC and all of us.
If you have questions or concerns or comments, please reach out to me at president@uufec.com or any of the Board members or the Search Committee members.

Meanwhile, please stay well and safe and take care of yourselves.

Gil Brown
President, UUFEC Board of Trustees

Friends,

It is with a heavy spirit that I share a very difficult decision. Over the last several months since Peggy’s death I have been struggling with deep grief with what should be my future. I had thought to return to ministry but have found I do not have the inspiration or professional ambition to do that. Plus, the complications of the pandemic have made things so difficult.

I advised the Board of Trustees of the Fellowship Monday of my decision to retire from the UU Ministry effective the end of August.

I am so thankful for the wonderful support and affirmation for Peg and my ministry with UUFEC. Over our time here you have expressed the finest qualities of a Unitarian Universalist congregation. There has been a sharing in love and concern within our congregation and for the larger community.

My deep gratitude for the love shown Peggy and myself during our time with you. I’m thankful for all the blessings bestowed.

With Love – Doak
The Reverend Doak M Mansfield