First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

  605 Morewood Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2999
  412-621-8008

Reverend David Herndon, Senior Minister

Reverend David Herndon Reverend David Herndon has served First Unitarian Church since 1990. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, he earned his undergraduate degree in physics from the College of William and Mary. He received his M.A. degree from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago. In 2001, he received a Master of Public Management degree from the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University.

February 2012

I would like to share with you some thoughts about how to get things done and how to resolve difficulties during the sabbatical period.

Board of Trustees. Obviously, the Board of Trustees is the final authority. But if you can work out your concern at a lower level, that would be very helpful. I should add that the Board of Trustees has taken over responsibility for longrange planning. Meetings are on the third Wednesday evening of each month.

Operations Administrative Team. The Operations Administrative Team has executive authority for coordinating all the activities for Stewardship (End 1.1). This includes building repair and maintenance as well as church finances. Rita Gates will serve as the leader of the Operations Administrative Team, which meets on the second Wednesday morning of each month.

Personnel Committee. If you have a concern about the performance or employment situation of a church staff member, please contact one of these members of the Personnel Committee: Jim Bain, Charlie Butler, Linda Kaufmann, Stephanie McConachie, and Deborah McGuire. The Personnel Committee will report to the Board of Trustees and meets on the second Monday evening of each month.

Program Administrative Team. The Program Administrative Team has executive authority for coordinating all the activities for Worship Services (End 1.2), Music and the Arts (End 1.3), Lifespan Faith Development (End 1.4), Social Responsibility (End 1.5), Caring Community (End 1.6), and the Unitarian Universalist Community (End 1.7). Jennifer Halperin will serve as the leader of the Program Administrative Team, which meets on the third Wednesday morning of each month. Program Committees. You may be able to resolve a program concern at a lower level than the Program Administrative Team by going directly to one of these program committee:

- The Sunday Celebrations Committee, which meets on the first Wednesday evening of each month, has oversight of worship services. Rev. Robin Zucker will be meeting with the Sunday Celebrations Committee. - - For music, check with Bill Larson, who convenes music staff meetings, or with the Music Committee, which meets on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Emily Pinkerton will be leading the Family Choir.
- The Adult Faith Development Committee meets on the second Thursday evening of each month. Rev. Robin Zucker will be meeting with the Adult Faith Development Committee during the sabbatical period.
- For questions about Children and Youth Ministries, please check with Jennifer Halperin.
The Social Responsibility Council meets on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Joel Gilbertson-White will be meeting with the Social Responsibility Council. He will also be meeting with the PIIN Core Team. You might also contact one of our social responsibility groups directly if you would like to know more about their work.
- Rev. Robin Zucker will be coordinating the work of the Pastoral Assistance Committee and the Pastoral Care Committee. Suzanna Donahue will be continuing her work as the “pastoral assistance and pastoral care dispatcher.”
- For questions or concerns about membership, please contact the Membership Committee, which meets on the second Thursday of each month. Rev. Robin Zucker will be meeting with the Membership Committee.
- If you would like to be part of a covenant group, or if your covenant group is experiencing challenges, please contact the Covenant Group Advisory Committee, which meets on the second Saturday morning of each month. Rev. Robin Zucker will be meeting with the Covenant Group Advisory Committee during the sabbatical period.
- Contact Joel Gilbertson-White regarding our Campus Ministry Program. The Campus Ministry group will be meeting on most Wednesday evenings at the church.

Finally, if you are interested in serving as a delegate to District Assembly or General Assembly, please complete the on-line interest form at the church website, www.first-unitarian-pgh.org. You might also want to follow up with a direct communication to the Board of Trustees.

In general, although Rev. Robin Zucker and Joel Gilbertson-White will be serving in ministerial roles, their primary duty during the sabbatical period will be attending to the spiritual nurture of the congregation through Sunday morning worship, adult faith development courses, support for program committees, and pastoral care. It is NOT their responsibility to make executive decisions. They will simply say, “Not my table, Hon,” and then refer you to the Board of Trustees, the Operations Administrative Team, the Program Administrative Team, or the appropriate committee.

I have every reason to believe that First Unitarian Church will thrive and prosper during the sabbatical period. No doubt there will be some confusion, some challenges, some frustration, and some miscommunication. But there will also be new and fresh ideas, a greater sense of ownership and responsibility among members of the congregation, and a greater sense of agency and power among members of the congregation.

See you in church – in six months!

David