Kickoff Gala Images

To the First Unitarian Community

With this we announce the start of an effort to raise money to save our church. We UUs are a questioning bunch, so let’s get right to the six key questions of who, what, where, when, why and how, but allow us to take liberty with the order:

What?
This is a capital campaign, a months-long effort to garner pledges.

When?
December 2017 to June 2018. 

Where?
Here at 90 Main St., Worcester, MA, but really, in the hearts and minds of…

Who?
You, the parishioners, the people, the women, men, youth, and children who come once, twice, or thrice a week, a month, or year to this wonderfully plainly elegant, historic building, to give, receive and share with one another the inspirations of our faith.

Why?
Ah yes, the all-important why.  Our forebears in this church built an endowment whose earnings are meant to sustain the building, while programmatic expenses are funded by annual giving. After the financial crisis of 2008, both our endowment earnings and annual pledges diminished for several years.  While we tightened our belt and reduced expenses, we purposefully chose to maintain critical programming to avoid starving the spiritual life of the church. Not surprisingly, the building itself began to suffer deferred maintenance. It was a difficult, but sensible choice.

How?
Together with Reverend Stewart, the co-chairs Joan Russo and Philip Bolduc and a Steering Committee will run a Capital Campaign kickoff event. They will also call and/or meet with individuals and families to discuss pledges, which may be paid all at once or spread over as much as a five-year period. 

In closing, we need both a thriving ministry and a building to house it, not just now but for the generations to come that will gather here to worship, question, live in right relationships and change the world for the better.  The legacy we inherited at First Unitarian Church is ours to reshape and hand down, and it is with great hope that we launch this campaign.  In saving and strengthening the church building, we will do the same for the church as a whole.