How does the Baja 4 help BUU thrive?
Our Borderlands UU Board of Directors have been pondering this question. They wanted to share their answers and to invite you to share your thoughts as well.
After reading the Board reflections, take a look at a statement of proposed statement of purpose for the Baja 4, then share your response.
After reading the Board reflections, take a look at a statement of proposed statement of purpose for the Baja 4, then share your response.
Hugh Rhine, BUU President
Judy and I joined BUU in March 2019. During most of our first year of membership I was only nominally aware of the notion of a Baja 4. Mostly I was aware that the ministers would, on occasion, share pulpits on a given Sunday.
Late in that year I agreed to serve out a term as Director at Large on the Board of Directors. Still my awareness of the Baja 4 was that there was centered on the collaboration among the 4 ministers. Frankly, I had not given much thought to the idea as my focus was closer to hand, and mostly with our budget and the upcoming pledge season.
That process was quickly followed with my agreeing to have my name put forward to serve as President of BUU for the next term. Even before the elections took place in April my awareness took on a very different perspective and has continued to evolve since.
Today I am grateful that collaboration among the ministers was in place before Covid Hit. In person Sunday services, a key element of what we have expected as religious or spiritual interaction, are not happening and are not likely to happen again for some time. Certainly we have not been totally locked out as Zoom Services of the Baja 4 offer a level of interaction that while not ideal, do offer more than any one of the four congregations are likely to have been able to achieve alone.
My feeling is that as we go forward, our efforts at BUU will be enhanced by our having the channel for collaboration among the four congregations of the Baja 4. This will be in ways we have seen as well as ways we have not yet imagined.
Judy and I joined BUU in March 2019. During most of our first year of membership I was only nominally aware of the notion of a Baja 4. Mostly I was aware that the ministers would, on occasion, share pulpits on a given Sunday.
Late in that year I agreed to serve out a term as Director at Large on the Board of Directors. Still my awareness of the Baja 4 was that there was centered on the collaboration among the 4 ministers. Frankly, I had not given much thought to the idea as my focus was closer to hand, and mostly with our budget and the upcoming pledge season.
That process was quickly followed with my agreeing to have my name put forward to serve as President of BUU for the next term. Even before the elections took place in April my awareness took on a very different perspective and has continued to evolve since.
Today I am grateful that collaboration among the ministers was in place before Covid Hit. In person Sunday services, a key element of what we have expected as religious or spiritual interaction, are not happening and are not likely to happen again for some time. Certainly we have not been totally locked out as Zoom Services of the Baja 4 offer a level of interaction that while not ideal, do offer more than any one of the four congregations are likely to have been able to achieve alone.
My feeling is that as we go forward, our efforts at BUU will be enhanced by our having the channel for collaboration among the four congregations of the Baja 4. This will be in ways we have seen as well as ways we have not yet imagined.
Martha House, BUU Vice President
Prior to the Pandemic I associated the Baja 4 with Pulpit Palooza and Social Justice activities. I didn’t know of & never really considered any other interactions. The pandemic has changed my thinking. The Baja 4 Worship Services have been excellent and brought me spiritual nourishment in many ways. There have been other opportunities to interact such as the invitations to UUCT’s Second Hour on Sunday, my own participation in collaborative lay leader worship services the month when the minister’s got a little break, the upcoming invitation to UUCT’s Halloween event, Beloved Conversations, supportive action at the border and more. A couple of weeks ago we held a Baja 4 “All Board Retreat” in which I participated. It was a great opportunity to connect with members of all 4 congregation’s Boards. While it was too long to sit for a Zoom call, it was informative. Talking about the collaborative efforts I came to see how our 4 congregations really are interdependent. The 4 ministers met regularly even before the pandemic, I just wasn’t aware of how much it played a role in Sunday Services & activities prior to the pandemic. One of the things that was suggested at the retreat was the idea of the Board members “buddying up” with someone from another congregation to get to know one another & learn more about the other person's congregation & share ideas. I was delighted when someone from UUCT reached out to me in the days that followed. There is much to be gleaned in nurturing relationships between our congregations. I am hopeful that beyond the pandemic we continue to nurture on another through the Baja 4 connections. BUU and our Baja 4 members do share an interdependent relationship.
Prior to the Pandemic I associated the Baja 4 with Pulpit Palooza and Social Justice activities. I didn’t know of & never really considered any other interactions. The pandemic has changed my thinking. The Baja 4 Worship Services have been excellent and brought me spiritual nourishment in many ways. There have been other opportunities to interact such as the invitations to UUCT’s Second Hour on Sunday, my own participation in collaborative lay leader worship services the month when the minister’s got a little break, the upcoming invitation to UUCT’s Halloween event, Beloved Conversations, supportive action at the border and more. A couple of weeks ago we held a Baja 4 “All Board Retreat” in which I participated. It was a great opportunity to connect with members of all 4 congregation’s Boards. While it was too long to sit for a Zoom call, it was informative. Talking about the collaborative efforts I came to see how our 4 congregations really are interdependent. The 4 ministers met regularly even before the pandemic, I just wasn’t aware of how much it played a role in Sunday Services & activities prior to the pandemic. One of the things that was suggested at the retreat was the idea of the Board members “buddying up” with someone from another congregation to get to know one another & learn more about the other person's congregation & share ideas. I was delighted when someone from UUCT reached out to me in the days that followed. There is much to be gleaned in nurturing relationships between our congregations. I am hopeful that beyond the pandemic we continue to nurture on another through the Baja 4 connections. BUU and our Baja 4 members do share an interdependent relationship.
Ken Lopez, BUU Treasurer
Sitting in at the Baja 4 Retreat was a learning experience. Meeting (virtually) on Zoom with Board members of the other congregations was a chance to get some insight about others handling similar issues as our congregation must deal with. Hearing different opinions is always a thought expanding benefit.
Sitting in at the Baja 4 Retreat was a learning experience. Meeting (virtually) on Zoom with Board members of the other congregations was a chance to get some insight about others handling similar issues as our congregation must deal with. Hearing different opinions is always a thought expanding benefit.
Owen Anderson, Board Member at Large
The Covid 19 pandemic the world is currently experiencing is a one in one hundred year event. Such an occurrence is extra ordinary. This calls for extra ordinary measures. The Borderlands UU congregation took immediate action in response to the impending effects of the developing pandemic. Realizing that in person gatherings would tend to further spread the virus, our congregational leaders decided that virtual meetings would better serve our congregants. With the idea that a united effort is stronger than acting alone, the four UU congregations in Southern Arizona banded together to produce on-line Sunday services as well as daily blogs. Through the weeks, this common effort has increased in quality, outreach and effectiveness. This coalescing around a common purpose has provided the Baja 4 congregants a refuge in these perilous times
The Covid 19 pandemic the world is currently experiencing is a one in one hundred year event. Such an occurrence is extra ordinary. This calls for extra ordinary measures. The Borderlands UU congregation took immediate action in response to the impending effects of the developing pandemic. Realizing that in person gatherings would tend to further spread the virus, our congregational leaders decided that virtual meetings would better serve our congregants. With the idea that a united effort is stronger than acting alone, the four UU congregations in Southern Arizona banded together to produce on-line Sunday services as well as daily blogs. Through the weeks, this common effort has increased in quality, outreach and effectiveness. This coalescing around a common purpose has provided the Baja 4 congregants a refuge in these perilous times
Diane Farone, Board Member at Large
At our Board retreat we first reflected on Baja Four’s past. Memories of the variety of perspectives we got from Pulpit Palooza, and the fun my sister (a member of MVUU) and I had staffing the UU booth at the Tucson Festival of Books. And Baja Four has been a life saver with its well-produced Sunday services during the covid-19 pandemic. Possibilities raised for our future included cross-congregational buddies, sharing newsletters, and creating a joint website. We have many reasons to appreciate the connections with our UU fellow travelers.
At our Board retreat we first reflected on Baja Four’s past. Memories of the variety of perspectives we got from Pulpit Palooza, and the fun my sister (a member of MVUU) and I had staffing the UU booth at the Tucson Festival of Books. And Baja Four has been a life saver with its well-produced Sunday services during the covid-19 pandemic. Possibilities raised for our future included cross-congregational buddies, sharing newsletters, and creating a joint website. We have many reasons to appreciate the connections with our UU fellow travelers.
At the end of the Baja 4, All Boards, October 4 meeting, a proposed purpose for the Baja 4 was crafted:
We transform lives and our region, living our values at large as Unitarian Universalists in Southern Arizona. We derive and amplify our strength through collaboration.
We transform lives and our region, living our values at large as Unitarian Universalists in Southern Arizona. We derive and amplify our strength through collaboration.