Board of Trustees May 2026 Actions & News
Board of Trustees Resignation: Thanked Trustee Michael DeWitt for his service on the Board, upon receiving his resignation.
Board of Trustees Appointment: Appointed Peter Boland to fill the Board vacancy until the February 2027 Board election.
UUA: Encouraged members to become delegates representing UUCB at the June 14-21Virtual UUA General Assembly.
2026-27 Budget: Approved a $1.3 million operating budget for a May 17 congregational vote. The budget was approved unanimously by the congregation, as was using a portion of a bequest to repay a loan from the Board-designated endowment to the Ministerial Housing Fund.
Stewardship: Clarified that the Board’s role and relationship with the Stewardship Committee is in setting church vision – providing the “why” for generous giving, while the Minister holds responsibility for work of the Stewardship Committee.
Freestone maintenance: To fulfill responsibilities for road repairs, weed removal/fire safety, and other critical maintenance, authorized the expenditure of an additional $12,000, bringing the total budgeted amount to $24,000 – all of which would be repaid to the church in the event Freestone is sold.
In other Board news:
Freestone Discernment Task Force: The task force has completed its reflection phase and now will turn to engaging with UUCB groups and members to solicit ideas for the property’s sale or donation, along with honoring its history.
Board Retreat: The Board initiated discussion and steps for strengthening focus on its visioning role and work.
Board of Trustees April 2026 Actions
Committee on Shared Ministry: Appointed Natalie Campbell
Calkins Trust: Authorized distribution of $7,500 in 2026
Nominating Committee: Recommended congregational affirmation of nominees: Cynthia Asprodites and Kay Fairwell, to join Suzette Anderson-Duggan, Michael Armstrong, Paul Hudson, Sima Misra, Carisa Orwig, and Lorriane Schnurr.
Loan repayment: Recommended congregational approval to repay the loan from the Board-designated endowment to the ministerial housing fund using a portion of a recently-received bequest.
Policy considerations: Initiated discussion on how the Stewardship Committee fits into UUCB’s organizational structure, and on a policy for responding to external fundraising requests.
The Beacon Is Evolving: Introducing The Beacon Blog
After years of delivering news, stories, and updates to our community, The Beacon is evolving. The May issue will be our last in its current format — there will be no June or July editions — but this is not an ending. It’s a transformation. We know it may feel like the close of a chapter, and in many ways, it is. The Beacon has been a beloved constant, and we honor everything it has represented. Rest assured, the archives will remain available, so no memory is lost.
Starting in August, we are thrilled to introduce The Beacon Blog — a dynamic, digital home for our community’s stories. This new format frees us from the constraints of monthly deadlines and word limits, allowing contributors to share news and updates the moment they happen. Information will reach you faster, more directly, and more often. If you’ve ever had something to share but missed a deadline or felt squeezed by a word count, those barriers are gone. You can still submit your articles and announcements to beacon@uucb.org — the process is the same, just without the calendar pressure. The blog will be found right where you’ve always gone: uucb.org/the-week-ahead-at-uucb/beacon-on-the-hill-newsletter (look for an updated link as we transition to The Beacon Blog). The spirit of The Beacon lives on — just with a little more room to breathe.
