By John Crusius, Board Vice President (on behalf of President Patricia Graesser, who is currently away)

I am excited to share some positive news. Almost a month ago, the Board learned about the wonderful opportunity to honor Rev. Jon Luopa by conferring upon him the esteemed title of Minister Emeritus.

The Board wholeheartedly supports bestowing this prestigious honor on Jon. We recognize the significance and the honor this title brings and, therefore, wanted to ensure we approached this with the utmost care and thoughtfulness. In our consideration, we sought the counsel of respected UUC members, staff, and two advisors from the UUA. While there were some concerns about potential negative consequences of not conferring the title immediately, the guidance from the UUA encouraged a more deliberate approach. They emphasized that:

"Because conferring Emeritus status is a lifetime honor and can grant governance privileges in the national Association, taking the time for a good process will give the decision the importance that it deserves. Once the idea is under consideration, offer listening circles, cottage meetings, or some other low-pressure way for members to talk about the idea.”

Taking this valuable feedback into account, and after thorough Board deliberation and a vote, we decided it was wisest to take a little more time before conferring the title. We are actively working on this process, which includes developing a related covenant as recommended by the UUA.

I want to assure the congregation, staff, and Rev. Luopa that the Board is fully committed to honoring Jon with this well-deserved title. We are enthusiastic and dedicated to engaging in meaningful discussions and deliberations with the congregation to confer this special recognition as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we move forward with this important and joyous decision.