News: September 12th, 2025
Dear Members and Friends,
This is a big month for our congregation. Last week we welcomed our new ministerial intern, Nina Kuzniak, and launched our program year with a service on A Dissenting Tradition. At the end of the month, we will celebrate your decision to elect me as your settled Senior Minister last October with an installation service.
In advance of the installation, I want to offer a few reflections on the August 27th listening sessions. While I was not present, I understand three major themes emerged: effective communication, community safety, and the impact that recent events have had on relationships within and external to our community.
Effective Communication
This is always a challenge, especially for large communities doing work in times of rapid change. In an effort to embody greater transparency, the Board has reinstituted its monthly Zoom chats. The staff and I do our best to share information quickly, but as a relatively small staff with a volunteer Board, we sometimes face capacity issues. We use the newsletter, order of service, Sunday announcements, website, and building monitors to share as much as we can. We welcome additional ideas for how to improve communications and volunteer support to grow this capacity.
Community Safety
Tawanna and the Healthy Communications Team will host a Security Forum this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. for First Unitarian Universalist members. It is our priority that members and friends feel safe to gather, worship, and work together in this shared place. If you want to know more about the measures we have taken—or will take—please attend. If there is interest, we will hold additional forums.
Relationships
I know it was upsetting to see First Unitarian Universalist receive negative press coverage. I share your concern. Thankfully, it does not appear to have significantly affected our standing with institutional partners. Our important community work and partnerships continues! For example, I have been asked to co-chair, alongside State Senator Molly Cook and State Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons, the Commission on the HISD Takeover. And we are exploring a collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston for our 2026 FotoFest exhibition. These opportunities reflect the strength of our reputation and the trust our partners continue to place in us.
I am committed to working with you on healing. As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we have contracted with Restorative Houston to host an additional listening circle and a series of healing circles. The listening circle will take place on September 15th. Healing circles are scheduled for September 30th, October 5th (via Zoom), and October 20th. I will attend these healing circles and work with you to repair the harm that has been done.
I know there are lingering feelings of pain and uncertainty. Healing will not come quickly, but I am committed to walking this path with you. Together, we can strengthen our trust, deepen our connections, and ensure that First Unitarian Universalist continues to widen love’s circle in Houston and beyond.
love,
Colin
This is a big month for our congregation. Last week we welcomed our new ministerial intern, Nina Kuzniak, and launched our program year with a service on A Dissenting Tradition. At the end of the month, we will celebrate your decision to elect me as your settled Senior Minister last October with an installation service.
In advance of the installation, I want to offer a few reflections on the August 27th listening sessions. While I was not present, I understand three major themes emerged: effective communication, community safety, and the impact that recent events have had on relationships within and external to our community.
Effective Communication
This is always a challenge, especially for large communities doing work in times of rapid change. In an effort to embody greater transparency, the Board has reinstituted its monthly Zoom chats. The staff and I do our best to share information quickly, but as a relatively small staff with a volunteer Board, we sometimes face capacity issues. We use the newsletter, order of service, Sunday announcements, website, and building monitors to share as much as we can. We welcome additional ideas for how to improve communications and volunteer support to grow this capacity.
Community Safety
Tawanna and the Healthy Communications Team will host a Security Forum this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. for First Unitarian Universalist members. It is our priority that members and friends feel safe to gather, worship, and work together in this shared place. If you want to know more about the measures we have taken—or will take—please attend. If there is interest, we will hold additional forums.
Relationships
I know it was upsetting to see First Unitarian Universalist receive negative press coverage. I share your concern. Thankfully, it does not appear to have significantly affected our standing with institutional partners. Our important community work and partnerships continues! For example, I have been asked to co-chair, alongside State Senator Molly Cook and State Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons, the Commission on the HISD Takeover. And we are exploring a collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston for our 2026 FotoFest exhibition. These opportunities reflect the strength of our reputation and the trust our partners continue to place in us.
I am committed to working with you on healing. As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we have contracted with Restorative Houston to host an additional listening circle and a series of healing circles. The listening circle will take place on September 15th. Healing circles are scheduled for September 30th, October 5th (via Zoom), and October 20th. I will attend these healing circles and work with you to repair the harm that has been done.
I know there are lingering feelings of pain and uncertainty. Healing will not come quickly, but I am committed to walking this path with you. Together, we can strengthen our trust, deepen our connections, and ensure that First Unitarian Universalist continues to widen love’s circle in Houston and beyond.
love,
Colin
