So the election is finally here. For the first time the leadership of the Unitarian Church in Britain is going to be directly elected by the membership. The name 'Executive Committee' sounds too coroporate rather than spiritual for me, but then I can't think of a better name myself, so I guess I can live with it.
23 people have put their names forward for 8 positions on the committee. The election is being counted by the Single Transferable Vote method. Don't ask me to explain it. But it means you can rank every candidate, so I think I'm going to. I think I'll vote for every candidate! I might as well.
I'm reading through the candidate's election statements right now.
The form says that the attributes of an 'ideal' Executive Committee member will be:
Understanding of Unitarianism; Leadership; Strategic Thinking; Communicating and Influencing; Decision-Making; Representing; Financial and Legal Awareness; Team Working; and Self-Management.
Fair enough, all that is important. But I find the statements that result from this guidance to be rather managementy. Yes, knowing how to run a meeting, and deal with financial and legal issues is very important. But I'm looking some spiritual leadership as well from this committee. We are a religion. And we need to remember that. Our reason for being is the deeper and bigger way of life of the Spirit.
What I'm looking for is someone who is:
Theologically and spiritually grounded; has vision for where we should be going; is orientated towards the service of others; and is outreach-orientated - wanting to make us change and grow rather than maintaining the status quo.
There's rather too little spiritual autobiography in the statements. But I think I've decided who to vote for. We shall see the outcome in a few weeks.
23 people have put their names forward for 8 positions on the committee. The election is being counted by the Single Transferable Vote method. Don't ask me to explain it. But it means you can rank every candidate, so I think I'm going to. I think I'll vote for every candidate! I might as well.
I'm reading through the candidate's election statements right now.
The form says that the attributes of an 'ideal' Executive Committee member will be:
Understanding of Unitarianism; Leadership; Strategic Thinking; Communicating and Influencing; Decision-Making; Representing; Financial and Legal Awareness; Team Working; and Self-Management.
Fair enough, all that is important. But I find the statements that result from this guidance to be rather managementy. Yes, knowing how to run a meeting, and deal with financial and legal issues is very important. But I'm looking some spiritual leadership as well from this committee. We are a religion. And we need to remember that. Our reason for being is the deeper and bigger way of life of the Spirit.
What I'm looking for is someone who is:
Theologically and spiritually grounded; has vision for where we should be going; is orientated towards the service of others; and is outreach-orientated - wanting to make us change and grow rather than maintaining the status quo.
There's rather too little spiritual autobiography in the statements. But I think I've decided who to vote for. We shall see the outcome in a few weeks.
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