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UUCC Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees is made up of nine members elected by the membership who serve staggered three-year terms. Staying in close touch with the congregation, the board articulates the UUCC vision through our Mission Statement, Ends Statements and Governing Policies and, referring to those policies, monitors the work of the Coordinating Team and other professional staff.
The Coordinating Team is the leadership group responsible for day-to-day operations. It includes Minister Lisa Bovee-Kemper, Director of Administration Alesia Hutto, and Director of Member Relations Kelly Greene.
The Board speaks primarily through its written policies, which are decided by discussion and voting. Each trustee is involved in other activities at the church, out of personal interest and as one way to connect with other members.
Policy Governance
The UUCC has been operating under a form of Policy Governance since 2004. Under Policy Governance the Board of Trustees focuses on the congregation’s vision and goals rather than the details of managing the organization. The Board sets broad policies and then gives staff the freedom and authority to make day-to-day decisions as long as they are operating within the constraints set by those policies. Scroll down the page to see minutes of Board meetings.
Exploration & Discovery: An Inspiring UUCC for the 21st Century
Over the past ten years, our Board has led the congregation through several rounds of “envisioning our future,” each one an effort to discern what this spiritual community is collectively called to be as we pursue our Mission and Ends in the greater Charlotte area. In June of 2016, we adopted our new Vision. Click here to view the document.
Meet Our Board of Trustees
Our board is made up of long-time members of the congregation who have a history of deep involvement with and support for the UUCC. Current members of our nine-member Board of Trustees:
Ben Baxter, his wife Gillian and daughters Anna and Connolly have been UUCC members since 2011. Ben served on and chaired the Stewardship Committee (2017-20) and has been a member of the Safety Patrol team since its inception. Board Term 2021-2024
Kathleen Carpenteroriginally came to the UUCC over 30 years ago, seeking a non-dogmatic religious education (RE) program for her three young children. She wanted a place that welcomed her as a religious humanist and saw her children as worthy of respect and love. The UUCC provided all of this. When the opportunity arose several years later, she joined the staff as its Director of Religious Education. She retired in 2020 and for professional reasons took a two year break. She is excited to be back and looks forward to serving during this time of exciting changes. Outside her staff responsibilities, Kathleen has served in numerous volunteer roles: Partner Church Committee Chair, Denominational Connections Team Chair, Luna Rising Leadership Team member, Room in the Inn volunteer, participant in the Follies, and most recently, as a member of the Intersectional Justice Engagement Group. Board Term 2023 – 2026
Michael Amy Rodriguez Cira (Board Co-Chair) came to UUCC about 10 years ago with her daughter, Tallulah. Since then she has served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles, including Worship Team, Environmental Justice and Transformation, discovery group, Room In The Inn, solstice events and Luna Rising. She has been a lay service leader many times and filled numerous roles in Children and Youth Religious Education, most recently as middle and high school facilitator. Michael is currently a member of DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries) and The UU Church of the Larger Fellowship. She has attended the UUA General Assembly in New Orleans and Kansas City. She has worked in the healing arts, theater and children’s education in many positions across the country. In 2020 and 2021 Michael served as a consultant with Mosaic Thought Partners leading conversations about race, diversity and inclusion. Board Term 2022 – 2025.
Bob Gorman came to the UUCC in search of community and found that and much, much more. Not only has it become my extended family, it also is an avenue for being involved in the work toward social, political, and racial justice. The UUCC has become an essential part of who he is. This is a crucial period in the history of the UUCC as we transition to a new minister. Having been a member for 18-years and having participated actively and fully in the life of this community, he feels he has much to contribute in helping us move successfully into this next phase of our transition. Bob has been a member of the Vision Steering Team, participated in the Racial Justice Core Group, attended the Undoing Racism Workshop, developed and presented numerous film series, served on the ARESD team, participated in Room in the Inn, three Discovery Circles including serving as co-leader of one of them, ushered, lay service leader, presented his Credo twice and participated in the Moral Monday demonstration. Board Term 2023 – 2026
Shannon Maples (Secretary) has been a member of the UUCC for nearly 11 years. She spent much of that time in the CYRE wing teaching youth in both CYRE (ages K-5) and OWL (grades K-6). Along with Kurt Merkle and Melissa Jackson, Shannon also co-facilitated a sexuality education curriculum for parents during Covid. Shannon served on the ARESD team for three years in both planning and facilitating capacities, and she participated in the most recent Economic Justice Core Group. She is beginning her second year on the Intersectional Justice and Luna Rising teams. Her family has participated in volunteer opportunities such as Room In The Inn and Operation Sandwich when possible. Board Term 2022 – 2025
Kurt Merkle (Board Co-Chair) joined the UUCC in spring of 1996. He met his wife, Catherine O’Grady, in Freeman Hall about a year later. Kurt and Catherine were married at the UUCC three years later and have been fortunate to raise three young men in a wonderful CYRE program. Kurt has enjoyed being involved teaching CYRE, chaperoning Habitat trips to Hartsville, hamming it up in the Follies, mentoring in the Coming of Age program, teaching in the OWL program, and other activities. Board Term 2021-2024
Craig Miller has been a member of the UUCC since 2010. He has been active in various ways including 4 years as a senior high CYRE advisor, serving on the social justice team, leading UUCC’s Room in the Inn program, and serving as a volunteer in a number of ways. He also enjoys participating in programs offered by the UUCC including a spiritual writing class and the Open Mind Book Club. Craig and his long-time partner of 27 years enjoy traveling together and spending time with friends. Personally, Craig enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, fitness activities, cooking, reading, and the outdoors. Board Term 2023-2026
Gwynne Movius joined the UUCC 31 years ago, along with her late husband Lee and then 11- year-old daughter Diana, and all were active in the congregation. Gwynne served on the Board of Trustees from 1996-2001 as Clerk and then President, and has served on many committees and teams over the years, including Bylaws Review, Long-Range Planning, Stewardship (twice), and Membership. She served as a Memorial Endowment Trustee when certain key trust agreement provisions were being revised, and has facilitated the Open Mind Book Club for the last 20 years. Involvement with the UUCC has been a central, and rewarding, part of Gwynne’s life for decades. Board Term 2023-2024
Laurie Reed is a life-long UU and has been active at the UUCC since moving to Charlotte in 1984. She and her late husband, Tim Lemmond, raised their now-grown children with the love and support of the UUCC faith community. Long ago Laurie and Tim were high school OWL facilitators and helped develop the Coming of Age program. Laurie has chaired the CYRE Team, been a COA mentor, Board of Trustee member and Chair, a Memorial Endowment Trustee and most recently participated in the Racial Justice and Environmental Justice classes. Laurie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice, loves many outdoor activities and will be very glad to tell you about anything she has growing in her small urban garden. Board Term 2022 – 2025
Minutes of Board Meetings
Our Board meets monthly, usually on the third Tuesday, to conduct congregational business. Minutes of meetings conducted during the current congregational year are accessible below. For minutes of meetings going further back in time, please contact the UUCC office. To reach a member of our Board of Trustees please email board@uuccharlotte.org.