About Us
Next Service
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Community Sunday: Crossing the Threshold
Service Leaders:
Paula Gribble, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
John Herrick, Director of Music
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.
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.
Covenant of Right Relations and the Right Relations Team
The Universalist Unitarian Community of Charlotte adopted our Covenant of Right Relations in 2021. The UUCC Covenant of Right Relations acts as a compass to guide our actions in a loving way. The accompanying policy is the framework that undergirds this work. With the support of our board, a Right Relations Team was created to oversee the practices of accountability when one or more members need support in a conflict.
Click here to learn more about the Right Relations Team.
Follow this link to see our Covenant of Right Relations. This Covenant was approved by the Membership and adopted on June 6, 2021.
Follow this link for the related UUCC Covenant of Right Relations Policy. This Policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on November 28, 2023.
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. The most recent version of our ENDS monitoring can be found here.
In June of 2016, we adopted our new Vision. Click here to view the document.
Board Goals for 2025-26
- Our first goal for the year is to “Complete the monitoring of the Ends Statements, analyze findings, report out to the congregation, and utilize the findings to establish next steps for revising the Vision and Mission.”
- Goals number two and three are regarding our “All In!” Stewardship Campaign. The Board aims to, “Actively support the pledge campaign and the transition to an annual pledge cycle,” and to “Establish a policy for liaising with the MET, Finance, and Stewardship teams and driving coordination between those teams.”
- Goal four is to “Participate in Leadership Training events and utilize learnings to form future goals and policies.”
- Goal five is to “Establish a policy for regularly reviewing accessibility and safety.” This goal centers around what our building and services require with regards to accessibility of physical, learning, and other needs, as well as what we require for safety; then, working to establish a policy around reviewing those needs and how/if they’re being met.
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:
Vivian Brenner came to the UUCC in 2007, with her fiancé, to see if the minister would be willing to perform a non-religious ceremony for their marriage. A former minister did so, and they enjoyed the congregation and sermons so much, they became active members. Vivian has volunteered as a teacher for Legal Aid and giving classes at the Crisis Assistance Ministry to people with housing issues. She also volunteers for Democracy NC, a non-partisan voting rights group, and monitors both the Board of Elections and at polling sites. She currently is a volunteer at Planned Parenthood, escorting patients and families into the clinic. She attended many of the Moral Monday rallies in Raleigh at the General Assembly in 2013 and was arrested for her non-violent participation in these actions, which she considers a badge of honor. She looks forward to moving the UUCC into a new era, with a new minister and thoughtful leadership. Vivian enjoys teaching knitting and crocheting. Board Term 2024 – 2027
Mary Bruce After living without church affiliation for 50+ years, Mary and her husband Stephen joined UUCC in 2021. In addition to regular attendance at Sunday service, Mary belongs to the Open Mind Book Club and serves on the Membership Team. She shared her spiritual journey with a Credo presentation in May 2023. Mary received her B.A. in English from UNCC in 1975 and pursued a career in business. In 1995, she left a corporate management position to found Kaleidoscope Business Options – a consulting firm helping business owners improve operational and financial performance. The Charlotte Post recognized Mary’s support of local entrepreneurship by naming her Best Small Business Advocate 2001. Her final career chapter was taking on the roles of VP of Operations and CFO for a rapidly growing manufacturing company in Lancaster SC. She retired when that company sold in 2020. Mary’s volunteer work has focused on board service. She is especially grateful to be one of the “founding mothers” of the WINGS scholarship program – which has helped over 140 local area women improve their lives by attaining college graduation. Board Term 2025 – 2028.
Kathleen Carpenter (Board Co-Chair) originally 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
Dave Dixon (Secretary) joined the UUCC in 2020, along with his wife Kendra and their two children, Elinor and Desmond. He first became aware of the UUCC when his kids began attending Open Door School and while he didn’t expect or plan to join a faith community at the time, the combination of children’s programming, social justice activism and the chance to meet and commune with like-minded people spoke to him as something that he wanted, both for himself and his family. Since joining the UUCC, Dave has served as a member of the Communications team (where he created the Currents masthead and the UUCC t-shirt design) and as a chaperone for elementary-age children to Youth Cons at The Mountain. He is excited about the opportunity to potentially contribute as a Board member, particularly as we welcome a new settled minister. Dave enjoys playing and watching sports (especially soccer), playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), board games and video games, and doing various D&D-related art projects. In his professional life, he is a Creative Director for a branding agency. Board Term 2024 – 2027
Bob Gorman (Board Co-Chair) 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
Melanie Greely has attended the UUCC for over 15 years. She and her two children love the UUC for its engaging and intellectual worship, joyful community events, and the chance to spend time with people who push her to do better. Melanie has served in many roles around the UUC, beginning with coffee service many years ago, and ending most recently with the Intersectional Justice Team. In the interim, she has taught many years of RE, served on the Economic Justice team, worked on the Family Ministry team, served as the parent volunteer for the Children’s Choir, as well as a variety of short-term committees and tasks, such as Lay Service Leader and Credo presenter. Melanie is a middle school teacher who enjoys playing piano and reading as many fiction books as possible. Board Term 2025 – 2028
Joe Hoff Growing up Catholic, Joe decided he needed a change and searched for a different community that was more open and honored others’ beliefs and practices as well as had a focus on social justice.He attended various UU communities in Rhode Island, Oregon, and Virginia where he lived previously but was not a member. He officially joined the UUCC in 2020. He was recruited to be a member of the Adult Religious Education/Spiritual Development (ARESD) Team immediately after joining. Joe participated in the biking group during the pandemic, has participated from time to time in the hiking group as well as several ARESD offerings. He has also participated in the “lunch around the world” group whenever possible. He is excited to contribute more to the UUCC, especially at such an exciting moment with a new minister joining the community. He enjoys hiking, biking, simple gardening, attending music concerts and watching independent and foreign films. He is an advocate for social and environmental justice/change. He lives in First Ward and rides the light rail to work every day. He also loves learning about different cultures and languages and hopes for a better world through intercultural understanding. Board Term 2024 – 2027
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
Melissa Schropp began attending UUCC in 1994, after relocating to Charlotte with her husband Greg. They officially joined the UUCC in 2000, and their three now-adult children all grew up with the consistent loving support of the UUCC. Melissa has served the CYRE program in various capacities over decades: as a teacher for preschool and elementary classes, advisor for mountain cons, part-time interim co-director of CYRE programming, chair of CYRE Team, member of the search team for Life Span Religious Education Director, and most recently, as a new facilitator for K-2 OWL classes. Melissa was a 2016 recipient of the Roger Atkins RE Volunteer Award award. In addition to her CYRE roles, she has facilitated Discovery Circle groups, has served on the Community Building Team, and is currently serving on the Communications Team for a second time. Professionally, she is a graphic designer/art director and has worked as a freelance contractor ever since leaving her full-time corporate job in 2005. She has also worked as a part-time preschool teacher. She enjoys reading, writing, music, art, architecture, movies, chocolate and cozy naps with her cat and dog. Board Term 2025 – 2028
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.