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Spring has sprung and it's time to nominate yourself or others for service on elected teams and positions for the 2026-2027 church year!

Nominations can be submitted via this form, and are due by 12:30pm on Sunday, April 19th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Associate Pastor Amy Norton-Benfield at amy@upbrookline.org.

Read on for a description of the nominations process and elected teams:

HOW DOES THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION PROCESS WORK?
The Discernment and Engagement Ministry Team presents the official nomination slate, with input from the people of United Parish. The Senior Pastor and members of the Team consider all the names submitted before personally talking with the nominees and asking them to prayerfully consider the position for several days before giving their reply.  The members of United Parish vote on the slate of nominees at our All Parish Meetings in June and November.

CAN ANYONE BE NOMINATED AS A CHURCH LEADER?
Church membership is required for service on the Church Council, but is not required for service on the Discernment & Engagement and Endowment ministry teams.  All nominees must be known to support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service, and should have the ability to be a problem solver, have a spirit of cooperation and a respect for confidentiality, and be willing to “speak the truth in love.” We recommend that new members spend some time in one of the non-elected Ministry Teams before entering into an elected position, to gain experience and knowledge about the needs of the congregation.

WHAT DO OUR ELECTED LEADERS DO?
The Church Council is the governing body of our congregation. It consists of 8-10 members, including the three lay officers of United Parish (Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer), 4-6 at-large members and the Senior Pastor. Terms of lay members are three years. The Council members are responsible for the welfare, both spiritual and physical, of the members of United Parish, and guidance of the total program of the Parish. They have oversight of both pastoral staff and support staff and are responsible for the United Parish budget and financial stewardship. Meetings are monthly. If you enjoy looking at the “big picture” of an organization, this is a good place for you.

The Endowment Ministry Team consists of five members who serve three-year terms and manage the endowment funds given to United Parish, as well as funds entrusted to United Parish from its member churches. All three churches must be represented (American Baptist, United Methodist, United Church of Christ). This team typically meets 2-3 times per year. If you enjoy talking about responsible investments, figures, and legal issues, this is a good fit for you.

The Discernment and Engagement Ministry Team consists of 5-7 people who serve two-year terms and represent as wide as possible a cross-section of the congregation. D&E helps ministry teams find new team members, oversees the new member onboarding process, and provides nominees for elected positions, as well as helping members discern their sense of call and where they might serve in the wider community. This team typically meets 8-10 times per year. If you have been in the church for a few years, and would like to help others find a place to use their gifts, and/or if you love to welcome new members and get to know them, this is the group for you!



















 
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            [post_content] => Join the Thrifty Threads volunteers and members of the community in showing off affordable, sustainable fashion trends on Saturday, April 25 at 12:30pm in the Sanctuary. Models wanted! No experience needed. Please contact thriftythreads@upbrookline.org. Come strut down the runway, cheer on the models, admire new fashions, and shop local. Stop by and check out this fun, free community event!


            [post_title] => Thrifty Threads Spring Fashion Show - April 25
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            [post_content] => Spring has arrived, and that means we are officially a quarter of the way through 2026. With spring, we've seen a clear uptick in the number of donations. Historically, January and February are our slowest seasons of the year. That being said, this year we are ahead of last year's pace both in terms of donations out and money raised. Way to go! Our income is just under $50,000 and we have shared 762 bags. This is just over 8000 lbs, or the size of a hippo! We have used this income to supplement our shared inventory with over $4700 in spending on diapers, wipes, feminine products, socks, underwear, soap, other toiletries, and food support for many of our community partners.

Thank you to all our volunteers and donors!
            [post_title] => Thrifty Threads Quarterly Update
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