The Board of Trustees, made up of nine members, serves in trust for the congregation for staggered three-year terms. Staying in close touch with the congregation, the board promotes the accomplishment of the church’s mission and prevents unacceptable activities and conditions in the church by monitoring the work of the executive team. When the trustees first meet as a collective Board, they agree to a covenant:
• Keep our church mission as our focus
• Serve with integrity and live our UU principles
• Support the Executive Team
• Celebrate diversity of thoughts
• Communicate clearly and honestly with each other and the congregation
• Implement our governance model
• Celebrate our accomplishments
• Represent the Board and our Church with one voice
The board adopts governing policies to give direction to the work of our church. They set forth our mission, values, and the ends we reach for. They describe the board’s relationship with the congregation, with the executive team, and within itself. The policies also list what must not be done, as limitations.
Each trustee is expected to serve on one of three standing committees of the board. The standing committees help the board carry out its responsibilities, are chartered with a purpose, and assigned one or more trustees as the chair. The standing committees are:
In addition, the board may establish additional committees as needed.
Each trustee is expected to be an active member of the church to understand the church’s work and aspirations of the congregation and to have real time connection with our members and friends. But the four “jobs” of the trustees are to be faithful stewards of the resources of the church, to stay in touch with the congregation, to articulate its vision and mission as described in the ends, and to monitor the work of the executive team.
Contact the Board
For matters concerning church policy, long-term vision and goals, contact one of the board members shown below. You can email theboard@firstuuwilm.org . We want to hear from you! For concerns or ideas on matters related to church programming or operations, contact the Executive Team.
Become a Member of the Board of Trustees
Trustees serve three-year terms. Three new trustees are elected to the board each year in May. In the winter, the Nominating Committee collects applications and interviews interested board candidates to select a slate for election by the congregation. Click here to view a job description.
Board of Trustees Meeting Time & Board Minutes
The Board of Trustees meets in the Room 25 of First Unitarian Church on the third Monday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Board meetings are open to congregation members. Minutes of each board meeting are posted here.
By Laws and Other Important Information
To read the Amended and Restated Bylaws of First U, please click here. To read the Board Policies, click here. For official church statements on Social Justice Issues, click here. For issues concerning the denomination, JPD District or Delmarva Cluster related to the board of trustees, click here.
The UUA and First Unitarian
Our Board of Trustees supports our church’s membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association and the importance of our financial support for our national organization. Learn more about the UUA and our obligation to provide financial support, here.
Annual Meeting
The annual congregational meeting is held in May. Congregational Meeting minutes are available here.
Board of Trustees for 2022-2023:
Cinda Crane
Cinda has been a member of First Unitarian for 30 years. She was drawn to this congregation because of its acceptance and encouragement of personal, religious exploration using many sources...
Ed Scott
Ed has been a member of First Unitarian Church since the fall of 2014. He spent decades active in Presbyterian congregations, but felt something was missing. Finding Unitarian Universalism has...
Jacquee Lukawski
Jacquee Lukawski recently joined the Board and has been a member of First Unitarian Church of Wilmington since 2013. In addition to serving on the Board, Jacquee is a member...
Vivian Gray
Vivian has been a Unitarian since 5th grade, attending the Fairfax Unitarian Church in Oakton, VA. For about 10 years, she was a member of the Seneca Valley Fellowship, in...
Hans Francke
Hans was born in the Netherlands and entered the USA in 1968. His family became acquainted with the Unitarian Church, when in search of religious education for their children. In...
Susan Cicala
Susan is a Delaware native and thrilled to be serving on the Board. Her husband Dan and two young boys have been members of First U since 2018. She is...
Leslie Dickerson
Leslie has been a member of First U for over 20 years. She works with our ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) helping support youth aging out of foster care....
Maureen Sandberg
I was raised Presbyterian but am pleased to have found my spiritual home in Unitarian Universalism. My husband and I joined the church around 2005 and before then I attended...
Maggie Duffy
Maggie begins serving as Treasurer effective July 1, 2022. Treasurer reports are available, here.