An Annual Congregational Meeting is held in April, May or June each year to adopt the budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1, elect members of the Board of Trustees, hear reports from the President, the Minister and staff members, and conduct any other business specified in the notice of the meeting.

May 3, 2026 Annual Congregational Meeting

The 2026 Annual Congregational Meeting was held in the Sanctuary and via Zoom after worship at noon on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

After preliminaries including recognitions, the Minister’s Annual Report and an update on the process of revising our Mission/Vision statements, the members present voted to approve:

• The ordination of Intern Minister Monica Clark-Robinson
• The election of Board of Trustees members
• The proposed 2026-27 operating budget (payroll details removed – email website administrator for full budget)
• A motion to authorize borrowing up to $60,000 from the Endowment Fund for exterior siding replacement

Board of Trustees members-elect

These candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee were elected to the Board of Trustees for the terms noted.

Jerry Brenner – 3-year term beginning July 1, 2026

Jerry (he/him) joined UUCC in September 2024, after visiting frequently during the previous year. He has been active on the potluck team and in supporting the Honduras Team, a participant in Chalice Circle, and occasionally active with the Grounds Team and Art GroUUp. He and fellow UUCC member Christine are engaged to be married in May 2026. Jerry has worked for Columbia College since 2003 as a chemistry and physics instructor and as director of the college’s academic help center. His hobbies include hiking, biking, and creating homemade jigsaw puzzles.

Mark Price – 3-year term beginning July 1, 2026

Mark (he/him) joined UUCC in February 2025. Currently he is active on the Care Team and the Finding Our Way Forward Team. Mark has worked as a professor at Columbia College since 2001. He is currently the Althea W. and John A. Schiffman Endowed Chair in Ethics, Religious Studies and Philosophy. For fun, Mark plays guitar and sings in the original Americana/alt-country/rock band Hurtsickle Fade.

Vulture Young – 3-year term beginning July 1, 2026

Vulture (he/him) joined UUCC in 2023. He has participated in Chalice Circles, Kaleidoscope, Mindfulness Meditation, and Art GroUUp. This would be his first opportunity to serve on the board. A Columbia resident since 1998, Vulture enjoys a variety of creative pursuits and is currently focused on making small pieces of visual art as a hobby business, as well as reading and writing poetry. Professionally he works in customer support, which he views as an opportunity to make the world a little less worse for each person he interacts with.

Jeremy Duke – 2-year term to fill vacancy beginning July 1, 2026

Jeremy Duke is currently finishing a one-year term on the board after being selected by the board to fill a vacancy. Jeremy and his wife Kyna Byerly joined UUCC in May 2001. They raised their three now-adult children at UUCC and have appreciated the support of the church members, RE and youth programs, staff, and many friends throughout the years. Jeremy has been on the board twice previously. In addition he has been actively involved in small group ministry through covenant groups and Chalice Circles, taught RE and OWL, and traveled twice to Honduras with the church group. Professionally, Jeremy is the owner of IMF Counseling in Columbia where he has worked as a therapist for the past 20 years.

Diane Suhler – 1-year term to fill vacancy beginning July 1, 2026

If elected, Diane Suhler would join the board for the first time. She joined UUCC in 2013 along with her husband Gregg.  Diane grew up in Colorado and attended schools on the East Coast. She and her family moved to Columbia in 1988. Diane’s professional career was in academia – she was a professor of finance and economics at Columbia College for 25 years and retired in 2021. During her time at UUCC, Diane has participated in numerous groups including the Social Action Committee, Care Team, Finance Committee, Forum, Chalice Circle, and Milestones Circle. One of her ongoing and favorite activities at UUCC is organizing the church’s monthly Loaves and Fishes meal.

Additional candidates may be nominated from the floor. Any such nominations will need to be seconded, and a person being nominated must accept the nomination.