Board of Trustees

June 2025 Board Bits 

• The new Board members, Steve Jarrett and Ann Lemon, attended the meeting. Welcome Steve and Ann!

• Eliot has four new members (Bylaws, Article III, Part A): Andrea Barnes, Steven Barnes, Tom Phelps, and Laura Tyrey. Welcome all!

• The Discernment Team made these recommendations: 1)Retain the property hitherto known as 222 Argonne and fold that parcel of land, under a different label, into the life of the church; 2)Enhance accessibility inside and outside of Eliot!!!--this is an issue of inclusivity; 3)Organize a broader operational plan to continue assessing and enhancing accessibility; 4)Establish a gathering space, especially for older children; 5) Put greeters in place outside the building as well as inside. (222 Argonne Team Report June 2025.docx)

• Rev. Krista’s Ministerial Report: Music and Adult Education teams are very strong.

• Rev. Krista wishes to build Eliot’s emphasis on family ministries. 

• Eliot is still anticipating a surplus at the end of the fiscal year–June 30, 2025. 

• The Ministerial Discretionary Fund is in compliance with requirements for the fund. 

• The final version of the new policy book is ready; it is based on the Hotchkiss collaborative model and reflects our shift to a mission-based governance model. The Board unanimously approved adoption of the new policy book and its implementation by July 1, 2025. Stay tuned for more details and the link to view the new policies. 

• The Ministerial Evaluation Committee has completed collecting 2024-2025 feedback from evaluators chosen at the beginning of the church year. The committee is now compiling the data to share with the minister and request the minister's self-evaluation. The final step will be to present a summary to the Board at an upcoming meeting; thereafter, the minister and the Board will collaboratively establish new goals for the next 3 years. After those 3 years, the evaluation cycle will begin again. 

• The Rolling Roadmap process has, for the most part, been handed off to Matthew Hull, Chair Elect for 2025-26, who will lead the RR team next year.

• Important question from Matthew: In general in your life, what lessons have you learned from experiences of grief, loss, or hardship? 

Rebecca Taylor, Board Secretary