All Souls UU in DC - why did Rev. Susan leave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much. To confirm, Reverend Susan has provided all the information and the church has adhered to all HR norms/regs?

Leaving this aside, it really seems hopelessly sad. I will miss her work and presence there. We are not members but attend 2-4 times a month

Basically, yes, though her supporters disagree. They allege All Souls broke confidentiality by providing the name of someone that was involved in a mediation session between Rob and Susan. But yes, it's all very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, what is the fitness review?

A process that was undertaken by the United Church of Christ, the denomination through which Susan is ordained, after they received a complaint about her behavior.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for answering these questions. I really appreciate it During the day i was able to find quite a bit of info online, too. I had not known about the online groups. There is also a discussion at the church this week that one of us will attend. But overall, my impression is very, very negative. There are two sides to every story. Listening to her side - even if 10% of what she said was true - raises deep concerns about how she was perceived and treated. Reading the posts the community has put online, even if they don't reflect the views of every member, and even if there are several repeat voices on those strings - well, I just can't imagine myself hearing "beloved community" from the pulpit and feeling anything but empty.

Finally, in our experiences there, we've found some lovely, warm and welcoming people. Fabulous music, great sermons, comfort after the election. But we've also wondered about how the place was managed, to what degree it carries debt, and an overall feeling that its efforts are very scattered. And weirdly, a lack of community - which the raging online debates reinforce. It did not really hit me until last December when I volunteered at my child's preschool, which is run by another religious denomination. We had to do a Christmas event with the kids, so we were in the church that is part of the school. And it was so well maintained and run - there was a community vibe - volunteers from the church, (their equivalent of green souls, i suppose) for example, showed up to make sure the coffee we volunteered to run used only ceramic mugs and no disposables - on a weekday. (I know All Souls also uses ceramic mugs, my point is the dedication of the community.) They had also raised funds for solar panels for the church. There was focus and results! I was amazed. Still, theologically, joining said church is way, way, way beyond my comfort zone. But I was considerably less excited to trek over there after I had this realization Then I heard about Rev Susan, and was waiting to hear more. That put me off too. I work in HR, and perhaps because of knowing how HR issues can go, was perplexed that whatever the situation was, it had come to her having to leave.

All Souls has been so wonderful because of the uniqueness of UU, esp, for me the 4th principle of a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. And most especially because of its rich diversity and history. Now I feel like going over there is almost farce.

[Anonymous]

Could you provide a link to these online discussions? I’m very interested but couldn’t find them. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

see facebook

[Anonymous]

one of the posts mentioned this in passing - https://www.uuworld.org/articles/really-happened-starr-king -- this person is now the all souls minister of adult spiritual development and regularly preaches. what i find odd is that i've never heard this before. although the issue at hand is between Rev Susan, Rev Rob and the retiring ED, it gives insight into the all souls leadership and what looks like a fairly dysfunctional way of doing things.

not central to the story, of course. but telling in a way. why doesn't all souls hold her to the same standard as Rev Susan? this just makes me think of Black friends who have told me they had to be "twice as good" in everything they pursued.

the more i look, the more disappointed in All Souls I feel.

[Anonymous]

also this on rev. rebecca parker https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/us/inquiry-focuses-on-leaked-documents-at-starr-king-school-for-the-ministry.html

i understand these are separate cases but i'm truly puzzled as to why someone with this kind of management record is welcomed at all souls and Rev Susan Newman Moore is not. Makes very little sense.

[Anonymous]

The All Souls Community Facebook page has now posted a letter to the Congregation from the lead minister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The All Souls Community Facebook page has now posted a letter to the Congregation from the lead minister.

Thanks, quite the complex read https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsChurchUnitarian/posts/1725489964198542

Sounds like the minister at All souls inadvertently supplied information that was instrumental in the UCC deciding to suspend Rev Susan. Then again, I might be wrong. The minister seemed very kind and concerned, but was sometimes hard to follow.

[Anonymous]

Having lived through a major split in a congregation and church leadership at another prominent church (don't worry, not DC area) all I will say is that both sides will see exactly what they want to see in the situation and refuse to budge. There is no positive outcome regardless of whatever the issue was.

It's no fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having lived through a major split in a congregation and church leadership at another prominent church (don't worry, not DC area) all I will say is that both sides will see exactly what they want to see in the situation and refuse to budge. There is no positive outcome regardless of whatever the issue was.

It's no fun.

Amen, had a similar experience in another DC area Congregation a number of years ago. It took a very long time to heal.

[Anonymous]

We have decided to leave All Souls.

[Anonymous]

I do not know of the circumstances with this church, and I am not from this area, but I have sat on the Commission on Ministry in two of our UCC conferences. A situational support consultation can be, and often is, the mechanism used to resolve church conflicts. A fitness review is conducted when there is concern for the clergyperson's professional ethics and fitness for ministry. The second process is not entered into without a significant concern that has caused the COM to recommend this process rather than a situational support consultation. The UCC does not revoke a clergy person's ordination, per se. BUT the decision can be to revoke the clergyperson's ecclesiastical standing in the denomination which means they are unable to serve in any UCC ministry going forward. This can be a permanent severing of ties with the denomination. Or there can be a suspension which is a temporary time of separation and means that a plan has likely been initiated leading Eventually to restoration of the ecclesiastical standing. This process often does indeed lead to the full restoration of ecclesiastical standing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for answering these questions. I really appreciate it During the day i was able to find quite a bit of info online, too. I had not known about the online groups. There is also a discussion at the church this week that one of us will attend. But overall, my impression is very, very negative. There are two sides to every story. Listening to her side - even if 10% of what she said was true - raises deep concerns about how she was perceived and treated. Reading the posts the community has put online, even if they don't reflect the views of every member, and even if there are several repeat voices on those strings - well, I just can't imagine myself hearing "beloved community" from the pulpit and feeling anything but empty.

Finally, in our experiences there, we've found some lovely, warm and welcoming people. Fabulous music, great sermons, comfort after the election. But we've also wondered about how the place was managed, to what degree it carries debt, and an overall feeling that its efforts are very scattered. And weirdly, a lack of community - which the raging online debates reinforce. It did not really hit me until last December when I volunteered at my child's preschool, which is run by another religious denomination. We had to do a Christmas event with the kids, so we were in the church that is part of the school. And it was so well maintained and run - there was a community vibe - volunteers from the church, (their equivalent of green souls, i suppose) for example, showed up to make sure the coffee we volunteered to run used only ceramic mugs and no disposables - on a weekday. (I know All Souls also uses ceramic mugs, my point is the dedication of the community.) They had also raised funds for solar panels for the church. There was focus and results! I was amazed. Still, theologically, joining said church is way, way, way beyond my comfort zone. But I was considerably less excited to trek over there after I had this realization Then I heard about Rev Susan, and was waiting to hear more. That put me off too. I work in HR, and perhaps because of knowing how HR issues can go, was perplexed that whatever the situation was, it had come to her having to leave.

All Souls has been so wonderful because of the uniqueness of UU, esp, for me the 4th principle of a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. And most especially because of its rich diversity and history. Now I feel like going over there is almost farce.

Curious - what was the other church?

[Anonymous]

What exactly is she accused of doing (or generally, what type of behavior could get her to this point)? I don't understand what level of severity this would fall under.