Category: Uncategorized

Secretary

Job Description
(approved by the Board on 11/20/2025)

Rationale: The Secretary takes minutes at all Board meetings, updates records and handles correspondence as needed. The Secretary makes changes annually or as needed to keep record documents of UURMaPA current. These records include: current lists of leaders for general reference and in records of the Massachusetts Secretary of State; a file of up-to-date functional job descriptions submitted for Board and off-Board positions; Bylaws as amended and changes in Operating Procedures as needed. The Secretary sends updated public documents to the webmaster to be posted on the website.

Expectations:

  • Minutes of Board Meetings: The Board holds a virtual meeting most months via Zoom and an annual retreat, which may be in-person. The Secretary takes minutes at all Board meetings and retreats, and may send an early draft of minutes to Board members for possible edits prior to the next meeting. The revised minutes are sent to the Board a few days before the meeting at which members will be asked to approve them. The Secretary sends minutes and attached Board member reports as approved to be posted on the website under Governance. Recent practice has been that the Secretary marks text of decisions in bold and action items in red italics, and inserts line numbers on the left document margin. Line numbers are removed before sending the minutes to the webmaster.
  • UURMaPA Leadership List and History of Service: Each June before a new Board takes office and other times as needed, the Secretary updates two documents. The UURMaPA Leadership List, including off-Board appointees who agree to serve in the next year, is sent to the webmaster for posting on the website. The Secretary also assures that annual updates are made to the UURMaPA Leadership Service History spreadsheet that tracks both elected officers and Board-appointed leaders by service years. The spreadsheet update is sent to the webmaster to be posted on the website under Governance.
  • Updates of Bylaws: The Secretary enters into the Bylaws any amendments proposed and approved by the Board and the membership, and sends the document to be updated on the website under Governance. Some Bylaw updates may also need to be filed with the Secretary of State (see below).
  • Corporate Filing with Massachusetts Secretary of State: UURMaPA is registered as a non-profit corporation with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Each July, as a new set of Board members is elected, the Secretary (as official Clerk of the Organization) files a Certificate of Change, with officers’ names, addresses, and terms of office with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Other changes may occasionally be needed (including changes in Resident Agent or updates of the Articles of Organization. The Secretary can file online to the Secretary of State’s website: 

https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx

To access UURMaPA’s record, do a Business Entity search for ID 000572981. If needed, use: CID# bx3k28; PIN 8958. Fees may be charged for some entries and can be reimbursed by the Treasurer.

  • File of Job Descriptions: The Secretary maintains UURMaPA’s reference file of current job descriptions and key functions for all elected and appointed leadership and sends updates to the webmaster as needed. The updated file is kept online and serves as a reference resource for the Board, Nominating Committee, and members in leadership. Revision dates and names should be recorded on each document, and should be checked at least annually and revised as needed by relevant Board or off-Board leadership. 
  • Updates of Operating Procedures – policies: The Operating Procedures document contains the policies and detailed procedures that guide the organization. It evolves as needed based on decisions of the Board that are recorded in the minutes. The Secretary edits the Operating Procedures document as needed to keep it current, and sends the updated document for posting on the website under Governance.

Updated by Judy Gibson, former UURMaPA Board Secretary & Nominating Committee member; in consultation with Barbara Child, Secretary—June 2020.
Updated by Anne Marsh, Secretary – November 2025

President

Job Description
(approved by the Board on 11/20/2025)

Rationale: The President represents the organization and its goals to members, to the larger Unitarian Universalist community, and to the public at large, promoting and furthering its mission and reputation.

Expectations:

  • The President monitors the Board and its members regarding fulfilling UURMaPA ’s Mission. They prepare the agenda and chair meetings of the Board and represent the Board to members, UUMA, LREDA, UUA, and other UU groups. They are expected to attend UURMaPA Conferences and the UUA General Assembly, with expenses covered by the budget.
  • For the annual in-person Board meeting, the President, in consultation with the Board, develops the agenda and invites appropriate guests from the UUA and UUMA.
  • Conferences – The President leads UURMaPA informational or business meetings and offers reports.  In consultation with planning teams, the President will select Odyssey presenters for all UURMaPA Conferences.
  • Other UURMaPA Events – the President consults in planning and participates in the annual virtual “UURMaPA Welcome” event.
  • UUA General Assembly – The President attends UURMaPA-sponsored events when held, and, where possible, the gathering for families of deceased ministers.  They represent UURMaPA at the Service of the Living Tradition.
  • Nominations – The President works closely with the Nominating Committee in selecting nominees to fill Board positions and possibly other vacancies as needed.
  • Other duties include:
    • writing condolence letters to families of members who have died
    • writing articles for Elderberries and for other publications as invited
    • preparing the annual financial appeal letter(s) to members
    • promoting educational programs for members and future members
    • serving as liaison to specific off-Board annual appointees
    • generally coaching others in their roles

Drafted by Judy Gibson, 3-18-2020
Revised by Diane Miller in consultation with past Presidents, 2020
Revised by Susan V Rak, February 2023
Revised by Richard Speck, November 2025

Jean Newton Box

Jean Newton Box, age 98, passed away peacefully on Friday April 26, 2024 at Commonwealth Assisted Living in Oak Ridge TN. 

Mrs. Box and her family have appreciated her longevity and the love and friendship she has experienced from so many persons throughout her life. She has written this obituary herself. 

Jean Newton Box was born in Maywood IL, June 13, 1925, to Leon and Viola Newton. He was a locomotive engineer and she was an elementary school teacher. Jean grew up in this western suburb of Chicago in a musical family. At nine she moved from piano to flute, which she played into her nineties.

She graduated from Cornell College in Iowa in 1947 with a major in Sociology and a plan to become a social worker. Her first position after college was in an American Friends Service Committee student program for attendants at the New Jersey Psychiatric Hospital in Trenton. There she met another student who was learning about counseling in mental illness. That was Howard Box, who was attending Yale University preparing for the ministry. They kept in touch through their further education and first jobs and married in 1952. She found the position of minister’s wife quite to her liking and saw the opportunity to use her social work skills in their congregations.

Rev. and Mrs. Box served congregations at the Unitarian Church in Newburgh, NY; the Unitarian Church in Ottawa, Canada; the Society for Ethical Culture in Brooklyn, NY, very similar to the Unitarian denomination; and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Ridge, TN. It was an interesting experience to live in Canada, another country. Daughter Ruth and son Gordon were both born there and have dual citizenship.

Through most of her life, Jean had various part-time jobs in social work or positions on boards. And in Brooklyn she and two other members used their musical skills to perform together for their own and other congregations in the NY City area. The last congregation that Howard served was The UU Church of Oak Ridge TN, starting in 1976. In this city Jean was in the Community Band, the Symphony Orchestra, played solos and accompanied the church choir. She gave private flute lessons to 150 students in the Music Arts School from 1980 to 2000.

Rev. Box retired in 1991. They continued to live active lives in Oak Ridge. In 2018 they moved into Commonwealth Senior Living where Howard died in 2021 after 68 years of marriage.

The Boxes are survived by daughter Ruth Westfall of Mahomet IL, son Gordon Box (Betsy Williams) of Durham NC, and daughter Carol Box (Alessandro Nicita) in Switzerland, where he works for the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. Grandchildren are Robert Westfall, and Sofia and Matteo Nicita.

Memorial contributions in Jean’s honor may be made to the Oak Ridge UU Church or to the charity of one’s choice.

The Rev. Dr. James “Peter” Hughes

J. Peter Hughes

The Rev. Dr. James ‘Peter’ Hughes died on April 17, 2024, at the age of 71.

Peter was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 29, 1952, to Arthur A. Hughes and Joanne Little Hughes. He was the eldest of seven siblings and attended churches of the Anglican religion in childhood. He went to various grade and elementary schools in multiple cities in Canada, ultimately graduating from Macdonald High School in St. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. In 1973, Peter received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge MA. In the same year, he married Lynn Gordon, a fellow student at M.I.T. He then worked as a computer programmer for eight years before following his call to ministry.

In his late twenties, Peter began to explore the spiritual and intellectual horizons to find an institutional home. He felt that there was a need for a religion that could bring together ancient wisdom and modern knowledge; one that would respect people’s varying strengths, needs, and dispositions in a true religious pluralism. He became involved as a layperson in the UU Society of Stamford, CT from 1980 to 1982, immersing himself in the history and culture of Unitarianism and Universalism. He began to see the church in a more critical light. He wanted to develop plans for helping liberal religion explore new areas, and help religious liberals more fully live their religious principles. This vision kindled his thoughts of ministry. In 1984, he earned his Master of Arts in Divinity from the University of Chicago IL, following which he received his Doctor of Ministry from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1986.

Rev. Dr. Hughes was ordained by the First Universalist Church, Woonsocket RI on April 26, 1987, where he served for 13 years (1986–1999). During his tenure, in addition to his pastoral duties, he was instrumental in the transcription of documents in church history and wrote a history of the period of the church’s first minister, John Boyden (1840–1869). He wrote, directed, and participated in several services that consisted of the congregation members’ dramatic performances. Rev. Hughes, along with his wife Lynn Gordon Hughes, were the founders of the First Universalist Food Pantry, and their work sustained this effort for over 10 years. In 1999, he retired from the ministry on disability, due to post-polio syndrome. In 2000, the First Universalist Church honored him as their minister emeritus.

After retirement, Rev. Dr. Hughes focused on research projects, mainly on the history of American Universalism and the Reformation roots of Unitarianism. He launched the Dictionary of UU Biography and served as its founding editor for nine years. He was a frequent contributor to the Journal of UU History and other publications. He also helped the UU Historical Society to develop a publishing program and an online discussion list. Furthermore, he was president of the Universalist Church of Rhode Island and vice-president of the UU Historical Society.

Always active in community service, Rev. Hughes was on the boards of Adopt-a-Family, Woonsocket Shelter Community Action Program, and Family Resources. He was also active in the Greater Woonsocket Clergy Association. He received the Paul Dempster Award in 1997 for contributions to community service. He was a champion for the rights of the disabled. In 2008, he was forced to crawl downstairs to a polling station in a church basement. This motivated him to take on Elections Canada where he won in a landmark Canadian Human Rights Case in 2010, Hughes v. Elections Canada. The result was nationwide changes to all Canadian polling stations to ensure accessibility for disabled voters.

In his leisure time, Peter enjoyed listening to music and collecting records (classical and film music), playing the recorder and other woodwind instruments, watching old movies, going to the opera, reading, and reading aloud. He enjoyed the challenge of arranging music for unusual combinations of instruments and was usually involved in some sort of music ensemble, often as a leader.

Peter is survived by his wife Lynn; children Paul (Caolan) and Logan (Jae); grandchildren Jane and Alice; as well as his siblings: Jan, Kate, Mary Jo, William, and Sarah Beth. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Wendy.

A memorial service was held on June 8, 2024, at the University of Toronto, Canada. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Princess Margaret Cancer Center <https://www.uhn.ca/OurHospitals/PrincessMargaret>, 610 University Ave., Toronto ON, M5G 2M9.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Lynn Hughes at lynnghughes@gmail.com or mailed to Lynn Hughes, 312-24 Wellesley St. W., Toronto ON, M4Y2X6, Canada.

The Rev. David O. Rankin

The Rev. David O. Rankin died on April 5, 2024, at the age of 86 (1937-2024).

David is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ginger Rankin; his sons: Mark Rankin and Oran Rankin (Sara); grandchildren: Jim Minor Rankin, David Rankin (Jessica), Emily Rankin, Seneca Wainright (Justin); as well as his great-grandchildren: Liam and Clara Wainright.

A private memorial service is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ginger Minor Rankin Scholarship Endowment. This can be done at the University of Idaho’s web page: Donation Annual Giving. GiveCampus. Please choose Ginger Minor Rankin Scholarship Endowment in the Designation box and enter “In Memory of David O. Rankin” in the In Honor of box. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence can be sent to Ginger Rankin at Gingerrankin@moscow.com or mailed to Ginger Rankin, 312 North Garfield St., Moscow ID 83843.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website. If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Jay Atkinson – jayatk40@gmail.com.

Service of Remembrance Notes

In the third session of the first day of our spring 2024 conference, the Service of Remembrance will focus on three elements from service leader Rev. Lilia Cuervo’s Hispanic culture: presence, honoring, and healing.

An ofrenda (altar) will hold pictures of the ministers and spouses whose presence we yet feel. In front of each picture, a votive candle is lit, which flame signifies and celebrates their lives and the examples they give us.

As in past conferences, we will honor them in four segments with eulogies and roses. Reflective, healing interludes of poetry and music help us to remember them, and perhaps, ponder our own lives.

Honoring the lives and legacies of

Treva Frank (widow of Rev. Vance Frank)
Rev. Lewis Dunlap
Rev. Joel Baehr
Anne Clarke (widow of Rev. Robert Clarke)

Rev. Susan Weickum
Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle
Rev. Dori Somers
Rev. Cynthia Johnson

Rev. David Maynard
Rev. Olivia Holmes
Rev. Patience Gardner
Rev. Ronald Marcy

Rev. James Grant
Rev. Steven Protzman
Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs
Rev. Rick Koyle

Membership Coordinator

Job Description
(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

Rationale:  The Membership Coordinator performs important functions for UURMaPA in keeping membership and communication lists current and accurate. They manage posting and use of the membership list for communications and serve as primary administrator for the UURMaPA Announce list-serve provided through UUA.org. 

Expectations:  Basic duties of this job include the following:

  • Maintains current membership information using an Excel spreadsheet and two  Directories (Membership and Connections) as Word documents or in whatever format the membership database management system requires.
  • When a minister retires, the Intent to Retire form is sent from the UUA to the Membership Coordinator, and the minister (and spouse if any) are added as new members. This includes adding the email address to the Announce-List.
  • Updated Directories (saved as pdf documents) are sent monthly to the Webmaster to post on the website. The Announce-List is also updated with any changes. 
  • Other duties include preparing extracts of the Excel data to send to the printer for mailing the newsletter, the appeal letter, or other needed mailings.

This is an appointed position with Board liaison that begins or may be renewed annually each July.

Proposed by Marcia Olsen, Membership Coordinator as of March, 2015. 
Edits by Judy Gibson, March 2020. 
Suggested revision – Susan V Rak December 2023.

UURMaPA Historian

Job Description
(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

Rationale:  The Historian works with other leaders to assure that important UURMaPA documents are preserved, including publications such as newsletters, directories, brochures and guides produced by the organization since its beginning in 1985. The UURMaPA website (uurmapa.org) serves as a site for reference and preservation of many recent past and current public items, including Elderberries (since beginning in 1985), Board minutes (since 2014) and obituaries (since 2004).

Expectations:   The duties of the Historian include the following:

  • The Historian may be provided with documents and asked to assess their value for historical purposes. 
  • The Historian maintains a relationship with the Archivist at Andover-Harvard Library and ensures that selected UURMaPA papers and records are filed there, as appropriate. (Note: Any documents sent to Andover Harvard Archives become their possession and UURMaPA no longer retains any copyrights.)
  • The Historian updates UURMaPA’s history so that the organization has an accurate record of its early history and progress since 1985. A version of the most current history may be posted on the website under RESOURCES.
  • The Historian may research member obituary information prior to 2004 to help build the online website archive of obituaries for ministers and partners.
  • On their own initiative or as requested, the Historian may assist with UURMaPA historical projects and prepare historical articles for Elderberries or other outlets.

The Historian is appointed for a one-year term by the UURMaPA Board and reports to the Board. The Board President is the liaison for the Historian to the Board. The term may be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

Originally created Fall, 2011. 
Revised by Judy Gibson, Nominating Comm member, with Susan LaMar, current Historian, June 2020.

At-Large Member for UUMA/UUA Relations

Job Description
(approved by the Board on 12/18/25)

Rationale: This at-large Board position was created in 2013 in order to implement a recommendation of the 2012 Task Force on Retired Ministry (a joint task force representing UURMaPA, the UUMA, the UU Interim Ministers Guild, and the UUA). The “Report of Joint Task Force on Retired Ministers: Recommendations and Resources for Best Practices in Right Relations among Settled, Interim, and Retired Ministers and their Families” is recommended for review, and is available for reference as a guideline for this job. (Find it on the UURMaPA website under RESOURCES/3 Helpful Publications.) Since this At-Large position involves coordination between the UUMA and UURMaPA, it should be filled by a retired minister.

Expectations:  Several current duties include the following, and the Board may define others as needed:

  • Serving as a UURMaPA Chaplain-At-Large, with publicized availability as a listening ear for UURMaPA members, both ministers and partners, with interpersonal problems with fellow members that might inhibit full participation. The Chaplain-at-Large also can serve as an intake and referral resource for UURMaPA members whose concerns might suggest UUMA Retired Ministers Good Offices support or UUA or UUMA staff support. If the Board has no partner member, the Chaplain-At-Large will be asked to be sensitive to partners’ concerns as they arise in Board deliberations. The Chaplain-At-Large also recruits and manages the three-person chaplain teams serving during UURMaPA Conferences.
  • Serving as our liaison to the UUMA and the UUA — typically to the Office of Church Staff Finances regarding concerns related to all things retirement, and sometimes to the Professional Development Director. 
  • Serving as a liaison to other UU professional organizations:  Liberal Religious Educators Association, Association of UU Administrators, Association of UU Musicians.  
  • Communicating with the leadership of the UUA and the UUMA regarding mutual concerns, invitations to participate in conferences, and shared program ideas.
  • Managing logistics for UUMA and UUA staff participation in conferences, including occasional roles as an introducer or moderator for staff presentations.*
  • Advocating and obtaining logistical support for UURMaPA’s Sing Out Love subscription

As part of the UURMaPA Board, this person will attend monthly Board meetings (online via ZOOM, and in-person if required annually at a conference), participate in decision-making and accept other duties as needed.

* New role added 8/28/2024

Revised by Wayne Arnason 3/16/23, 9/7/23, 2/13/25
and by Christine Robinson 9/25, and 12/25.

Christopher B. Nelson

‎ Chris Nelson

Christopher B. Nelson died March 28, 2024, from Parkinson’s disease.  He was born in Winchester MA, June 16, 1936, the son of John and Kathleen Nelson. He grew up in Quincy and earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1958. Family friends set him up with (later Rev.) Roberta “Bobbie” Martin. She was the love of his life, and they married in June 1960. 

Chris retired in 2001 after 36 years of service with the federal government, first at the Lexington Lab (HHS) and then with the newly established EPA in Washington D.C. In its Department of Radiation Programming, he was an expert in modeling radioisotope transport and estimating radiation dose and risk from exposure. His work provided an important basis for EPA’s radiation protection regulations. He was also an integral part of Bobbie’s ministry, from co-writing curricula to teaching Sunday school.

In 2001, he and Bobbie built their dream home on the Bagaduce River (Maine). Chris volunteered at the Sedgwick Elementary School, and sang with the Bagaduce Chorale, their treasurer for several years. He was active in town meetings.

Chris enjoyed sailing, kayaking, traveling, reading and keeping up with the news. He and his wife were lifelong proponents of social justice.

In 2015, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. As the disease progressed, he moved to Parker Ridge Assisted Living, where he received wonderful care and support from the staff.

Chris was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, and is survived by their daughters Heather of Surry, Jennifer of Portland ME, and Joy and her husband John Saams of Gambrills MD; his brother John Nelson (Irene) of Amherst MA, and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Peter and Mark.

A memorial service was held April 6, at the UU Church of Ellsworth ME.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to: The Bagaduce Chorale (bagaducechorale.org) and Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinson.org).