by Megan Harding
On May 31, members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent (UUCK) will elect three new people to the Board of Trustees for three-year terms that begin July 1.
With a settled, full-time minister, an influx of new members of all ages, upgrades to campus buildings, and COVID in the rearview mirror, the church is poised to blossom. “This is a time of renewal for the church and a good time to be involved,” says Claudia Miller, one of seven current board members.
Board service provides opportunities to deepen relationships with other church members and heighten one’s sense of spiritual connection. “Our strength as a group is we want to make sure everyone’s voices are heard. There’s no ego involved,” said Randy Ruchotzke, who was elected moderator in July 2025 (and has served on the board on and off since the 1990s). He credits the two moderators in place just prior to him, Kara Kramer and Ginny Horvath, with building a close-knit atmosphere after the church weathered some difficult transitions.
Although Kramer had joined the church fairly recently when members of the Leadership Development Team asked her to serve, she felt her newness could be an asset, as well her perspective as a parent of two young children. “I leaned heavily into collaboration and communication to make sure the members, friends, and staff understood what we (the board) were doing and why,” says Kramer. “The board was very committed and stepped up to meeting twice a month versus the old ‘normal’ of once per month so we were taking care of everything that needed to be addressed.” Board members elect their own moderator from within their ranks at the start of each fiscal year.
“I enjoyed the internal work of practicing right relationship with my fellow board members,” says Susanna Smart, who served on the board from 2022 through 2025. “Serving on the board was a spiritual practice for me. It was a way to put the values that we hold as a UU congregation into action. I cared about listening to what was spoken as well as listening for what was unspoken,” she said. Others echoed Smart’s feeling that meetings offer an intentionally safe environment where participants allow the time, space, and willingness to explore differences of opinion.
“I feel that courage can be contagious,” Miller said. “When someone has the courage to say the hard thing, it bolsters your courage to do the same. It makes you feel so close and loving to the group. Not only do you get to know them but you get to care about them.” She adds, “I feel joy at church now. I see people experiencing joy, not just in the service, but when they’re doing service for the church. It grows your soul.”
When asked what tips he might have for new board members, Ruchotzke said: “If you go in with the attitude of a beginner and let the vibe of the group and the sacred duty we have to look after the church–if you let that bubble up to the surface–it can be life-altering.”
Any UUCK member who has questions about service on the board, or who wishes to express interest, may contact Kathy Kerns, chair of the Leadership Development Team, at [email protected].
