Safer Congregation Response Team Update – August 2025
As a congregation, we strive to promote and nurture a culture of respect and consent to keep children, youth and adults safe from sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct while participating in congregational life.
The WUUC Board has taken several actions in support of this goal:
The WUUC Safer Congregation Response Policy received final Board approval on 4/16/25 and is now available on the WUUC website in the Policy section under the Resources/Governance Documents tab. The Response Policy gives us the tools to respond promptly and appropriately if the safety of our congregation is violated through an act of sexual misconduct.
The Safer Congregation Response Team (SCRT) is designated in the above policy to implement response procedures upon an initial report of misconduct.
The Safer Congregation Response Team members were selected by the Board and are: -A member of the Board of Trustees: Lane Owsley -The Minister (in an advisory role): Rev. Dan Lillie -Three members at large: Cora Goss-Grubbs, Kerrie Vespaziani and Jan Radoslovich -One auxiliary member TBD, representing RE/children’s programs to be called upon in the event that the complaint involves a child or youth.
The WUUC Safer Congregation Rights and Responsibilities document was approved by the WUUC Board on 6/28/23 and is available on the WUUC website in the Other Documents section under Resources/Governance Documents tab and will be posted in key locations around the church. The Rights and Responsibilities is essentially a code of conduct that lays the foundation for affirming and nurturing a culture of consent, respect and accountability within our community.
You have the right to report violations of your safety or the safety of others, and to have your concerns or allegations be promptly and thoroughly addressed. Reports can be made directly to the SCRT via e-mail (safe@wuuc.org) or by contacting any individual member of the SCRT. Additional resources for reporting allegations of misconduct are Board of Trustees members, the minister, or a Lay Pastoral Associate.
Questions? Contact any member of the SCRT: Lane Owsley, Cora Goss-Grubbs, Kerrie Vespaziani, Jan Radoslovich or Rev. Dan Lillie.
After the worship service on June 15th, we are having a Congregational Meeting where we will vote on the proposed 2025-26 budget and for the candidates for the elected positions on the Board of Trustees, Endowment Committee, and Nominating Committee. The members of the Nominating Committee extend our gratitude to those completing their terms this year, and to the following members who have agreed to serve in the coming years. We propose the following slate of candidates:
Board of Trustees Candidates
Jeff Lu
Jeff is the current WUUC Board President, serving on the Board since 2022. Since joining WUUC in 2020, Jeff has been an active member, engaging in the Crossing Paths, Soul Matters, Circle Supers, BAG cleanups, Men’s breakfast and Men’s retreat. Jeff also volunteers on technology crew for the sound, video, lighting and Zoom for WUUC services and events.
Jeff is a retired executive, with a career focus on computing hardware technology and product development. Jeff spent a dozen years working in China and Taiwan, experiencing many cultures and faiths while visiting many countries in Asia.
Lane Owsley
Lane Owsley has been a member of WUUC for more than 20 years. He has served as an RE teacher and youth advisor. He was a longtime member of the Building and Grounds Committee, as well as the Membership Committee. He currently serves on the Safer Congregations Task Force and the Auction Team.
Endowment Candidates
Grace Simons
Rev Grace Simons is Minister Emerita of the UU Fellowship of Stanislaus County (CA), and also served High Country UU Fellowship in Frisco, CO. Before beginning her ministry, Grace was a Peace Corps Volunteer and long time Jr High Science teacher and track coach. Grace has served as a UU Ministers Association coach and as a member of the Pacific Northwest District’s Transition Team. She preaches occasionally and served the Evergreen UU Congregation during a period of crisis. She and her husband David have two adult children and four grandchildren. Grace coordinates the Totes to Go program here at the church, sings in the choir and generally tries to be helpful.
Nominating Committee Candidates
Tony Faraco-Hadlock
Tony and his wife Katie began attending WUUC in 2022. He is a member of the tech team (Zoomkeeping, Sound, and Camera) and as of recently is leading Gen XYZ. He really enjoys being a part of this vibrant community and is passionate about continuing to build a church community that is dedicated to improving our world and nurturing its members. He is honored to be nominated for the nominating committee and looks forward to giving back to the church through this work.
WUUC has again supplied food items for students at Maywood Hills school (Bothell) who are at risk of missing meals on weekends when school isn’t in session. Many, many thanks to all of you who have supported this important program. The staff at Maywood Hills always talks about how important the program is and how much it helps the kids’ ability to learn.
Everyone at Maywood Hills is excited about the new building going up on their campus. It will replace their portable buildings and provide a cafeteria, which the school has never had. Crews are working seven days a week to have it ready for use in the fall. This is a huge advance for the school!
Some of you have asked about what support might be available for these kids during the summer break. The Northshore School District has a foundation which helps to meet the need during summer vacation. They are asking for donations to provide this support. The following is excerpted from a District message.
“Our community has come together to support Northshore students with two important programs: Community-Supported Summer Food Program and Northshore Schools Foundation’s Backpacks for Kids. We are fortunate to have the support of the Northshore Schools Foundation in these efforts. NSF will be accepting donations to support the Community-Supported Summer Food Program. Financial donations will help support the purchase of food in bulk to assemble food boxes for enrolled families. You may donate money anytime until Aug. 31, 2025 by using the QR code below or going directly to the Community-Supported Summer Food Program donation website.
The Fair Fight Bond Fund is the only community-sourced immigration bond fund based in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest paying to release people from the violence and injustice that is immigration detention. As a network of community activism rooted in the direct requests of immigrants and detained people, the Fair Fight Bond Fund provides support in and outside detention through physical, emotional, linguistic, and financial assistance. We exist to provide hope and comprehensive support to detained immigrants with the goal of freeing people from detention, reuniting them with their loved ones, and working toward a larger vision of eliminating detention centers altogether. This fund is an initiative of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN).
The ASJ Committee thanks WUUC members and friends for their generous support of our monthly special collections, which take place during services on the third Sunday of every month (May 18th). Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/give/now, or by sending a check to WUUC at P.O. Box 111, Woodinville, WA 98072. Please make checks out to WUUC and write “ASJ Special Collection” in the notes. Visit wuuc.org/collection.
The WUUC Endowment Fund is an investment in the long-term health of WUUC and can serve many significant purposes: a source for short-term funding of an activity WUUC would not be able to fund otherwise, or a means to take advantage of unusual major opportunities for growth or service, or even as a source of financial backup in case of major emergency. Consider making an endowment pledge commitment as part of your estate planning or as a one-time donation. Learn more at wuuc.org/endow.
