The Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough

If you missed our Annual General Meeting on April 19th, you missed an historic event in our history...that is, the occasion of conferring upon Rev. Anne Orfald the title of Minister Emerita. Anne was the minister of this congregation from 1994 to 2004; it was a first ministry for both Anne and this congregation.

What does it means to be a Minister Emerita? A dictionary definition indicates that an Emeritus is “retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement.” Once ordained, a UU minister is a ‘Reverend’ for life; the Minister Emerita title will forever connect Anne’s ‘reverend-ness’ with the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough.

In reading the resolution below, you may wonder what ‘all the rights and privileges’ might be...a salary?...a tiara?...an expectation to preach regularly? Well, actually, none of these things. On a practical level, we will add Anne’s name to our masthead, and it entitles her to a vote at the UUA general assembly. More importantly, it is a title of honour that we will all proudly bear, and which will call us to remember Rev. Orfald’s important contributions to this Fellowship.

At a Sunday service in the near future, we will present Rev. Orfald with a framed copy of this resolution, approved unanimously by the congregation at the Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2009:

RESOLUTION OF THE UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP OF PETERBOROUGH

WHEREAS the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough recognises that its vitality and growth come from its rich history of support and leadership;

AND WHEREAS the Rev. Anne Orfald was ordained in Peterborough and installed as the first minister of the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough;

AND WHEREAS over Rev. Orfald’s ten years of service she showed a commitment to the Fellowship through her professionalism and visionary service;

AND WHEREAS Rev. Orfald’s hard work and leadership laid the foundation for a growing community and thriving Religious Exploration, Fellowship and community programming;

AND WHEREAS on the 19th day of February, 2009, the Board of the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough voted unanimously to recognize the work and accomplishments of Rev. Orfald on behalf of the Fellowship by proposing this resolution to the Fellowship;

IT IS RESOLVED that the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough confer upon Rev. Anne Orfald the title of Minister Emerita, and is to be accorded all the rights and privileges therein.

On a personal note, I feel it to be a great privilege that Anne and her husband Scott have remained in Peterborough as active members of this congregation. We are so much the richer for their presence.

Julie Stoneberg, Minister