Below, please find two letters: one from the Board of Trustees and one from Rev. Joe, as well as closing remarks.

 

Dear Members and Friends of the UU Congregation of Saratoga Springs,

After thoughtful and heartfelt conversations about the future of our congregation and Rev. Joe Cleveland’s ministerial aspirations, the Board and Rev. Joe have mutually agreed to part ways. Rev. Joe will be concluding his tenure as our minister at the end of March.

We are deeply grateful for the ten years of dedicated service he has given to our congregation. Through times that challenged all faith communities, Rev. Joe provided steady leadership, offering insightful sermons, drawing inspiration from music, and bringing an unwaveringly positive spirit to our shared journey.

As we prepare for this transition, we celebrate his many accomplishments and the lasting impact he has made on our community. We send him off with our warmest wishes for whatever path he chooses next, trusting that his gifts will continue to enrich the lives of those he serves.

With gratitude and best wishes,

The Board of Trustees
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs

 

Beloved Members and Friends of UU Saratoga,

After many deeply felt and challenging conversations, the Board and I have come to a mutual discernment that it is time for our shared ministry to come to an end.

I came to this ministry ten years ago as a brand new minister, and the congregation will always hold a special place in my heart as the first community to call me as Minister. One of our commitments as UU’s is a commitment to transform and grow spiritually and ethically, and I am deeply grateful for the experience of growth and transformation that we have shared together.

You all have been wonderfully open to experimentation and learning. When the Covid lockdown happened and we had to learn a whole new online way of doing worship and congregational life, you all jumped in with both feet. I’ve seen this spirit of enthusiasm and commitment in every committee and team of the congregation. And this spirit continues to live vibrantly in so many ways, perhaps no more undeniably in the way that the congregation has committed its whole heart to building a new home for liberal religion in Saratoga Springs on Louden Road.

I treasure the relationships that I’ve developed here and the congregation’s welcoming heart. You have shared so much of your lives with me and I am deeply honored and grateful. I am going to miss you deeply. There are such exciting times ahead for you as you continue to create and discover more possibilities to manifest love and compassion and to witness and advocate for justice. You are only going to grow as a beacon and example of what a loving, diverse liberal faith community can be.

With love,
Rev. Joe Cleveland

 

Closing message from your Board

When people have no idea that a big change is coming their way, and then it’s here before they have even had time to adjust to the idea, they can experience shock, alarm, sadness, fear and any number of very deep feelings. Automatically questions arise, and people want to know why this is happening.

What we as your Board of Trustees want to say to all of you is that a great deal of thought, care and time went into our discussions with Rev. Joe and also with the support from officials at UUA as we made this decision to move into a new future. If you need space and time to work through your thoughts and share your concerns, it will be given to you. The Board of Trustees will make every effort to find people who will be available to share your concerns.

There is deep love and appreciation for Rev. Joe’s contributions made to our community over the years he’s been here. While Rev. Joe won’t be participating in the joint service in Schenectedy March 23, there will be a celebration here for him on March 30th that we hope you will attend.

As all of us work through this change, the Board will be here to give our time and abilities with the many decisions to be made as we are continuing to grow and move to our new home. You are not alone. We are not alone as we hold one another in our hearts.

With love,
Your Board of Trustees