I am  impressed with Laurel's integrity and generosity of spirit. Our leaders need to have depth and grounding, especially in a society so easily swayed by surface impressions. Laurel articulates a vision of service that is supported and enriched by theological understanding. To be sustainable, our work must be grounded in an awareness of our interconnected web -- our relation to spirit no matter how we define it. Her work at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas has exemplified this vision and it is what we need to guide Unitarian Universalism in the coming years.
Pam Rumancik, student
Meadville-Lombard School of Theology
Chicago, IL |
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She is well qualified! Laurel will help us reach “spiritual maturity.” This will help us spread the UU message! This is our time of change.
Barbara Silvera
GA-2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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 Laurel has walked the walk. She is deeply spiritual; thoughtful decisive; inspiring. She has vision and knows how to “ask” and get the most from whom she asks. We could not do better!
James Snell
GA-2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
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 Laurel Hallman is a visionary leader with one foot firmly in the present and the other stepping boldly into the future. She understands both our Association and congregational life. And she has a clear vision of how both can be more powerful and effective.
Arvid Straube
Lead Minister, First UU Church of San Diego |
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Rev. Susan Suchocki Brown |
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 I am delighted to write in support of the candidacy of Rev. Laurel Hallman. She has the leadership skills, the vision and the enthusiasm and experience to be the next president of the UUA. I served on the UUA Board of Trustees during the presidency of Gene Pickett, Bill Schulz, and was chair of the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee during the presidency of John Buehrens and for over three years into the presidency of William Sinkford.
Because of my institutional history and connections, I have a sense of what skills and qualities are needed for someone to have to be a superb UUA president and Laurel Hallman is this person. I also have been a Parish minister for over 16 years and am currently the President of the UU Trauma Response Ministry, and a member of the UUMA Committee on Ministry for Antiracism, antioppression, multiculturalism.
I look forward to working with Rev. Hallman in the various ways our paths of service to our Unitarian Universalist Association intersect.
Rev. Susan Suchocki Brown
First Church Unitarian Universalist
Leominster MA
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 Laurel Hallman is just the right person at this time to serve both as a prophetic public voice for Unitarian Universalism, and to lead the institutional advancement of our association of congregations.
My experiences of Laurel Hallman and her effects on our UU movement have been life lessons on vital qualities of religious and institutional leadership. Rev. Hallman has built a leadership institution in every respect at First Unitarian of Dallas. In its Dallas community, in our North Texas UU cluster, our Southwest District and our UUA, First Dallas continually steps forward to lead, mentor and partner to further the mission of our faith. In her bones Laurel seems to get it that a central responsibility of leadership is to cultivate, inspire and send forth new leaders. First Dallas lay leaders I’ve had the privilege to work with display spiritual grounding, focus on a larger vision, and generosity with their personal gifts – and all are feature qualities of Rev. Laurel Hallman.
I couldn’t be more certain in my endorsement of the Rev. Laurel Hallman to be the next president of our UUA.
Joe Sullivan
Immediate Past President of the Southwest District
May 2008
 Laurel is the absolute right person to lead our UU movement at this time. Her institutional expertise and thoughtful religious leadership have been a great inspiration.
Joe Sullivan
GA-2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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SWUUW Proclamation of Endorsement |
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.jpg) The Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women (SWUUW) at their annual business meeting held, February 9, 2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas passed the following:
WHEREAS Dr. Laurel Hallman has been a strong spiritual and organizational leader in the SWUU district for over 20 years and has supported and promoted the work of SWUUW,
WHEREAS her leadership strengths, insights, abilities, values and perspectives are what the UUA needs at this time of transition,
Therefore we, the members of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women, endorse Dr. Hallman as the next President of the UUA.
Mary Overton, President
SouthWest UU Women
Mary Overton is also the Executive Director for the First International Convocation of UU Women to be held in February 2009 in Houston TX. |
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 Laurel is committed to spiritual risk taking, encouraging congregations to go deeper thus providing the environment for growth. Laurel is committed to youth ministry and faith development for ALL ages. She recognizes the work we’ve done with the Consultation on Ministry to our youth and will build on our momentum.
Jan Tadder
GA-2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
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 During my four years at Meadville/Lombard Theological School, studying for the ministry beside classmate Laurel Hallman, I knew -- as we all knew -- her rise to the top would be inevitable. I'm only surprised it has taken so long!
From personal knowledge gained in theology school and from the following years of observing Laurel serve the cause of liberal religion, without hesitation I endorse the candidacy of Laurel Hallman for President of the UUA.
With Laurel at the helm, I have no doubt that she, our association and all of our congregations will prosper and flourish in the coming years. I urge you to join us by adding your support for the candidacy of this remarkable woman.
Rev. Angie Theisen (interim)
UU Church of Fort Meyers Inc
Fort Meyers FL
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 Laurel has been a gracious colleague, mentor, and role model to me. She brings her whole self to everything she does. She will bring amazing energy, strength, humility, and reality to the UUA. Her leadership comes at a critical time in our movement. I believe Unitarian Universalism is about to become a major influence in a rapidly transforming society. Laurel is the right person at the right time to carry us through these exciting times.
Rev. Matt Tittle
Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church
Houston, TX |
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Endorsements
Click here to download the Congregation Nomination Form. Please have your church complete and file the nomination.