CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 at 12:00 PM

In The Church of the River Sanctuary 

Gordon Bradley (President, Board of Trustees) hereby notifies legal members of the First Unitarian Church of Memphis, also known as the Church of the River, to meet for the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, immediately following the service.

The meeting will have the following agenda items:

  • President’s Report - Gordon Bradley; 
  • Director of Lifespan Faith Development’s Report - Jessica Laikeman;
  • Vote to amend our by-laws to change the number of Board members from 13 to 7 (from 12 plus the treasurer to 6 plus the treasurer) - See below for proposed language change;
  • Vote to further amend our by-laws to change the term lengths and stagger the terms to our Nominating Committee – See below for proposed language change;
  • Vote to elect Nominating Committee members;
  • Vote to elect the Treasurer;
  • Vote to elect an Endowment Committee alternate;
  • Vote on our Ministerial Search Committee candidates;
  • Vote to renew the agreement to share our facilities with the Community of Faith Christian Church.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President: Gordon Bradley

Vice President: Lauren Gilman  

Secretary: Courtney Staub

Treasurer: Lisa Jennings

Members: Porter Feild, Carol Fourmy, Jake Harbour, Paul Herman, Ron Peck, Diana Russell, Laura Taylor, Paula Turner, and Matt Young

Ex-officio: Rev. Lynn Hopkins

 

By-Law Modifications Proposed Pertaining to the Board of Trustees (Changes are noted with new text in italics and deleted text in strikethroughs.)

Article 4

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

4.1 Members. The Board of Trustees consists of thirteen (13) seven (7) elected voting members and the minister who is a non-voting member.

Article 6  

CONGREGATIONAL ELECTIONS  

6.1 Trustees. The members of the Board of Trustees shall have governing authority over the affairs of the church between meetings of the congregation. The Board of Trustees shall consist of thirteen (13) seven (7) members elected by the congregation. … Four (4) Two (2) Trustees shall be elected each year, two (2) one (1) shall be a newly elected member eligible for a two (2) three-year terms and two (2) one (1) shall be nominated for a second three-year term. 

Proposed Expiring Amendment:

4.1.a. Members. In order to reduce the size of the Board of Trustees with minimal disruption, positions becoming vacant at the the conclusion of a Trustee’s second consecutive term and positions vacated by resignation will not be filled, and nominations will not be solicited or accepted, until the total number of Trustees reaches seven (7). This section will cease to be in effect and will not be included in the Bylaws once that is achieved, not later than May 2027.

By-Law Modifications Proposed Pertaining to the Nominating Committee

Article 6  

CONGREGATIONAL ELECTIONS  

6.2 Nominating Committee and Procedure. A nominating committee of three (3) voting members of the church shall be elected at the annual meeting of the church and shall serve until the election is complete at the next annual meeting. shall consist of three (3) voting members of the church, serving three-year terms staggered so that one position is filled at each annual May meeting. 

Proposed Expiring Amendment:

6.2.a. Nominating Committee and Procedure. Three members will be elected to the Nominating Committee, consisting of one member to serve three years, one member to serve two years, and one member to serve one year. Beginning in 2027 and thereafter, one member will be elected to the nominating committee to fill the term becoming vacant. This section will become inapplicable at that time, and will not be included in the Bylaws as amended May 2026.

 

Here are bios of candidates for the Treasurer, Endowment Committee Alternate, and Ministerial Search Committee:

Nominating Committee

Mike Schooler

Mike Schooler and his wife Lori began attending the Church in 2014 and became members within months.  Mike retired from Carrier Corporation in 2006 as an Engineering Manager before working for Crye-Leike Real Estate as an Accounting Specialist until 2018. Mike is Vice-President of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Memphis (where he also volunteers as a high school recruiter in the area) and Vice-President of his bowling league and enjoys a wide variety of sports.

He is one of the lead ushers on Sundays and has served on COR's Team Upstream, Welcoming and Team Read committees and has spoken to the church about his experiences at COR during Canvass Week. He also served on the Nominating Committee in 2023. Mike and Lori have participated in Team Read post carding events and have volunteered in MICAH and LGBTQ events and other voter registration events. Mike is the voting election officer at the Collierville Elementary School precinct. and serves as a trainer for election day poll workers.

Mike and Lori have been married for 46 years and are the parents to two adorable rescue dogs. They have lived in the Memphis area for 39 years, residing in Collierville for the last 24 of those years.

Brad Roper

Brad Roper has been a member of church of the river for over a year and has been attending since 2019, starting with weekly worship services and the Journeys group. After the church resumed in-person worship after the pandemic and his daughter, Emily (23), left for college, he began singing in the choir. He is a longtime Memphian and works as a neuropsychologist and supervisor at the VA Medical Center, and teaches at the VA and UT.

Gabrielle Nieves

Gabrielle Nieves joined Church of the River with her daughter, Annaleigh, in December 2022. Annaleigh was learning about Christianity from her daycare instructors, and Gab wanted to join a congregation that would nurture her daughter's faith while also encouraging her to love ALL others, protect the environment, and stand up for women's rights. She volunteered as a religious education youth instructor for a year, and she has graciously served as primary host of the beautiful weddings held at CoR during the last couple of years.

Gab currently teaches 7th grade mathematics, having previously worked in pathology, zookeeping, and as a barista. She enjoys birdwatching (still a novice!), hiking, and visiting local breweries with her daughter, her mother, and her dog.

Treasurer

Lisa Jennings

Lisa Jennings has been attending the church since 1976. She and husband David joined the church in 1983 and their children, Ian and Laura, were dedicated and grew up in the church. 

Over the years, Lisa has served as Vice President and President of the Board of Trustees, Co-chair of the annual canvass, Chair, Ministerial Search Committee, Co-Facilitator of the AYS program (now known as OWL), Chair, Capital Campaign Committee 2020-2025, and has filled the pulpit as preacher and worship associate. She also served as President of the UUA Southwest District, now transitioned to the Southern Region. In 2024, she received her Certificate in Theological Studies from Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary. Currently, Lisa has served as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for almost 4 years. 

Lisa was a tenured Professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and during her tenure formed two biotech companies, CirQuest Labs and Ariste Medical. Now semi-retired since 2020, she consults with laboratory testing and the pharmaceutical industries. Other interests include travel, gardening and family time including 6 grandchildren and 2 granddogs.

Endowment Committee Alternate

Nancy Mardis

Nancy Mardis and her husband Lloyd were invited by Jerry and Dee Billmeier to attend the Church of the River on Easter Sunday 2006. That afternoon the Jennings were hosting an art show at their home to show works of member artists. Lloyd asked if they could attend and bring a piece each. They never looked back, and soon joined. They both donated pieces to the annual Art Auction. After Lloyd died on April 21, 2009, Nancy stayed. The fox attended his memorial service, dashing across the green lawn. Active in Soup for the Soul and Supper Club, she continues to sketch and watercolor scenes of church activities. Nancy is a retired professor of Business Legal Studies and Personal Finance in the College of Business at the University of Memphis. She loves to swing dance at Lafayette's and the Rumba Room and joins the Memphis Urban Sketchers once a month to draw scenes of Memphis. She lives in Midtown with her beloved dog, Lily.  Nancy is also in the Journeys class, which has become very important to her. 

Ministerial Search Committee 

Lisa Jennings

Current Treasurer Lisa Jennings has worn several hats at The Church of the River since she and husband, David, started attending church in 1976 and joined in 1983. Lisa served previously on the Board of Trustees as Vice President for two years and as President for three 3-year terms.

She was UUA Southwest District Vice-President and President before the District merged as part of the UUA Southern Region. On occasion, she has served as pulpit guest for Sunday church services at our church and nearby fellowships and congregations. Lisa serves as one of the Worship Associates at Sunday services. Over the years she co-facilitated the AYS course (now known as OWL) for the junior high class and has served as chair or co-chair for various efforts, such as the annual Canvass, the Spring into Action Mini-Capital Campaign, a congregation-wide Vision Process, and the Growing Brighter Capital Campaign. Lisa served previously on our Ministerial Search Committee in 2017 and on the Committee for our 2025 Interim Minister search. She is currently a volunteer Professor at U of TN Health Science Center and former CEO of CirQuest Labs, now MLM Medical Labs. She recently graduated (May 2024) with a Certificate in Theological Studies at Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL. Hobbies include cooking, travel, and gardening. David, a member of our choir and a past board President, and Lisa have two married children, Ian Jennings (Johanna) and Laura Yacoubian (Paul) and 6 grandchildren.

Matt Holladay 

Matt Holladay grew up at Church of the River. He has been an OWL facilitator since 2008. He has served as a Middle School Adventure Club leader and has taught RE classes over the years to all ages.

He has been active in church leadership for the past 15 years, including serving on the previous settled minister’s search committee and as President of the Board. He has led or supported the church’s annual Canvas fundraising efforts for most of the last eight years.

Matt has been an Exceptional Children Teacher for the last 10 years and teaching at Ross Elementary the last 8 years. Prior to teaching, he worked in the hub and was a manager at FedEx.

He enjoys board games, traveling (been to Brazil, Japan, Australia, Sweden to name a few places), audiobooks, and trying new coffee shops.

Rod Starns 

Rod Starns has been a member of The Church of the River for more than 20 years, along with his wife T.Leigh and daughter Chloe. He spent two terms on the Board of Trustees, where he served as Secretary and Vice-President. He has also chaired the Governance Committee and served on the Nominating Committee, Capital Campaign Committee, COVID Task Force, and Interim Minister Search Committee (2015). He is currently active in several other roles, including Supper Club, the A/V Team, the Membership Team, playground development planning, and as a volunteer who re-launched and runs the church website and handles church advertising, publicity, social media, and digital archives. Rod is semi-retired and winding down a long career in television and video production.

Laura McArtor

Laura McArtor joined the Church of the River in 2013 while she was living in San Francisco. She wanted her daughter, Virginia, to be dedicated in the church where her own grandparents had found friendships, community and inspiration. Laura and Virginia moved back to Memphis in 2014 and started attending services with Virginia’s grandmother, Lucy. Laura eventually joined the family ministry team and trained as a Spirit Play storyteller and OWL facilitator. She credits COR with connecting her with Moon Mullins who would become a beloved friend and mentor. Moon was the catalyst for creating a social justice ministry at COR, and it is in his memory Laura continues to be involved with Team Upstream as a meeting facilitator and introverted activist. 

Laura is a freelance web designer and marketing partner. As a trained labyrinth facilitator, she recently founded 901 Labyrinths to connect Memphians to local labyrinths and the practice of labyrinth walking. She and Virginia enjoy curating a Free Little Art Gallery in their Joffre neighborhood (@MemFLAG) and arranging an art-filled home for them and their 2 cats.

Kent Fisher 

Kent Fisher has been with the Church of the River for over 18 years and joined with his children to have a safe, loving place to help raise his family in a church home that supports diversity. Both of his sons have been active in the youth ministry and completed the OWL program, which was one of the features that helped draw Kent to this sacred place. Through the years, he has been part of various groups and committees at the church and is glad to continue our work. He has been a member of the Awesome Little Choir for over 12 years and loves bringing the gift of music to our congregation. Kent has recently completed a term on the Nominating Committee to help provide new Board members and Nominating Committee Members. For several years he has been on the Pride Committee to help represent our church at Pride Festivities. In the last year he has become a regular Worship Associate during our Interim Minister time and looks forward to helping where he can. Kent has been a Memphian for over 30 years and calls Memphis his home. He runs a counseling practice in Midtown and is committed to healing the world, one person at a time. Kent loves music, University of Memphis sports and caring for his family.

Sarah Sakaan 

Sarah Badiyah Sakaan began attending church at The First Unitarian Universalist Church of the River regularly at the age of 7 and enjoyed growing up in the Religious Education program then directed by Sue Fergason, followed by Kaylee Donnalee. She has been a member of the Church of the River since 1999 when she was confirmed as a youth under Rev. Burton Carley as minister. She was an active YRUU member in the 90’s and early 00’s. And found her upbringing as a Unitarian Universalist to be a vital part of her formative years. She obtained a B.F.A. in Acting from Emerson College in Boston and spent 2005-2019 living and working in NYC, where she worked as an actor, playwright, theatermaker and Artistic Director of BK based theater company Polybe + Seats. She has written and produced two plays Anna Asli Suriyah(I Come from Syria) and The Art of Hijab, Kohl Black and the Right Way to Pray and acted in numerous productions in the independent theater of Brooklyn and NYC, and more recently performed at Playhouse on the Square in Murder on the Orient Express and Tennessee Shakespeare Co. Saint Joan and R&J Project. In addition to her work in theater she spent 8 years in event management at Brooklyn Winery, a premiere wedding venue and Winery. 

Sarah and her husband Charlie Davis were married at the Church of the River by Rev. Sam Teitel in March of 2018,(the same month as her parents Walid and Cindy were married at CoR in 1981) and returned to Memphis in November of 2019 with their then 6 month old daughter Margot (now 6 years old) and soon realised that baby number 2, Phoebe (now 5) was on the way. Sarah sings in the ALC (Choir) and served on the Nominating Committee in 2024.

Whitney Baker 

Whitney has been attending Church of the River off and on for many years (since around 2012), always thinking if she had kids she would take them to church there some day. Then one day she had a kid to take to church, so she did. Sometime after her second child was born, someone told her she should sign the member book, so she did. Over time she found a lot to do at Church of the River. PIE. Balloon arches. Cupcakes. Stone Soup. Royal icing sugar cookies. Trunk or Treat. Coffee hour. Soup kitchen. Mulch. Unpack boxes. Assemble furniture. Organize storage. Clean out cabinets. It turns out there was a lot she could do at Church of the River, so she did. As one of our most avid and ambitious volunteers, Whitney and her family’s impact at CoR can be seen and felt in nearly every RE classroom and social gathering at our church.