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For more information, please contact our administrator, Kevin Jernegan.

A Time to Leap!

2025-26 Annual Campaign

The theme of this year’s stewardship campaign is “A Time to Leap.” Our community is committed to caring for our growing congregation and deeply engaging in social justice action for the benefit of Petaluma, Sonoma County, and the world.

Let’s leap into growing our community! We believe that a robust ministry and well-functioning church home are the foundation of a thriving, long-lasting, and impactful church – the church that we are called to be. Please click here to see a list of our goals for this campaign.

Ministry

Our congregation wants to use an equitable and transparent process to compensate staff at a living wage for our community with sustained cost of living adjustments. We are in the midst of a multi-year project to support and sustain enough annual funding to have a full-time minister. A full-time minister provides an opportunity to support our church programs and grow them in a cohesive manner. Stability in this position can nourish our community with spiritual inspiration, steward longtime members, and invigorate new membership. At this stage our minister is at half-time with partial benefits. Our goal is increasing the ministerial position by fully funding ministerial professional expenses and benefits this year and then increasing the percent of the position next year. We need your support to grow our ministry.

Church Building

In 2021, we acquired the historic church building at the corner of 5th and B Street in downtown Petaluma with funding provided by a major gift from a generous member of the congregation. Now we must live into the responsibility of maintaining and improving a church building to house our community. We spend $42,000 annually to cover the costs of inhabiting and operating our church home. We need your support to sustain and maintain our building.

Let’s Leap into Social Justice Action!

We strive to be of service to our community, and advocate for our community’s needs. In February 2025, UUP voted to become a sanctuary congregation in alliance with the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition for Immigrant Defense. We want to ensure that we are a strong, resourced community ready to act with courage and respond to the challenges of the upcoming year. We need your time and treasure to get into some good trouble.

Please review the breakdown of our expenses in outlined in “Where Do Your UUP Pledge Dollars Go?” as you consider the importance of what we are creating together and your investment in our community.

Please also consult the UUA’s “Fair Share Contribution Guide” for suggestions on determining the amount of your pledge.

Together we can – really, we must – live our sacred, transform through love, and act with courage. We ask you to give generously to the ministries of our church.  

Yours in Community,

Jean Rivers, Onzie Stevens, Rod & Sandee Crisp, Jodi Boyle

The UUP Stewardship Committee

Please reach out to Stewardship Chair Jodi Boyle for conversation or with your questions: jodib@uupetaluma.org

Thank you!

Pledge Payments

There are many methods for paying your stewardship pledge:

  • Pay Online. This can be by bank account transfer, debit card payment, or credit card charge. It can be set up as regular automatic payments, or done manually as one-time transfers when you are able.  Click here to access our online giving platform.
  • Text Giving. Simply text the amount you’d like to give to this number: (707) 868-8659. First time givers will be prompted to provide their payment method via a secure web page. A list of commands can be obtained by texting “Commands” to this number.
  • Pay by Check. Make check payable to UUP, and mark “Pledge Payment” in the memo line. Mail to: Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, 16 5th St., Petaluma, CA 94952
  • Donate Stock or other tangible assets (see below).

One Time Donations

All contributions to the work of the church are gratefully received and will be used to fulfill our mission.

  • Pay online. This can be by bank account transfer, debit card payment, or credit card charge. Click here for the Online Donation form.

Minister’s Discretionary Fund Donations

The Ministerial Discretionary Fund supports requests for financial and material assistance. Your gifts to this fund have helped people move into stable housing, buy groceries and gas, purchase needed prescriptions, pay for medical care, and more. When you give toward this kind of need, you fulfill the spirit of Unitarian Universalism in your own city and your own community. Please give generously and know that your gift will be received with immense gratitude. Each year at our Christmas Eve service, the offering goes to this fund. To give to this fund electronically:

  • Pay online. This can be by bank account transfer, debit card payment, or credit card charge. Click here for the Minister’s Discretionary Fund donation form.

Gifts of Stock or Other Assets

You may donate stock or other tangible assets, such as a vehicle, in fulfillment of your Stewardship pledge or as a special non-pledge gift. Appreciated stock is also a good way to donate to a Capital Campaign or church Endowment Fund.

Pay for a Church Event or Class

Fees are charged for classes and events that have additional expenses. Enrollment forms, signup sheets, or ticket purchase instructions will be included in the announcement, or on the sponsoring group’s web page. They will also be included here when possible.

For more information on any of these topics, contact the Stewardship Team.