07/18/2026
Dear Channing-Murray and UUCUC Beloved Community,
I write to you to introduce myself, re-introduce the Channing Murray Foundation (CMF), and hopefully answer questions some of you may have about the organization. My name is Maya Bauer, I was raised in Urbana and have 15 years of experience in nonprofits and a Master’s Degree in nonprofit management from the University of Chicago. I was also, as many of you know, raised in the Green St. Church–went to and planned Cons (youth conventions), cut my teeth as a young activist within those walls, and volunteered for 3 years as a youth group leader. I went on to be a co-founder of my college’s UU campus ministry student group. I grew up with the UUCUC congregation as my friends and family. My dad started the Red Herring and was building manager for Channing-Murray during the Vietnam War and I’ve been to hundreds of events, services, ceremonies, gatherings, meals, and celebrations at CMF and at UUCUC. Now I’ve been hired as the Interim Executive Director to help Channing-Murray continue to flourish, and it is a joy for me to be part of this effort. I have as much skin in this game, on both sides, as anyone.
I am writing in response to the recent letter from the UUCUC Board of Trustees to the congregation concerning the relationship between CMF and UUCUC. (find the letter here: tinyurl.com/UUCUCBOTemail ). I write to reassure you that Channing-Murray, our beloved community organization, is in good shape and doing good work. I write to address some questions and tensions, and to apologize for some organizational inconsistencies and communication breakdowns over the last few years; we are a small staff and Board, doing our best. We’re here to solve problems together and to keep our focus on the important work of community building.
Of greatest concern is that current members of the UUCUC Board of Trustees have made inquiries into and statements about the intention and desire to sell the Channing-Murray building to benefit the Green St. Church. Though their letter denies that intention, what they actually pointed out is that the UUCUC congregation, and not the Board, are the ones who can make such a decision. In fact it is the UUCUC congregation as well as CMF that would have to agree to sell, and we hope that never happens.
Such a plan, of course, goes against the tenets of our signed agreement, our values, and the needs of our community. This has caused quite a bit of stress on our end, but has not been the source of any untrue rumors and, to my knowledge, we have yet to make any public statements on the matter.
What I hope is that we can come together, figure out what needs to be figured out, and move forward in the interconnected and values-aligned way that I’ve always found UUs do best. Our CMF Board has written directly to the UUCUC Board requesting that meeting, as we’d very much prefer in-person dialogue to competing public statements. They have responded and we are making plans to meet. We are looking forward to this good faith dialogue. This statement to you, the congregation of UUCUC and our CMF community, is my expression of hope for unity and clarity.
To be clear, CMF is not convinced there are problems. We’re confident that our Trust Agreement is lawful and in good standing. In terms of property and liability insurance, Channing-Murray is covered up to, and in the case of liability insurance, beyond the legally required levels. We have also, as a courtesy, recently added UUCUC as an insured party to our liability insurance. Our building is safe, well cared for, insured, well used, and well loved. Please come to an event, especially if you have not been before! Events can be found on our website at www.channingmurray.org/events.
Channing-Murray Foundation is an important and valuable asset to our mutual community and offers safety and community to students seeking a spiritual home, community organizers working to build the world we want, musicians and poets finding audience and community, people sharing meals and ideas. There are hundreds of events, gatherings, ceremonies, and meals shared at Channing-Murray every year, with over 300 in the past year. We’ve been here for more than 70 years. This is what we are focused on. We are disheartened by having, recently, to shift valuable organizational resources to an escalated and unnecessary tension with UUCUC, an organization we value and share much in common with. We would like to get back to community building and doing our small part to contribute positively to the interconnected web of existence of which we are all a part.
At times like these, all UUs should be in solidarity and joining the fight against fascism and not engaging in organizational squabbles that serve no one. Please feel encouraged to be in touch and to be in dialog, and thank you to the more than 40 community members who attended our May Annual Assembly, and to the hundreds of people who gather at Channing-Murray throughout the year. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the space and support our community has come to rely on.
Thank you,
Maya Bauer
Interim Executive Director, Channing-Murray Foundation
https://channingmurray.org/
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