Category: Leadership

From:  Kathy Osuch (Secretary of the Board)

Subject:  Announcement of Special Congregational Meeting

Time:  Sunday (2 August 2026) at 12:00 noon or immediately following the worship

Location: Large conference room in The Highland Center
520 Olive Street, Shreveport  LA  71104 or online (Zoom link provided before meeting)

Please join us for this important congregational meeting where we will:

1. Discuss various options for moving forward in a new space
2. Receive information and have an opportunity for input on the possible purchase of the property at 641 Olive Street, Shreveport LA  71104

Please see “A Message from Our Board President Susan Yellott (5 July 2026)” for more information.

A special mesage from our Board President:

Dear Friends,

We stand on the threshold of an exciting new chapter in the seventy-six-year long story of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Shreveport.  We are often reminded that our church is not simply a physical structure, but a loving group of humans joined together searching for truth and upholding our values of beloved community.  However, families need homes and over time, they typically move from one home to another as needs change.

Over two years ago our congregation decided for various reasons that we needed to find a new building to house our church family.  This decision was not taken lightly but came about with much forethought.  Our first step towards that goal was to sell the building we are currently using at 9449 Ellerbe Road.

This step will be completed with the closing on July 22nd.

In the beginning, we tentatively surveyed the quickly changing market, but it’s gotten much more focused and intense these past few months as we knew a sale on the Ellerbe Road property was forthcoming and we would be in a situation where we could act.  Options include building another structure, renting a structure, sharing space with another religious institution, buying an already existing building, etc.  We’ve polled membership and have gotten some responses.  We’ve considered our dedication to the eight principles specifically our reverence for the interdependent web of life and where our congregation can be strategically located to provide service, as this is our prayer.

One of the options considered was finding an already existing building.  We, with the help of our realtor, Tena Hines, have scoured the market diligently, taking into consideration all the suggestions we have received from membership and contemplating what our needs are, including location, size, price, aesthetics, future growth, etc.  We want to fulfill our obligation to you and try to find a location that is a good fit for this congregation.

Taking your suggestions into consideration, we have located a building that appears to be very promising.  It is at 641 Olive Street not too far from the Highland Center, an institution that we often partner with.  It’s accessible to public transit, is in a central location, has parking, room to grow, and a large green space with trees.  The building is slightly smaller than what we were originally looking for and it will need to be remodeled as it is not currently set up as a church, but we are hopeful that the construction style and low asking price will give us more flexibility in this renovation.

As a Board, we were proactive and elected to put in a contingent bid on this property to take it off the market for 45 days.  This will give all stakeholders the opportunity to tour the building and attend a presentation with an architect who has some innovative ideas for this structure.  The bid is $285,000.  Please understand that this bid will hold the property and a transaction will not occur without the culmination of the sale of the Ellerbe Road property as well as a positive approval vote from you, our congregation.

We look forward to positive discussions and collaboration.  Please plan to participate in a special congregational meeting on August 2, 2026, where we will vote whether or not to go forward with this building. This meeting will be held in the large conference room at the Highland Center, 520 Olive Street directly following our church service.

I am sending this on behalf of your Board of Directors.

Much Love,
Susan M. Yellott, Board President
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church