Here I was thinking everything had already been said. That there were no other words to say (again) what we all already know: here we are, still in pandemic life. And yet, a shift has arrived and there are ideas being shared that can bring comfort, illumination, and insight. So, I wanted to share some of the things I’ve been reading - and listening to - in hopes they might bring some clarity or compassion to you as well:

Trauma-Informed Workplaces by Susan Beaumont of the Congregational Consulting Group

Describes five trauma-informed practices for supervisors or leaders to use in this time.

“In a season when so much is beyond our control, we can control how we respond to the trauma of others. We can balance compassion with accountability and build a resilient workforce.”

They're Not Coming Back by the Rev. Rob Dyer (Presbyterian) at Ministry Architects

Continue reading.

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Announcing a new community of practice:

Spiritual Leadership for Culture Change

The practices of Spiritual Leadership help us cultivate the creativity, resistance, and resilience that are needed to make the culture change we are called to make. Faithful living takes practice...and company. This community of practice is for anyone interested creating culture change by embedding the practices of Spiritual Leadership into their congregational life and beyond.

Find out more here.

Bridging, the transition from youth to young adult, is a sacred ritual in Unitarian Universalism. But what happens on the other side of the bridge?

If you know any young people in your congregation or community, especially recent bridgers, who are moving to the Boston area or have recently moved here, please encourage them to visit thesanctuaryboston.org/.

Sanctuary Boston is a community grounded in the Unitarian Universalist values of courageous love and radical welcome, and open to seekers of all kinds. We believe that everyone deserves to experience beloved community. Sanctuary is something we can create with each other and for each other by offering our gifts and building a world of more justice, equity, and compassion. 

Please forward this message to the emerging adults in your life and encourage them to reach out to thesanctuarycampus@gmail.com or fill out this interest form.

Participate with us via the chat for real time conversations where your ideas matter and your questions get answered. Explore faith, spirituality, and life purpose as never before. And above all, bring your authentic self and...JUUst Breathe. Created by the Central East region.

A blog post shared by the UUMA - How to Keep Your Minister: A Guide for the Thoughtful Layperson

As the church year came to a close this past June, Facebook groups of UU ministers filled with stories of congregations treating their ministers poorly. What ministers define as poor treatment can take many different forms, but the result is usually the same: the minister determines it’s time to move on and announces their departure OR begins to plan for moving on next year.



Continue reading.

Please Help Us Keep Your Information Current



We track ministers, administrators, religious educators music directors, presidents, vice-presidents and treasurers in your congregation. We would appreciate you completing this form if people in these roles change during the year. If you have more than 3 updates, please start a new form.  Thank you!

COMPASS: Navigating the Paths to Liberation together - December 11 and 12, 2021

With so much uncertainty in the wider world, sometimes it can be hard to find one’s bearings.  

Join us to find our collective “Compass” as we explore interdependence as a path to wholeness.  

This event is for: lay leaders, religious professionals, adults, youth, members of congregations, and anyone else who is interested in diving into an exploration of interdependence in UU theology and practice.  

Compass will be held online December 11 and 12, 2021 beginning at 10am PT/11am MT/12pm CT/ 1pm ET. The weekend will include worship, speakers, identity caucus space and more. 

Registrations open Friday, October 1! Register here.  

Compass will be hosted on the Whova Platform, available in desktop form or on your mobile device via the Apple and Android app stores. This is the same platform used for General Assembly and New Day Rising. If you already have the app downloaded, you can simply open your app and tap “My Events” to find Compass. The app will be launched for use starting December 1.

Youth Ministry Reboot: Postponed!

Remember June? Things felt so hopeful. Vaccines were happening; businesses were opening; so many things seemed perched on the brink of possible. It was in those hopeful days that three of us started talking about offering a national two-part webinar series on emergent youth ministry. How we might collectively shape the next generation of youth ministry, post pandemic? How might we rethink youth ministry through the lens of all we’ve learned in the last 18 months?

To paraphrase an old Yiddish proverb, We planned; Covid 19 laughed.

Friends, we are not post-pandemic; we are still very much in the middle of it. This is not the time to shape new models of youth ministry or glean wisdom from the lessons we aren’t done living through yet.

We are hearing from many religious professionals and lay partners in youth ministry that this is a time for connection - and reconnection. We have been apart too long. It’s time for using trauma-informed ministry to acknowledge the grief we are all experiencing - for lost friends or family members; for lost time; for lost experiences that cannot be recaptured. This is time for somatic care - for grounding our minds, emotions, and spirits in the bodies we care for. inhale, exhale, repeat. It’s time to drink water, get through another pandemic-impacted fall, and simplify. We heard you.

Continue reading the article and see resources.

Taproot: A National BIPOC Space Oct 2021

The work of spiritual community is complicated in the 21st century. From busy schedules to the ever pressing tension brought on by systemic injustice, the need for faithful leadership that is grounded and resilient is imperative. This is all the more true for leaders within our communities and congregations who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC). All too aware of this need, Congregational Life is excited to explore and co-create a network with congregational leaders that support them in this time in emergent ways through Taproot: A National BIPOC Space. 

Learn more and register here!

Gatherings for Congregational Board Members/Trustees - Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7p (ET)

This is the NER quarterly zoom gatherings for congregational board members/trustees. Join with your peers to share ideas, strategies, questions, concerns, and support.

Learn more and register here!

Minns Fall 2021 Series October 7, 14 & 21

Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz, former UUA President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, will be speaking about his new book, The Coming Good Society (Harvard University Press, 2020). After decades of work defending rights, he’ll challenge us to think about how rights evolve with changing circumstances, and what rights will look like ten, twenty, or fifty years from now. 

Registration is free! Register to attend by clicking here or at www.minnslectures.org.

Explore the Full UUA Events Calendar for more!

Leadership Resource Library

If your congregation is discussing how to come back together in person, the Leadership Resource Library may help in that process!

List COVID-19 Resources

September 15th to October 15th is Latinx Heritage Month and we recommend the following books for adults and children that center and honor the histories, contributions, and stories of the Latinx community. Join us in celebrating these trailblazers whose stories are redefining identity, shaping our culture and society, and pointing to the crucial work that remains.

Stay in touch with NER by subscribing to any our contact lists here.

We thank all congregations whose generous contributions to the Region

and to our UUA Annual Program Fund make all of our work possible.

We offer learning opportunities throughout the New England Region for congregational members, lay leaders, and religious professionals.

Regional staff services and support are available to UU congregations year-round.

Stay in touch with NER by subscribing to any our contact lists here.

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Website: uua.org/new-england

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