Featured in this issue:
Latest NER Blog; May Congregational Administrators Gathering; New NER OWL Database; May gathering of SL4CC; Teacher Development Ren Mod; The Possibilities of Part Time Ministry; May REP Meet and Eat...
...and more! Scroll down to find the article you are interested in.
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Covenants, not Punishments
by wren bellavance-grace
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“Have you been to the bathroom yet?”
It’s not the typical pre-workshop conversation my colleagues and I share as we set up projectors, easels, and workbooks for participants. My answer was no, so my colleague proceeded to describe what she found there.
There was a beautiful painting in an ornate gold-trimmed frame which depicted several early settlers to Massachusettts’ shores standing on a windswept dune. To their right, the ocean, with silhouettes of boats in the style of the Mayflower sailing (presumably) back to England. To their left, the harsh “New World” landscape almost daring them to tame it.
This was a congregation in Eastern Massachusetts, so the connection to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower makes sense. It’s likely that this church’s ancestors could be traced back to that historic moment. But also - the bathroom?? It's an odd place to hang portraits of our ancestors.
We followed up with our host congregation but no one there could say they knew why that painting was hanging there. Perhaps it led some folks to explore their history and tend to their congregation’s tradition. But that discovery had raised for me questions about not only our ancestors but one of their most significant gifts: the concept of covenant.
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Congregational Administrators Gathering (online)
These recent times have been especially isolating for administrators and we have noticed a rise in the number of new administrators in the region. Let's connect! Join your peers to share ideas, questions, concerns and support, Thursday June 1, 12:00-1:00pm ET. This will be our last gathering for this church year. We hope you can join us.
We’ll send details to all registered participants with your registration confirmation and a few days before the gathering.
Registration open soon! Please check your inbox. If you have not received past invitations please contact us at newengland@uua.org so that we may add you to our contact list.
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UUWorld Q&A: Aisha Hauser and Kirsten Hunter on UU Religious Education and the Future of Faith Formation
As we continue to be impacted by Covid-19, so many of our congregations are having to ask deep questions not only about the future but also the present of our Faith Formation ministries. We want to highlight this article and celebrate the wisdom of our own Kirsten Hunter, Director of Lifespan Ministries at South Church in Portsmouth, NH.
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NEW New England Region OWL Database!
Does your congregation offer OWL? Want to? Are you seeking another congregation to collaborate with, or do you have members curious where they can bring their children to participate in the program? Please follow this link to NER's new OWL information form and submit your answers.
We occasionally get inquiries about OWL curriculum offerings and trainings. This is an important program and our aim is to support congregations and members alike. The information collected on this form will be shared to help congregations that are offering OWL and families or RE programs seeking OWL find one another to work collaboratively. All information is self-reported by the congregation. We rely on congregations to update their information as necessary. The New England Region thanks you for your hard work!
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Tending Our Tradition through Reparations
Evening offering: May 23, (6:30pm orientation) 7:00-8:30pm ET*
Daytime offering: May 25, (12:30pm orientation) 1:00-2:30pm ET*
*Each offering will have the same program.
An optional orientation to Spiritual Leadership Q&A
session will begin 30 minutes before each offering.
In our May gatherings, we will consider our theological imperative to take up what religious and spiritual people have been called to for all time: to bring forward the gifts from our tradition's past and reconcile where our tradition has fallen short. While reparations is not the only way to tend our tradition, it will be our focus for this gathering.
The Spiritual Leadership practice of Tending Our Tradition acknowledges that while we inherit our tradition, we can also shape and re-make our historical roots. We are called to wrestle with our principles and values, with our ancestors and their actions. We are called to uncover and expose the injustices of our past — and beyond that, we are called to repair.
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This community of practice is open to all — religious professionals and laity. Once you join, you will automatically receive registration details and the pre-work assignment before each gathering. To join the community, use this form. [Note: only those who join the community will be sent registration details. Registration deadline is May 22.]
To learn more, follow these links:
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Liberating Governance for Our Times
Inspired by the Business Resolution (PDF) adopted by the 2022 General Assembly to create UUA governance that is “dynamic, accountable, flexible, and responsive,” we invite you to consider your congregation’s ways of sharing power and making decisions. Are your systems dynamic, accountable, flexible, and responsive? Are we creating liberatory ways of being within our congregations as we work for liberation in the world?
We meet every other month for 90 minutes to learn together and support each other in making the changes needed in our congregations. This program is open to all staff and lay leaders. It is especially appropriate for Board members and others in the congregation entrusted with significant decisions. We highly recommend participating as a team with others from your congregation.
Our next gathering will be Tuesday, June 13, 7:00-8:30pm ET; topic TBD
To receive invitations to register for our gatherings, and to help us know what you particularly need, please sign up for our email list.
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Contribute Your Story of Lived Experience of Disability in a UU Congregation
Nothing about Us without Us! That is the rallying cry of the Disability Rights Movement and one we intend to honor.
EqUUal Access is working with Skinner House to publish a book on the lived experience of disability in congregations. We are seeking authors, named or anonymous, who would be willing to share their authentic story. If chosen, these candidates will receive an honorarium. The book will have a strong intersectional framework, so stories in which authors bring their whole selves are of the highest interest.
Please reach out if you would be able to write your story or be interviewed. More information is available here.
A rough draft of submissions are due on May 15.
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Ren Mod Offering: Teacher Development (online)
Mid America Region is hosting a Teacher Development Renaissance Module scheduled for five weekly sessions Tuesdays July 18 to August 15 12:00-2:00pm ET: July 18 / July 25 / August 1 / August 8 / August 15 (this final session will end at 2:30pm ET).
The Teacher Development Renaissance Module is an online learning experience comprised of four two hour plus one two and a half hour webinars with readings and other assignments between each session. The registration fee is $250.00 for all 5 sessions.
The registration deadline is Thursday July 13 or when maximum capacity is reached. An email with a unique Zoom link will be sent to registrants on each individual training day.
Please find more information here, and registration here. Registration is required and has an associated fee of $250.00 for all five sessions.
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Safety and Security Training (online)
Central East Regions presents an online Security Update Training and Gathering on Saturday, May 6, 12:00-3:00pm ET.
Many congregations have experienced security threats in recent months from protests to destruction of property to disruption in events. This program offers a presentation on the core needs in safety and security: prevention, response, and after-care. There will be a brief worship, workshops, and time to speak with other congregations about the work they are doing and/or questions they are reflecting on.
All members of UU congregations and communities are welcome to attend - particularly members of staff, Boards, religious education committees, and safety teams.
Registration is required and has an associated fee of $10.00 per participant. The registration deadline is May 6.
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The Possibilities of Part-Time Ministry (online)
If your congregation currently has or is thinking about part-time ministry, this event is for you! If you’re a minister currently serving or planning to serve as a part-time minister, this event is for you! If you’re just curious about what part-time ministry is all about, this event is for you!
Join us for the “The Possibilities of Part-Time Ministry,” a virtual one-day event on Saturday, May 13, 12:00-5:00pm ET / 9:00am-2:00pm PT. Our featured theme speaker will be G. Jeffrey MacDonald, author of Part-Time is Plenty, Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy.
In addition to Jeff MacDonald’s theme presentation, there will be multiple one-hour workshops on all aspects of part-time ministry. If you can’t be there on May 13, a recording of the event will be available to everyone who registers. You’ll also receive a promo code for a 40% discount on MacDonald’s book Part-Time is Plenty, so register now!
More details and registration here! Registration deadline is Friday May 12, or when maximum capacity is reached.
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Religious Education Professional May Meet and Eat (online)
We are inviting religious education professionals (REP), from across the continent, to virtually join members of the UUA’s Faith Development Co-Lab for a time of deep connection with other religious educators on Tuesday, May 9, 12:00-1:30pm ET.
Our connection theme is Article II. Joy Berry, the UUA’s Children and Families Faith Development Specialist, will be sharing about developments and will be joined by Faith Development Co-Lab members Lenore Bajare-Dukes, Eric Bliss, and Nancy Combs-Morgan. Our goal is not to "fill you up" with information, but more so to have time for the attendees to share their thoughts about Article II, especially about what they have been asked to do in reference to the process. There will be some processing time after the breakouts, with a closing that will contain more references to Article II content and resources.
Registration is free and required. The registration deadline is Monday May 8.
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Creative Conflict
A blog from Hope for Us Conflict Engagement Team Co-Director Connie Goodbread:
"As human beings we are conflict avoidant – until we are not. Then we are willing to destroy one another.
Conflict begins when there is more than one idea, opinion, or experience in the room. We are so conflict avoidant that we even avoid using the word conflict for this experience. We can’t see that in the beginning, when there are a bunch of different ideas in the room, conflict is creative. This creative moment is called by some studies, “creative disequilibrium” – the state we are in when we do not know the answer. When we are unsure." Read more here.
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UUA Legacy Giving Webinar for Congregations
Saturday, May 6, 2023 1:00-3:00pm ET / 10:00am-12:00pm PT
The UUA’s Legacy Gifts Office offers a number of services, including an online workshop to assist congregations in creating legacy giving programs. The webinar on Saturday, May 6 covers the basics of legacy giving and how to set up a legacy giving program in your congregation. The office aims to equip congregations with the knowledge they need to start a legacy program.
Registration is required. To register for the webinar, email the UUA's Legacy Gifts Office at legacy@uua.org or call (617) 948-6509.
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Presidential Forums 2023 (hybrid)
There will be a series of four presidential candidate forums, starting in March, to allow delegates and members to learn more about Rev. Dr. Betancourt. Planned in concert with the Election Campaign Practices Committee with support from UUA staff, each forum will offer both on-site and virtual participation. There will also be an additional forum during General Assembly in June.
All Unitarian Universalists are welcomed and encouraged to engage with the presidential candidate forums and the process as a whole, to ensure our next UUA President may establish the foundation for their leadership with broad participation.
Recording of March 18, 2023 in Arlington, VA (bottom of page)
April 29, 2023 in Evanston, IL (recording coming soon)
May 20, 2023 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET in Santa Barbara, CA
June 3, 2023 1:00pm CT / 2:00pm ET in Dallas, TX
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How to Participate in the Article II Conversations
Wondering how you and your congregation can contribute to the Article II conversation on the revision of our Principles and Purposes?
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Read the Article II Commission Report (pdf) or watch the video of their presentation (YouTube)!
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Watch the Article II Commission space! Starting April 1, you can suggest amendments ideas here. In May, discussion groups will be organized to craft the amendments. Check the webpage for more information and details!
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Commit to attend General Assembly! It might be fun for your delegates to attend this year’s General Assembly in Pittsburgh in person, but your delegates can also attend the business only online GA meetings for no cost. There really is no excuse for not representing your congregation at General Assembly this year. Register here!
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Plan a good process and select your delegates! How can your delegates represent the overall perspective of the congregation? Members should feel confident that your community’s chosen delegates have sufficient guidance to represent your whole congregation. How to do this? Our nominated candidate for UUA President, Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, suggests some good processes here. Long story short, plan for intentional conversation and broad outreach!
The Article II Commission is looking forward to continued engagement with Unitarian Universalists about this important shift in our theology. Your voice matters!
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