Tapestry of Faith Adult Fieldtest Call: Fall 2009
UUA Call for Congregations: Fieldtest New Adult Programs in 2009-10
We need your input!
Fieldtesting congregations play a crucial role in helping us provide the most rich and useful lifespan faith development programs possible. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) seeks congregations diverse in size, location and culture to fieldtest four new Tapestry of Faith programs for Unitarian Universalist adults in the 2009-10 church year:
- Harvest the Power: Developing Lay Leadership
12 two-hour workshops
This program, written by Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle, Gail Tittle and Gail Forsyth-Vail, offers leadership skill development hand-in-hand with faith development. Fundamental to the program is the understanding that congregational leaders operate at a time of rapid cultural change, facing issues that require both skills and vision. The workshops offer opportunities for new and experienced leaders to enrich and deepen their skills and experience leadership as a Unitarian Universalist faith journey. Workshops can be used in a variety of different ways in leadership retreats, meetings and other leader gatherings. Available online now; begin fieldtesting in September 2009.
- What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology
10 90-minute workshops, each expandable to two hours
Drawing on the work of historical and contemporary Universalist, Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist theologians, this program written by Rev. Dr. Thandeka invites participants to engage some of our tradition’s major theological perspectives and to test those theological points of view against their own lived experience. What Moves Us will satisfy the hunger of longtime Unitarian Universalists, including religious professionals, for challenging faith development materials. Available online October 2009.
- Our Living Unitarian Universalist History
16 90-minute workshops, each expandable to two hours
This program, written by Rev. Jackie Clement and Rev. Alison Cornish, explores our Unitarian Universalist narrative—our story peopled with the prophets, doers and shapers of the faith we seek to live today. Organized thematically rather than chronologically, the workshops offer interesting, engaging ways for participants to explore historical themes and stories and connect them with their own experiences and faith journeys. Available online January 2010.
- A History of Unitarian Universalist Resistance and Transformation
16 90-minute workshops, each expandable to two hours
This program, written by Rev. Colin Bossen and Julia Hamilton, examines the ways in which our social justice values have manifested in our Universalist, Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist history. Each workshop explores a social justice theme through historical stories and primary source material, and then invites participants to reflect on expressions of that theme in our faith today. Participants examine how these themes appear in their own commitment to social justice work and can point the way to future action. Grounded in the belief that even "failures" in our history can inspire us, this program presents Unitarian Universalist history as an ongoing struggle to live up to our own, ever-evolving ideals of social transformation. Available online January 2010.
All programs offer:
- Workshops to use singly or in any number of combinations.
- Informative introductory material to prepare facilitators to lead effectively
- Goals and learning objectives for each workshop
- Core stories that embody Unitarian Universalist values, Principles and religious concepts
- Engaging activities geared toward a variety of learning styles
- Activity choices to help you tailor the workshop to your needs
- Resources for the workshop and suggestions for further theme and content exploration
- Faith in Action activities to engage the group within or outside the congregation
- Online format that is free, searchable and adaptable.
For more information and to apply to be a fieldtest congregation, contact fieldtest @ uua.org or Alicia LeBlanc at (617) 948-4371.
Last updated on Thursday, July 16, 2009.
