RLLS on Hold

By Jonipher Kūpono Kwong

I am writing to inform you that Pacific Western Region Staff have made the decision not to hold the Russell Lockwood Leadership School during the summer of 2017.

Over the years, Russell Lockwood Leadership School has transformed the lives of many lay and professional clergy who want to deepen their faith as Unitarian Universalists. We have also received feedback lately that it has become cost-prohibitive for many and it's increasingly challenging to get time off from work to attend this week-long experience during the summer time. From the region's perspective, we have also struggled to make sure we don't go over budget and still draw a high-caliber staff. We have operated under a financial deficit the past few years.

We are re-evaluating how to provide high-quality, accessible, affordable leadership training to the more than 30,000 Unitarian Universalist adults in the Pacific Western Region.

This year, we decided to do some experimentation by working more closely with the UU Leadership Institute. UULI is an online leadership school that uses the convenience of the web while still creating opportunities for interconnection and transformation that was such an integral part of RLLS. I was recently named as co-dean along with Rev. Renee Ruchotzke from the Central East Region. Our emerging model blends online and in-person learning to adapt to the changing needs of today's leaders and congregational resources. Moving forward, we're hoping to make these course offerings even more interactive--and dare I say--fun for a very low fee (not to mention low carbon emission). We're also putting together focus groups so we keep on top of the big questions that you're grappling with as religious leaders. We would also like to archive some of our best webinars from all over the UU galaxy so you can have access to all the online learning resources you need. We'd like to make sure we become your one-stop leadership development shop.

I know it may be disappointing to hear that we are putting RLLS on hold for now. Some of your congregations may already have a built-in budget to send people to Leadership School. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we re-imagine what becoming a learning community might be like for the 21st Century. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or input about these changes.

Thank you!

In Faith,
​Jonipher Kwong,
PWR Congregational Life Staff