CER News Update - April 2026

By Central East Region of the UUA

Generosity: An Essential Component of Our Faith

Tyler Coles, a person of African-American descent who has short facial hair and brown glasses, stands before a blurred cityscape.

by Rev. Byron Tyler Coles, CER Regional Lead

When I attended church growing up, my Grandmother always handed me two things before she dashed off to join the choir: a Life Savers’ mint and a five-dollar bill. While I didn’t think much of it then, upon reflection, I believe my grandmother was crafting a simple theology of generosity within me. I come from generations of poor and working-class people nestled in the Appalachian mountains. Money has always been tight, if not uncertain. The act of giving in church, which remains the central organizing factor in their lives, was an expression of care and devotion. It was a freely engaged in practice that demonstrated a mutual interest and investment in the well-being of others, all the while knowing that others were giving for our benefit too. Love, after all, is a mutual act of trust and support which transforms all that it touches.

Read the rest of the post on the Better Together Blog.

Meet the Moment News

Call for Facilitators: GA 2026 Wave Cohorts

Are you an experienced facilitator ready to lead a 3‑hour Wave Cohort for GA 2026? The UUA’s Meet the Moment team is inviting proposals from teams to design and facilitate in‑person or virtual cohorts on timely topics or shared identities. Apply by Friday, April 17. Learn more and submit a proposal.

Register for April 21 Webinar: UUs Meeting the Moment

Curious about Wave Cohorts and their impact across our UU movement? Join us for “UUs Meeting the Moment: Learning from 2025–2026 Wave Cohorts” on Tuesday, April 21 (8–9:30 pm ET). Hear from Wave facilitators and UUA senior leaders about what these cohorts are generating—and how their learnings are shaping our shared work in this moment. Register here.

Child and Youth Safety Training

Tending Children and Youth Safety in UU Communities

The UUA’s Spring Religious Education Meet-Up will focus on child and youth safety, including UUA recommendations for congregational policies covering Sunday mornings, multigenerational events, and children/youth programming including youth overnights. For Religious Professionals — An interactive gathering is offered for Religious Education Professionals and Ministers employed by UU congregations and organizations. In addition to reviewing UUA guidelines, we’ll discuss the responsibilities paid staff hold in congregational systems.

  • Tuesday, April 28, 1-2:30 ET

For Lay Leaders — This same material will be offered in a shorter format for lay leaders. Are you a volunteer RE coordinator, interested Board member, or a dedicated classroom guide or youth advisor? Open to religious professionals and ministers too! This gathering will review UUA suggestions for policies and practices to create a safer congregation for all ages. Select between two meeting time options:

  • Thursday, May 14, 7-8pm ET
  • Tuesday, May 19, 10-11pm ET

Learn more and register today.

Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary

Registration is now open for Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary, happening April 18, 2026, 9am — 4pm ET.

At a time when transgender rights are under sustained attack, many people are asking how to stay rooted, connected, and faithful to our values. This gathering offers a space to do that together. The day will include a keynote from a transgender or gender-nonconforming leader, workshops created by and for the trans community, and learning spaces for cisgender people who want to deepen their allyship. Spaces like this don’t happen by accident — they happen because people choose to show up.

A peek at this year’s workshop titles: Origin of (Queer) Love: Exploring Your Story Thru Creative Writing; Trans Elders; A Panel; Keynote led by Logan Grendel; Power, Consent & Gender: Reclaiming the Self; Play For Resilience & Resistance.

Attend online from anywhere or join an official satellite site if one is near you. Individual registration is now open with sliding-scale pricing. Learn more about this event and register.

Congregational Life Events

Multi-Site Staff Learning Community

Are you are religious professional – minister, administrator, educator, musician, membership professional, etc – who is serving in more than one congregation / community? Maybe you are in an intentionally “yoked” partnership, or you just happened to pick up multiple gigs to make things work. Maybe you are serving a congregation and also doing a community ministry. Maybe they are near each other, or one is close and one is mostly digital. Or perhaps you are a board member of a congregation that has partner to share staff.

Whatever that might look like for you, we invite you to join the Multi-Site Staff Learning Community. We are gathering monthly to share learnings, ideas, resources, hopes, and to have solidarity in this important work. The group has met twice now and we’d love to welcome you into the circle if this is for you. You can find out more and register on the MidAmerica website. Next meeting is April 14th.

Congregational Leaders Conversation

Tuesday, April 28, 7:30-9pm ET: Church in Changing Times

What can we do when our long-term lay leaders are worn out and we struggle to engage new members? How do we remain true to our center while meeting people where they are? Our guests this month represent two congregations that have developed innovative ways of gathering, offering alternative forms of worship and creative programming in direct response to the deepest spiritual needs of their communities. We will explore how they are answering the call for ministry that meets this moment – and invite you into conversation about what is emerging in your congregation and how you are called to respond.

Kelly Greene (she/her) and Paula Gribble (she/her) respectively serve as Director of Member Relations and Director of Lifespan Education for the Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte, NC. Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy (she/her) and Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave (she/her) are the Co-Ministers of the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, a large congregation in Appleton. Register today.

News from the UUA

Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd Appointed Vice President for Communications & Development

The Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, a former settled minister in the Central East Region, has been appointed as the Vice President for Communications & Development. In this newly-created position, Rev. McDonald Ladd will oversee strategy for organizational communications and fundraising within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Read the full post.

AUUA Professional Days: Telling Our Stories; Sharing the Unique Heart of our Congregations

May 6, 2026, Cleveland, OH
Join us for a time of learning, networking, and programming that helps us meet this moment as we do the work of welcoming and belonging in our congregations. This year’s guest speakers are Nancy McDonald Ladd and Natalie Briscoe. Plan to attend in-person or virtually online. Registration fees vary depending on the accommodations required. Find out more at their website.

Submit an Action of Immediate Witness for General Assembly 2026

The timeline for submitting an Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is between March 23rd and April 24th. The sooner the Commission on Social Witness receives the submission, the more time for feedback and revisions. There will be online presentations of the submitted AIWs May 17-23rd. For more details and to learn what AIWs are, visit the AIW webpage.

Coming Soon: Property and Casualty Insurance Launch

We are in the process of finalizing arrangements with a new property and casualty insurance partner carrier! With a mid‑April rollout anticipated, further updates and opportunities to learn more will be available soon. You can look forward to competitive premiums, broader coverage options, and enhanced customer service!

UU Mental Health Network Online Worship Service

May 31, 2026, 6 pm ET.

Our Faith Calls Us to Embrace Mental Health. Featuring Speakers: UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt and UUA Director of Congregational Life Natalie Aguila Briscoe. Register online.

Side with Love Events

Upcoming Gatherings

Resources and Announcements

Camps and Institutes

Summer Institute 2026

Is it starting to feel like spring? That can only mean that Summer Institute is right around the corner! Registration opens the first week of April!

Right now you can apply for a job in exchange for a reduction in your registration fee. We need a Workshift coordinator, Bookstore coordinator, tech support, Health team worker, RE teachers, golf cart drivers, a trivia coordinator, tie dye, water play, workshop leaders and more. The complete list of the jobs available, their values and the application form can be found on the CERSI website.

A new leadership development track will be offered this year during CERSI, stay tuned for details in early April.

Join us at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH, July 5-11, 2026 with Rev. Susan Ritchie, speaking on Co-Creating Hope: The Art and Beauty of Resilience.

Visit the websites of the camps in our region to learn more about their programs:

Calendar Items and News

For events, webinars and congregation news and events visit the following pages: