Featured Resource: Faithify.org
DO YOU FAITHIFY?
Have you heard about FAITHIFY, the UU crowdfunding platform? This program is designed to match UU based programs and UU funders with each other, making it easier for you to find projects that reflect your values and interests and programs to find the funding they need.
Several CER congregations and clusters have used Faithify to raise money for programs ranging from fire recovery to youth programs to supporting social justice projects.
Find projects that you want to support, learn more about how FAITHIFY works, and how to use it in your congregation at their website, www.faithify.org. Have an idea for a project that needs some financial help? See if Faithify can help you!
New Day Rising Conference
Identifying Your Congregation’s Next Steps in the Struggle with White Supremacy Culture
Slightly overwhelmed by all the options in tackling white supremacy culture** in your congregation? Feeling stuck, or coming up against resistance? How do you know where to start? Or what comes next?
Join with Central East Region staff and UU congregational leaders for this day of learning, growing and rising. Hear from each other about what has worked and why, assess your congregation’s next fruitful and faithful step, and see some of the great resource options available. Send your congregational team! There is something for everyone when a New Day Rises!
Don't miss it - January 26, 2019, Fairfax, VA. Registration is open!
Registration is Open for Spring Online Leadership Courses
Deeper than a single webinar or workshop, the UU Leadership Institute offers core leadership courses online with on-demand materials. They are perfect for the congregation who wants to learn together at an affordable cost—only $30 per course per semester. Courses open on January 25, 2019. For more information contact info@uuinstitute.org
- Centered Leadership, Part 1 syllabus sample
- Centered Leadership, Part 2 syllabus sample
- Strategic Leadership syllabus sample
- Adaptive Leadership syllabus sample
Summer Institute Opens Campership Positions for Application
Did You Know… that many of the important jobs at CER Summer Institute are filled by regular SI attendees? These positions also carry a stipend, or "campership," that can reduce your cost of attendance (or can be donated back to the scholarship fund!). If you are interested in learning more about the different SI jobs and camperships, such as RE teacher, childcare provider, assistant camp nurse, and more, check the website at www.cersiuu.org. Applications open on December 15, 2018.
Better Together Blog: Religious Educators are “Changing the Narrative”
I have just returned from the annual Fall Conference of the Liberal Religious Educators Association in Houston TX. The theme was “Changing the Narrative” and issues of white supremacy culture within our denomination and the urgency of empowering and sustaining leaders of color were central. What a remarkable conversation we had over the course of 5 days! Denominational leaders including Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Christina Rivera, Greg Boyd, Rev Dr Natalie Fenimore, Aisha Houser and many others led discussions, workshops and informal conversations that were at once humbling, riveting and inspiring. Brave learning and growing “caucus” spaces were carved out for both white participants and participants of color. As has been the case so often in our Unitarian Universalist history, religious educators, both non-ordained and ordained are leading us into new ways of thinking and being with one another.
News from the UUA
November is Open Enrollment month! If you have staff who want to join the UUA health or dental insurance plans, this is the month they can do that. The deadline is November 30. Details at the UUA Benefits Page.
Does your congregation have employees? Have you done your annual Benefits Tune Up? The UUA Office of Church Staff Finances urges every congregation to complete this Benefits Tune-up Workbook to ensure that you are administering UUA benefits in accordance with plan rules and requirements. By offering UUA benefits, you have made a commitment to honoring the terms of our plans and congregational missteps can be costly.
Looking for a congregational outreach program? The Church of the Larger Fellowship will be sending almost 900 holiday cards to CLF members experiencing incarceration. Could you help? Invite your social action committee or youth to write messages of hope. If you're interested, it’s important to read a detailed list of Do’s and Don’ts at this link. CLF staff and volunteers will address all envelopes, bringing a bit of cheer to our incarcerated UU members, many of whom are lonely and without support. Questions? Reach out to Beth Murray at bmurray@clfuu.org
Think your congregation is a Breakthrough Congregation? It's not too late to apply for 2018-19. The deadline has been extended to December 1. Learn more at the Breakthrough Congregation website
Now is the time for congregations to schedule immersion learning journeys with the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice for Spring and Summer 2019. Learn more about the journeys available to youth, young adults and adults of all ages or contact info@uucsj.org to ask about setting dates for your congregation.
Support Black Unitarian Universalists. Take part in a special opportunity to support the Promise and the Practice of Our Faith Campaign and double the impact of your gift. All individual gifts or pledges of $500 to $5,000 that are made by December 31 will be matched by the UU Funding Program up to a total of $150,000. More details are available online or by contacting Cheri Taylor at bluu-campaign@uua.org.
New publications from the UUA. Check the Publications Page for gifts suggestions and resources for the holidays. The December GoodReads book is The Way of Jesus: Living a Spiritual and Ethical Life by Jay Parini (Beacon Press).
The UUA is hiring for several positions. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings webpage.
Calendar Items and News
For events, webinars and congregation news and events visit the following pages:
