Cohort Details

We are gathering UUs who care about faith formation, religious education, and/or family ministries to a 2-day Meet the Moment conversation. Come to explore big questions about what is happening in and around our congregations and how we are called to respond. Share your ideas and approaches and hear from others about theirs. We warmly invite professional religious educators, RE committee members, RE teachers, youth group advisors, ministers, parents, youth, kids, board members, and anyone else who wants to come.

Facilitators

• Erica Baron (New England Region in Congregational Life)

• Nancy Combs-Morgan (Southern Region in Congregational Life)

• Nao Bethea (Co-Director of Lifespan Faith Engagement in Ministries and Faith Development)

• Joy Berry (Lifespan Faith Engagement in Ministries and Faith Development)

Exploring New Models for Faith Development and Religious Education: A Summit on Faith Formation in This Moment

On Oct 3-5, the UUA hosted “Exploring New Models of Religious Education and Faith Formation: a Summit on RE” as part of the Meet the Moment framework addressing these three questions:

1. What is the moment we are in?

2. What are the most urgent needs and important opportunities of this moment?

3. How do our UU values call us to respond?

On Friday night, participants were in small groups to discuss the moment we are in and the needs and opportunities. On Saturday morning, we led them through an exercise to map the ecosystem of their congregations. On Saturday afternoon, they engaged the question about responding to the moment. Some folks did a more general brainstorming and idea generating practice, while others did a deep dive into some of the emerging models. We also created materials which can be used in a Sunday Service. You can find all the notes, videos, and other materials below, and we would love it if you would keep using them!

Find all the links below along with other resources shared for this event in this main event folder.

Event Materials –

Friday night materials (link to Google Folder)

• Friday Night recording (1hr 15min YouTube video)
• Check the folder (link above) for the word cloud we created together that night and the chat

Saturday materials (link to Google Folder)

• Saturday Opening recording (42min YouTube video)
• Mapping Your Ecosystem exercise recording (33min You tube video) Exercise Graphic/Worksheet (this is the online PDF version of the exercise. For the in-person version check out the in-person facilitator guide)
• You can view the New and Emerging RE Models Map. Here is a guide to the map to help you better navigate it. This is a work-in-progress! We have added all the data from the Saturday breakout rooms, as well as the needs and opportunities identified on Friday evening. We are still working on creating connections between elements so the map can be used in various ways.
  • This version of the map is showing only the resources and models folks said they needed easier access to.
• You can add to the map!
  • Use this form to add information about a model, such as features, benefits, challenges, etc.
  • Use this form to add a Model that we haven’t put on the map at all yet. (Or reach out to Erica Baron at ebaron@uua.org to discuss)
• Use this form to add a resource, either an existing resource or one you want that doesn’t exist yet.
• Most of track A was spent in breakout rooms, so the recording is not available. However, here are the ideas that came out of this Saturday afternoon session.
• Track B recording (46min YouTube video)
• Check the folder (link above) for the chat and other resources shared throughout the day.

Sunday materials: “A Piece of Fertile Ground” worship service, ready for you to adapt & share with your congregation!

• Folder of downloadable RE Summit Sunday Worship elements
• Fillable Order of Service template (please download and edit)

Here are the items we sent out ahead of time (including materials for Sunday worship). You are still invited to check them out if you haven’t yet!

Spring 2025 Wave cohort: “Whole Church Religious Education” with Lenore Bajare-Dukes, Joy Berry, and Natalie Briscoe