May 2019

Dear Friends:

The MidAmerica Region of the UUA provides congregational life services to 185 congregations, 9 emerging congregations, and 8 covenanted communities across 13 states. These services include faith formation, cultural competence, stewardship, leadership and mission development, and conflict transformation work.

In the MidAmerica Region, our congregations have reduced their Annual Program Fund gifts by over 25% since the 2007 recession. While we work to help congregations raise their gifts, your contribution now to Friends of the MidAmerica Region helps close this financial gap.

Thanks to gifts from this past year the Region was able to fund several programs, including new training for youth, young adults, and adult lay leaders from 24 congregations in lay pastoral skills and spiritual direction. Participants then shared these skills with their congregation and at Regional events.

In the coming year money received from the Friends of MidAmerica Program will (among many specific and general services):

• Fund the Midwest Leadership School for both youths and adults (July 14-20, 2019 at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa).
• Provide Stewardship Webinars - upcoming webinars for 2019-2020 on “Tiered Giving” and “Engagement with High Impact Donors”
• Offer Spiritual Leadership in Communities of Faith: A Contemplative Retreat (August 3-8, 2019) on spiritual direction for professional religious and lay leaders.

Friends of MidAmerica donations come in the form of $10, $50, and $500 or more. You can donate online. Or make a check payable to “MidAmerica Region,” write "Friends" in the memo line and mail it to 2355 Fairview Ave. N. #312, Roseville, MN 55113. If you have already given, thank you! We appreciate your gifts!

Sincerely,

Sharon K. Dittmar
MidAmerica Region Congregational Life Consultant