Central East Region District (CER) Youth Conferences

Registration Instructions for CER Youth Event Registration

You can download this image for reference.

You’ll find a range of different kinds of youth events on our youth calendar. Some are trainings like Fundamentals of Healthy Ministry and Chaplain Training. Others are youth ministry weekends focused on specific topics such as racial justice, social action, or leadership. Some are called “cons”.

Youth “cons” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth ages 14-18. Between 30 and 100 youth attend each one. At heart a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community. Each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, spirituality, and youth leadership. Each event has it’s own covenant and is in covenant with the region’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise. Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the con community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.

Special programming for junior high youth is available and can be found on Junior High Programs of the Central East Region.

Within each of the former districts of the Central East region is a planning committee that works with congregations to host youth community “cons”. See the sidebar listing for links to pages for each of these committees. CER also encourages individual congregations and clusters to host their own youth cons and will support and publicize these events when they are in alignment with our regional safety policies.

How do you know the difference? Events facilitated by our planning teams will be marked with that planning team’s name or acronym. Other events will be referred to as a “congregation” or “cluster” con. The webpage and registration forms for these events will name the congregation who is the hosting entity and state that we are not the sponsor.

Scheduled Youth Events

Please note that conferences, trainings and events are currently being scheduled and the list below may change. We will link to registration information and details when it is available.

  • All youth events in the region are either being moved to a virtual format, being re-imagined or postponed. Details will be posted here when they are available.
Central East Region youth programming areas

CER Youth Planning Groups

To learn more about each of these planning teams, please visit their pages.

CER Youth Calendar

  • Monday, January 26, 2026, 9:00 am - Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9:00 pm MST
    Create a team that's ready to join together in a shared ministry approach! Goals include: Establish a collective philosophy for shared ministry; cultivate trust; name & acknowledge potential pitfalls to shared ministry; solidify a shared vision of ministry
    Online & on-site
  • Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST (also: Feb 9; Feb 12; Feb 16; Feb 19; Feb 21; Feb 2 )
    Synchronous meetings/trainings are mandatory and will be held from 6-8:30 pm EST on these dates: Monday, February 2; Thursday, February 5; Monday, February 9; Thursday, February 12; Monday, February 16; Thursday, February 19 and 10:00 am - 3:00 pm EST on Saturday, February 21, with a lunch break
    Training
    Online
    Tagged as: Sexuality Education
  • Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST (also: Feb 9; Feb 12; Feb 16; Feb 19; Feb 21; Feb 2 )
    Synchronous meetings/trainings are mandatory and will be held from 6-8:30 pm PST on these dates: Monday, February 2; Thursday, February 5; Monday, February 9; Thursday, February 12; Monday, February 16; Thursday, February 19 and 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PST on Saturday, February 21, with a lunch break
    Training
    Online
    Tagged as: Sexuality Education
  • Saturday, February 7, 2026, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm EST
    Lead with Love: Leadership that Meets the Moment - Greenville, SC Lead with Love: Leadership That Meets the Moment is a one-day, in-person event for UU leaders of all kinds—board members, RE teachers, worship associates, hospitality teams, tech crew, newcomers, visionaries, and the quietly
    Meeting | For Adults, Emerging Adults (18-24) | Sponsored by Southern Region of the UUA
    On-site | Greenville, SC | Wheelchair accessible
    Tagged as: Adult Faith Development
  • Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST (also: Jan 10; Jan 24 )
    The Essentials section is an online series of three meetings with suggested supplemental recorded lectures and readings.
    Meeting
    Online
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm EST (also: Mar 10; May 12 )
    DeepRE Dive calls are suited to religious professionals who have been leading RE programs. Ideal for directors of children, youth, and lifespan RE/faith development and/or ministers and other professionals engaged in faith development or shared ministry around RE.
    Webinar | For Adults | Sponsored by Central East Region of the UUA | From Central East Region
    Online
    Tagged as: Faith Development
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST (also: May 5, 2026; Nov 11 )
    MidAmerica Religious Education Professionals Gathering 2025-26 Date(s) of Event: Nov 11, 2025, Feb 10,2026, and May 5, 2026Time: Tuesdays, 12-1pm ET / 11am-12pm CT Description:Religious Education Professionals serving MidAmerica congregations gather quarterly.
    Meeting
    Online
    Tagged as: Professional Development for Religious Educators
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST (also: Mar 10; Apr 14; May 12; Sep 9, 2025; Oct 14, 2025; Nov 11, 2025; Dec 9, 2025; Jan 13 )
    Ministers who are not fellowshipped with the Unitarian Universalist Association and are serving UU congregations are invited to gather monthly with MidAmerica’s Regional Lead. We will share information, experiences, and resources with one another and explore questions.
    Online
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST (also: Mar 11; May 13 )
    RE Essentials calls are ideal for very part-time or newer RE staff, for people working on serving children and youth in a congregation without paid RE staff, or for an RE Committee working with a professional and seeking to grow and learn together.
    Webinar | For Adults | Sponsored by Central East Region of the UUA | From Central East Region
    Online
    Tagged as: Faith Development
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm EST (also: Mar 11; Apr 8; May 13; Sep 10, 2025; Oct 8, 2025; Nov 12, 2025; Dec 10, 2025; Jan 14 )
    We are experimenting with something new this year! Congregational Board Members are invited to join the MidAmerica Regional staff for a monthly gathering. Staff will introduce a topic and share relevant information and resources, then facilitate breakout rooms based on the size of our congregations.
    From MidAmerica Events
    Online
  • Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST (also: Mar 12; Apr 9; May 14; Sep 11, 2025; Oct 9, 2025; Nov 13, 2025; Jan 8 )
    If you are a President, President-Elect, or Vice President of a congregation in the Southern Region, you are invited to join our monthly Presidents Gatherings! The first thirty minutes of the gathering is a training specifically geared toward the role of President....
    Meeting | For Adults, Emerging Adults (18-24) | Sponsored by Southern Region of the UUA
    Online
  • Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm MST (also: Feb 26, 2026; Mar 12, 2026; Mar 26, 2026 )
    What if our Unitarian Universalist theology and community could help us transform our own experiences of conflict and repair? Explore how we can mend the bonds that connect us, experience accountability with compassion, and feel connected in disagreement with one another. In this four-session
    Online
  • Friday, February 13, 2026, 3:00 pm - Monday, February 16, 2026, 12:00 pm EST
    Winter Institute (WI) is a long held tradition of gathering over President’s Day week-end for a mid-winter retreat at Salt Fork State Park in Cambridge, Ohio.
    Retreat | Sponsored by Central East Region of the UUA | From Central East Region
    On-site
    Tagged as: Building Community
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST (also: Mar 18; Apr 22; May 20; Sep 17, 2025; Oct 22, 2025; Nov 19, 2025; Dec 17, 2025; Jan 21 )
    MidAmerica Clergy Gatherings 2025-26 Dates/Times: Wednesdays, 11am-12pm ET / 10-11am CTSep 17, Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 18, Apr 22, and May 20. Description: We are experimenting with something new this year! All clergy are invited to join the MidAmerica Regional staff...
    Meeting
    Online
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
    Join us to gain a broader understanding of the history and theologies of Unitarian Universalism and the history of UU hymnody.
    Training | From Educational Opportunities for Musicians
    Online
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm EST (also: Mar 18; Apr 15; May 20; Sep 17, 2025; Oct 15, 2025; Nov 19, 2025; Dec 17, 2025; Jan 21 )
    If you identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), you’re warmly invited to the UUA Central East Region’s monthly BIPOC gathering.
    Webinar | For Adults | Sponsored by Central East Region of the UUA | From Central East Region
    Online
    Tagged as: BIPOC Experiences
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST
    The Primer section is a self-paced experience with recorded lectures, supplemental materials, and one live processing session. The topics covered in the Primer LE are UU Theology, Covenant, and UU History.The Primer section of the Leadership Experience builds your foundation in and connection to
    Training
    Online
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST
    The Threshold Conversations’ next panel and Q&A event will be on Trauma-Informed Ministry. It will be moderated by Connie Goodbread, Hope for Us Conflict Engagement Team Director.
    Public Event
    Online
    Tagged as: Trauma Response
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm EST
    Join us to gain a sense of the broad scope of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history and some of the key stories that are part of that history.
    Training
    Online
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm EST
    Join us in investigating the histories and cultures of Unitarian Universalist youth ministry.
    Training
    Online

Copy the iCalendar (ICS) link address to subscribe to this calendar (or download the file to import current events) in a program which supports the iCal format.

Search events