What is HOPE for Us? HOPE for Us is our UUA conflict engagement and transformation team. When a congregation is experiencing deep-set conflict and they are ready to engage in the work of transformation, they may be put in contact with HOPE for Us through their Regional Congregational Life staff. HOPE for Us provides relationship-based coaching meant to restore covenant, trust, vitality and functioning so the the congregation can refocus on its Mission. Hope for Us works within a Unitarian Universalist theological framework.
HOPE for Us is housed in the Congregational Life staff group of the UUA and works closely with Congregational Life field staff when serving congregations. Core to the design is a paid nationwide team of specialized coaches to help congregations engage in conflict, covenant, re-covenant, and love boldly and faithfully.
Director Connie Goodbread is a credentialed Religious Educator. She studied Healthy Congregations development and Bridgebuilder conflict identification and transformation with Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke. She developed a conflict process called Pathfinder. Connie served as Co-Lead of UUA Southern Region for three years, starting in 2018. She has served in one capacity or another in every region of our Association. Connie is in her 19th year of service within the UUA.
Hope for Us is the culmination of many things:
- Widening the Circle of Concern report (UUA webpage link) included a call for the development of a Congregational Life conflict team (see page 119-120.) “Methods for encouraging and channeling productive conflict should be established and promoted to decrease harm.”
- Years of training in different processes for conflict management and restorative practices.
- Developing and practicing a variety of models for conflict engagement.
- The iterative process of comparing and improving those practices.
- The maturational growth of Unitarian Universalism.
- A deep understanding of the Transformational power of the theology of Unitarian Universalism.
- Experiencing times of conflict as opportunities to deepen relationships and promote positive change.
- The practice of collaborative ministry.
HOPE for Us is the vision of the late Rev. Dr. Hope Johnson. The formation/development team of HOPE for Us included Rev. Megan Foley, Connie Goodbread, Rev. Dr. Hope Johnson, Dr. Janice Marie Johnson, Rev. Tandi Rogers, and Jessica York.
Connie Goodbread
Connie Goodbread is serving Unitarian Universalism as HOPE for Us Conflict Engagement Team Director. Connie served as Co-Lead of UUA Southern Region for three years.
Kristin Famula
Kristin (she/her) loves the spaces of intersection between ministry, peacebuilding, and lifelong learning. As a (mostly) life-long UU and peace education and conflict engagement consultant, she facilitates opportunities for being together in new ways.
Jude Geiger
Over the past thirty years, Rev. Jude has served in numerous leadership roles in our faith at the local, regional and continental level. With over 20 years employed in UU congregations in Metro NY, he has served in numerous congregational roles.
Donte Hilliard
Donte (D. Nebi) Hilliard is a demi-theistic humanist mystic, life coach, erotic wellness guide, performance artist, reiki practitioner and minister who orients to the Pan-African or Africana aesthetic as the thread that connects Blaq people throughout the African diaspora.
Jes Martinez-Hunt
Jes Martinez-Hunt (they, none) is a queer creator, researcher, thinker, puzzler, and parenter in an active, brilliant, goofy, autistic family. Jes and their partner Tess ensure the survival of six humans, one dog, and two cats through all the strife that is life in Central Florida.
Skyla King-Christison
Skyla King-Christison is a Tennessee native worshipping and working in the foggy Pacific Northwest. She is preoccupied with the idea that heart-to-heart connection is the universal remedy, and wants very much to know what book has most recently changed your mind.
Margie Manning
I am an evolving human being with a deep commitment to Unitarian Universalism. I am thrilled to be able to bring more than a decade’s worth of learning to the Hope for Us team and to share what I have learned with our UU congregations.
Evan McGinness
Evan McGinness is a non-binary, Anabaptist writer and musician from Boston, MA. They are a coach on the HOPE For Us Conflict Engagement Team.
Connie Simon
Rev. Connie Simon (she/her) serves as the Interim Minister at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland. Rev. Connie joined the Hope for Us team in August 2023.
Samantha Wilson
My name is Samantha/Sam. I am a life-long Unitarian Universalist who began learning conflict mediation in the tenth grade and fell in love with it. My high school Peer Mediation class was the beginning of a personal and professional journey.
UUA Regional Map
How can you access Hope for Us: Conflict Engagement Team? Through your UUA Congregational Life regional staff.