The UUA Lifespan Faith Engagement office hosts webinars to introduce and support new programs and initiatives and to address topics requested by UU religious professionals and lay leaders.

Our Whole Lives during Covid 19

The UUA and the United Church of Christ began a monthly roundtable webinar in spring 2020 to help facilitators pivot into the challenges of the pandemic, and, when it is safe, to re-start OWL programs that were interrupted. Monthly webinars continue, now focusing on special topics. Find out more.

• Register forWed. November 11 at noon Eastern with Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot, authors of upcoming revisions to K-1 OWL.
• Register for Wed. December 2 at noon Eastern on Thursdays in Black, a movement of the World Council of Churches focusing on survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and the OWL focus on healthy relationship skills.
• View recorded OWL webinars:
  • Racial Justice and OWL, October 2020 (YouTube), with moderator Anil Oommen and panelists Kim Kendrick, Aisha Hauser, and Cedric Harmon
  • Gender and Related Language, September 2020 (YouTube)
  • Taking Flight webinar, August 2020 (Vimeo) (includes Jackbox demo)
  • Taking Flight webinar, July 2020 (Vimeo)
  • Taking Flight webinar, June 2020 (Vimeo)
  • Taking Flight Webinar, Part I, May 2020 (Vimeo) Part II, June 2020 (Vimeo)​

Archived Webinars

• December 2019: Orientation to Our Whole Lives for Older Adults—for Facilitators (Vimeo)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Melanie Davis, UUA Our Whole Lives Program Manager, introduces the new curriculum, “Our Whole Lives for Older Adults.” This recorded webinar is required for OWL Adult facilitators who wish their certification to include this new program geared toward adults 60+ and people who are family and caregivers to older adults. The recorded webinar contains five “clues” that together form a quotation. Facilitators must note the clues and email them to owl@uua.org AND owl@ucc.org to demonstrate that they have attended this webinar.
• November 2019: All Things OWL—for Directors of Religious Education (Vimeo)
  Transcript (Word)
  Join Melanie Davis, UUA Our Whole Lives Program Manager, for a 90-minute webinar for UU religious educators, recorded on Nov. 19, 2019. Learn about: Our Whole Lives (OWL) revisions in progress; an opportunity to field test a new OWL for K-1 program; tips for implementing the new OWL for Older Adults; new UUA safety guidelines; and, the free, downloadable Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators small group ministry curricula. Other topics covered include answers to questions submitted in advance related to OWL program scheduling; parent orientation; implementation; facilitator selection, oversight and training; and generally challenging situations.
• October 2019: OWL Community Guidelines and Implementation Tips (Vimeo)
  If you facilitate or supervise any level of Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education, this is the webinar for you! National OWL staff for the UUA and UCC provide information on policies and recommended practices that will help support your efforts and enhance your program. (57 minutes)​
• September 2018: Informational Webinar—Pilot Program for Dismantling White Supremacy in RE (MP4) 
  PowerPoint (PDF) 
  The UUA seeks faith development professionals to pilot a structured process that will support them to lead their Unitarian Universalist communities to dismantle white supremacy in religious education programming. Requested by UU religious educators and developed in the UUA Faith Development Office over the past year, the program provides an assessment tool and facilitated peer support during implementation. The pilot will start in November, 2018 and end in June, 2019. Faith development professionals working in congregations of any size, staff configuration, geographic location, and level of anti-racism experience are invited to apply online by October 26. Before you apply, view the informational webinar (MP4). 
• July 2017: Our Whole Lives, 4-6, 2nd ed. Webinar for OWL Facilitators (MP4)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  The 2017 edition of Our Whole Lives for Grades 4-6 includes new material. People who train facilitators or are already trained as facilitators for the OWL 4-6 program need an introduction to the new material and to familiarize themselves with it. Archived Webinar for OWL Trainers will be available on the Trainer Resources private page.
• May 2017: What's a Religious Educator to Do (in the Summer)? (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Are you leading a program this summer? Do you have a break from congregational responsibilities? How will you find the growth and inspiration to come back refreshed in August? Leah Purcell, Lily Rappaport, and Patti Withers describe ways to nourish yourself spirituality at home, on vacation, at a UU camp or conference center, or while leading others in summer faith journeys, such as by offering a UU version of Christianity's Vacation Bible School.
• April 2017: Innovation in RE and Faith Development Showcase (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resources (Word)
  In April, 2016, the UUA brought together UU leaders who are successfully bringing creativity and innovation to religious education and faith development through youth ministry, family engagement, social justice work, and in other ways. Hear about the Roundtable and new initiatives in innovation, including how to apply for small seed grants to fund YOUR innovative project.
• February 24, 2017: The 411 on University Chaplaincy (MP4)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resources and Links (Word)
  Rev. Scotty McLennan and the Rev. Dara Kaufman-LeDonne Olandt host a one-hour information session on university chaplaincy.
• February 2017: Supporting Gender-nonconforming Children and Their Families (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resources and links (Word)
  With Gail Forsyth-Vail hosting this webinar, Melissa James, Alex Kapitan, Lisa Rubin, and UUA Our Whole Lives Program Associate Melanie Davis discuss ways to support and welcome gender-creative and transgender children and their families in our congregations.
• January 2017: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF) (MP4)
  Dr. Takiyah Amin and Kenny Wiley talk with religious educators, other religious professionals about BLUU's objectives and plans, history and formation and how UU faith development and religious education can explore and support today’s national and UU-specific movements for black lives.
• December 2016: Faith-Sensitive Our Whole Lives (MP4) 
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson offer guidelines and support for providing an Our Whole Lives program to a theologically diverse group of participants.
• November 2016: Spirituality and Aging (MP4)​ 
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Gail Forsyth-Vail, Rev. Karin Peterson, and Rev. Bruce Marshall talk about spirituality, aging, and how our congregations might better serve both aging Baby Boomers and those of the Silent generation.
• September 2016: Meet the UUA Outreach Office (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Carey McDonald, UUA Outreach Director, and Anna Bethea, Outreach Coordinator, present on outreach and engagement challenges and opportunities and challenges, from a religious education and faith development angle.
• July 2016: How to Host a Renaissance Module or an Our Whole Lives Training (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  Pat Kahn (Renaissance modules) and Melanie Davis (Our Whole Lives facilitator training) walk participants through the steps to plan and locally host a professional development opportunity for religious educators and/or potential OWL facilitators. Learn what a host does, including tasks and timetables.
• June 2016: Four Kinds of Fun (MP4)
  Transcript (Word) 
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resources and Links (Word)
  Gail Forsyth-Vail and Pat Kahn talk about four kinds of fun identified by game designers: achieving mastery, using your imagination, creating meaning, and nurturing connections. Participants share ways we do, and could, use four kinds of fun in our faith development programs.
• May 2016: Implementing Themes In Religious Education (MP4)
  Transcript (Word) 
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resource Links (Word)
  There are many different ways to incorporate themes into religious education programs and other aspects of congregational life. Learn how several religious educators have approached theme-based programming.
• April 2016: Radically Shared Ministry (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Resource Links (Word)
  The staff leadership team of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church UU in Charlottesville, VA shares their experiences as a mutually accountable, collaborative team. Presenters: Leia Durland Jones, Christina Rivera, and Rev. Erik Wikstrom.
• ​March 2016: Meet the UUA Stewardship & Development Office
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Talking Points for Religious Educators (Word)
  Discover ways your religious education and ministry team can connect with the UUA staff who support our collective stewardship of our movement. Presenters: Rev. Vail Weller, Congregational Giving Director; Cameron Archibald, Special Events Manager and Gift Officer; and Rev. Laura Randall, Legacy Gifts Manager.
• February 2016: Naming Race
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Related Resources (Word)
  Unitarian Universalist religious educators share stories about naming race—stories of things going well, mistakes made, lessons learned, and how our souls and skills grow in the process. Presenters: Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen, Lauren Wyeth, Sheila Schuh, Kirsten Hunter, and Rev. Jamil Scott.
• January 2016: OWL Facilitators and Faith Development (MP4)
  ​ (MP4)Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Useful Links (PDF)
  Dr. Melanie Davis, Our Whole Lives Program Associate for the UUA, and Amy Johnson, Our Whole Lives Program Associate for the United Church of Christ (UCC), discuss the importance and value of OWL facilitator training.
• November 2015: Money Talk with Children and Families (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Useful Links and Questions (PDF)
  Pat Infante, Elizabeth Ann Terry, and Gail Forsyth-Vail share ways to include money talk in faith development for all ages. We want our children, youth, and families to have spiritually healthy relationships with money.
• October 2015: Theme-Based Ministry (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Useful Links (PDF)
  Eric Bliss and Sheila Schuh reprise their theme-based ministry workshops from LREDA Fall Conference. What are the benefits of embracing theme-based ministry as a congregation? What are the challenges for religious educators? What are some helpful resources?
• September 2015: Hand in Glove: Teaching Tolerance and UU Faith Development (MP4)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint 1 (PDF)
  PowerPoint 2 (PDF)
  PowerPoint 3 (PDF)
  Useful Links (PDF)
  Sarah Neely, a member of the Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board, discusses ways anti-bias educational materials from Teaching Tolerance can complement UU faith development in our congregations. A member of the Grosse Pointe MI Unitarian Church and its RE Committee, Sarah has taught grades 2-8 in Grosse Pointe schools for more than two decades.
• August 2015: Peer and Professional Support for Religious Educators: Meet the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA)
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Useful Links (PDF)
  Robin Pugh and Michelle McKenzie-Creech of the LREDA leadership discuss professional development needs and opportunities. For Unitarian Universalist religious educators with up to three years of experience.
• July 2015: Cultural Competence With Disability: Conversations for Access and Possibility
  Transcript (Word)
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  ​Useful Resources (Google document)
  "How the Blind See Beauty" (YouTube video)
  Theresa I. Soto, ministerial intern at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem (OR) and vice president of EqUUal Access, shifts the lens through which we view disability, with a focus on language concerning disability that can create authentic connection, communicate respect, and avoid causing offense.
• May 2015: Competencies for Those Who Advise Unitarian Universalist (UU) Youth
  Transcript (Word)
  Useful Links (Word)
  Jennica Davis-Hockett and Evin Carvill-Ziemer discuss eight areas of competency in youth advising (PDF) that are presented in a new, optional tool for UU religious professionals, lay leaders, and advising teams to identify excellence and needs for growth among the people trusted to advise UU youth.
• April 2015: Preparing for Sophia Fahs Sunday
  Transcript (Word)
  Mark Hicks, Director, and Halcyon Westall, Associate Director, discuss the mission of the Fahs Collaborative and introduce new Fahs Sunday resources to help you create a powerful, multigenerational worship experience.
• March 2015: Easter in a "Multi" Congregation
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Unitarian Universalists in our congregations hold diverse theologies and varied responses to Easter. Gail Forsyth-Vail of the UUA Faith Development Office leads sharing of ways to engage children, and others, in wisdom and activities to honor this central Christian holy day as well as Jewish and Pagan celebrations of Passover and the spring Equinox.
• February 2015: Are You Seeking Greater Financial Security?
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word) 
  Useful Links (PDF)
  Richard Nugent, Director of Church Staff Finances, and Betsy Gabriel, Compensation Programs Manager, discuss fair compensation guidelines, retirement and insurance plans, and aid funds for emergencies that the UUA Office of Church Staff Finances offers congregations.
• January 2015: UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) Transformative Youth Programs
  Activate Boston testimonials (YouTube video) 
  Transcript (Word)
  Jen Toth testimonial, Activate Southwest Border program (YouTube video)
  Laura Lubin, UUCSJ Associate for Youth and Young Adult Programs, previews 2015 justice trainings and service programs for youth.
• December 2014: Give Yourself the Gift of Professional Development
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Jan Gartner, UUA Professional Development Specialist, discusses: What is “professional development?" Why is it essential? How do you choose and fund professional development activities and fit them into your schedule?
• November 2014: Military Ministry in UU Congregations
  Transcript (Word)
  Gail Forsyth-Vail and Bob Lavallee, a military veteran and a Fellow with the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship, discuss why and how UU congregations can begin ministry to military servicepeople, veterans, and families.
• October 2014: Body/Spirit Family Spiritual Practices
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Discover why and how you might encourage spiritual practices for UU families at home or at your congregation. Co-presented by UU religious educators Sarah Ahrens, Joy Berry, and Leah Purcell.
• August 2014: The New DRE 
  Transcript (Word)
  Pat Infante of UUA Congregational Life staff presents an orientation webinar specifically for the new Director of Religious Education (DRE) with three or fewer years' experience in your position.
• July 2014: Full Week Faith
  Transcript (Word)
  Join Karen Bellavance-Grace and FDO staff to learn about Full Week Faith, a strategy for engaging families at home in day-to-day faith development.
• May 2014: Beginning or Restarting Your Adult Faith Development Program
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Are you tasked to organize adult faith development programming in your congregation or group? Gail Forsyth-Vail shares practical guidance for beginning a program, restarting a dormant or floundering program, or strengthening your existing program.
• April 2014: Supporting Youth with Eating Disorders 
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  The Rev. Dr. Monica L. Cummings presents on how to identify, approach, and support individuals who may have an eating disorder, in the context of the UU faith community.
• March 2014: Outside In & Upside Down: Applying the "Flipped" Classroom Concept to Faith Development
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Explore possibilities sparked by the “flipped classroom” concept that is overtaking secular education. Presented by Gail Forsyth-Vail and Pat Kahn.
• February 2014: Worship Within & Beyond RE
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  Pat Kahn and Jessica York present on the religious educator's worship needs and how they can be filled. This webinar discusses worship resources for ourselves, resources for Children's Chapel, and news about UUA Renaissance training modules.
• January 2014: Why & How to Do Spiritual Preparation for Leading RE
  PowerPoint (PDF)
  Transcript (Word)
  The UUA’s Tapestry of Faith curricula provide unique, reflective exercise for facilitators to do before each session. This webinar supports religious educators in a practice of spiritual preparation.