UUMA News Challenging News
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Spring 2010 From the President ... Volume 43, Issue 3 Dana Greeley, of blessed memory, was fond of describing Unitarian Universalism as “a confederacy of cousins.” There are still some elders at our church who remember a time when almost everyone in the church school were related by blood. There something so dear, so charming, so cozy and safe in congregations which are actually extended families. The trouble is our faith asks more of us. Faith asks “who is my neighbor?” Matthew 10: 37-39 asserts “You who love your father or your mother more than me; and you who love your son or daughter more than me are not worthy of me; and you who do not take up your cross and follow me are not worthy of me. “ He is talking about the need to put first things first. Loyal as we are to those we know and love faith calls us to a larger love than loyalty. Your professional organization is beginning to wrestle with the fact that we’ve outgrown the old model. Our ministry is far more diverse than ever before and so are our ministers. That’s good and challenging news. We’ve always relied on personal relationships to provide the ties that bind. Social capital has been the one essential resource for success. But as we grow we need to change. The UUMA Executive Committee has begun to ask some hard questions. Are Chapters still viable as the primary locus of collegial life? The proliferation of study and support groups seems to indicate otherwise. How can we make best and highest use of new technologies in fostering both collegiality and continuing education? Recognizing the envi- ronmental costs of travel, how can we develop new and yet effective ways of being and learn- ing together? Fascinating as they are these questions make me feel old. I am more than a bit of a Luddite when it comes to new technologies. As a matter of principle I refuse to use the word friend as a participle. And more importantly I and many of our older colleagues feel a palpable loss as Chapter life becomes less central and the sense of family fades. The good news is a younger generation is beginning to take up the obligations of the old and they are far more adept in the new ways of being together. Nothing will ever replace face-to-face intimate meetings but I believe our passionate young colleagues when they tell me our best days are still ahead. This is my last column as your president. These last three years have been a time of signifi- cant change for the UUMA. The changes we have instituted over the course of my presi- dency have inspired considerable controversy. Some say we’ve moved too quickly. Others question the new directions that we’ve set. I want you to know that I and we have always tried to act in the best interest of our colleagues and of Unitarian Universalism. The wisdom of our efforts remains to be judged in the light of posterity. At the beginning of my term I announced three top priorities. Strengthening Chapters, deepen- Inside this issue: ing the UUMA’s commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression and multiculturalism, and en- From the UUMA Treasurer 2 couraging our members to become full partners From the Acting Executive Director 3 in youth ministry. Even as we question the vi- Whose Are We?: A Theological Conversation 4 From Communications 5 UNITARIANUNIVERSALIST MINISTERS ASSOCIATION Our ministry is far more diverse From Chapter Connections & Good Offices 6-7 than ever before and so are our CENTER Institute for Excellence in Ministry 8 ministers. That’s good and CENTER Chapter Presenters 9-10 And We Remember . 11-12 UUMA News challenging news . UURMaPA and UUMA Relations 13 (Continued on page 2) Announcements 14-15 ability of Chapters I believe we have a number of key initiatives underway which will strengthen our ministry. The “Whose Are We?” conversations ( see page 4 ) promise greater depth. The fulfillment of our new communications plan ( see page 5 ) will provide the tools we need for better feedback and more creative interaction. The UUMA Center Institute ( see page 8 ) will offer both high quality continuing education and a Unitarian Universalist learning community in the interest of preserving our identity as we grow and change. Progress toward the other two stated priorities is far more difficult to measure. I can say that we’ve paid close attention and worked hard to insure that the UUMA will be committed to ARAOM and youth ministry for many years to come. In closing let my just express my deep appreciation to all of our colleagues who have served on the Exec over the course of my presidency. In particular I want to acknowledge the tenacity, skill and devotion of Fred Muir (Good Offices), Sarah Lammert (Vice President) and Hope Johnson (ARAOM) whose terms of service end in June. Hope has agreed to stay on and take over the Good Offices program. I know you will share my gratitude at her willingness to continue to serve. Ministry to ministers has always been for me a source of nourishment and joy. I’m deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as your president and have every confidence in our beloved colleague, Bill Hamilton-Holway, in the rest of the incoming Executive Committee and in our outstanding staff. Yours in Faith, Rob Eller-Isaacs ([email protected]) 2009-10 UUMA Executive Committee UUMA Leadership Rob Eller-Isaacs , President [email protected] Phone: 651-228-1456 Sarah Lammert , VP [email protected] Phone: 201-444-6225 Marni Harmony , Treasurer [email protected] Phone: 770-578-1533 Alan Taylor , Secretary [email protected] Phone: 708-848-6225 x101 James Kubal-Komoto , Communications [email protected] Phone: 253-839-5200 Pictured (left-right): Front Row: Hope Johnson, Marni Harmony, Kathleen McTigue, Kimi Riegel, Fred Helen Carroll , Arrangements Muir, Don Southworth, Jann Halloran, Bill Hamilton-Holway. Back Row: Helen Carroll, Alan Taylor, [email protected] Rob Eller-Issacs, Greg Ward, Sarah Lammert, James Kubal-Komoto. Phone: 805-459-9696 Hope Johnson , ARAOM 2009-10 CENTER Committee Members [email protected] Phone: 917-304-3048 Greg Ward , Co-Chair Jann Halloran, Exec Liz Lerner Maclay 831-624-7404 303-840-5928 301-434-4050 Jann Halloran , CENTER [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 303-840-5928 Kimi Riegel , Co-Chair Carol Huston, Treasurer Jory Agate, UUA Liaison 248-354-4488 914-946-1660 x3 617-948-6453 Kathleen McTigue , Chapters [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 203-288-1807 x202 Roger Bertschausen Collin Bossen, Secretary 920-731-0849 216-932-1898 Fred Muir , Good Offices [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Page 2 UUMA NEWS From the Acting Executive Director ... April Fool’s Day was my six-month anniversary as your first Acting Executive Director. At our annual meeting in June members will be asked to pass a budget that will not only increase our dues again, as was agreed to last year, but will also continue to increase the possibilities and programs for the UUMA. Recently I received an email from someone who isn’t sure if their extra dues and our new CENTER Institute for Excellence in Ministry is that good of a value especially since it means we won’t have a CENTER day at Ministry Days this year. It is a fair question; a question that guides me every day as I set out to serve you but also lay the foundation, I hope, to have a per- manent UUMA Executive Director. Since I know many of you are asking the same question I am sharing a portion of my answer. I hope if you have more questions you won’t be shy in asking them. “The loss of a guest speaker on CENTER day is something I think most of us will miss. Many of us felt that while the quality of the three hour conversation was usually quite good, the short time frame and the timing at the end of the congre- gational year did not provide much depth in the way of professional development. The CENTER Institute for Excellence in Ministry has been designed to give us the chance to do much deeper, much broader and I would dare say, much more meaningful work, with experts and with our colleagues. The goal of the UUMA Exec, CENTER and myself is to create an Institute that is excellent and meets or exceeds any continuing education experience available to UU ministers today. I hope you agree that the quality of the current list of speakers/seminars is outstanding. Not only will the teaching be rele- vant and inspiring, the preaching and music will be as well. The overarching question that will guide the worship life of the Institute - and which will be a topic for two panel discussions - is "What is required for Unitarian Universalism to live into its promise to be a transformative religion for our people and the world?" In addition to the worship and teaching we will be offering a program for peer mentoring/coaching that will continue after the Institute is complete. As far as the cost of the Institute we believe it is going to be an outstanding value. The total cost for food, lodging, regis- tration and travel will be about $1200 or less for most people. We expect many people will take advantage of the UUA's educational grant of up to $500 and we will have some UUMA scholarships available as well.