Board Development Days

A day for congregational teams (board members and clergy) to explore and learn together. Note: This day may supplement your traditional Board Retreat, serve as part of it, or provide the foundation for it.

• August 4 at Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, NM

Register Now

There are still opportunities to bring a Board Development Day to your area. If you are interested in hosting a Board Development Day in the coming year, let your PWR Primary Contact know.

The Yearly Stewardship Calendar

Just what does a stewardship team do the rest of the year, outside that 4-6 week annual campaign? A good stewardship team does a lot, as a matter of fact, throughout the year, and all that effort pays dividends when it’s time for the annual campaign. Join Bill Clontz and Mark Ewert of Stewardship for Us as we discuss how best to use your time and energies throughout the year so that your team is not overworked, and the campaign arrives as the culmination of well-developed preparation.

May 22, 4:00-5:30pm Pacific • Register now to participate!

May 30, Noon–1:30pm Pacific • Register now to participate!

Our Shared Future: Legacy Giving in UU Congregations

Would you like to learn how to encourage your members, friends, and supporters to shape the future of Unitarian Universalism and to make a difference through legacy giving?

Jay Pacitti, UUA Legacy Gifts Officer will present the basics of legacy giving and best practices for building a healthy legacy giving program in your congregation, and Laura Randall, Legacy Campaign Director will discuss the Wake Now Our Vision Legacy Challenge.

All are welcome! There is no fee to attend this workshop. This workshop is designed for board members, ministers, fundraising volunteers, legacy giving committee members, and finance committee members who want to learn about soliciting, managing, and stewarding legacy gifts to ensure that Unitarian Universalism is answering the call of love for generations to come.

We will be hosting this free webinar on from 10:00am-12:00pm Pacific on June 9, 2018

The workshop will consist of a presentation followed by Q&A. and use the Zoom video conference platform. To join a webinar, click here, or to join by telephone, call 408-638-0968 and enter the meeting ID number, 651 592 1651.

2018/19 District Assessments and UUA Annual Program Fund

The 2018/19 fiscal year will bring a change to how congregations fulfill their pledges to their districts and to the UUA Annual Program Fund.

Contributions will no longer be made separately to both the district and the UUA. Single payments will be sent directly to the UUA, and the UUA will disburse each district’s share at the close of each month.

Per-member assessments remain unchanged for MDD ($26), PNWD ($27) and PSWD ($28). PCD voted to lower their rate by $2, to $27. (Pending vote on April 28 at the PCD annual meeting.) The UUA APF level remains at $60 per member again this year. Pledge forms mailed to congregations in early spring reflected the combined district/UUA total. These pledge forms need to be returned to the UUA by May 31.

When congregations affiliate with the UUA, they pledge their support to the Association. Each congregation’s gifts to their district and to the UUA Annual Program Fund are the fulfillment of a promise that has already been made. The 2018/19 combined pledge is designed to help make clear the fact that we are all one Unitarian Universalist Association – bound together in a network of mutual support as an Association of Congregations.

Monthly Annual Program Fund (APF) Webinar

Do you want to know more about how APF works? Please bring your questions to our monthly APF Webinar, when you’ll get to meet with staff from our Congregational Giving Team and ministers, treasurers and congregational leaders from around the country.

June 12, 2-3pm Pacific, 3-4pm Mountain

Learn more about the webinar.

PWR Staff Offer New Resource for Supporting Emerging-Adults

Imagine if you will… in your home congregation... that emerging adults (ages 18-24) are fully integrated into the life of the church and have strong connections with each other. They are involved in both intergenerational and age-cohort activities that satisfy spiritual and social needs (mixing and huddling). They are in positions of leadership throughout the church, and their perspectives and voices are valued, not just because of their generational lens, but also because of their leadership abilities. Their leadership is felt in many aspects of congregational life. Young adults are (becoming) a large part of our identity as a faith community, it is truly their congregation, too.

Are you interested in making this vision a reality? PWR staff Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh and Eric Bliss, Youth Ministry Specialist, have created some guiding questions and tips on a new LeaderLab resource, Engaging Emerging Adult Leaders in Congregations.

Breakthrough Congregations

Congratulations to the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA on being named one of the 2017-2018 Breakthrough Congregations by the UUA! FUCO was recognized for their ground-breaking adaptation of religious education to meet the changing needs of their families.

The UUA has named four congregations 2017-18 Breakthrough Congregations for the exciting, innovative ways they are adapting to the changing religious landscape. Learn more and watch UU World for profiles of each congregation’s story in the coming months.

Is your congregation doing innovative work to lead change and reach people who are currently underserved or not served at all in our religious communities? Share your story and your congregation may be honored next year!

Recognizing our Honor Congregations with Gratitude

The following PWR congregations have already paid their requested amount to the UUA Annual Program Fund for the fiscal year ending in June. This list was current as of April 23, 2018.

Beacon UU Congregation, Berkeley Fellowship of UUs, Billings UU Fellowship, Boise UU Fellowship, Cache Valley UUs, Community UU Church, Eastrose Fellowship, Emerson UU Church, First Unitarian Church of Oakland, Florence UU Fellowship, Free Church Unitarian, Glacier UU Fellowship, Granite Peak UU Congregation, High Country UU Fellowship, Kitsap UU Fellowship, Live Oak UU Congregation, Magic Valley UU Fellowship, Mid-Columbia UU Fellowship, Namaqua UU Congregation, Pacific UU Fellowship, Pocatello UU Fellowship, Prescott UU Fellowship, San Juan Unitarian Fellowship, Sitka UU Fellowship, South Bay Unitarian Fellowship, South Coast UU Fellowship, South Park UU Fellowship, South Valley UU Society, Summit UU Fellowship, Tapestry A UU Congregation, Umpqua UU Church, UU Church of Santa Paula, UU Church in Idaho Falls, UU Church of Davis, UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula, UU Church of the Verdugo Hills, UU Church of Vancouver, UU Congregation of Whidbey Island, UU Fellowship in Chico, UU Fellowship of Bozeman, UU Fellowship of Corvallis, UU Fellowship of Durango, UU Fellowship of Klamath County, UU Fellowship of Laguna Beach, UU Fellowship of Laramie, UU Fellowship of Missoula, UU Fellowship of Otero County, UU Fellowship of Porterville, UU Fellowship of Redwood City, UU Fellowship of Sheridan, UU Fellowship of Visalia, UUs of Grants Pass, UUs of Petaluma, Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship.

Our work depends solely on our congregations recognizing our covenantal relationship and giving accordingly. Thanks to all of the congregations on this list and all of those who are committed to doing so by the end of June. If you have any questions, please direct them to APF@uua.org.

East Shore DRE Aisha Hauser wins Angus H. Maclean Award for Excellence in Religious Education

The 2018 Angus H. MacLean Award will be presented to Aisha Khadr Hauser at General Assembly in Kansas City, MO.

Aisha is a credentialed Religious Educator at the Associate Level who currently serves as Director of Lifelong Learning at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue, WA. A Unitarian Universalist religious educator for more than fourteen years, Aisha has served congregations in New York and New Jersey as well as Washington and worked as Children and Families Programs Director for the UUA during the launch of Tapestry of Faith, the Association’s comprehensive, online lifespan religious education curricula.

A leader in the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA), Aisha has served on LREDA’s board, chaired its Diversity and Inclusion Team, and provides professional peer support as a Good Officer. Also a leader in the community of Unitarian Universalist religious professionals of color, in 2017 Aisha served on a team of religious educators furnishing Unitarian Universalist congregations with curriculum as well as impetus to hold Teach-Ins to dismantle white supremacy.

Please join us in congratulating Aisha on achieving this distinguished award.

BLUU Promise and Practice of Our Faith

Imagine what our faith would look like if we upheld and centered the history, the perspectives, the voices, and the leadership of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists.

The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith campaign is our opportunity to take the lead as a faith denomination in addressing our history of upholding white supremacy. Together, we can collectively work to dismantle it and amend a long-broken promise to the Black Lives within Unitarian Universalism.

During the Promise and Practice campaign to fulfill the historic $5.3 million commitment to BLUU, the UUA is providing annual cash support to BLUU equivalent to the investment returns it would be earning on the $5 million, as well as providing fiscal sponsorship and other support as requested.

Development Day for UU Association of Membership Professionals

June 20, 9:00am-4:00pm at General Assembly 2018 in Kansas City.

On the surface Unitarian Universalism looks easy, but it's not. It is responsible freedom. It is the practice of Covenant. It is the acceptance and support of all the ways that people come to the truth. It is self examination and a commitment to our own faith development. Membership Professionals help instill the values of hope, love, justice, courage and joy that are the foundations of Unitarian Universalism.

The keynote speaker is Connie Goodbread, UUA Southern Region Co-Lead, on the topic of Instilling Values, Sharing the Good News, and Creating Community.

Learn more.

Reimagining Interfaith Cooperation Conference

The Reimagining Interfaith Cooperation Conference is coming up this summer with programming tracks for skill-building and networking to equip interfaith activists for justice and change-making (including a kids’ track!). Held at George Washington University Marvin Center in Washington, DC July 29 – August 1, 2018. Three notes about registration: Applications are still being accepted for reduced cost registration, registration rates increase on June 1, children and young adults (age 6-35) register for just $100!

PWR Congregations in the News

Border Patrol Targets Prominent Humanitarian Group as Criminal Organization - The Intercept
Scott Warren is one of nine volunteers with No More Deaths, an official ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, to be hit with federal charges in recent months for leaving water in a remote federal wilderness preserve where migrants routinely disappear and die. His arrest came just hours after No More Deaths published a report that documents evidence of Border Patrol agents destroying jugs of water that the group leaves for migrants in the desert.

Woman taking sanctuary in Boulder joins call for action on immigration, path to legal residency - Daily Camera Boulder News
Ingrid Encalada Latorre stood in the rain outside the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder on Thursday. It's been her home for several months after she took sanctuary to avoid being deported. Encalada Latorre is one of four women currently taking sanctuary at Colorado churches, and Rev. Kelly Dignan, the minister at UUCB, said on Thursday that she considers the women to be "prophets" standing up for justice.

Some Oakland churches offer drastic advice: Stop calling the police - The Mercury News
The churches call their drastic approach "divesting" from policing. And they say that one headline after another, about policing around the country, shows that it’s necessary. The project of divesting is organized by Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a nationwide organization that tries to get white Americans working on behalf of racial justice. The four Unitarian and Protestant churches that have joined so far include three in the Bay Area and one in Iowa City.

Evictions begin for homeless campers in Santa Rosa - Napa Valley Register
The Rev. Christopher Bell of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, said he had no words, only heartache as he watched the camp disbanding. "We are not living up to our obligations as children of God. God is on the side of the poor, the homeless and disenfranchised. I’m not feeling that today. I pray for their strength, peace, safety and courage," Bell said.

9 arrested as clergy members stage protest, halt construction at new youth jail - KOMO News
The Rev. Beth Chronister of the University Unitarian Church, said, "Building a youth jail to lock up children who are often the most affected by systemic injustice denies the inherent worth and dignity of these children at a critical juncture in their life and development."

As Ventura seethes over fatal stabbing, police acknowledge mistake in handling of homeless man - LA Times
"We are hoping it doesn’t result in a setback for the movement that has been happening in the county and city," said Susan Brinkmeyer, former director of Lift Your Voice, a program under the UU Church of Ventura that provides services to the homeless. "We’re not going to solve anything by rousting people, but rather by dealing with it by creating a solution."

PWR Job Postings

• Acting Faith Development Educator - UU Congregation of Las Vegas, NV
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Congregational Administrator - All Souls UU Church in Colorado Springs, CO
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Religious Exploration - Evergreen UU Fellowship in Marysville, WA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Religious Education - Pacific UU Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Religious Education - Emerson UU Church in Canoga Park, CA
  Applications due before late May.
• Congregational Administrator - Quimper UU Fellowship in Port Townsend, WA
  Applications due by May 31.
• Choir Director - UU Church in Livermore, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Office Administrator - Evergreen UU Fellowship in Marysville, WA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Lifelong Learning - Woodinville UU Church in Woodinville, WA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Membership Coordinator - UU Fellowship of San Dieguito, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.

Who Wants a Howlin’ UU Vacation?

WUULF (Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival) is a week-long camp for Unitarian Universalists from June 18-24 in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. We are a loving community from a diverse set of age groups, backgrounds, and cultures who gather in New Mexico each year to express our appreciation for each other and our world. This year, we will be Letting Go in the Desert.

Join Dee Masters as we learn improv, music, and dance. Join us for plenty of fellowship and fun! We would love to see you there for our relaxing, rejuvenating, and above all, welcoming, week in the New Mexico sun! Please don’t hesitate to visit our website or contact info@wuulf.org with any questions!

PNWD Spring 2017-18 Call: Landscaping for Community UU Church (CUUC) in Pasco, WA.

The CUUC building, formerly a carpenter’s union hall, is located in a commercial area with parking and commercial buildings surrounding the church. The proposed landscaping and entry signage will provide needed visibility and inviting evidence of who we are as a faith. Native vegetation, solar lighting, ecologically-responsible materials, and a fence to improve playground safety are all part of the plan. This increased visibility and curb appeal will help CUUC grow. $15,000 is sought for a Chalice Lighter grant to improve recognition of the site as a church. Your donation will help CUUC attract future UUs looking for a community where diverse spiritual beliefs are accepted with love and without judgment.

Read the full call letter on the PNWD website. Please donate online or mail your check, payable to PNWD Chalice Lighters to: PNWD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Payments will be accepted towards this call through June 18.

PCD Chalice Lighters Spring Call

The UU Society of Sacramento (UUSS) has been growing in attendance and membership since completion of its major building expansion in 2015. To mark its 150th anniversary in 2018, UUSS members are giving funds to build a new patio cover structure to reduce crowding during coffee hour and make large outdoor programs possible while being shielded from rain or hot sun.

UUSS is grateful for whatever you can contribute. Payments will be accepted towards this call through June 4, 2018. Ten percent of each call reimburses expenses to administer the program. Any donations that come in after June 4 will go toward the PCD Undesignated Fund. You can read the full call letter on the PCD website and make your payment online. Or mail your check, payable to PCD Chalice Lighters to: PCD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Please write PCD CL on both the memo line of your check and on the payment envelope. Questions may be directed to your PCD Chalice Lighter Coordinator, Karen Urbano at pcdchalicelighters@pwruua.org.

PCD Chalice Lighters

Now is the time to be thinking about how your congregation can submit an application for the 2018-2019 series of Chalice Lighter grants.

Do you have questions about qualifying? Ask me at pcdchalicelighters@pwruua.org.

I will need your application by August 1 in order to prepare it. The Fall 2018 call will run from September 17 until November 5. Get it done before the summer doldrums. Ask your ambassador.

Does your congregation have a Chalice Lighter Ambassador? I can help you with what you need to be successful and increase how much can be raised to help Unitarian Universalism thrive in the PCD.

Thank you!

Karen Urbano
PCD Volunteer Chalice Lighter Coordinator

PSWD Chalice Lighters Spring Call

Sky Island UU Church, located 80 miles southeast of Tucson, has a vision that includes creating community through a caring ministry and building bridges with people from all backgrounds and beliefs, joining forces for the common good. The funds from Chalice Lighters like you will help their congregation move forward in that vision. The funds raised will go toward expanding their minister’s time from half time to three-quarter time, increasing the capacity of their building by adding a minister's office and providing expanded RE space, and addressing a few safety issues like adding emergency doors.

Sky Island UU Church thanks you for your donation. You can read the full call letter on the PSWD website and make your contribution at the online donation page through May 21. Or mail your check, payable to PSWD Chalice Lighters to: PSWD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Please write PSWD CL on both the memo line of your check and on the payment envelope.

PSWD Fall Con Announced

The PSWD Youth Board is excited to announce, we will be hosting Fall Con at the UU Congregation of Las Vegas, Nevada, October 12-14, 2018. We are committed to making Fall Con inclusive, spiritual, and fun! Most importantly, we are committed to making Con a physically and emotionally safe space for all youth. We will be following all District & Regional event health and safety policies/guidelines. Fall Con will be supported by Eric Rosloff, the PSWD Conference Coordinator, who will work closely with Eric Bliss, the PWR Youth Ministry Specialist, and the PSWD Youth Board to plan and coordinate this event.

To stay updated on this event and other district news; join our Remind text chain, follow our Instagram, or like us on FaceBook.

Welcome JeKaren!

The Pacific Western Region is delighted to welcome JeKaren Olaoya to the Youth Ministries staff as the Pacific Central District Youth Events Coordinator. As an experienced Director of Religious Education (DRE), JeKaren has served congregations across the country assisting in interim transitions and growing volunteer bases. In addition, she is the co-founder of LOTUUS, an organization committed to providing healing and nurturing workshops and retreats for People of Color in the UU faith. Currently completing a Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University, JeKaren received a Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Art and Sociology from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.

Goldmine Youth Leadership School 2018

July 7-12, 2018 • Seattle, WA

Goldmine Youth Leadership School is a week-long community building and training space for high school youth interested in leadership, activism, and spiritual growth. The model is one of intentional community building created and nurtured by paying attention to and bringing forth what makes spiritually and socially conscious communities work.

Goldmine admittance is competitive, as we have a limited number of spots. Deadline for applications is June 10, 2018.

Apply to attend Goldmine now!

Upcoming Youth Events

Trainings

• PWR Goldmine Youth Leadership School 2018
  July 7-12, 2018 - Seattle, WA
  Participant applications open until June 10.
• Summer Seminary
  July 24-30, 2018
  Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL
• Thrive Youth West (For UU Youth of Color)
  August 1-5, 2018
  Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, CA
• Activate Tucson
  Working on Immigration Justice with the UU College of Social Justice
  August 5-12, 2018