Opportunities for Connection-CERUUA Update October 2018

One of the highlights of the 2018 General Assembly was the Ware Lecture by Brittany Packnett. This was a passionate and straight-talking talk about the place where we find ourselves and where we must find ourselves as individuals and as faith community. This talk offers much for us to reflect upon as we examine the impacts of racism and white supremacy culture within our faith.

To assist congregations in engaging with this material, the Commission on Institutional Change has created a discussion guide with questions to help participants consider the presentation. You can find the guide at the UUA website.

When it comes to our future, we know at least three things:

Organized religion is changing at breakneck speed as more people— young and old, of all identities and races— look for new forms of spiritual community that better meet their needs for meaning, personal fulfillment and companionship;
Our Unitarian Universalist tradition and principles speak directly and powerfully to many of them, even if our traditional ways of being in community don’t always;
And UU leaders of all types, professional and lay, are pioneering new ways of being in community, worshiping, educating, expressing creativity, leading social justice and starting-up social enterprises that give exciting expression to Unitarian Universalism.

For Breakthrough 2018-19, the UUA and UU World want to tell your stories of innovations that are working, how you’ve brought them about and what you’ve learned along the way. This isn’t about numerical growth, community size or even whole-community programming. We want to celebrate innovative ways UU communities of all kinds— congregations, covenanted communities or start-ups -- are better serving those who need Unitarian Universalism right now. Please help us inspire others to see possibilities, to adapt ideas that are working, and to encourage all the change leaders among us. We can’t wait to tell your story!

Anyone familiar with a Breakthrough innovation can submit an application after notifying the appropriate community leader, minister, religious education (RE) professional and Board or Board delegate. To learn more and submit an application go to https://www.uua.org/growth/breakthrough/apply. Please apply by November 1.

THE RESULTS ARE IN! Summer Institute finally has a new name, chosen by an overwhelming majority vote of members of the SI community, and that new name is… Central East Region Summer Institute!Our new name is practical and descriptive, it echoes our old name (switching OMD to CER), and, as a huge bonus, we now have an easy-to-pronounce acronym—let’s give a big welcome to our new nickname, "CERSI"! New logo and website coming soon!

CERSI WORKSHOP PROPOSALS BEING ACCEPTED NOW! One big way that you can help make CERSI 2019 awesome is to help us offer strong programming that will appeal to a range of people. Morning seminars for adults meet with the same group every day for 75 minutes, with content building from day to day. Early (inter-generational) and late (sometimes age-specific) afternoon workshops tend to be more open-ended, with folks coming and going during the 90 minutes of activity. All of them can be learning-based or activity-based, and topics might be spiritual, practical, physical, intellectual, gustatory, artsy, musical, or more! If you have an idea for an interesting morning seminar or afternoon workshop, please submit a proposal by October 30, 2018. The links can be found at http://omdsi.org/news/already-thinking-about-si-2019/

Join the 2018 Mississippi Living Legacy Pilgrimage. Did you know that the Mississippi murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago, roused the resistance into a Movement, that is, the American Civil Rights Movement? Understanding what is happening in our world today means taking the time to learn our history, so we can more effectively work against 21st century white supremacy. How else can we move to an equitable future? This pilgrimage is October 28-November 1, 2018. Learn more at their website.

Share the Word About UUCSJ’s Immersion Learning Programs with Your Community! Immersion learning is what happens to us when we step outside of our comfort zones and allow the world to speak to us. It’s in the sudden awakening we feel when we cross boundaries of language or culture, race or country, with open minds and hearts. It’s when people whose lives are different from ours invite us into their homes, and we leave with the recognition that we are family. Learn more about these opportunities, see how you can get your community involved. Experiential learning that inspires spiritually grounded action for social justice.

New online course: Transgender Inclusion in Congregations. Is your congregation ready to take your welcome to the next level? Our movement has come a long way with regards to LGBTQ inclusion, but there’s still a long way left to go. A recent survey of trans UUs found that only 44% of trans women and men feel that their current or most recent congregation is completely inclusive of them as trans people—and this number drops to a shocking 18% for non-binary folks. "Transgender Inclusion in Congregations" aims to make a dent in these numbers. This is not a "trans 101"—it’s a comprehensive, six-session online course for individuals, groups, and congregational teams that are committed to transformation, offered by two trans UU faith leaders: Rev. Mykal Slack and Zr. Alex Kapitan. Each of the course’s six sessions includes a 45- to 60-minute pre-recorded lecture, reflection questions, and resources that take the conversation deeper. In addition, Mykal and Alex will be holding regular live video chats for all current or past course participants. Congregational teams are particularly encouraged to take the course. Each of the course’s six sessions includes a 45- to 60-minute pre-recorded lecture, reflection questions, and resources that take the conversation deeper. In addition, Mykal and Alex will be holding regular live video chats for all current or past course participants. Congregational teams are particularly encouraged to take the course. Find out more and sign up: https://www.transformingheartscollective.org/online-courses/

Funds are Available to Take Your #PowertothePolls. The Fund for UU Social Responsibility is pleased to announce that grants of up to $500 are available for your 2018 Get Out The Vote projects! Unitarian Universalist congregations frequently support the democratic process in a nonpartisan manner by participating in voter registration drives, providing nonpartisan educational materials or forums for voters, or by volunteering to help registered voters get to the polls on election day. The deadline is rolling and you can apply between March 15 and November 1, 2018. Grants will be available until the fund is depleted. Applications and more information are available online. You can also contact us at uufunding@gmail.com or (617) 971-9600.

Support Black Unitarian Universalists. Since the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) Sunday campaign kicked off, many Unitarian Universalist congregations have been excited about exploring the theme of The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith and making a pledge to BLUU by June 30. Has your congregation scheduled your Sunday? Please post it to this map! This spiritual and financial commitment to BLUU allows UU congregations to address systemic inequality while uplifting the voices and stories of Black Unitarian Universalists. The worship materials, written by Unitarian Universalist Professionals of Color, allow Unitarian Universalists to deeply explore the challenges, the beauty, and the complexity of UU traditions from the perspectives of Black Unitarian Universalists. Join the UUA as it continues to work toward the path of being an inclusive, multicultural and multigenerational faith tradition. Get resources and guidance for holding a BLUU Sunday service in your congregation on UUA.org and help us all enter into a new chapter within our faith.

New publications from the UUA - Now available! Companion Resources to go with Revisiting the Empowerment Controversy: Black Power and Unitarian Universalism by Mark Morrison-Reed. October's Justice and Spirit Goodreads Book Club pick is History Teaches Us to Resist: How Progressive Movements Have Succeeded in Challenging Times by Mary Frances Berry (Beacon Press). Visit the Publications Page for details.

The UUA is hiring for several positions. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings webpage.

The following events are upcoming in the region. For full details and a complete list visit the CER Calendar Page. Also, please note, if you are mailing a check to pay for your event to us, you must write the name and date of the event in the memo line. Otherwise we may not get it properly credited.

UNY Youth Leadership Conference ~ Syracuse, NY ~ September 28-30, 2018
Restorative Practices for Faith Communities ~ Williamsville, NY ~ September 29, 2018
Junior Senior High Our Whole Lives Training ~ Washington, DC ~ October 5-7, 2018
Legacy Giving Workshop ~ State College, PA ~ October 6, 2018
Western NY Board Development Day ~ Amherst, NY ~ October 6, 2018
LREDA/UUMA Professional Day ~ White Plains, NY ~ October 12, 2018
OM Senior High Fall Youth Conference ~ Kirtland, OH ~ October 12-14, 2018
Leadership Day ~ White Plains, NY ~ October 13, 2018
Lay Pastoral Care Training ~ Binghamton, NY ~ October 13, 2018
Multicultural Religious Education Renaissance Module ~ Lewes, DE ~ October 18-20, 2018
MA-YMC MidAtlantic Fall Youth Conference ~ Washington DC ~ October 19-21, 2018
MNY Youth Conference ~ Montclair, NJ ~ October 19-21, 2018
OMD Young Adult Network Fall Conference ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ October 19-21, 2018
Restorative Practices for Faith Communities ~ Toledo, OH ~ October 27, 2018
MNY YAC Meeting ~ October 27, 2018
UNY Fall Youth Con ~ Syracuse, NY ~ November 9-11, 2018
Pittsburgh Cluster Annual Assembly ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ November 10, 2018
OM Chaplain Training ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ November 16-18, 2018

Save the Date for these events:

Struggling with White Supremacy Culture ~ Fairfax, VA ~ January 26, 2019
Youth Ministry Revival ~ Bethesda, MD ~ March 1-3, 2019
UU-UNO Intergenerational Seminar ~ New York, NY ~ April 10-13, 2019
Seaway Gathering ~ May 3-4, 2019

The following webinars will take place in the region the next two months. For full details and a complete list visit the CER Webinars Calendar .

Money Matters Roundtable - October 8 at 7 pm with Patricia Infante for anyone who is involved with money in the congregation.
Moving Towards Family Ministry: Building Multigenerational Community ~ October 15 at 7 pm with Patricia Infante.
Money Matters Roundtable - November 12 at 7 pm with Patricia Infante for anyone who is involved with money in the congregation.

Our congregations and clusters in the region have many exciting activities and announcements going on. For a complete listing of events visit the CER Congregations and Clusters Calendar Page. For news and to see which congregations are hiring, please visit our News Blog for listings.

Murray Grove Homecoming Weekend ~ September 28-30, 2018
Spirit Play Training, Manassas, VA ~ September 29, 2018
High School Our Whole Lives Weekend ~ Frederick, MD ~ October 12-14, 2018
UUPLAN Leadership Day, Harrisburg, PA ~ October 13, 2018
SLD UUMA Fall Retreat ~ October 15-17, 2018
New York State Convention of Universalists Annual Meeting ~ October 19-20, 2018
Race Forward Akron2, Akron, OH ~ October 20, 2018
Ordination of Craig Rubano ~ October 21, 2018
Filling Your Justice Toolbelt, Devon, PA ~ November 3, 2018
Mentral Health Wellness for Adults and Teens, Arlington, VA ~ November 3, 2018
Installation of Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson ~ November 3, 2018

If your congregation or cluster has news or events to share, please send it to us at bcasebolt@uua.org

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Central East Region of the UUA
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