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May, 2011 * Volume 4, No. 10 |
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2011 Annual Meeting Review
Forty delegates from 14 congregations met at the Unitarian Church of Sharon for the 2011 BCD Annual Meeting. The delegates received oral and written reports from the BCD Board, Treasurer, District Executive, and UUA Trustee, adopted the FY 2012 budget (see article below) and elected the new BCD officers and directors (see next article) and the Rev. Catherine Cullen as the new BCD UUA Trustee. Rev. Cullen, president of the BCD Chapter of the UU Ministers Association, acknowledged the new and departing ministers; Diane Elliott, BCD RE Professional Development Coach acknowledged new and departing religious educators. Retiring BCD UUA Trustee, Eva Marx, and Beth McGregor, retiring GA Planning Committee Chair, were honored for their many years of service to the District and the Association. Recognition was given to congregations who made full payment to the UUA Annual Program Fund and the BCD Congregation Contribution. |
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FY2012 Budget
The FY2012 budget approved by the Annual Meeting is $173,770. On the revenue side the two largest revenue sources are Congregation Contributions ($70,000) and income from the endowment ($53,870). Other revenue comes from conference registration, the Annual Program Fund Give-back Grant, and reimbursements from the UUA. The Congregation Contribution rate for FY12 will be the same as it has been for the past 4 years at $19 per member.
The budget continues funding for current staff - the Religious Education Professional Development Coach, the Growth Consultant, the Program Associate and the Administrator, and the District's share of the District Executives compensation and his expenses. There is a 3% COL increase for district staff and a 1.5% salary increase and 4% benefits costs increase for the District Executive starting in January 2012.
Operating expenses for the District office -- insurance, postage, copying, rent, internet and Constant Contact email service -- continue at about the same level as prior years with slight inflationary adjustments, with the exception that the contract cost for the auditor was increased reflecting actual costs based on the FY2011 billing.
There are funds in the budget for District Board development and for the president to attend General Assembly. The District will continue to fund grants for congregation presidents to attend General Assembly and scholarships for DREs for professional development and for youth to attend General Assembly. There are also funds for a new program to provide grants to congregations to develop creative multi-cultural, multi-generational initiatives, as well as, funds designated for programming and projects to be developed later in the fiscal year.
The 2012 budget also has $30,000 to fund congregation development programs being established to implement the three goals established by the Board for 2011-2012.
· "Congregation Futures Program" to assist smaller congregations that are vulnerable and facing significant challenges.
· "Pairing for Mutual Action Program" to provide opportunities for congregations to meet to learn from each other.
· "Leading for Adapting Program" to give congregation leaders the skills to become adaptive leaders, that is, help their congregations to think about new ways of adjusting to cultural and social changes that are presenting themselves in our country and churches.
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Workshop on How to Inspire Participation in Congregations
The Ballou Channing District Inland Cluster (formerly known as the General Cluster) will present a half-day workshop on May 21, 2011 at the Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA. The workshop starts at 9:00 a.m.
During this training, attendees will learn three facilitation methods that they can use in their meetings to generate participation and have an opportunity to share their tips for encouraging participation in their congregations. The workshop is free, but reservations are required. Send an email with name and email address to Janet Richardi at Janetrichardi@comcast.net |
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General Assembly Approaching
Conference Registration and housing reservations can still be made for the 2011 General Assembly to be held in Charlotte, NC, June 22 - 26, 2011. During the four days of GA there will be vibrant and inspiring worship, dynamic and interesting speakers and presentations, educational and idea-stimulating workshops and Plenary sessions to handle Association governance. This year delegates will be asked, among other actions, to vote on bylaw amendments that would change the size and composition of the UUA Board of Trustees (see next article). There will also be special events to mark the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America to form the UUA.
For GA information go to http://www.uua.org/ga/. Registration is done on line at http://www.uua.org/ga/registration/index.shtml. Housing reservations are made at http://www.uua.org/ga/housing/index.shtml
BCD President Grant.
There are still a few $300 grants available for congregation presidents or presidents-elect (one per congregation) to help with GA expenses. Application is made by submitting a letter to the BCD Office 325 West Elm Street, Brockton, MA 02301 along with a copy of the completed GA registration form. |
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Proposals to Transform UUA Governance: The UUA Board and Nominating Committee
In 2010, the UUA Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion calling for a transformation in UUA governance. At its April 2011 meeting the UUA Board voted to recommend two sets of bylaw changes to the General Assembly aimed at making the governance process less complex and strengthening the association's commitment to democratic processes. These bylaws changes would take effect at the end of the 2013 General Assembly.
The first change would reduce the size of the UUA Board from 26 to 14, and have all trustees elected at-large by the General Assembly. To support the requirement for diversity in membership, and to provide more opportunities to serve, the proposed changes shorten the terms for trustees to two three-year terms (from two four-year terms). This approach will help ensure trustees' diversity in skills and demographics, including geographic diversity. The Nominating Committee would be mandated to make trustee nominations that reflect a full range of diversities for nominees, especially in regard to historically marginalized communities, and also balancing amongst size of congregation, lay and ordained, geography, age (including youth and young adults), and gender.
The second of these proposed changes would modify the term of members of the Nominating Committee from one six-year term to two three-year terms.
A more detailed explanation of the changes and reasoning underlying the decision to proposed to the General Assembly these by law changes can be found at:
http://board.blogs.uua.org/2011/04/29/transforming-uua-governance-the-uua-board-and-nominating-committee/
For the full text of the proposed bylaws changes, go to http://www.uua.org/documents/boardtrustees/110401_changes_bylawnom.pdf.
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New Curricula Released by UUA
Three new curricula have been released by the Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group at the UUA. The Office is looking for congregations to field test the curricula.
Resistance and Transformation: Unitarian Universalist Social Justice History by Rev. Colin Bossen and Rev. Julia Hamilton.
Sixteen 90-minute workshops explore social justice themes through historical stories and primary source material, then invite participants to reflect on that theme in Unitarian Universalism today.
There are two new Unitarian Universalist history programs to be published online in thespring of 2011. Congregations interested in assisting with the field test need not do all workshops to serve as field-testers.
Faith Like a River: Themes in Unitarian Universalist Historyby Rev. Jackie Clement and Rev. Alison Cornish
The 16 two hour workshops, organized thematically, offer a variety of ways for participants to explore our history and connect it with their own lives.
Resistance and Transformation: Unitarian Universalist Social Justice History by Rev. Colin Bossen and Rev. Julia Hamilton
The sixteen 90-minutes workshops explore social justice themes through historical stories and primary source material and then invite participants to reflect on that theme in Unitarian Universalism today.
To find out more about these curricula, or to apply to be a field-test congregation contact the Resource Development Office of the Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group at fieldtest@uua.org or call Alicia LeBlanc at 617-948-4371.
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2011 Severe Storm Fund Established by Mid-South District
Communities and families across the South have been devastated by the storms on April 27. UUs in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee have major property damage and some are without homes. The Mid-South District of the UUA has established the 2011 Severe Storm Fund to assist these families and their communities. To donate send checks to: Mid-South district, Attn: District Bookkeeper, 4605 Elkins Ave, Nashville, TN with "2011 Severe Storm Fund" in the memo line, or go on line at http://www.msduua.org and click on the Donate button. |
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UU Gift for Graduation Seniors
As our youth graduate from high school parents and congregations can mark the special occasion with a small token that will serve as a reminder of their connection to their congregation and UU heritage. The UU Service Committee has UUSC's flaming-chalice jewelry and charms available for purchase at http://www.uusc.org/category/product_category/jewelry and Church of the Larger Fellowship's store has a variety of gifts available on line at http://clf.uua.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=23&osCsid=4bb7af841039697f2877955ec9a9030c |
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Two UUA Awards Announced
The Unitarian Universalist Association Stewardship and Development staff has announced that the Reverend Vail Weller has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Stewardship Sermon Award for her sermon entitled Fire of Commitment . Read the sermon at http://www.uua.org/worship/words/sermons/submissions/182782.shtml (PDF, 8 pages).
The UU Women's Federation recently announced that the 2011 Ministry to Women Award is being presented to the Reverend Debra Haffner for her outstanding contributions in the fields of sexual education, reproductive justice, and sexual abuse healing in support of women and girls. Read more about Rev. Haffner and the award at
http://www.uuwf.org/honorsawards/ministrytowomenaward.html.
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Position Opportunities
· Executive Director of UUMassAction
UUMassAction, a legislative ministry in Massachusetts seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead the five-year old organization into the future by forging connections among UU congregations, and producing effective annual events that mobilize Unitarian Universalists to work for social justice and influence policy makers. The Executive Director, working with the Board, will set the priorities and develop programs for that includeoutreach,fundraising, organizing, training and events, as well as provide overall agency administration. Half-time, 10 months a year. Work from home office. Base salary: $25,000/year with potential for significantly increased salary depending on successful fundraising.
For information about MassAction and link to job description go to http://uumassaction.org/ Apply by June 14 by emailing your letter of interest and resume, as a Word attachment or pdf, to mailto:massactionresumes@gmail.com
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CALENDAR
May 21 How to Inspire Participation in Congregations 9:00a-12:00n
Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro
May 23* BCD Board meeting 6:30p - 9:00p
Channing Memorial Church, Newport*
Jun16 BCD Office closes for summer (reopens August 16)
Jun 22-26 General Assembly (GA),
Charlotte, North Carolina
*New or changed since the prior month's BCD in Brief was published
Watch for the 2011-2012 Conference and workshop schedule to be published in the June BCD-inBrief.
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