New BCD Grant Program Available to Small Congregations

The Congregational Futures Program a partnership between the district and the congregation, developed as part of you BCD Board's 2011 goal is designed to assist smaller congregations (under 125 members) that are either vulnerable and facing significant operational, membership, financial and/or internal stability challenges, or are poised for growth and new levels of vitality.

The district will provide up to a $4000 grant to up to four congregations. The grant is to be used for capacity building endeavors with consultants or leadership development training. Grant application forms were sent to eligible congregations in early September. Grant awards will be made in December 2011.

New Resources Available from the UUA

• The 2011 Breakthrough Congregation videos are now available on line at http://www.uua.org/growth/breakthrough/index.shtml. No DVD will be sent out this year. 
• "Congregational Accommodations for Disabilities"accessibility guidelines addressing the inclusion of all people in congregation life is available for download at http://www.equualaccess.org/resourcelinks.html. The document was created by the Equal Access Policy Committee. Additional information is available on the UUA website at http://www.uua.org/accessibility/congregations/index.shtml.
•  "Adapting Small Group Ministry for Children," a Tapestry of Faith curriculum developed by the Ministry and Faith Staff Group's Resource Development Office is available online to download at no charge. "The program presents a new approach for children and junior youth programming using insights from the small group ministry model. The "Adapting Small Group Ministry for Children" material can be found at www.uua.org/documents/mpl/adapt_sgm_children.pdf

2011-2012 Common Read Book Announced

A Common Read, a program of the Ministry and Faith Develop Staff Group, was formed as a way for UUs to build community within our congregations and movement through reading and discussing the same book in a given period of time.

The 2011-2012 Unitarian Universalist Common Read is Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation by Eboo Patel.  Patel, Ph.D., is founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, an international nonprofit. He was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and serves on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations. The book is an account of growing up Muslim in America. It is a hopeful and moving testament to the power and passion of young people, and of the world-changing potential of an interfaith youth movement.

UU Addictions Ministry Looking to Identify Congregation Addiction Ministry Programs

The UU Addictions Ministry was established to work together with congregations and religious professionals to educate individuals, families, congregations and communities about the suffering caused by addiction. The Ministry is adding a resource on its website of a listing of congregations that have organized an addictions ministry program. In order to get an up-to-date list congregations with such a program are asked to contact Barbara Meyers, bfkmeyers@prodigy.net so they can be listed in this resource directory. The Additions Ministry Team's website is http://www.uuaddictionsministry.org/, with additional Information about Addictions Ministry team and their work on UUA website at http://www.uua.org/care/addictions/index.shtml.

Skinner House Books Looking for Stories about Becoming Multicultural Congregation

The Office of Multicultural Growth and Witness is working with Skinner House to publish a book that will illustrate the learnings of congregations that have committed themselves to becoming multicultural communities. Share stories about leadership, worship, justice work, religious education, congregational culture, relationship building with the community, membership work, and hospitality are welcome. There's no need to write your story in polished prose. Submit your story to mcstories@uua.org by October 15.

 Job Opportunities

• Ministerial Credentialing Assistant, Unitarian Universalist Association

To provide administrative support to the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA) Ministerial

Credentialing Office. Position description and application process at:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/mfd_minist_cred_asst.pdf

• Northern New England District Executive, Unitarian Universalist Association and Northern New England District

To provide support and resources for congregational development and executive leadership and management for the Northern New England District (NNED) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Position description and application process at:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/ds_de_nne.pdf

• Manager, College of Social Justice, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).

Help lead the building of the College of Social Justice, a new UUSC program area to include developing a state-of-the-art social justice education program adults and transformative justice education experiences for seminarians, youth and young adults. Position description and application process at:

http://www.uusc.org/job/manager_college_of_social_justice

Calendar

Sep 21             New Congregation Leadership Seminar* (NEW DATE)       7:00 - 9:00 p

                        First Universalist Society in Franklin

Sep 22             BCD UUMA Chapter In-gathering*                                     9:00a-12:00n

                        First Congregational Parish in Kingston

Sep 24            Board-President Gathering                                                 8:30 a - 12:30 p

                        Murray Unitarian Universalist Church

Sep 24             BCD Board Meeting                                                               1:00 - 2:30 p

                        Murray Unitarian Universalist Church

Oct 1               Worship Seminar "Where is Our Holy Church"               9:00 a - 12:30 p

                        First Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA           

Oct 22             Facebook for Congregations                                                9:00 a - 2:00 p

                        All Souls Church, Braintree

Oct 23             Installation Service - Rev. Beverly Boke                                         4:00 p

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Canton

Oct 23             Installation Service - Rev CJ McGregor *                          3:00p

                        Religious Society of Bell Street Chapel

Oct. 24            BCD Board Meeting                                                                6:00 - 9:00 p

                        Unitarian Church of Sharon

Oct 27             BCD UUMA Fall Retreat *                                                               9:00a

                        First Unitarian Church, Providence

Nov 12            Healthy Congregations -- Part 1                                          9:00 a - 4:00 p

                        First Parish Church (Old Ship) Hingham

Nov 23-25       BCD Office Closed - Thanksgiving

Dec 23- Jan2  BCD Office Closed - Christmas Season Holiday

Jan 7              BCD Board mid-year-Retreat                                              9:00 a - 3:00 p
                         Location: TBA

Jan 21             Healthy Congregations -- Part 2                                          9:00 a - 4:00 p

                        Location: TBA

Jan 28             Healthy Congregations - Part 2 (snow date)

Feb 25             Leadership Discussion Forum                                                            TBA

                        Location: TBA

Feb 27             BCD Board Meeting                                                             6:00 - 9:00 p

                        First Parish Church in Taunton

Mar 3              New England/BCD Music Conference

Mar 7              BCD UUMA Chapter gathering *                                      9:00a-12:00n

First Universalist Society in Franklin

Mar 10            Canvasser Training                                                              TBA

                        Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Mar 26            BCD Board Meeting                                                             6:00 - 9:00 p

                        First Unitarian Church, Providence

May 5           Spring Conference and Annual Meeting                              9:00 a - 3:00 p

                        Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven

May 7-9          BCD UUMA Chapter Retreat *

Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA

May 21           BCD Board Meeting                                                             6:00 - 9:00 p

                        First Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA

Jun 20-24       General Assembly

                        Phoenix, AZ

* New since last issue