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| | Florida District Connections
August 1, 2010 |
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PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL
WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR CONGREGATION! |
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 | Notes & Comments From Our District Executive
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 "When does church begin?" I naively asked upon arriving to take up my ministry at Fort Myers seven years ago. I knew it really just keeps on going, but the Sunday after Labor Day was always some kind of new beginning in my prior congregations. Noting that schools in Florida open in early August, that seemed a bit late. So, I wondered, when?
My observations revealed that, with but modest weather-swings and less dramatic changes in daylight, with an early school start and an dispersed snow-bird arrival, planning a rally-together Ingathering or Home-coming Sunday is hard to do. That said, school does start in a few days. Families will shift gradually to a "fall" mindset when Sunday worship and faith education become more central. Our congregations should be gearing up by now. "Church" begins!
Some congregational Boards hold planning retreats in late spring and over the summer. Many wait 'til fall. It doesn't matter, as long as you have one. Here are some questions our leaders ought to consider as you think of the program year ahead:
What are our strengths, what things do we do very well?
What do we do okay but we could improve?
What new thing should we begin to do?"
The first is the most important. Also, too often, I see congregations over-reaching and stressing themselves out. So, I argue our congregations should do fewer things better. That alone should help you with your planning.
There is one other, a fourth question, that too rarely is asked: We have to live with limitations, so now and then we should ask:
"What is it that we should stop doing?"
Remember the seven last words of a dying congregation are: "We have always done it this way." Inertia is the enemy of both quality and excitement. As you think of gearing up your ministries this fall do two things:
Go with what you are really good at, more vigorously.
Go with what excites you now, not yesterday.
You'll serve your ministry more effectively and with more satisfaction.
Wishing you a joyful and spirit-filled year, Rev. Kenn
PS: Congregational Leaders, come bring hour planning challenges to this month's Leadership Roundtable, in Tampa, August 21st, or next month in North Palm Beach, September 18th. For details please see http://www.floridadistrict.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/UUA-FLD-Leaders-Roundtable-Fall-2010.pdf |
 | From Our Lifespan Program Consultant |
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Dear Florida District Unitarian Universalists,
 This note is to tell you that after 31 years of working in our Florida District, I will be leaving your service this summer. On August 15th I will become the Interim District Executive of the St. Lawrence District. SLD is the District that serves the congregations in up-state New York. This call is bittersweet for me. I am looking forward to working with the congregations and leaders in St. Lawrence as their Interim DE but I am also sad to be leaving my position in Florida. I will miss my connections with you.
I have been honored to serve Unitarian Universalism and the Florida District congregations. I have held many positions of leadership in Florida and I have seen more changes than I can name. I have also enjoyed working with District Staff. You are in good hands.
I hold you in my heart and wish you continuing success in ministry, faith development and in spreading the good news of Unitarian Universalism.
Connie Goodbread
cgoodbread@uua.org
Lifespan Program Consultant, UUA Florida District |
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Trustee News | | |
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund, August 2010
As you know by this time the Resolution to keep General Assembly (GA) 2012 in Phoenix, AZ passed at this year's GA by a very large margin; and it will be a "Justice GA". Over the next four years leading up to this GA our Association and hopefully every congregation within will be devoting study time and energy to making GA 2012 overwhelmingly successful. The delegates indicated their concern about our nation's immigration issues by passing Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI): Immigration as a Moral Issue, as our next four year study. Also as an Act of Immediate Witness (AIW) the Assembly called for immigration reform at the state and federal levels.
We must be leaders in insuring human rights for immigrants and refuges, and to acknowledge this as a moral issue. We need to continue to witness against Arizona SB 1070 and its implementation. The dignity of all the world's humans is central to UU principles and values, and I strongly encourage your congregation get involved in one or more of the many topics for immigration study and action. These include, but are not limited to: educating ourselves on the definitions and international agencies accountable in the issue; the economic impact of immigration on countries and individuals; the ways immigrants enrich the society in which they settle; myths vs. realities regarding immigrants; and who the immigrants are in our communities. Also we UUs need to participate and support events that support the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees, and efforts to change both national and international laws; and develop intentional awareness and programs of cultural sharing, inviting immigrants to be a part. I suggest looking at the GA Agenda from our meeting in Minneapolis for the full printing of our current CSAI.
Among other actions our AIW calls for us to join in tourism and product boycotts of Arizona in order to apply economic pressure on the state, to call on the U.S. President to reassert the federal government's exclusive control over the laws pertaining to immigration, to monitor legislation in other states and witness against similar anti-immigrant proposals, and to persist in our efforts until humane/just federal comprehensive immigration is achieved.
It is important that we UUs do more than just verbally support those in our faith who are "walking our social justice talk". Please know I am available to converse on issues that concern us all: jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. I also hope you are enjoying a relaxing summer as you continue to important work in your congregation.
Also available, UUA Trustee Reflections - June 2010, General Assembly, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Not only is Minneapolis a beautiful, welcoming, clean city...our annual meeting was just simply a "dynamite, dynamic" event. UUs worked hard...and speaking for myself (perhaps others, too) had little time for play. There were many excellent workshops and lectures. Between 3800 and 3900 UUs were together during this important time. Although there are many events and activities on which I could report, my themes for reporting this year will be "change" and social justice. Continue Reading |
| Florida District Seeks New Program Consultant |
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With sadness and appreciation, we say goodbye this summer to Connie Goodbread, our Lifespan Program Consultant. We wish her well in her now role as Interim District Executive for the St. Lawrence District of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
This means we are now seeking her successor for the ¼ time position. The job description is posted at www.floridadistrict.org. If you are interested or want to suggest someone, I welcome your calls (321.422.4625) and notes (khurto@uua.org). We hope to have someone in place by October 1st. Resumes will be accepted through August 15th. Learn more |
| Tipping Toward Better Practices |
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Audits
 That sounds like a good idea - until you consider the cost of a professional checking out your books. It can run into many hundred, if not thousands of dollar. Most congregations, daunted by the cost and preferring their limited money be used for programs opt not to have their books audited annually. Still, most might agree it would be a better practice to do so, just to be sure your congregation's fund are handled appropriately. What to do? Here's two ideas to consider:
1. Pay for a "review." Not the same as an audit and less costly, this is probably sufficient for most congregations without complex investment holdings.
2. Covenant with another congregation to have each congregation's Treasurer or Finance chair do a year end review of the other.
This latter has the benefit of having to explain your books to an outsider plus to see how a similar congregation handles theirs.
We might think of this another element of that under-worked aspect of congregational polity where congregations hold themselves accountable to one another. It also affirms a ministry for our money-savvy people beyond their own congregation to our larger ministry. |
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UUA Resources on Accessibility |
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A Brief Guide to Accessibility is available from our UUA. Part of becoming a beloved community is to be consciously aware of the ways we include or exclude people from our ministry, worship, education, and social gatherings. This Guide will help you do just that. Additionally, you'll find the link there to Disability 101, a series of brief articles on how to address various impairments in seeing, hearing, mobility, chemical sensitivity, and those related to invisible health considerations. We have included a brief accessibility checklist taken from this site in our FLD August packet.
Learn more and review additional accessibility resources for your congregation at this link: http://www.uua.org/leaders/idbm/accessibility/index.shtml.
 Equual Access was created to promote equality and access for Unitarian Universalist with disabilities, through coalition building, education, creation of policies and empowerment.
People with disabilities, families, friends and allies started this membership organization. We are dedicated to ensuring that our faith community warmly welcomes all people including those of us with disabilities. Our goal is to speak with knowledge and expertise on providing advocacy and support for our constituency.
UUA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act July 26, 2010, is the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To celebrate this milestone, Unitarian Universalist Association President Peter Morales has issued the following statement:
The Unitarian Universalist Association has always understood that people with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities face discrimination and barriers to accessibility. Our stated commitment to disability rights can be documented as early as the time of our consolidation in 1961, when one of our first social justice resolutions asked Unitarians and Universalists to "influence public opinion and government agencies on behalf of the needs of people with mental illness."
More recently, in 1997, the UUA furthered its commitment to disability justice by promising that the Unitarian Universalist Association would act "as an advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities both within its own association and globally." The Unitarian Universalist Association is a member of the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition, part of the American Association of People with Disabilities, which works collaboratively with other religious voices to be a prophetic voice for equality at the national and global levels. We are proud to sign on to the proclamation celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to recommit ourselves to creating a world where all people have access to full participation within our Beloved Community. |
| August District Packet & UUA Congregational Bulletin |
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 The Florida District (FLD) Monthly Packet contains flyers for district, cluster and congregation events. Information on non-FLD events of widespread interest are also included.
The August 2010 FLD monthly packet has been posted to the district website and may be viewed at the following link: http://www.floridadistrict.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/FLD-August-2010-Packet.pdf Please share the information contained in the monthly packet with individuals in your congregation. This edition of the district packet contains the following items: · District Calendar, page 1 · Leading a UU Service workshop flyer, page 2 · OWL Facilitator Training flyer, page 3-4 · Leaders Roundtable flyer, page 5 · District Wide Faith Development Teacher Training flyer, page 6 · Building the World We Dream About Facilitator Training flyer, page 7 · UU Zen in the Pines flyer, page 8 · Creating Connections, NE Cluster Women's Retreat flyer, page 9-10 · UUA Resources on Accessibility, page 11 · The Seven Principles of Vital UU Congregations, page 12 · Acting Program Consultant Job Description and application information, page 13-14 · Manatee UUF Director of Religious Education job opportunity, page 15
 The UUA Monthly Bulletin for Congregations is a collection of announcements and updates from the staff groups and committees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, and from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF).
The August 2010 UUA Congregational Bulletin
has not been posted as of this writing. Please check here for updates. |
| Around the Florida District - News and Events to Note |
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Upcoming Florida District Events - Save these Dates
August 21, Teacher Training, UU Congregation of Lakeland
Online Registration for Teacher Training
August 21, Leaders Roundtable, UU Church of Tampa
September 11, Racial Justice Council Workshop ~ Building the World we Dream About Facilitator Training and Teambuilding, University UU Society/Orlando
September 18, Leaders Roundtable, First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches
September 24-25, District Board Meeting, Oviedo
Cluster, Congregation & Affiliated Organization Events
We have engaged Christine Haskins, an expert in the Presentation piece of Leading a UU Service, to do a workshop for Mosaic UU, the Congregational Cooperative, and friends on Saturday August 7, 2010 from 10 am to 3 pm, to give us the finer skill of service leading. She plans to stay and demonstrate the skill at the August 8th Mosaic Service at 10:30 am.
Mosaic UU would like to invite friends who come from Palatka, Lake County, and New Smyrna if they wish, to stay over, with some limited hospitality available, to experience the whole weekend. On Saturday, lunch will come in the form of ordering from Stavros Restaurant next door, or people may of course brown bag it. In addition, there is a request for a donation toward the workshop and facilities, with $12 be a suggestion for the donation.
Please put this on your calendar, and notify Elissa by e-mail if you are planning to participate!
September 27-30, Florida UU Ministers Association Retreat, Mt. Dora
October 9, Northeast Cluster Fall Gathering, UU Society of the Daytona Beach Area
Both congregations are working toward the repeal of the 1977 law which bans homosexual individuals from adopting children in the state of Florida. Both congregations are asking other UU congregations to support a change in the state law.
The Orlando Congregation has formed the Kids In Need (KIN) Adoption Task Force to study issues involving children living without permanent, stable, or loving families. It was decided that the law prohibiting adoption by gays was not only discriminatory but also detrimental to children and families.
Starting this fall the task force will offer information sessions, adapted from ACLU trainings, and establishing an Advocacy Desk to facilitate communications with elected officials. It also hopes to serve as a resource for any congregation seeking to support this issue in solidarity. In the near future the Adoption Task Force will be contacting all congregations in Florida to network and share information and ideas. For further Information please contact Martha at KIN@OrlandoUU.org.
Florida District Directory - Congregational Updates
A request has recently gone out to Congregation Presidents and Administrators to review congregation information on the my.UUA.org data entry pages. Once that information is up to date we are asking you to complete a very short survey to input a few additional details for the district directory revision. If you have not yet completed this for your congregation, please do so as soon as possible. Many thanks to all who have already responded to this request. Please contact the district office if you have any questions concerning this update. |
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Things to Know in Our Extended Unitarian Universalist World | | | |
New Tapestry of Faith Program
 The UUA's Lifespan
Faith Development and Identity-Based Ministries Staff Groups are pleased to
announce the on-line publication of the long-awaited Building the World We Dream About,
written by Dr. Mark Hicks, Angus
MacLean Professor of Religious Education at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Click here to learn more.
Starr King School for the Ministry Dynamic Youth Ministry Course Offered
 This lively and
interactive on-line course grounds participants in philosophical,
psychological, programmatic, ethical and theological aspects of youth ministry.
Geared particularly toward Unitarian Universalists, but open to all, this
course seeks to embody a vision of youth ministry that is a vibrant, robust,
and flexible part of every congregation. Topics of instruction include
leadership and spiritual development, professional support for youth advisors,
denominational polity, adolescent life issues, building intergenerational
community, and a critical analysis of different models of youth ministry and
programming. Recommended for all religious leaders, both new and old to youth
ministry. Learn more
UUA
Organizational Changes
Our UUA has been going
through considerable reorganization this last year. Multicultural Growth
and Witness is a new staff group will build congregational capacity to minister
effectively in a multicultural world and to do effective public witness and
social action at the state and local level.
UU
Publications News
Two interesting articles on our Unitarian Universalism
culture are recently published by our UU World:
"What is Unitarian Universalist
culture?" http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/162478.shtml?n
and
"Unitarian Universalism's
narrow niche" LIFE: Six characteristics of
Unitarian Universalist culture http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/162478.shtml?n.
Military
Resource
 Bless All Who Serve
is the title of a new UUA publication for Unitarian Universalist military and
their families. This summer our UUA was able to send out over 25,000 copies
thanks to direct gifts to this project exceeding $37,000 from our people around
the country. This pocket-sized volume is a collection of poems and prayers for
Armed Service men and women. This is another way we stand on the side of love,
affirming and appreciating our men and women in service to our country. Copies
are available from the UUA bookstore.
Spanish Language Hymnal
 The Spanish-language
hymnal, Las Voces del Camino: Un complemento de Singing the Living Tradition, is
available from the UUA Bookstore for
$18. It presents more than 70 songs in Spanish, including songs from Singing the Living
Tradition, plus other selections from Spanish-speaking cultures the
world over. There are discounts for orders of 10 or more.
The hymnal (English translation
is Voices on the Journey) was first introduced a year ago, then withdrawn due
to errors in translation. The hymnal was proposed in 2003 by a member of the
First Unitarian Church of San Jose, Calif., and is a joint production between
the UU Musicians Network and the UUA.
Beacon Titles on Immigration
Rights, Reform, and Policy
Beacon Press has created a
web page that highlights its publications related to immigration. Click here to learn more.
Still
Looking for Summer Reading?
See Summer Reading Recommendations from the UUA Bookstore at http://www.uua.org/publications/skinnerhouse/browseskinner/titles/145287.shtml
Resource Links
The Charter for Compassion: Our
UUA is a partner member of the Charter initiative. A rich resource for your
programming can be found at: http://charterforcompassion.org/.
Standing on the Side of Love, http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/,
is our UUA-sponsored initiative to create a broad-based network for fighting
oppression in all its forms.
A
Guide to the 2010 UUA General Assembly reports, commentary and podcasts can be found
at: http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/167331.shtml. |
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Quick Links
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Congratulations to the emerging 
Florida District UUA
