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Youth Ministries Updates
A monthly newsletter of the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries November 2009
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Our Office is Hiring!
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The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is currently seeking to fill two open positions: a full-time Office Administrator and a part-time Communications Technology Associate. Follow the links for more information on the positions and how to apply.
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UUA Internship Opportunity
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Ever thought about getting to work at UU headquarters in Boston? Need something
to put on your resume? Been wanting to deepen your UU spirituality?
Have some extra hours to spare?
You can gain all of that and
more through a January-May paid internship for the UUA's Office of Youth and
Young Adult Ministries.
Find out all of the details and apply by December 1!
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Chrysalis Trainings
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The Chrysalis Training Program offers youth and adults the
opportunity to gather, build community, and learn and enhance the skills needed
to be effective youth ministry leaders. These are the upcoming trainings:
- Chaplain Training: November 6-8, Hosted by the Heartland
District Youth Steering Committee.
- Chaplain Training: November
13-15, Hosted by the Thomas Jefferson District. Contact
Sue Sinnamon for details ssinnamon@uua.org.
To find out how your
district, organization, or congregational cluster can host a Chrysalis Training,
contact Jeremie Giacoia, Leadership Development Associate, at jgiacoia@uua.org.
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| Greetings from the Director |
| Greetings all,
This issue of Youth Ministries Updates contains a number of opportunities for youth and adults working with youth. I hope you will share these opportunities and explore them together! This issue is pretty full, so I will leave you to read on... I hope you enjoy this issue of Youth Ministries Updates!
In faith,
 Erik B. Kesting
Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director
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From the Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color
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Hi Family,
I am sitting in the Providence, RI airport waiting to go home after having an incredible time at the Liberal Religious Educators Association Fall Conference. The keynote speakers were inspiring and the workshops were engaging. However, what I enjoyed most about the conference was being able to talk nonstop about ministry with youth and young adults of all ethnicities. One program I am particularly excited about facilitating in the next few months is "Identity Development: Ethnicity/Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation."
As I walked in downtown Providence, I became aware that Halloween and the month of November is only a few short days away. And with November comes Thanksgiving an American holiday in which I continue to have a love-hate relationship. I hate Thanksgiving because it is a reminder of the U.S. government sanctioned genocide of the Natives Peoples who helped the first Europeans who arrived on these shores survive. I love Thanksgiving because it is one of the few times that American families sit down together to eat a meal and share why they are thankful. It is a ritual I have become accustomed to and look forward to each year. A special time when each person sitting at the table gets to share why they are thankful. I wish this ritual was practiced everyday, instead of just once a year. Think about it. How different would this nation be if every family and every individual gave thanks at each meal? A simple prayer that would, in my opinion, have a huge impact on how people experience the world and their place in it. The Christian Sage Meister Eckhart teaches, "if the only prayer you say in your whole life is 'thank you' that would suffice."
My prayer for each of you this month is that you take time each day to say thank you for something or someone in your life. I think you may be surprised at how the simple act of being thankful can transform your life. As always I would love to hear from you. You can message me on Facebook at Monica Cummings, email me at mcummings@uua.org or leave a comment for me on the YaYA of Color blog.
Living My Faith,
Rev. Monica |
| UU Training and Service Event for Interfaith Youth Leadership |
 Application forms are now available for the January 15 - 18, 2010 Unitarian Universalist Training and Service event for Interfaith Youth Leadership.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Shelter Rock Large Grant Fund, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Interfaith Youth Core bring you a free leadership training and service event developed specifically for Unitarian Universalist youth and adults who work with youth. This training will equip teams with the skills needed to return to their congregations and districts and be leaders in the interfaith youth movement.
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| Call for Authors - Tapestry of Faith Interfaith Youth Curriculum |
The Lifespan Faith Development staff group of the UUA seeks an author for an interfaith leadership program for high school-age youth. This curriculum is part of a joint initiative of the UUA and the Interfaith Youth Core. The author will partner with a co-author from the Interfaith Youth Core. Writing will begin immediately upon hire, with a complete manuscript due in late spring 2010. The author will receive a Word-based template for program design and manuscript preparation, and UUA staff will work closely with the author in developing the curricula and suggesting resources. More details and how to apply are on UUA.org. | |
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Leadership Roles for Youth and Adults at General Assembly!
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General Assembly Youth Caucus Staff and Program Facilitator positions are now open. Positions are available for youth and adults of all ages. Find out more and APPLY NOW! We want to see YOU at General Assembly 2010 in Minneapolis, MN!
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Rev. William G. Sinkford Receives 2009 Angus MacLean Award
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The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations has named the Rev. William G. Sinkford, former president of the UUA, as the 2009 recipient of the Angus H. MacLean Award for Excellence in Religious Education.
Judith A. Frediani, UUA Director of Lifespan Faith Development, presented the award on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) annual conference in Providence, RI.
Bill Sinkford's leadership of the UUA brought initiatives and institutional changes that enhanced the capacity and expanded the role of our religious educators to guide and support faith development of Unitarian Universalists at all ages and stages of life. Rev. Sinkford recognized the role of lifelong religious learning in nurturing UU faith and growing vital congregations of justice and love. One of his first acts as president was to rename the Religious Education Department the Lifespan Faith Development staff group to inspire and effect a culture change in our congregations regarding this core ministry. Later, he secured staffing and funding for the Tapestry of Faith curriculum project to help further this aim.
During his presidency, Bill Sinkford promoted and supported the professional status of religious educators in Unitarian Universalism with the movement of religious educator credentialing into the Ministry and Professional Leadership staff group, the enhancement of professional development opportunities through programs such as Renaissance religious educator training, and the launch of a job search system for religious educators.
Bill was an early, enthusiastic supporter of the Tapestry of Faith lifespan faith development program, the first comprehensive, interactive and integrated program of curricula and resources for child, youth, adult and multigenerational Unitarian Universalist religious education. The UUA began publishing Tapestry of Faith programs online in 2007.
As president, he initiated an Association-wide Consultation on Ministry To and With Youth to engage congregations' youth, ministers, religious educators, musicians, and District staff in strengthening our youth ministry. The process generated the Youth Ministry Working Group, the MOSAIC consultation, the Youth Ministry Advisory Committee, the new Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office and, ultimately, a comprehensive re-visioning of Unitarian Universalist ministry to youth and young adults.
Finally, Bill Sinkford's social justice ministry embodied the vision or religious education and social justice as branches of the same tree of liberal faith.
The MacLean award was established in 1972 by the Alumni Association of the St. Lawrence University Theological School and the Religious Education Department of the UUA. The award is administered by the UUA. Each spring, a committee chaired by Judith Frediani, Director of Lifespan Faith Development, selects a recipient. Nominate someone for the 2010 Angus MacLean Award. |
| Contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries |
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