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Southern Region UUA
E-News Journal
Evangelizing the South for Unitarian Universalism
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Message from Connie Goodbread,
Southern Region Congregational Life Consultant for Leadership and Faith Development
The Great Adventure
Life is either a great adventure or nothing. Helen Keller
This weekend, at our Fall Leadership Harvest in Dallas, I will be doing a workshop called The Great Adventure. The Leadership Harvest is one of several regional events we will offer. Please go to the Southern Region's calendar to see all that is listed there http://www.uusouthland.org/events.html. This is a workshop that I have been doing for several years - honing and trying to simplify theory and concepts. This will be the first time that I will actually have enough time with the participants to do the deep work that I have always thought should be part of it. I am looking forward to the experience - I always learn as much, and maybe sometimes even more, than the leaders who come to take the workshop.
What do I mean by "The Great Adventure?" Within our faith are all the possibilities that ever could be. If we understood our faith to be a natural adventure of open possibilities, how much more fun could this be? Could we stand it? Our shared vision is a dream but the journey is an adventure. Getting there is half the fun and we are on our way. Being on our way is some of the discomfort we feel.
No one can discover new oceans unless they are willing to lose sight of the shore (unknown). Adventure is scary and disconcerting and liberating and a challenge and thrilling and fun. We find ourselves standing on the boat and the shoreline is receding. Things will never be the same.
As Unitarian Universalists we know we do not have all of the answers. We humbly accept the responsibility of finding our own path while we support the struggle of others as they find theirs. We don't close the doors on the possibilities but rather leave doors and windows open. We have many ways to find truth and all paths to truth are honored. Unitarian Universalism is a pluralistic faith.
Because ours is the faith of ultimate freedom, it includes ultimate responsibility. It is also cause for ultimate joy. We have no fear of damnation. We have no threat of Hell. We live in hope.
Hope is a concrete invitation to act in adventurous ways. (Steinke) We do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, not because we are seeking heaven and reward (though some of us believe in heaven). We are born in love and love all creation for its mystery, magic and beauty.
I have heard people say that the reason we aren't any bigger than we are is because of the fact that we can't threaten people with Hell and damnation. That is an excuse for not claiming just how important and powerful Unitarian Universalism is. We have so much to offer the world. There is no coercion or manipulation in Unitarian Universalism. Ours is the faith that you come to of your own free will. Ours is the faith that promises to build the just and loving community. Ours is the faith of the struggle to become and become and become yet again. This is not new. All of what I am saying has been said by others wiser than I, James Luther Adams being one. Voices speak out at pivotal times in our history. And yet we are still small. What is standing in our way?
It has been said that if we ever figure out our retention problem we would be dangerous. Dangerous to intolerance, hate, bigotry, injustice, fundamentalism and human indignity. I want to be dangerous to all those things. I want for us to raise our voices in joy and proclaim who we are, what we believe and to fight to build a world of love and justice, seeing as comrades all people of faith who want that better world. We are on our way. We cannot stray from our course, though the sailing may not be easy at times and the maps warn us of dragons. I trust, I have faith, that we will find our way to the new oceans.
It is a great adventure. I have never had so much fun. I have never known such excitement. I have never been so scared. But I have faith, faith in you, faith in myself, and faith in Unitarian Universalism as a true and righteous spiritual discipline and a great adventure.
Please feel free to copy this article and print it in your congregational newsletter. |
2013 SUULE information is updated
The 2013 Southern UU Leadership Experience, February 17-22, to be held at historic Penn Center, St. Helena Island, SC is now accepting nominations from congregational leaders for participants. Space is limited; please nominate your congregation's team as soon as possible. Go to SUULE for the latest information. |
Transitions Support
When your congregation faces a transition in your professional religious leadership, you will receive guidance from:
- Our UUA Transitions Office,
- Your District Ministerial Settlement Representative,
- Your Regional Congregational Life Consultant.
Additionally, I am available to answer your questions and point you to direct resources, including someone to conduct an exit interview or facilitate a search committee retreat. Don't hesitate to contact me with your concerns: khurto@uua.org.
Rev. Kenn Hurto, Southern Region Lead |
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Nancy Rabalais Named MacArthur Fellow
Dr. Nancy Rabalais, a long-term member of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was Named One of Twenty-three MacArthur Fellows. See: ????. |
Ordination at Northwest UU Congregation, Sandy Springs, GA
The ordination of Greg DuBow will take place on Sunday, November 11 at 4:00 pm at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Sandy Springs, GA. All ministers and religious professionals are asked to arrive by 3:15 pm to robe and process. RSVP at gregsordination@gmail.com. |
Installation of Minister at UU Congregation of Columbia, SC
The Rev. Dr. Neal Jones will be installed as minister in the UU Congregation of Columbia, SC, on January 27th. All Unitarian Universalists are invited to attend this service. |
2012-2013 UUA Common Read
Michelle Alexander's book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, has been selected as this year's UUA Common Read. Patricia L. Smith, Ph.D., a member of the First UU Church of Lubbock, Texas, has prepared a 45 minute presentation of the main points of the book. Check out a brief Blog: UUA Common Read 2012-2013.
A documentary, "The House I Live In," released October 9, 2012, addresses the issues that the book raises. It won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012. Go to http://www.thehouseilivein.org/ to learn more about the film. There is a click on the left to sign up to host a screening. |
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Passing of UU Leader Don Mohr
The UU Congregation of Columbia, SC mourns, in the words of the Rev. Dr. Neal Jones, "the death of Don Mohr, a leader in our congregation, district, and UUA. He was our Worship Committee Chair, submitted our Chalice Lighter grant request, oversaw our recent renovations, served twice as our President, and served on the UUA Commission on Appraisal. The tallest tree in our UUCC forest fell." |
All Presidents, Ministers, and Administrators: remember the importance of the information about your congregation that YOU enter into the My.UUA.org database. The "Staff and Leaders" database is essential. You must input changes for your staff and leaders, using your congregation's password, regularly or whenever there are changes to report. For more information, go to http://www.my.uua.org. |
UUA Trustee reports on October Trustees Meeting
You can find Joan Lund's comprehensive report on the UUA Trustees meeting that was held from 10/17-22/12 at http://www.floridadistrict.org/?p=3192. |
Thanksgiving Program at The Mountain Join Other UUs From Around the Region November 21-25 -- Come taste what's cooking at The Mountain! Four night program, lodging and food is $300.00 per person, double occupancy. Youth 13-17 $128.00, Children 4-12 $80.00 and under 4 is free. For more information, see mountaincenters.org. |
Serving Our Southern Region
Our Administrators:
Our Congregational Life Consultants:
- Connie Goodbread, cgoodbread@uua.org, 727-772-3508, (Focus: Leadership & Faith Development)
- The Reverend Kenn Hurto, khurto@uua.org, 239-560-5628, (Focus: Professional Leadership Transitions)
- Jenn Nichols, jnichols@uua.org, 817-874-4895, (Focus: Leadership & Faith Development)
- The Reverend Sue Sinnamon, ssinnamon@uua.org, 757-254-6389, (Focus: Evangelism & Growth, Growth Strategies)
- The Reverend Susan Smith, ssmith@uua.org, 318-550-8462, (Focus: Administration & Stewardship)
All team members are available to help congregational leaders in the Region. Please contact the one you know or whichever one's program focus seems to best serve your need. |
NOTE and SAVE THESE DATES:
- November 9-12, Fall Harvest - Leadership Training, Glen Rose, TX
- November 11, ordination of Greg Dubow, Northwest UU Cong, Sandy Springs, GA
- November 12-15, Southeastern UU Ministers Association, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- January 11-13, Jubilee Training, SED Dream Team, First UUC, Richmond, VA
- January 21-24, Smart Church consultants training, Dallas, TX
- January 26, "Pro-Immigrant Advocates, Allies and Activists," High St. UUC, Macon, GA
- January 27, installation of Rev. Dr. Neal Jones, UU Cong of Columbia, SC
- February 16 - 17, FLD 7th Choral Festival, UUs of Clearwater, FL
- February 17 - 22, Southern UU Leadership Experience, Penn Center, St. Helena Island, SC
- March 1 - 2, SED Racial Justice Conference, UU Congregation of Columbia, SC
- March 15 - 17, Renaissance Module Training, Haw River State Park, Brown Summit, NC
- April 8 - 11, Southeastern UU Ministers Association and Liberal Religious Educators Association joint meeting, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- April 12 - 14, FLD Annual Assembly, UU Church of Ft. Myers, FL
- April 13 - 14, SED Choir Festival, Community Church of Chapel Hill UU, Chapel Hill, NC
- April 19 - 21, SWUUC Spring Conference and Annual Meeting, site TBA
- April 26 - 27, SED Annual Meeting, UUC of Charlotte, NC
- May 31 - June 2, MSD Presidents' Convocation, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 19 - 23, UUA General Assembly, Louisville, KY
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