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Southern Region UUA
E-News Journal
Evangelizing the South for Unitarian Universalism
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Message from the Rev. Sue Sinnamon, Southern Region Congregational Life Consultant for Evangelism and Multi Cultural Growth and Witness:
When I think about growth I hear the opening of Mission Impossible, "Your Mission, if you choose to accept it, is to GROW", and then BLAM the message disintegrates and we are left to figure out how on our own.
The basic aspects of growth are numerical (numbers), maturational (faith formation), organic (leadership), incarnational (Multi Cultural Growth and Witness) and associational (relational). They cannot be separated. They all happen together. This is the heart of the matter: Your Mission, if you choose to accept it. But it is far from Mission Impossible.
If we accept our mission is to grow Unitarian Universalism in the South, what would that look like in your congregation and in your lives? This is more than crafting a mission statement. It is living it in our communities, with our neighbors.
In the region we have many tools to help you grow. The Leadership Experiences help you grow leaders. The Missional Living Experience helps with incarnational growth.
and other Faith Formation Trainings are all focused on growth. The Racial Justice Conference in Columbia, SC on Mar 1-3, is all about growth. Jubilee Training, a Welcoming Congregation Program, and our Annual Meetings all are directly concerned with growth.
It is sharing stories that leads to fulfilling our mission. I want to hear from you how you have grown. How has Jubilee Training helped you grow? How has becoming a Welcoming Congregation helped you grow? How has participating in Annual Meetings and going to GA and serving on your congregational board helped you grow? How has attending Leadership Experience, and district and regional Faith Formation training helped you grow? How has making justice on your community helped you grow? Let's share the stories of successfully growing Unitarian Universalism in the South. There are many such stories: they show growth is a Mission which is entirely Possible!!! Send them to me - ssinnamon@uua.org and I will tell them.
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News from the UUA Southern Region |
Chalice Lighter programs have been, and are, important ways for a covenantal people to support fellow congregations and to nourish the growth of Unitarian Universalism. Here's news about calls that are currently, or about to be, in effect.
The Florida District is currently engaged in a call to support the UU Fellowship of St. Croix, VI.
Southeast District is now collecting pledge payments for a call to support Piedmont UUC, Charlotte, which has grown from 114 members in January 2010 to 200 at June 30, 2012. The grant will help the church hire a second ordained minister. SED's 2,166 Chalice Lighters are very proud of having recently passed $900,000 in Chalice Lighter grants awarded since 1988.
The Southwestern Conference will send a call this week to support First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston (Texas). They have requested the grant for the purpose of: Creating a Multisite Church - joining the congregations of First UU Houston, Northwest Community UU Church, and Thoreau UU Congregation, into one church, three campuses. |
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Want to know what's happening in the Region and your District?
Join one of the following Regional Webinar discussions. You are urged to participate in either of the following identical webinars that will deal with Regionalization and the new G.I.F.T. pilot program. G.I.F.T. will replace both the Annual Program Fund Fair Share Giving and District Dues. Our Region will embark on the G.I.F.T. program on July 1, 2013. Learn more about it. Your questions and input will be welcomed.
Webinars - Southern Regionalization and the G.I.F.T. experiment - What is happening?
Monday, December 10, 2012 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Eastern Time
Register for the 12/10 webinar here.
Thursday (not Monday!!), January 17, 2013 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Eastern Time
Register for the 1/17 webinar here. |
2013 SUULE information has been updated
The 2013 Southern UU Leadership Experience, to be held February 17-22 at historic Penn Center, on St. Helena Island, SC is accepting nominations now from congregational leaders for teams of participants. Space is limited; please nominate your congregation's team as soon as possible. Go to SUULE for the latest information. |
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Regional Youth Ministry Extravaganza
February 21 - 24, 2013, Camp Allen, Navasota, TX (north of Houston)
- Training for Ministers and all adults who work with our UU youth
- A gathering of Youth from congregations throughout the Southern Region
- An unprecedented multi-generational Faith Development event.
Registration details will be announced soon. |
Regional 2013 Spring Training - mark your calendar
Spring Training for Southern Region leaders will be offered April 4 - 7 in Atlanta (site TBA). This training will include all-inclusive OWL Training, Teacher Training Renaissance Module, Covenant Development, Compassionate Communication, Micro-Aggression and Basics on Growth.
Spring Training offerings will include:
OWL elementary
OWL middle/high school
OWL adult/young adult
Compassionate Communication
Teacher Training Renaissance Module - Pat Kahn and Courtney McKenney
Micro Aggressions - Rev. Sunshine Wolf
Covenant - the development and practice of Covenant - Connie Goodbread
Basics on Growth - More Than Numbers and Congregational Size - Sue Sinnamon
OWL course descriptions and promotional materials can be found here. |
Southwestern UU Conference will hold its Spring Festival and Annual Assembly at First UUC of San Antonio April 19-21, 2013. The Rev. Dr. William Schultz will be the keynoter.
Read more and register here. |
News about and for Congregations |
The 2013-14 Edition of Handbook for Congregation Treasurers & Finance Leaders, compiled by the Annual Program Fund Staff, Office of Stewardship and Development, UUA, can be found here. Check it out. |
After 15 years of renting, Red River UU Church in Denison, TX has purchased its own building. Built around the turn of the century, the house has 4 fireplaces and oak paneling. A nice size chapel was added to the house in the 1960s. Best part? They got it for $29,000. Imagine! They spent over $110,000 in rent over the years. They have spent a year upgrading and remodeling. The building dedication service will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Peter Morales will deliver the sermon, via video.
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News of Ministers and Educators |
Correction to item in last newsletter: The Rev. Lisa Romanticum Schwartz will be installed as settled minister in the UU Fellowship of Winston-Salem on Sunday, February 17th, 4 p.m. Clergy are invited to robe and process.
The Rev. Beth Lefever was installed at Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church, Cordova, TN, on Sunday, November 18, 2012.
The Rev. David H. Messner will be installed at the UU Church of Savannah at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 23. Clergy are invited to gather at 1:30 to robe and process. A reception will follow the service. |
Youth Caucus staff openings
The UUA is looking for a worship coordinator (2 year position), a connections coordinator, chaplains (youth and adults) and sponsor coordinators/advisors (2 adults).
Details about the application are here. |
The UU Service Committee and the UUA have created a College of Social Justice link of resources, people, programs and creativity under one umbrella. Work trips are now part of this organization. Learn more here. |
Open Enrollment for Dental Insurance
The UUA now has offered open enrollment for Dental Insurance for the first time to congregational employees. Deadline is December 14. Learn more at the UUA website.. |
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Information on 2013 UUA Elections
At GA 2013 in Louisville, KY, the UUA will hold elections for many positions. These include:
- President
- Moderator
- Financial Advisor
- Seven Trustees-at-Large
- Presidential Nominating Committee for 2017
- Commission on Appraisal
- Commission on Social Witness
- General Assembly Planning Committee
- Nominating Committee
- Board of Review.
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News from affiliated organizations |
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Cultural Humility: Developing Intercultural Competency
March 15-17, 2013, The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL
The annual conference will offer Unitarian Universalists who identify as white the opportunity to develop their anti-racist and anti-oppressive analysis and practice. Allies for Racial Equity Conference info here. |
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Executive Director Wanted for U-Bar-U Retreat and Conference Center
We are a UU camp and conference center located in the Texas Hill Country near Kerrville, Texas. The Executive Director will live onsite and will oversee operations, hire seasonal staff and market the facility to UU organizations and other groups. The ideal candidate will have experience in camp and/or hospitality operations, marketing and staff supervision. We hope to have the Executive Director in place by January, 2013. Please send resume or any inquiries to president@ubaru.org by December 10. |
| SouthWest UU Women's Conference, MAKING WAVES on a Sea of Change, will be held February 22-24, 2013, Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi, Texas. Registration will open in November. More information is available here. |
| Florida District Women are invited to join together in retreat March 15, 2013, DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, Ellenton Florida. Request registration form and other info from Allie, indigo8062@earthlink.net or 352-861-6303 |
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Our Congregational Life Consultants:
- Connie Goodbread, cgoodbread@uua.org, 727-772-3508, (Focus: Faith & Leadership Development)
- The Reverend Kenn Hurto, khurto@uua.org, 239-560-5628, (Focus: Professional Leadership Transitions)
- Jenn Nichols, jnichols@uua.org, 817-874-4895, (Focus: Faith & Leadership Development)
- The Reverend Sue Sinnamon, ssinnamon@uua.org, 757-254-6389, (Focus: Evangelism and Multicultural Growth and Witness)
- The Reverend Susan Smith, ssmith@uua.org, 318-550-8462, (Focus: Administration & Stewardship)
Our Administrators:
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. |
- December 10, Webinar: Regionalization and G.I.F.T. Program
- January 11 - 13, Jubilee Training, SED Dream Team, First UUC, Richmond, VA
- January 17, Webinar: Regionalization and G.I.F.T. Program
- January 26, "Pro-Immigrant Advocates, Allies and Activists," High St. UUC, Macon, GA
- February 9, FLD Dream Builders organizational meeting, First Unitarian Church, Orlando
- February 16 - 17, FLD 7th Choral Festival, UUs of Clearwater, FL
- February 17 - 22, Southern UU Leadership Experience, Penn Center, St. Helena Island, SC
- February 21 - 24, Youth Ministry Extravaganza, Camp Allen, Havasota, TX
- February 22 - 24, SouthWestern UU Women's Conference, Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi, TX
- March 1 - 2, Racial Justice Conference, UU Congregation of Columbia, SC
- March 15 - 17, Renaissance Module Training, Haw River State Park, Brown Summit, NC
- March 15 - 17, Cultural Humility: Developing Intercultural Competency, Rockford, IL
- March 24, building dedication, Red River UUC, Denison, TX
- April 1 - 4, Southwestern UU Ministers Association
- April 4 - 7, Spring Training, Atlanta, site TBA
- 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, First UUC of San Antonio
- April 26 - 27, SED Annual Meeting, UUC of Charlotte, NC
- April 26 - 27, MSD Annual Assembly, UUC Atlanta
- May 31 - June 2, Presidents' Convocation, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- May 31 - June 2, Presidents' Convocation, Dallas, site TBA
- June 19 - 23, UUA General Assembly, Louisville, KY
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