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Happy Spring, friends -- and thanks for your amazing work in the world.
UUSCM Board
Email Amanda |
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President's Letter
Dear Colleagues-
The Board was pleased to have three guests at our March meeting. They were the Rev. Dr. Lyssa Jenkens from Meadville/Lombard, the Rev. Joy-Ellen Lipsky and Mr. Bob Miess of our Lay Community Ministry Committee.
Bob Miess and Joy-Ellen Lipsky were with us to discuss issues related to our Lay Community Ministry Committee. In the future, Bob will be meeting with the Board in an ex-officio capacity to keep us informed of what the Committee is doing.
Dr. Jenkens was present to explore with us the new degree in Lay Ministry that Meadville/ Lombard Theological School is offering. We were delighted to hear about it, as it represents the growing movement in Unitarian Universalism to increase lay leadership at the national level, which we believe is the way of the future, replacing the clericalism of the 19th century.
As I had a chance to reflect on this, I am struck by a comparison between the direction of contemporary Unitarian Universalism that seems to be emerging and that of Western Buddhism. While Eastern Buddhism is run by its ordained clergy (monks, nuns and priests), Western Buddhism is lay-run. While the Buddhist clergy are highly respected and consulted in the Western organizations, the movement itself is under lay control. I suspect Unitarian Universalism will be walking on that same path in the future. It is also interesting to notice that the funding model of Western Buddhism may come to be characteristic of Unitarian Universalism as well. The old pledging system seems to be faltering and may prove inadequate to support our movement in the future. Western Buddhist communities tend to be self-supporting, with the clergy raising their own livelihoods through spiritual direction and other forms of religious teaching, and institutions having multiple lines of revenue: donations, fees, retreat tuitions, licensing and publications. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for us.
The Board finalized plans for the General Assembly and created some guidelines for the scholarships we offer to the people who help run our GA presence. Also, we discussed improvements to the UUSCM website. Our website is not just a website. It is actually a complete association-management system. In the background it handles our membership directory, dues, reminders, registrations and donations. The interface that you see when you log in is only the tip of the iceberg. However, that interface isn't very attractive (although it was inexpensive). We are considering spiffing it up and making the site easier to navigate. Stay tuned.
Sincerely,
Rev. C. Scot Giles, D.Min.
President, UUSCM
Fellowshipped Member, UUSCM
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Self-Care for Activists
 Hi Wonderful colleagues: I'm the intern minister at UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland. As part of my work, I'm creating a workshop on self-care for social justice activists. Would welcome your thoughts and ideas of what to include to help them sustain themselves and their work. Also any recommended resources. This will be a two-hour workshop at a racial justice summit. Additional work could be done in the afternoon identity caucuses if the groups so choose. I'm also thinking about developing a longer workshop to take on the road to social justice makers at UU congregations and possibly beyond. Many thanks, Karen Lee Scrivo |
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Are You Giving a Workshop at General Assembly?
We want to recognize and honor those of our members who have been selected to do workshops at the 2016 General Assembly in Ohio. If you will be leading or co-leading a workshop, please let us know by clicking on this email link. We want to help you promote your workshop as well as say "Well Done!"
Here are the workshops by UUSCM members that we already know about (updated list): Darrick Jackson: "Yes, And..." Tools for Multifaith Dialogue Kellie C. Kelly: "Building Bridges of Understanding Across Class and Racial Differences": While seen as educated, upper middle class, and white, UUs are actually more diverse. This workshop will help us get past the stereotypes to explore how to use our differences to deepen our spirituality, affect social change, and widen the welcoming tent to grow our faith community. Presenters: Denise Moorehead, Rev. Christian Schmidt, and Kellie C. Kelly.Howard Tolley: "Witnessing Race: State Action Network Advocacy and Organizing" -- Multicultural Growth & Witness Staff Team and Coalition of UU State Action Networks: Dr. Howard Tolley, Rev. Ashley Horan, Samuel Prince, Rev. Craig Hirshberg.
Barbara Meyers will be among the presenters of the following two workshops: - "AIM to Create Justice": It's more than ramps and large-print hymnals. Learn how the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry certification program shifts attitudes and empowers congregations to create justice by advancing disability rights and removing barriers to inclusion. Hear from program creators, certified congregations and congregations pursuing certification.
- "Anonymously Yours: A Worship Service": Here in Ohio, the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, we offer a worship service to explore themes of recovery which connect us all, addict and non-addict, heart to heart. The UU Addictions and Recovery Ministry Team provides a model for the unique engagement with addiction and recovery that worship provides.
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Contact Us!Got an Issue? Got a Milestone? Report an Obituary? Something to Pass on to the UUA? We want to hear from you. Email our President. Email ScotEmail our Administrator. Email Amanda--------- Articles labeled "Promotional Ad" are paid advertisements by vendors.
UUSCM has not evaluated these services and takes no responsibility for any claims made therein.
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UUSCM Board Meetings...
Will now be on the second Wednesday of the month, at 6 pm Central time. If you'd like to sit in, please email our President for an invitation. You'll be more than welcome!
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