December 2012 BCD in Brief

In 2012 congregations in the district experienced both challenges and good fortune. We can be pretty sure that during 2013 there will be times when we will be tested and times when we will know success. May we be able to live in the moment, find the strength to restrain our anxieties and fears, go about doing our work joyfully and celebrate our successes. And may our faith keep us moving forward in all we do.

For the Board and Staff,

Rev. William Zelazny, District Executive

Congregations Recognized for Giving Significant Support to UUSC

Each year the UU Service Committee (UUSC) recognizes congregations that provide the organization with significant support either though membership or contributions. These are the BCD congregations.

Creating Justice Banner Society - congregations in which 25-49 percent of the members are UUSC members

Murray Church, Attleboro
First Parish, Bridgewater
First Parish, Duxbury
Nauset Fellowship, Eastham
First Congregational Parish, Kingston
First Parish, Norwell
First Parish, Plymouth
UU Church, Weymouth
UU Congregation of South County, Wakefield, RI

Helen Fogg Society Award - congregations that have made contributions from annual budget of at least $25 per member

Nauset Fellowship, Eastham

James Luther Adams Award - congregations that have made contributions from their regular operating budget of at least $1 per member

First Parish, Duxbury
First Parish, Hingham
UU Society of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Haven
Channing Memorial Church, Newport, RI

Church Projects for Sandy Relief

Many congregations in the BCD reported having raised money through special fund raisers, special collections, and sharing the plate, or held church or community collection drives for good of people affected by Hurricane Sandy. These are the congregations that reported their efforts to the district office:

First Parish Bridgewater
First Parish Church (Old Ship) Hingham
First Parish Cohasset
First Parish Norwell
First Parish Taunton
First Parish Universalist Church, Stoughton
First Universalist Society Franklin
Second Parish Hingham
Unitarian Church of Sharon
Unitarian Church of Barnstable
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth
Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, Chatham
Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, Provincetown
Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven
Westminster Unitarian Church

BCD Spring Conference Keynote Speaker Announced

Mr. Bruce Knotts, the Director of the UU United Nations Office will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Spring Conference to be held on April 27 at First Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA. Mr. Knotts has a Bachelor's Degree in History from Pepperdine University and a Master's Degree in International Education from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He served in the Peace Corps and in private industry before he joined the Department of State as a U.S. diplomat in 1984. Bruce had diplomatic assignments in Greece, Zambia, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire and Gambia, where he was Deputy Chief of Mission. In 2004, he was elected to the Board of GLIFAA (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies). Bruce retired from the Foreign Service in 2007 and joined the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office as its Executive Director at the beginning of 2008. He has continued to be deeply involved in immigration, refugee and LGBT issues in the US and around the world. Information about the conference will be sent to congregations and
posted on the website in February.

Ideas for Multi-generational Ministry in a Changing Society

Professional and lay religious leaders interested in staying current on the latest research and trends, exploring effective practices and finding practical tools for work across generations in faith development and cultural groups can find extensive information at: www.FaithFormationLearningExchange.net. There are resources for children, adolescents, young adults, adults, senior age adults, families, parents, as well as for ethnic and cultural ministries on this site. The site was established and is maintained by John Roberto, the mind behind Faith Formation 2020, the extensive report about the changes in our society and their effect on church life. While the material is prepared for Christian congregations, much of it is adaptable to Unitarian Universalist ministry.

BCD Office Closed for Holidays

The BCD Office will be closed from Thursday, December 20 through January 1 to permit BCD staff to celebrate the holidays. In the event of an emergency the District Executive may be contacted at zelaz@aol.com or 401-339-0602.

News from the Larger UU World

Clara Barton/Mass Bay District Offers Congregation Learning Workshops

The Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts invite BCD congregation leaders to attend their Learning Congregation Workshops. This is part of the new regional initiatives to open all education and training programs to individuals from the four districts in the New England Region (NER). In the coming months there will be more news about cross-district programs and activities.

The up-coming workshops are:

Beyond Fundraising: Building on Strengths to Create a Culture of Generosity - Saturday, January 26, 2013
Navigating Differences in the Beloved Community - Saturday, April 6, 2013
Evaluating Congregational Ministry - Saturday, May 11, 2012
Creating and Leading Dynamic Lay-Led Worship - Saturday, June 8, 2013

Congregations are encouraged to send teams. Programs are held on Saturdays 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. For more information about each workshop and to register go to: http://www.cbd-mbd-uua.org/drupal/content/saturday-workshops.

New Curriculum Available for CSAI "Reproductive Justice"

The Curriculum for CSAI "Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling" is now available. The Unitarian Universalist Association once again made history among religious organizations when delegates endorsed "Reproductive Justice" at Justice GA 2012 and chose it as the next Congregational Study/Action Issue (2012-2016). This topic looks at reproductive justice and sexual wholeness of all people and communities. For more resources and information about reproductive justice, visit UUA.org/reproductive http://www.uua.org/reproductive/index.shtml.

UUA and United Church of Christ Leaders Met for Discussions

Senior Leaders of the United Church of Christ and the UUA meet last month for several days to explore new ways of possibly working together to promote justice and faith in the modern world.

Get the UUA perspective from uuworld.com at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/281310.shtml, and read about the meetings from the UCC perspective at http://www.ucc.org/news/ucc-uua-work-toward.html

New Standing on the Side of Love Campaign Manager Named

Jennifer Toth has been named as the new Standing on the Side of Love Campaign Manager at the UUA. She invites people to contact her at love@uua.org to ask questions, share ideas and let her know about what you envision for the future of this campaign.

Updated Handbook for UU Treasurers and a New APF Toolkit

The Handbook for UU Treasurers and Finance Leaders has been updated for the current fiscal year. Down load it athttp://www.uua.org/giving/apf/167072.shtml

The APF Toolkit has been updated to more easily connect congregation leaders to the essential information about the Annual Program Fund and resources for nurturing generosity. In addition, there is a new interactive A Dozen Ways Our Gifts to Our Association Sustain and Expand Unitarian Universalism page on the website to inform congregations about the many programs and services that benefit our congregations and are funded, in part, by their contributions to the APF. Both documents are available athttp://www.uua.org/giving/apf/stewardship/185491.shtml .

Information about UU Allies for Racial Equity: New Website & Spring Conference

The UU Allies for Racial Equity recently launched a new website! This website offers many new features http://alliesforracialequity.wildapricot.org//

The organization has also announced that registration for their Spring Conference is open. This year's theme is "Cultural Humility: Developing Intercultural Competency." Two keynote speakers have been booked: Beth Zemsky and Matt Meyer. They are both high energy, interactive presenters committed to multicultural competency. Conference information at: http://alliesforracialequity.wildapricot.org/ARECONINFO2013

UUA Annual Program Fund for FY14

The Annual Program Fund requested contribution for FY2014 will be $60 per member, with an option of 4.3% of expenditures for congregations with 550 or more members

UUA Employment Opportunities

UUA Bookstore Assistant Manager:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/com_bookstore_asst_mgr.pdf

Online Application Analyst/Developer:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/its_online_app_alst_dev.pdf

Legacy Gifts Manager:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/dev_legacy_gifts_mgr.pdf

Communications Assistant:

http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/dev_comm_asst.pdf

Calendar

Dec 20-31 BCD Office closed - Holiday

2013

Jan 1 BCD Office closed - Holiday

Jan 12 BCD Board of Directors Winter Retreat & meeting 9:00 a- 2:00 p

First Parish Church, Cohasset, MA

Jan 26 Beyond Fundraising: Building on Strengths to Create 8:30 a - 12:30 p

a Culture of Generosity

[a Clara Barton/Mass Bay District seminar]

First Parish Church, Weston, MA

Jan 28-31 UUMA Center Institute for Excellence in Ministry

Tampa, FL

Feb 22 Senior Hi Con TBA

First Unitarian Church, Providence, MA

Mar 2 Music Conference TBA

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro, MA

Mar 3 Senior Hi Con

First Parish Church, Brewster, MA

Mar 18 BCD Board of Directors meeting 6:30 - 9:00 p

First Parish Church, Plymouth, MA

Mar 29-30New England Region Boards Gathering

Nashua, NH

Apr 6-7 Senior High Con

First Parish Duxbury, Duxbury, MA

Apr 6 Navigating Difference in the Beloved Community 8:30 a - 12:30 p

[a Clara Barton/Mass Bay District seminar]

First Parish UU, Northborough, MA

Apr 27 Spring Conference & Annual Meeting 9:00 a - 1:00 p

First Congregational Parish, Kingston, MA

Apr 28 Rev Paul Langston-Daly installation TBA

First Unitarian Church, New Bedford, MA

May 11 Junior High Con

First Parish Duxbury, Duxbury, MA

May 11 Evaluating Congregational Ministry 8:30 a - 12:30 p

[a Clara Barton/Mass Bay District seminar]

Location; TBA

May 20 BCD Board of Directors meeting 6:30 - 9:00 p

First Parish Brewster, MA

Jun 8 Creating and Leading Dynamic Lay-Led Worship 8:30 a - 12:30 p

[Clara Barton/Mass Bay District seminar]

Location: TBA

Jun 19-23 General Assembly

Louisville, KY

^#Change of information from last BCD in Brief

^@New from last BCD in Brief