BCD In-Brief News and Announcements

January, 2013  * Volume 6, No. 6

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In This Issue
Certification of Membership Due by February 1
Leadership Clusters Meet for Connections
Congregation Events
BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting Date Reminder
News from the Larger UU World
Employment Opportunities
Calendar

Certification of Membership Due Feb.1

 

The deadline for congregations to complete the 2013 Certification of Membership is 5:00 p.m. PST, Friday, February 1. To complete the certification process, a congregation must log in to its online account, report the total number of members, as counted/defined by the congregation, provide statistical information such as the average Sunday attendance at service, number of children registered in the religious education program, and the total of budgeted expense. In addition, a congregation has the option to cast their vote in the Congregational Poll on the Draft Statement of Conscience, "Immigration as a Moral Issue." Congregation membership determines the number of delegates a congregation may have at General Assembly and the BCD Annual Meeting.

 

To avoid possible last minute glitches don't wait until February 1 to access your congregation's online account. For more information, and to log in to your congregation's account to certify, visit http://www.uua.org/certify or contact Nick Rafeal at 617-948-4654.

Leadership Clusters Meet for Connections

 

Several Leadership Clusters are scheduled to meet this winter. Leadership clusters are gatherings of congregation presidents and other leaders which were established by the BCD Board of Directors to enhance inter-congregational connections and facilitate leadership networking. Over the past years clusters have met for training and leadership development programs, information exchange and to organize area-wide social service projects.

 

The clusters encompass congregations that are neighbors within a geographic area. They are Cape and Island (congregations on Cape Cod and the Islands), South Shore (congregations along the South Shore from Weymouth/Braintree to Plymouth, Inland (congregations from the northwest to the central south of the district that are basically located along I-95/I-495, Route 24 and I-195) and Rhode Island (congregations located in Rhode Island). Each cluster sets its own meeting schedules, but generally they meet at least once a quarter. BCD Board members facilitate or arrange for the gatherings. Notices of leadership cluster gatherings are sent to the presidents of the congregations in a cluster. 

Congregation Events

 

The BCD office has been informed about the following congregational events happening in February.

 

  • Ground Hog Day Celebration: Several dates. Sponsored by the UU Fellowship of Falmouth, 840 Sandwich Rd, Falmouth, MA, to promote a religious response to climate change.
    • Sunday, February 3: Sunday service (9:30 am) with the sermon "A Religious Response to Climate Change" by Rev. Robert Murphy. Rev Murphy received a national Sierra Club award for his religious environmental work and was sent by the Sierra Club to Ethiopia in 2010 to study the impact of climate change.
    • Wednesday, February 6: Groundhog Day dinner and sing-a-long (6:00 pm), which is a fundraiser for emergency housing and energy assistance on Cape Cod.
    • Saturday, February 9: Evening events in support of the national "preach-in" in response to climate change.

For more information about these activities call the Falmouth Fellowship office (508) 457-0449.

  • Gayla Ball Dinner Dance: Saturday, February 9. Social hour, dinner and dance starting at 5:30 pm. Sponsored by the Welcoming Congregation Committee of First Parish Brewster for members of the LGBT community and straight friends and allies on Cape Cod and the Islands. To be held at the Cape Codder Resort, 1225 Route 132 Hyannis, MA. For information and reservations call 508-255-5476.

 

  • Talk and discussion with UUA President, Peter Morales: Friday, February 22. Organized by Rev. Robert Murphy in association with the Cape & Island Leadership Cluster. Light dinner at 6:00, presentation by President Morales followed by time for questions to begin at 7:00. The gathering is open to all UUs in the BCD. For additional information contact Rev. Bob Murphy or Lyn Dalzell (508) 563-5948 / murphydalzell@aol.com

BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting Date Reminder

 

The BCD Spring Conference with Bruce Knotts, the Director of the UU United Nations Office as the keynote speaker will be held on April 27, 2013 at First Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA. The District Annual Meeting will convene immediately following the program. 

News from the Larger UU World

 

  • Unitarian Universalist Allies for Racial Equity Annual Conference

This year's conference is March 15-17, 2013 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockland IL with the theme "Cultural Humility: Developing Intercultural Competency." The conference will offer Unitarian Universalists who identify as white the opportunity to learn, grow and explore how they can turn their anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural commitment into action. Keynote speakers include Beth Zemsky, MAEd, LICSW, who works as a consultant specializing in intercultural organizational development and Matt Meyer, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music who leads worship and workshops that explore the intersection of music, power, culture, and UU values along with several others individuals involved in multicultural work across the United States. For complete conference information and registration go to: http://alliesforracialequity.wildapricot.org/ARECONINFO2013

  • Congregation Learning Workshops Offered by Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts

The Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts invite BCD congregation leaders to attend their Learning Congregation Workshops. Registration is to open to individuals from the four districts in the New England Region (NER).

 

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.

  

UUA's Green Sanctuary Program News

 

The Rev. Karen Brammer, kbrammer@uua.org is the new Green Sanctuary Coordinator with administrative assistance by Brent Jurgess, bjurgess@uua.org.
 

A planning team will begin to review and update Green Sanctuary materials on a regular and ongoing basis in 2013. The planning team will include representatives from various UU environmentally concerned organizations.

 

UUs are invited to help the Green Sanctuary Program gather information, which will be used to increase UU capacity to do environmental work by completing a survey. Go to. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BZTNFQ5  

  • Resource about Alzheimer's Disease Available from CLF

The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), the UU congregation without walls, is selling Meeting Alzheimer's, an audio resource designed to address questions and concerns of caregivers. This CD provides critical information through an engaging, accessible format. Available at the CLF Shop: http://www.questformeaning.org/shop   

 

  • 30 Days of Love: A Spiritual Journey for Social Justice January 19, 2013 - February 17, 2013

Standing on the Side of Love is a community of people compelled to speak out against oppression, united in the common belief that love is the ultimate guiding force of our world.

Thirty Days of Love, a one month period for intentional action, service, education, and reflection running from January 19 to February 17, 2013. Individuals or congregations can register to show their intent to do at least one social action or social justice activity during the 30 days. Find our more and Join the 30 Days of Love at http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/30daysoflove/

Employment Opportunities

  • BCD Website Content Assistant. New position. To assist District Executive and Administrator update material on the district website. Experience with work on website content input. Estimate 2- 5 hours a month. Small stipend. Send letter of interest by land mail that provides description of experience with website content management work and contact information to Rev. Bill Zelazny, District Executive, 26 Packard Ave, North Providence, RI 02911 or by email to zelaz@aol.com.
  • UUA Witness Ministries Program Associate. Supports the Witness Ministries Director and the Director of Multicultural Growth and Witness to empower Unitarian Universalist congregations and community leaders in effective faith-based advocacy and witness. Full-time. Located in Washington, DC. For details go to: http://www.uua.org/documents/hr/jobdescriptions/mgw_wit_min_prog_assoc.pdf 

Calendar

Date                Event                                                                                      Time

 

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

Jan 29@          Inland Leadership Cluster                                                   TBA

First Parish Bridgewater, Bridgewater, MA  

Feb 2#            Senior Hi Con                                                                        9:00 a

First Unitarian Church, Providence, MA

Feb 9               Gayla Ball Dinner Dance                                                   5:30 p - midnight

First Parish Brewster (@ Cape Codder Resort)

Feb 22@          Cape & Island Leadership Cluster                                      6:00 p

                        Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, Falmouth, MA

Feb 22@          Meeting with UUA President Peter Morales                      6:00 p

                        Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, Falmouth, MA

Mar 2              Music Conference                                                                 TBA

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro, MA

Mar 3              Senior Hi Con                                                                        TBA

First Parish Church, Brewster, MA

Mar 22-23         New England Region Boards Gathering 

Nashua, NH

Mar 23           BCD Board of Directors meeting                                        TBA

Nashua, NH (following New England Regional Gathering)

Apr 6-7          Senior High Con                                                                    TBA

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                                                                   TBA

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