Seed Grant Money for Doctrine of Discovery Work.

At Justice GA 2012 in Phoenix, delegates voted to repudiate the "Doctrine of Discovery." The Doctrine of Discovery is a papal decree issued by Pope Nicholas V in 1452 that sanctioned the conquest and colonization of non-Christian territories and peoples. Hundreds of years of decisions and laws continuing up to our own time that invalidate or ignore the rights, sovereignty and humanity of indgenous peoples in the United States and around the world can be traced back to the Doctrine of Discovery. The UUA is offering seed grants of $500 to $1,000 to Unitarian Universalist congregations, groups, and organizations for projects that teach about, repudiate, and mitigate the current-day effects of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Learn more about the GA resolution and the Doctrine of Discovery at http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/dod/index.shtml and information about the grant application process is at http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/dod/284440.shtml. Deadline for application is April 5, 2013. Grant recipients will be notified by May 1, 2013. For more information, contact Gail Forsyth-Vail, adultprograms@uua.org.

Unitarian Church of Sharon Recognized 

as a Breakthrough Congregation

Study Guide Created for Breakthrough Congregation Program

The Unitarian Church of Sharon, Massachusetts is the newest UUA Breakthrough Congregation - a congregation that has "broken through" barriers to achieve exemplary goals. The congregation is highlighted in the spring edition of UU World.

Read the article at http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/284022.shtml

The UUA Growth Strategies Office has issued a study guide for each Breakthrough Congregation to help other congregations think about and discuss what they might do to with their congregations. Link to the study guide pertaining to Sharon at http://growinguu.blogs.uua.org/?p=1323 

Looking Ahead--General Assembly 2014 in Providence - Part 2

General Assembly is coming to the BCD. Although this "hometown" GA is still 16 months away and serious planning and preparation won't start until the fall, questions about participation are already being asked around the district.

• We have ideas about resources to be used. What do we do?  If you have names of musicians, organizations that would make a good GA Service Project, special activities we could offer, venues for offsite programming, great local speakers, causes that could benefit from our public witness send your ideas to Beth McGregor at epjmcg@aol.com.

• What do we do if we want to present a program or workshop? The overall GA theme will be decided this summer. Programs that address the theme are particularly sought, but other programs are also welcome. Program submission information will be posted at www.uua.org/GA in late summer. Deadline for submission October 15^th

• How do we volunteer? There will be a need for many volunteers, but it's too soon to think about most of the volunteer needs yet. There will be two types of volunteers - GA engaged and BCD engaged. Individuals can apply to the GA Planning Committee in March 2014 for GA engaged volunteers who, if selected, receive free registration in return for 24 hours of service. There will also be some BCD engaged volunteers. Initially, committee coordinator positions to be interviewed and seected this summer, with additional committee workers selected in Spring. These are the coordinator positions to be filled. To apply, send an email describing prior volunteer or work experience and two references to Beth McGregor at epjmcg@aol.com at any time. 
  • Local Information Coordinator -- researches and organizes information about local transportation, restaurants, emergency medical and dental care, site seeing. Requires good knowledge about Providence.
  • Ambience Coordinator-arranges the decor on the Plenary Hall stage and other places in the Convention Center, and the banner parade and banner hanging. Requires both artistry and management skills.
  • Administrative Assistant-handles volunteer scheduling, expense reimbursements, copy services, and a thousand other details; runs the local GA Volunteer Office.
  • Evening Programs and Special Events Coordinator-recruits musicians, arranges and manages evening concerts, dances and other social events.
  • Service Project Coordinator-works with the local organization selected to be the GA Service Project. Helps them run their booth, solicit contributions, and provide volunteer opportunities.

In winter 2014 individuals to assist the coordinators will be selected. Information about applying will be provided in early Winter.

New Youth Ministry Program for New England Region.

Staff from the four New England Districts has launched an initiative which will help equip congregations to expand their youth ministries, especially congregations that do not currently employ a Youth Director.

The Clara Barton, Mass Bay, Northern New England, and Ballou Channing Districts have recruited and trained a cohort of Youth Ministry Facilitators (YMF's). These YMF's are available to work with congregations who wish to offer a high quality Unitarian Universalist Youth Ministry event. They can advise a congregation's religious professional and lay leadership (youth and adult) about the tools, skills and expertise needed to plan and implement a successful program to serve youth. In the process, a congregation will learn how to build its own capacity for integrating youth ministry into the life of the congregation.

To learn more about his new program go tohttp://cbd-mbd-uua.org/drupal/content/new-youth-ministry-facilitators or contact Karen Bellavance-Grace, Director of Faith Formation, Clara Barton/MassBay Districts.

News from the Larger UU World

• UU College of Justice Activities summer program

The UU College of Social Justice was launched in June of 2012 to help Unitarian Universalists deepen and sustain the work of justice in their congregations and communities. One way to accomplish this is through experiential learning. During this summer, UUCSJ will offer

• Youth Justice Trainings for high school youth - a three-week social justice training, from June 30 through July 21, 2013, offers high-school youth interactive social justice education and real-world internships. Information and application at uucsj.org/programs/youth-justice-training. Application deadline: April 15
• Youth-focused Civil Rights Pilgrimage - one-week experience, from July 6 through July 13, 2013 will begin and end in Atlanta, Ga., traveling to Birmingham and Selma, Alabama to visit sites and people of significance in the U.S. civil-rights movement. This program is open to youth who attended high school during the 2012-2013 school year. Application deadline May 5, 2013. Information at www.uucsj.org

• UU-United Nations Office: Annual Intergenerational Spring Seminar

The UU United Nations Office's 2013 Intergenerational Spring Seminar is April. 4-6 in New York City. It will focus on stopping violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Participants gain a deep understanding on a topic of global concern in an intergenerational environment, with several sessions led by key national and international speakers. A tour of the UN is part of the program. Youth under 18 and youth advisors may stay at Manhattan-based 4th Unitarian Congregation as part of the registration fee. Other housing is available also. Register at uua.org/justicecalendar/200149.shtml. Deadline March 15.

• 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:

• 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: 

Calendar

Date                Event                                                                                      Time

Mar 16          South Shore Presidents Cluster food drive

                        Grocery stores at various locations

Mar 16               Pastoral Care with Youth workshop                                  1:00 p - 5:00 p

First Unitarian Church, Providence, RI

Mar 18            BCD Board of Directors meeting                                        7:30 p

                        Conference call

Mar 22-23         New England Region Boards Gathering 

Nashua, NH

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 8               South Shore Presidents Cluster meeting                             7:00 p

                        All Souls Church, Braintree, 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                                  3:00 p

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 12-15^@    BCD UUMA Retreat                                                          3:00 p (start)

Glastonbury Abby, Hingham, MA

May 15           South Shore Presidents Cluster meeting                             7:00 p

Location; TBA

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

First Parish Brewster, MA

Jun 2               Rev. Sarah Person installation service                                TBA

                        First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro, 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