BCD In Brief for September 2013

At the BCD office we have been working on several new initiatives. First, as you see right away, we have given the BCD in Brief a makeover. After five years we decided that a new look would be refreshing,

We are developing new workshops with attention to helping congregation leaders identify and address adaptive challenges more than just technical fixes. We also want to assist congregation leaders tap in to the expertise each has to address issues or to form into "learning communities" to gain knowledge together as peers.

The BCD Blog is being re-launched on October 1. The blog will present ideas and observations about church dynamics, operations, spiritual leadership and facing the new paradigm of our changing society. Go to www.bcduua.org to sign-up for the blog.

The BCD Facebook is the "go-to" place to get information about the larger UU world, as well as for the Ballou Channing District. On Facebook do a search for Ballou Channing District of the UUA and "Like" it.

Again, I hope your congregation has an exciting, successful and fun new church year.

Rev. Bill Zelazny

District Executive

Meeting and Learning Opportunities

District and regional staff have been planning for fall meetings and workshops. The following are the ones currently on the calendar. Additional events will be announced as the plans are finalized over the next few months.

Building Bridges and Nurturing Bonds. A workshop to provide training to religious education professionals, youth leaders and adult youth supervisors and ministers about how to do spiritual and safe youth assemblies in congregations.

UU Society of Fairhaven, MA

http://www.uufairhaven.org/

Saturday, September 21 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Presidents Council. Annual gathering of congregation presidents for networking and discussion of topics and issues affecting congregation life. The congregation ministers and religious education directors are invited to join their president. (see article below)

First Parish Church in Taunton, MA

http://www.firstparishtaunton.org/contact-us/map-directions

Saturday, September 28 8:30 a.m.- 12:00

Adaptive Leadership 202. A Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts presented workshop for leaders who want to tackle significant, ongoing challenges in their congregations with an "Adaptive Leadership" framework,

UU Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, MA

http://uuwellesley.org/directions

Saturday, October 5 8:30 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m.

Registration and additional information at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e810359t19414a09&oseq=&c=&ch=

Job-apAloosa. A gathering for congregation leaders (officers, board members, committee chairs and staff) to exchange ideas and information in "job-a-like" conversation groups. (See following article)

Unitarian Church of Barnstable

www.barnstableuu.org

Saturday, October 19 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Registration at http://www.bcdjobapalooza.eventbrite.com/

Information at ballouchanning@verizon.net or www.bcduua.org

Faith Formation Workshops. Three Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts developed workshops to help religious professionals develop skills to meet 21^st century church beyond the non-boomer generation.

Social Media Ministry: Webinar - This webinar will explore how popular social media can serve congregations - and beyond. We will introduce ways to support faith formation, justice ministry and pastoral care online and begin to imagine your going beyond its walls.

Your computer

Monday, October 28 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Registration at https://events.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e81rjeym3f1256a1&oseq=&c=&ch=

o Renaissance Module: Adult Faith Development and Programming - This module explores faith development and programming for adult Unitarian Universalists.

The Walker Center, Newton, MA

http://walkerctr.org/home

Wednesday, October 30, 9:00 a.m --Thursday, October, 31, 3:00 p.m.

Registration at https://events.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e815kiky7b3755b9&oseq=&c=&ch=

o What Comes Next? Implementing Faith Formation - Translating Faith Formation materials into practice and vibrant ministries.

First Parish Northborough, Northborough, MA

http://www.firstparishnorthboro.org/directions.shtml

Wednesday, November 13 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Registration at https://events.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e815kiky7b3755b9&oseq=&c=&ch=

More information about all Faith Formation programs at http://www.cbd-mbd-uua.org

Presidents Council - September 28, 2013

Annually for over 15 years congregation presidents have met to network and discuss topics of mutual interests at the Presidents Council hosted by the BCD Board of Directors. The 2013 gathering will be at First Parish Church in Taunton, MA. http://www.firstparishtaunton.org/contact-us/map-directions This year presidents are welcome to invite their minister(s) and religious education director(s) to join them. If the president is unable to attend, another officer may come in his/her place. Breakfast, prepared by the BCD Board, starts the morning followed by discussion time and a few brief presentations by BCD board members and staff including information about the 2014 Providence General Assembly. There is no cost for the Council, but registration is required. Email names of individuals attending by September 25 to BallouChanning@verizon.net.

Job-apAloosa - A Huge Learning Community Event

Job-apAloosa, on October 19, is a "job-a-like" gathering on a grand scale that will enable congregation leaders and committee chairs and members who do similar tasks in their congregations to meet to talk about the work they are doing and exchange ideas about how to do the work in different ways. Each group can explore whatever issues the members wish to bring. The job-a-like groups are:

Money and Finance
Worship & Music
Social Action
Membership & Outreach
Committee on Ministry
Social Media
Religious Education/Faith Formation
Leadership & Governance
UUSC Volunteers

Join congregation leaders from around the district at from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Unitarian Church of Barnstable. Registration fee is $10.00 per person. Register on Eventbrite at http://www.bcdjobapalooza.eventbrite.com

BCD Staff

The district staff team for 2013-2014 will be the same dedicated individuals who have been working to serve congregations for the past several years.

Jack McGilvray, Administrator ballouchanning@verizon.net
Julianna Dunn, Program Associate juliannadunn2@comcast.net
Diane Elliott, Religious Education Development Coach, dianeabbeyelliott@gmail.com

BCD Directory - final call for information update

The 2013 - 2014 District Directory is being prepared. Update questionnaires have seen sent to congregation offices. Congregations that have not yet returned the questionnaire have until September 20 to get the material in to the BCD Office - ballouchanning@verizon.net - to ensure their current leader and staff information is included in the directory.

List Congregation Events with the BCD

The BCD Office maintains a calendar of district events and posts the information on the BCD website. Congregations wishing to have major events such as installations, holiday fairs and other special events are invited to send information about the event to the BCD office ballouchanning@verizon.net.

2013-2014 UUA Common Read

The 2013-2014 UUA Common Read selection is Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman. The book reveals how restaurant workers live on some of the lowest wages in America and how poor working conditions-discriminatory labor practices, exploitation, and unsanitary kitchens-affect the meals that arrive at our restaurant tables. This book is available at your UUA Bookstore www.uua.org/bookstore Receive 10% discount for an order of 5 to 9 copies, 20% off for an order of 10 or more.

Join the Move Sunday

This fall, congregations across the country will celebrate Join the Move Sunday This is a chance for Unitarian Universalists to celebrate our faith community and to strengthen our connections.. The official Join the Move Sunday is October 6, 2013, but it can be held any day that works for the congregation's calendar.

Join the Move Sunday is about more than just the move to the UUA's new headquarters. Money raised by congregations for the Unitarian Universalist Association will support the development of a collaborative, efficient and effective space that will allow us to serve Unitarian Universalists better, including building the Heritage and Vision Center, an innovative and cutting-edge space dedicated both to our Unitarian Universalist history and to the future.

More than 50 congregations have already signed up for Join the Move Sunday! See the list at http://stewardship.blogs.uua.org/congregations/join-the-move-sunday Sign up for Join the Move Sunday by emailing development@uua.org

More information about the move at http://stewardship.blogs.uua.org/about/about-the-move.

Interweave Re-invigorated

Interweave has launched a new webpage and monthly newsletter. Check out the new website with links to the newsletter, forums, new curriculum at http://interweavecontinental.ning.com

2013-2014 Calendar of Social Justice Opportunities

UUSC's action calendar, running through July 2014, explains the how individuals and congregations can connect with UUSC's justice work at different points in the year. We will continue to update these resources as new opportunities become available. When you begin planning for the upcoming months, please take a look at the calendar at http://www.uusc.org/fall2013surveyty to see how your congregation can participate in UUSC's work.

New Congregational Accessible Pilot Program

The Disability/Ability Action Program is a partnership of Equual Access http://www.equualaccess.org and the UUA that invites congregations to welcome, support, and integrate people with disabilities and their families into our congregations. Congregations seeking certification will conduct an assessment of accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities and create an action plan. For more information, please contact Mark Bernstein at mbernstein@uua.org.

Calendar

September

Sept 21 Building Bridges and Nurturing Bonds:

Effective Youth Ministry and Youth Assembly 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven

Sept. 26 BCD UUMA Chapter In-gathering. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

First Unitarian Church, New Bedford, MA

Sept 28 Presidents Council Breakfast and Discussion 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

First Parish Church in Taunton, MA

October

Oct 5 Adaptive Challenge and Leadership Workshop 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

UU Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, MA

Oct 19 Job-apAlooza 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Unitarian Church of Barnstable, MA .

Oct 28 BCD Board of Directors meeting 6:30 -9:00 pm

Location - TBA

Oct 30-31 Renaissance Module:

Adult Faith Development and Programming

[Clara Barton/Mass Bay sponsored event]

Location: Walker Center, Newton, MA

November

Nov 13 What Comes Next? Implementing Faith Formation 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

First Parish Northborough, Northborough, MA

[Clara Barton/Mass Bay sponsored event]

Nov 16 Cape & Island Cluster Meeting

Location: TBA

Nov 20-21 BCD Office closed for Thanksgiving

December

Dec 24-Jan 1 BCD Office closed for holidays

2014 Dates

Mar 14-16 Allies for Racial Equity 2014 Conference

Rocky River, OH

Apr 2-5 UU-United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar

on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New York City, NY

May 3 BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting

Location - TBA

Jun 25-29 General Assembly

Providence, RI