Small Group Ministry Institute
Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26 Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 Sponsored by the UU Small Group Ministry Network and the Central East Regional Group, UUA. An Institute is a “working conference” designed for SGM enthusiasts from congregations of all sizes. Open to new and experienced program organizers, facilitators, ministers, religious educators, and other congregational leaders. As participants, you will: Learn about and practice Small Group Ministry through hands-on workshops, presentations, daily group sessions, worship, and networking Explore the impact of Small Group Ministry/Covenant Groups in congregations Build your facilitator skills, including problem resolution Create and select effective sessions, including the use of art, music, and movement Develop…
Bring Out the Vote for Love at the Polls
2012 Elections–Take Love to the Polls Webinar Much is at stake in the upcoming elections and religious individuals and groups play a prophetic role in public life by calling attention to oppression, advocating for change, and holding leaders and institutions accountable for their actions and policies. View our webinar with Unitarian Universalist Association and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee staff, a UU State Advocacy Networks leader, and a UU Campus Organizer to learn how you and your congregation can engage in speaking out, registering voters, Get-Out-the-Vote efforts, and stopping voter suppression in your community and on campus. 2012 Elections–Take Love to the Polls Webinar materials now online (http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/take-love-to-the-polls-elections-2012-webinar). See our other election resources (www.uua.org/elections2012).
United Not Divided
Ren Pasco (picture, right; post, below) is a member of All Souls Church Tulsa, and will be starting school at The University of Oklahoma this Fall. She attended a summer Interfaith Leadership Institute hosted by the Interfaith Youth Core, and shares her reflections on this experience with us below. -Kayla I learned so much in a four day period of time at the Interfaith Leadership Institute. I experienced such kindness from others though we are different faiths. I felt open to talk about anything with the people I met. I had previously never felt that open-ness and community outside of my high school youth group. I learned how easy it can be to form relationships with people…
Invitation for Campus Ministry Professionals
I am writing to you, our Unitarian Universalists campus ministry professionals, with a very exciting announcement. Ever since I began working at the UUA I have been seeking ways to more effectively support the professional development of our religious professionals who are dedicated to serving on college campuses. With such a small group of colleagues that are geographically widespread, we have been meeting regularly for conference calls and webinars, but these are not enough. I hear and feel that we want to be in communication with more colleagues, and to be able to be with them in person. I am honored to announce that Rev. Cody Nielson, President of the National Campus Ministry Association (NCMA)…
Summer Opportunities for Young Adults
Below is a compilation of different training and internship opportunities for young adults that have heard about over the last couple of weeks. Feel free to let us know of other opportunities and we’ll be happy to update. -Ed. Interfaith Training with Interfaith Youth Core College students who are interested in establishing an interfaith group on campus are encouraged to apply for Interfaith Leadership Institute, a spectacular summer training with Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC, Eboo Patel‘s organization). This is open to both students who are involved in a campus ministry and those who are not. Please contact Kayla directly at ya-cm@uua.org if you are interested in attending or know someone who you think would be enriched…
Anti-Oppression Resources for Youth Groups
Use GLSEN Materials in your Congregation Do you recognize the name GLSEN? If you don’t you will want to now about the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. GLSEN is a national organization whose mission is to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. They have tons of resources for school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and LGBT and Ally groups. Did you know that their materials might be useful for your youth group, too? I didn’t. That was, until I came across their free and online GSA Jump-Start guides. While they’re intended to help high school students start and maintain groups at their schools, a number of them contain activities…
Bully – Or LGBTQ Ally Waiting to Be Called?
ACLU Promotes Student Led Gay-Straight Alliance The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) “Blog of Rights“ has created a video explaining how students can start a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at school, “Start A GSA Today,” to combat young people from being harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students — and straight or gender-conforming students who are perceived as LGBT – are subjected to homophobic slurs or have to avoid transphobic bullying, making it hard to study, to make friends, to be happy, or even to feel safe. Research shows that this problem is widespread and that students at schools with GSAs experience less harassment and are more…
Youth Advisor Webinar Series
Share Best Practices with Youth Ministry Professionals! Share what works (and what doesn’t work so well) with people just like you: youth ministry professionals who are committed to creating environments that empower youth to explore and grow. What: The Pacific Northwest District (PNWD) is hosting a Youth Advisor webinar series facilitated by Anne-Marie Davidson. Anne-Marie has served as a youth group advisor for eight years in Tacoma and Port Townsend, Washington and as the PNWD Youth Con Consultant and Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Team lead advisor for the past five years. This series of four virtual coaching sessions is based on sharing her experience and encouraging the exchange of best practices among participants….
New Youth Ministry Training
Revised Youth Ministry Renaissance Module @ LREDA Conference I recently attended the LREDA Fall Conference in Portland, OR and sat in on the Youth Ministry Renaissance Module. It was great to connect with UU religious education professionals from all over the country at the conference, and the new Youth Ministry Module was a special highlight. RenMods (as they are sometimes called) are 15-hour trainings in specific areas of religious education offered as part of the RE credentialing program. Co-written by Beth Dana and Jesse Jaeger, the new Youth Ministry RenMod was receiving rave reviews from the attendees, a discerning crowd of youth ministry veterans. You can find the leader’s guide and handouts online here and…
