CENTER News - cdn.ymaws.comCENTER News 2014-2015 Beyond the Call Beyond the Call I: Preaching &...
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CENTER News 2014-2015 Beyond the Call Beyond the Call I: Preaching & Worship Arts Nearly 20 UUMA members are intensively studying Preaching and Worship Arts in the first Beyond the Call program. Program deans are Abhi Janamanchi, Kathleen Rolenz, and Mark Belleni. Beyond the Call parcipants get together to learn with their colleagues and Deans at regular retreats, on line webinars and telephone meengs. This spring, BTC class members started online small groups with other colleagues to reflect, discuss and support each other in taking creave risks strengthen their own preaching and worship skills. Eighty colleagues are taking part in the small groups. Beyond the Call II: Entrepreneurial Ministry The next Beyond the Call program will address Entre- preneurial Ministry. In partnership with the UUA, leaders of business school and other nonprofit leaders, the UUMA is creang an in-depth educaonal experi- ence for ministers seeking the skills and resources they need to lead adapve and innovave programs in congregaons and beyond. This program is for: Entrepreneurs – Ministers who are planning to launch a brand new venture in congregaonal or community ministry, or something we haven’t seen yet. Intra-preneurs – Ministers who are plan- ning to launch a new program or innovave approach within their exisng organizaon. Experienced ministers – The program is aimed at ministers in Final Fellowship, although ministers in Preliminary Fellowship with proven experience and a concrete program plan will also be considered. Thirty to forty colleagues, including those from other faith tradions, will be chosen for the intense two-year program. Parcipants will be expected to aend four 3-5 day retreats, videoconferences and meengs between retreats. They will be expected to serve their colleagues as facilitators and coaches aſter the program ends. The program will begin in early 2015; an applicaon will be available on July 1. For more informaon: contact Don Southworth. Coaching The UUMA is about to finish its two-year pilot coaching program. Twenty-six highly trained clergy coaches offered one-on-one support to 81 “coachee” colleagues. A coach helps a minister to dive into a parcularly challenging area of ministry, or to hone specific skills to take their ministry to the next level. While mentoring and in-care programs support colleagues during the start of their careers, the coaching program is for ministers in final fellowship. The UUMA will evaluate the pilot program, and plans to recruit and train a new cadre of coaches in the fall. If you are interested in being a coach to colleagues, or if you would like to be coached, look for the online applicaon in July. Coaching will resume in early 2015.
Transcript of CENTER News - cdn.ymaws.comCENTER News 2014-2015 Beyond the Call Beyond the Call I: Preaching &...
CENTER News 2014-2015
Beyond the Call
Beyond the Call I: Preaching & Worship Arts
Nearly 20 UUMA members are intensively studying Preaching and Worship Arts in the first Beyond the Call program. Program deans are Abhi Janamanchi, Kathleen Rolenz, and Mark Belletini.
Beyond the Call participants get together to learn with their colleagues and Deans at regular retreats, on line webinars and telephone meetings.
This spring, BTC class members started online small groups with other colleagues to reflect, discuss and support each other in taking creative risks strengthen their own preaching and worship skills. Eighty colleagues are taking part in the small groups.
Beyond the Call II: Entrepreneurial Ministry
The next Beyond the Call program will address Entre-preneurial Ministry. In partnership with the UUA, leaders of business school and other nonprofit leaders, the UUMA is creating an in-depth educational experi-ence for ministers seeking the skills and resources they need to lead adaptive and innovative programs in congregations and beyond.
This program is for:
Entrepreneurs – Ministers who are planning to launch a brand new venture in congregational or community ministry, or something we haven’t seen yet.
Intra-preneurs – Ministers who are plan-ning to launch a new program or innovative approach within their existing organization.
Experienced ministers – The program is aimed at ministers in Final Fellowship, although ministers in Preliminary Fellowship with proven experience and a concrete program plan will also be considered.
Thirty to forty colleagues, including those from other faith traditions, will be chosen for the intense two-year program. Participants will be expected to attend four 3-5 day retreats, videoconferences and meetings between retreats. They will be expected to serve their colleagues as facilitators and coaches after the program ends.
The program will begin in early 2015; an application will be available on July 1. For more information: contact Don Southworth.
Coaching
The UUMA is about to finish its two-year pilot coaching program. Twenty-six highly trained clergy coaches offered one-on-one support to 81 “coachee” colleagues.
A coach helps a minister to dive into a particularly challenging area of ministry, or to hone specific skills to take their ministry to the next level. While mentoring and in-care programs support colleagues during the start of their careers, the coaching program is for ministers in final fellowship.
The UUMA will evaluate the pilot program, and plans to recruit and train a new cadre of coaches in the fall. If you are interested in being a coach to colleagues, or if you would like to be coached, look for the online application in July. Coaching will resume in early 2015.
Mentoring
The UUA and UUMA have partnered on a pilot program to improve the quality and effectiveness of mentoring, especially for ministers from historically marginalized com-munities. Twenty-five Lead Mentors were trained by Rev. Larry Peers (Center for Pastoral Excellence) and Phyllis Braxton (Pink Consulting) in January 2014. The Lead Mentors will be leading in-person and online training sessions for colleagues who wish to improve their mentoring skills beginning in the fall of 2014.
After attending the in-person and/or on-line training (through chapters and clusters) participants will also have the opportunity to join an ongoing peer-leading group of mentors. If you are interested in being trained in the art of mentoring, please fill out the online survey found at: http://tinyurl.com/MentorSrvy To find out more information, contact [email protected].
Good Mentoring is powerful and effective, providing new ministers with a companion with resources and wisdom during the crucial early years of ministry. Too many of our colleagues leave the ministry within the first three to five years.
In mid-2015 mentoring will be offered to UUMA candidate members as well as those in preliminary fellowship.
CENTER Presenters
CENTER offers a choice of CENTER Presenters who are pre-pared to lead a 6-12 hour workshop for UUMA Chapters and Clusters. The programs address important needs in ministry; the presenters are from both inside and outside our collegial ranks.
The UUMA offers significant funding for chapters/clusters engaging a CENTER Presenter, as well more limited funding for outside presenters.
Our 2014-2015 slate of presenters all received high recom-mendations from colleagues and their program offerings address the most pressing needs of our ministry. For more information, contact Don Southworth, [email protected]. Read descriptions of all the 2014-2015 CENTER Presenters online at https://uuma.site-ym.com/?centerpresenterlist
Choose Health
Twenty colleagues participated this year in a six month pilot Health and Wellness program, using elements of the clergy wellness program at Duke Divinity School. They had monthly online group meetings and one-on-one sessions with Duke Wellness Advocates.
The project was the result of a collaboration between the UUMA, Alicia Forde, UUA Professional Development Direc-tor, and Jim Sargent, UUA Health Plan Director. Participants received support through the UUA Health Plan to partici-pate in exercise and weight loss programs.
We are currently evaluating this pilot to determine how best to continue offering health & wellness support to UUMA members in the coming year.
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The 2015 Institute for Excellence in Ministry
Almost 250 colleagues have already registered for the 2015 Institute for Excellence in Ministry, to be held Feb 2-6, at the Asilomar Conference Center in Asilomar, CA. Two workshops have met their participant limits, but some of those we expect to be most popular are unlimited.
Workshop space is still available for Rev. Jacqui Lewis of Middle Collegiate Church in NYC, Rev. Michael Piazza of the Center for Progressive Renewal, Dr. Joanna Macy, Interplay, Dr. Nicole Kirk, Rev. Susan Beaumont and others.
The low-cost early registration deadline is August 1, 2014. If you wish to apply for a full-ride scholarship—and have the greatest chance to receive funds—apply for a scholarship by July 1. The same deadline applies if you want to apply for an educational grant from the UUA (up to $500).
The next set of deadlines are October 1, 2014, with a scholarship deadline of September 1.
The final deadlines for registration and scholarships are December 1, and November 1, respectively.
See information at the UUMA website for complete information about the Institute, including registration, housing, workshops and other programming.
UUMA-Wide Conversations
Every two years the UUMA selects an important topic to explore in a UUMA-wide conversation among colleagues. In workshops in chapters and clusters,
programs at Ministry Days and General Assembly, and online learning opportu-nities, colleagues engage with each other on matters that touch upon their voca-
tion, their theology, and their ministerial practice.
“Whose Are We” and “Not For Ourselves Alone”
The first UUMA-Wide Conversation in the fall of 2010 was “Whose Are We?” and centered on theology and spiritual reflection. Over its two years, this program, proved to be an effective means for continuing education and deepen-ing relationships.
The reflections and questions emerging from “Whose Are We?” inspired a Skinner House book, “Not for Ourselves Alone: Theological Essays on Relationship:” by colleagues Burton D. Carley and Laurel Hallman.
“Not For Ourselves Alone” will be introduced at A GA workshop on Saturday from 2:30-3:30, followed by a book release party at the UUMA booth on Saturday from 2-3pm.
Copies of the book will be available at the UUA bookstore booth during GA.
“Who Are Our Neighbors?”
The second UUMA-wide conversation, “Who Are Our Neighbors?”, began in 2012 and explored multicultural-ism and strengthening our intercultural competency. Our goals were to build stronger collegial relationships; improve congregational/institutional capacity for intercultural work and increase intercultural competency in individuals.
“Who Are Our Neighbors?” has been well-received.
It has been offered in chapter and cluster meetings in each of our 20 chapters across the continent.
The program has been offered in three regional gatherings, with another one planned in the fall. It will also be offered at the LREDA conference.
Facilitators and others exposed to the model have committed to deepen their personal skills and lead this work for others. Page 3
The model has been offered to many seminarians and most of the UUA staff.
It has been offered to UUMA leaders including the Board of Trustees, the CENTER Committee, and Lead Mentors.
The Accredited Interim Ministers Guild is considering including intercultural competency to their required training and incorporating it into the interim goals for each congregation.
Resources that were used/created in the last two years will be made available on UUMA Connect. They will include:
A list of people who have been trained to administer the IDI, provide feedback and offer coaching,
The right relationship process that was used at last year’s Institute,
Reflection questions that can be used in small groups, A checklist for designing multicultural sensitive
worship, The ICSI conflict assessment tool, Universal design principles.
“Where Leads Our Call?”
The next UUMA-Wide Conversation is “Where Leads Our Call?” which will explore how we jointly nurture excel-lence in ministry in the ever-changing religious landscape of the 21st century. It will build on elements of the first two conversations on theology and multiculturalism. We will partner with Verity Jones, the Executive Director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence to develop this program.
“Where Leads Our Call?” will begin early in 2015. This
fall, we will be training facilitators. Facilitator applica-
tions will be available on August 1.
Fulfilling the Call
The 2013 publication of the Fulfilling the Call Handbook was a groundbreaking work that defined Unitarian Universalist ministry for the 21st century. It defined “the nine duties” of contemporary ministry and broke them down into specific tasks. It also offered definitions of what constituted levels of competence in each of those tasks. The MFC is revamping its definition of ministerial competencies and using Fulfilling the Call as a resource.
Fulfilling the Call’s duties of ministry is the organization structure for UUMA Connect. A new assessment tool that can be used for self and/or institutional feedback/evaluation will be on UUMA Connect in July.
An evaluation tool has been developed, based on “The Nine Duties” for use in ministerial expectation setting and review.
If you have not already received a copy of the Fulfilling the Call Handbook, they are available online at http://tinyurl.com/FTCHandbook
On May 1, 2014, the UUMA CENTER committee inaugurated its most ambitious effort to date to fulfill its mandate to facilitate high-quality continuing education for our members: UUMA Connect.
UUMA Connect is an on-line portal into a curated and crowd-sourced collection of resources to help ministers to become more competent in each of the nine duties of ministry. Resources include article, videos, book recommenda-tions and other media. UUMA Connect is also a place where colleagues can share ideas and insights and build their professional relationships.
There are forums for questions and discussion in each of the 9 duties of ministry.
There is also an opportunity for members to share joys and sorrows.
UUMA Connect establishes the UUMA as a continuous online presence, a never ending conversation where all UUMA members may meet and collaborate on an equal footing, a UUMA where inequalities in travel resources and available travel time are not as significant.
UUMA Connect is a collaborative effort by many UUMA members, who recommend resources and participate in discussions and forums.
You can sign on to UUMA Connect through the UUMA.org homepage for the UUMA or directly, by going to connect.UUMA.org.
Your UUMA sign-on and password are all that you need.
Tom Schade, Co-Chair [email protected]
Vanessa Southern, Co-Chair [email protected]
Megan Cefalu [email protected]
Marta Valentin [email protected]
Elaine Peresluha [email protected]
Kent Matthies [email protected]
Darrick Jackson [email protected]
Lynn Gardner [email protected]
Julie Taylor [email protected]
Alicia Forde, UUA Liaison [email protected]
2014-15 CENTER
