Prairie Star District:
- Is one of 20 Districts of the UUA.
- Serves 59 Congregations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and parts of Missouri and Wisconsin (plus another ten congregations in various stages of affiliation).
- Consists of over 9,100 members in local congregations.
- Covers 452,000 square miles.
- Has a Board of Directors that meets three times a year.
- Has an elected Trustee to the UUA Board.
- Has a District Executive who coordinates direct services to congregations such as growth consulting, program development, leadership development, and conflict management.
- Has a Lifespan Program Director who coordinates faith development services.
- Has a full time Administrator and three part-time support and program staff members.
- Has a District Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Provides consulting to congregations in the areas of: social justice, conflict management, congregational staff compensation, financial management, congregational canvass, board retreats, mission statements, and planning processes.
- Has Resource Liaisons: trained, experienced, volunteer paraprofessionals who provide ongoing, regular consultation for congregations of under 200 members.
- Provides leadership training programs for congregational leadership.
- Provides support for congregational stewardship.
- Provides resources for congregational growth.
- Encourages congregational social justice activities.
- Has an Annual Conference of workshops, worship, speakers and a business meeting.
- Has a summer camp: Camp UniStar at Cass Lake, Minnesota
- Is partially supported by the Fair Share financial contributions of member congregations.
Mission
The purpose of Prairie Star District is to work to achieve the following ends:
- Healthy, vital congregations in the District.
- Strong related UU organizations.
- An interconnected web of Unitarian Universalists.
- A world which lives by the UU principles.
In order to accomplish these ends, the Prairie Star District Board will utilize the following means:
- Assist congregations as they work to meet their own needs.
- Promote cooperation and communication among congregations and groups.
- Serve as a bridge between the UUA and the local congregations in the District.
- Assist in establishing new congregations.
- Support healthy lay and ordained ministry in the district.
- Offer educational programs to assist District members.
Prairie Star District is “owned and operated” by the congregations of the District. Congregational delegates elect the Board of Directors which hires the staff to help carry out the goals and vision of the Board. The work of the staff is supplemented by a multitude of volunteers.
The District Executive provides direct services to individual congregations, coordinates a network of resource people for the delivery of additional services, conducts short term crisis counseling for congregations, implements Board policy, and acts as a liaison with the UUA. The network of resource people includes the Resource Liaisons and the Congregational Consultants. The DE also works with the volunteer coordinators of several program areas.
The Lifespan Program Director coordinates a network of resource people who provide lifespan religious education and faith development services to congregations. The LPD works with the Youth and Young Adult Specialist and the volunteer Coordinator of the Lifespan Program Area.
The Youth and Young Adult Specialist supports District youth programming, provides resources for young adult programming and campus ministries.
Program Areas
Services for multiple congregations are grouped into eight Program Areas each with a volunteer Coordinator and a number of committees.
Program Area Coordinators meet together regularly as a Program Council to coordinate the actives of the various areas.
