Issue 35: September 2006, Page 7

Thoughts from the Lifespan Program Director:

Mission and Vision

Rev. Phillip Lund

The first meeting of the Prairie Star’s new Lifespan Faith Development Council was held the last week of September, and our first order of business was to adopt a mission and vision. This could have been a rather time consuming process, but since the council itself is the culmination of a multi-year visioning process, we were able to reach consensus in short order. Here’s what we agreed on for our mission: “The mission of the Lifespan Faith Development Council is to help Prairie Star District congregations develop and foster mature persons of faith in the Unitarian Universalist tradition.”

For our vision, we decided that the Vision Statement of the UUA’s Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group had already said what we wanted to say:

We envision children, youth, and adults who:

know that they are lovable beings of infinite worth, imbued with powers of the soul, and obligated to use their gifts, talents, and potentials in the service of life;
affirm that they are part of a Unitarian Universalist religious heritage and community of faith that has value and provides resources for living;
accept that they are responsible for the stewardship and creative transformation of their religious heritage and community of faith;
realize that they are moral agents, capable of making a difference in the lives of other people, challenging structures of social and political oppression, promoting the health and wellbeing of the planet, acting in the service of diversity, justice and compassion;
recognize the need for community, affirming the importance of families, relationships and connections between and among the generations;
appreciate the value of spiritual practice as a means of deepening faith and integrating beliefs and values with everyday life;
experience hope, joy, mystery, healing, and personal transformation in the midst of life’s challenges.

We understand that the word “faith” may be problematic for some UUs, especially in a district known for its Humanist tradition. What we mean by faith is best summed up in the words of Wilfred Cantwell Smith, who said, “Faith at its best has taken the form of a quiet confidence and joy which enable one to feel at home in the universe.” We believe that our religious tradition is the perfect place for individuals to learn for themselves what it means “to feel at home in the universe.” Our hope is to assist you in that process.

Trustee Election Coming

It’s time to elect a Trustee to represent Prairie Star District on the UUA Board. The Trustee will take office at the end of General Assembly in 2007.

Every congregation in Prairie Star District has the opportunity to nominate a person for this office and to vote in the election. In order for a person’s name to be placed on the ballot, he or she must be nominated by at least three congregations. The PSD Board has appointed Bobbie Goodyear (Sioux Falls, SD) and Michael Oldfather Manhattan, KS) to be the committee to conduct the election.

This fall the Election Committee will send to all congregations a letter with full instructions for submitting nominations which are due by February 1, 2007. If more than one person is nominated, there will be an election in the spring.

Currently, the only announced candidate is John Blevins who is running for reelection.

Want to hear about District news by email?

Subscribe to PSD-L, an email list serve for announcements only.

To subscribe go to http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/psd-l

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