Workshop Session C

Annual Conference 2011 Archive

Saturday, April 9, 2011
3:15 PM to 4:30 PM 

Locations of each workshop will be provided in the registration packet.

C1: Engaging our Interdependent Web

Ben Stallings — PSD staff
Jessie Stallings

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other.  We usually think ecology is just about plants and animals, but we can also apply the lessons of ecology to our own communities.  What do people come to your congregation for, and what do they have to offer?  What does the congregation itself need and offer to the larger community? How can we improve the connections among people and congregations?  How can we optimize our connections to the animals, plants, and built environment that surround our congregations?  This workshop will include hands-on art activities for all ages.

C2: In Love and Danger: UU Congregational Advocacy for Survivors of Dating and Domestic Violence

Laura Burton — UU Fellowship, Topeka, Kansas

Each year, millions of Americans, both adults and teens, experience physical, sexual or emotional violence in relationships. Progressive faith communities are not immune from the epidemic of violence. How can congregations create a safe space for victims of this unique type of abuse? What does congregational advocacy for survivors look like? How can a faith community prevent teen dating violence? This interactive workshop will address these questions using a combination of current research and experiential activities to give adult and teen congregational leaders the tools they need to support survivors and prevent future violence.

C3: Theo/a/poetics

Rev. David Breeden — minister of MN Valley UU Fellowship, Bloomington, Minnesota

Theo/a/poetics is a way of thinking and writing that steps away from rational discourse to access understanding at an artistic, metaphorical, soul-filled level. Though it is based in cutting-edge post-modern philosophy, process theology, and narrative theology, theo/a/poetics is not an exercise for the mind but a work of the heart. Could you find God while writing a limerick? Why not?

C4: Do You Believe in Love at First Bite? An Indepth Look at the Twilight Phenomenon

Sherry Warren — Unitarian Fellowship, Lawrence, Kansas and PSD Youth and Young Adult Specialist

Like it or not, pop culture affects our congregations, and the Twilight books and movies have become a multigenerational phenomenon. Whether you believe in love at first sight, vampires, werewolves, Bella and Edward's immortal love, or abstinence, you will learn something about the values imbued in this series and how writer Stephanie Meyer has upset feminists with her "traditional" portrayal of relationships. Prior reading or viewing of the Twilight Saga is not necessary.

C5: PSD Reads: The Death of Josseline

Nancy Heege, District Executive
Kristi Schuck - UU Fellowship of Mankato, Minnesota and PSD Board of Directors

Join us for a discussion of the book UUs across the country are reading to learn more about issues related to immigration: The Death of Josseline. Learn how your congregation can become active on this urgent issue, and prepare for the Justice General Assembly (GA) in 2012 in Phoenix.

C6: Conference Choir Rehearsal

Moira Leu — First Unitarian Church, Des Moines, Iowa

You are invited to join the Conference Choir. This is the first of two rehearsals. The choir will perform during the worship service on Sunday morning.  All people in middle school through adults are encouraged to join the choir and become the music ministers of this great conference.

The music will be mailed to participants who indicate they want to be in choir on their registration form and register before April 1st.

C7: OPEN PAGE: Writing and Belonging

Rev. Karen Hering — Consulting Literary Minister at Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, Minnesota

The bird belongs to the sky, even though it cannot sleep there; the egg belongs to the nest even though it will not stay there.” To whom and to what do you belong? This workshop invites participants to explore the forms and faces of belonging (in our congregations and our personal lives) while experiencing writing as a spiritual practice. Rev. Karen Hering will lead participants in a brief guided writing session and describe how writing programs can be offered in your congregation.

C8: Breakthrough Congregation Workshop: Small Steps, Giant Leaps of Faith

Rev. Lisa Friedman — minister of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato, Minnesota
Leaders from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato, Minnesota

We will share the story of how our congregation has grown over the last 7 years from a Fellowship of roughly 40-50 adults and 10 children and youth, to over 120 adults and over 60 children and youth. Come learn about how we decided it was time to buy a new building, and then what we did, once we were in the new building, to fill it with people, programs, new staff and ministry.

C9: Learning How to Be a Multigenerational Congregation

Rev. Julianne Lepp — minister of UU Congregation, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire embarked on a special vision of ministry by calling a Lifespan minister in 2010 which combines the duties of worship and religious education. This congregation has entered intentionally into a process of becoming a multigenerational congregation with a willingness to think creatively about religious education, worship, and all aspects of congregational life. This workshop will cover the process, challenges, and successes that this congregation has encountered to this point. Becoming a multigenerational congregation does not happen over night and we are happy to share the beginnings of our journey.