We welcome Nancy Combs-Morgan as she begins her new regional position as Coordinator for Emerging Youth and Young Adult Ministries for MidAmerica. Read her article below.
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Large congregations have them. So do mid-size congregations. Isn't time for a Small Congregation Conference? We think so! Join us in Des Moines, Iowa, November 4-5, for "Seeds for the Sowing," a two-day conference specifically designed for congregations with fewer than 150 members.
The featured speaker will be the Rev. Andrew Pakula, senior minister of New Unity-Unitarians, a small congregation in London, England which is grown from 35 to 100+ members in just five short years. Come hear Andy's inspiring story on Friday evening, then choose from a variety of workshops on Saturday morning and afternoon. Workshop topics will focus on using social media, music in worship, right relations, religious education, attracting young adults, and more!
Join us on Saturday, October 1, for an online leadership development day dedicated to lay and ordained leaders in congregations with more than 150 and fewer than 550 adult members.
There will be three sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m., with two workshops being offered during each session. Workshops topics will include youth and young adult ministries, theology of leadership, multigenerational leadership, and more!
While the event is planned primarily for participants from the three districts in the MidAmerica region of the Unitarian Universalist Association, congregational leaders from throughout the UUA are invited to attend. All you'll need is high-speed internet access, a computer, and a phone to take part. And registration is free!
MidAmerica Region is transitioning into a time of a new focus on youth and young adult ministries. I'm starting my new position as the Coordinator of Emerging Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Prairie Star, Central Midwest, and Heartland districts (which comprise MidAmerica). The goal of this position is to work closely with our member congregations to look at new and emerging models of youth and young adult ministries.
I will be seeking to have many conversations with congregational leaders, who are particularly interested in youth and young adult programming, and my hope is to have monthly "virtual" opportunities for leaders to connect and have time to discuss these issues. I also am looking closely at what other denominations are doing, and in particular the studies which can aid our work with youth and young adults (such as Faith Formation 2020).
I look forward to hearing from you with your questions, thoughts, and ideas. You can contact me at ncombsmorgan [at] uua [dot] org.
Monthly Webinar Series
Interested in developing your skills as a congregational leader? Want to find out about the latest trends in youth and young adult ministries? Looking to optimize your congregation's web presence?
Each month this fall will feature two different online workshops, each one offered on two different dates, giving you four opportunities a month to learn and grow as a congregational leader. These 75 minute workshops take place on weekday evenings and begin at 6:45 PM. For more information including fall topics and dates, visit: http://www.psduua.org/Workshops/FutureWorkshops.
Call for Annual Conference 2012 Workshops
The PSD Annual Conference 2012 will be April 13-15, in Bloomington, Minnesota. The conference theme is Lessons from War & Peace: Stories of Hope, Faith and Courage.
Registration is now open for the upcoming Junior/Senior High Combined Our Whole Lives (OWL) facilitator training in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The training, which will take place Friday, October 7, through Sunday, October 9, 2011, is for adults who want to teach the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality curriculum in their congregations. The early bird registration fee of $195.00 ends September 17, 2011, after which registration rises to $220.00 and will be accepted only if there is space available. For more information, visit http://www.psduua.org/workshops/OWLEauClaire2011.
President's Report
by Kathy Burek
It's hard to believe summer is winding down. I expect most of you are busy gearing up for the beginning of your church year. I hope this will be a year that sees growth in your congregations in all areas-in spiritual growth for you and your fellow members, in the health and vitality of your congregation, and in the service and justice work you provide in the community. Take care of those things, and the numbers will follow.
Your PSD Board has also been very busy. In August, we met in Dubuque, Iowa for our annual board retreat. Part of our agenda included a number of important business activities. The board finalized all of our Policies (these will be up on the PSD website soon). We held a joint phone meeting with our partner boards of the MidAmerica Region to discuss a covenant among each board, the UUA Field Staff and the UUA. ... Read the complete report at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter/63September2011President .
News of PSD People and Congregations
We welcome new minsters and ministerial interns, note awards received, and ministers receiving preliminary fellowship. We congratulate congregations installing ministers and celebrating anniversaries, and note congregations mentioned for big projects in local news stories.
We note with sadness the death of Charles W. Davidson (UU Society of Iowa City, Iowa) who was the first UUA Trustee from Prairie Star District and served as UUA Vice Moderator.
Gini Courter's term as Moderator of the UUA will be up in 2013, and we need to find the best possible successor. Who do you think should be the next Chair of the UUA's Board of Trustees? Who is the best person to preside at General Assembly? Who, using different language, is best qualified to be the Chief Governance Officer of our Association?
At http://www.uua.org/uuagovernance you'll find a link to the Call for Nominations and to an electronic application form. Applications and nominations are due by October 15, 2011.
Prairie Star District is a growing community of healthy, vital congregations in covenantal relationship with one another, transforming ourselves and our world by living our Unitarian Universalist principles. One of nineteen districts of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we serve almost 70 congregations in the Upper Midwest. We have three full time staff people and three part time program and support staff members who work with many volunteers to assist congregations. To learn more about us, see our Web site.
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The PSD Annual Conference 2012 will be April 13-15, in Bloomington, Minnesota. The conference theme is Lessons from War & Peace: Stories of Hope, Faith and Courage.
It's hard to believe summer is winding down. I expect most of you are busy gearing up for the beginning of your church year. I hope this will be a year that sees growth in your congregations in all areas-in spiritual growth for you and your fellow members, in the health and vitality of your congregation, and in the service and justice work you provide in the community. Take care of those things, and the numbers will follow.