Tidbits, 12/2005
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS, December 2005
Joan Lund
Happy holidays everyone. This is the time of year when the various ways of giving may be in our plans and practices. As you know our UUA President, Rev. Bill Sinkford, believes strongly in giving and that our religion?s future lies in reclaiming our rightful place as the preeminent voice of a giving, liberal religion. Our message is of liberating, hopeful, and justice-making love and we are about vital work in these areas. This month?s and next month?s column will be about the resources it will take to make our faith grow a vital, strong, liberal religion.
To this end we need to encourage the health and vitality of our congregations in their ministries. This is our Association?s first priority. Specifically we need to create more programs and ministries for children, youth and young adults so that diverse interests are respected within our congregations. Free, on-line, cradle-to-grave religious education curricula and resources for all congregations must be developed. Our Association needs to continue nurturing relationships and promote spiritual growth through new programs and small group ministries. Of course lay-leadership, staff training, and improved congregational management will continue to be important
We also need to open our doors to folks who desire a liberal religious community? children and all families plus people of all backgrounds and cultures. This will mean advertising and marketing at several levels to make our congregations known. We will need to attract young adults through campus ministry programs and significantly financially support start-up congregations.
We also have to continue being a respected public voice for liberal religious values, going beyond resolutions to visible participation in the public controversies of our society. This will include establishing partnerships with other religious groups so that we may work together in our shared values. Congregations and individuals will need training on how to engage in important public discourses. We will need to provide training for our religious professionals and lay leaders on engaging with the media so our positions on issues may be shared. Our partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) needs support and strengthening as we advance justice throughout the world.
Next month I will write about the UUA Comprehensive Capital Campaign?s strategic plan to achieve the ?dreams? of our President and Association. Rev. Sinkford is asking for our thoughts and care as ?we? move into the coming years and beyond. You know I relish hearing from Florida UUs and can be reached at jlund@uua.org. May one and all be safe and healthy during the holidays and into the new year.
Joan Lund
Happy holidays everyone. This is the time of year when the various ways of giving may be in our plans and practices. As you know our UUA President, Rev. Bill Sinkford, believes strongly in giving and that our religion?s future lies in reclaiming our rightful place as the preeminent voice of a giving, liberal religion. Our message is of liberating, hopeful, and justice-making love and we are about vital work in these areas. This month?s and next month?s column will be about the resources it will take to make our faith grow a vital, strong, liberal religion.
To this end we need to encourage the health and vitality of our congregations in their ministries. This is our Association?s first priority. Specifically we need to create more programs and ministries for children, youth and young adults so that diverse interests are respected within our congregations. Free, on-line, cradle-to-grave religious education curricula and resources for all congregations must be developed. Our Association needs to continue nurturing relationships and promote spiritual growth through new programs and small group ministries. Of course lay-leadership, staff training, and improved congregational management will continue to be important
We also need to open our doors to folks who desire a liberal religious community? children and all families plus people of all backgrounds and cultures. This will mean advertising and marketing at several levels to make our congregations known. We will need to attract young adults through campus ministry programs and significantly financially support start-up congregations.
We also have to continue being a respected public voice for liberal religious values, going beyond resolutions to visible participation in the public controversies of our society. This will include establishing partnerships with other religious groups so that we may work together in our shared values. Congregations and individuals will need training on how to engage in important public discourses. We will need to provide training for our religious professionals and lay leaders on engaging with the media so our positions on issues may be shared. Our partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) needs support and strengthening as we advance justice throughout the world.
Next month I will write about the UUA Comprehensive Capital Campaign?s strategic plan to achieve the ?dreams? of our President and Association. Rev. Sinkford is asking for our thoughts and care as ?we? move into the coming years and beyond. You know I relish hearing from Florida UUs and can be reached at jlund@uua.org. May one and all be safe and healthy during the holidays and into the new year.
