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| You’ll have an opportunity
to attend two workshops. Workshops offered at 10:30 a.m. are specified
as “A”; those offered at 11:45 a.m. are specified as “B.” Please
indicate on your registration form your
two choices; doing so does not commit you to those particular workshops. |
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A1 Our Voice in State Public Policy: The
New Jersey Legislative Ministry in Formation New Jersey
congregations are forming a statewide legislative ministry to enable our
UU values to be heard in the legislative process and other public policy
matters. This workshop will present how the UU Congregation of Princeton
(NJ) took the initiative, the transformation of their work into a
statewide effort, and the Ministry’s progress toward being fully
functional by 2009. Facilitators: Doug Rhodes, Elaine Nigam, and
Marty Rothfelder, representatives of the UU Legislative Ministry in New
Jersey |
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| A2
Gifts from the Heart
As newcomers feel their way towards a place in our congregations, we
can’t know all the gifts that each person brings. When we offer
opportunities to explore how their need for spiritual growth might be
met by working in community, the gifts will present themselves as the
opportunities intersect with individual passions. Come explore ways to
use “gift identification” strategies that will help us hear the
heartsong of each individual and open doors for them to serve.
Facilitator: Pat Infante, Director for Growth & Extension, Joseph
Priestley District |
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| A3 Diversity and
Accountability in Worship How do we create worship that
incorporates diverse perspectives, cultures, and voices in a respectful
and just manner? How do we create worship that is spiritually-fulfilling
and also anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and multicultural? We will
explore the concepts of accountability and relationship and how they
pertain to creating worship in our congregations. Facilitators:
The Rev. Michael Tino, Minister, UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester
(Mount Kisco NY) |
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| A4 The Heart of Unitarian
Universalism What is at the heart of our common faith?
What centers us and gives us our identity? Come to this workshop and
explore. Facilitator: The Rev. Tom Chulak, District Executive,
St. Lawrence District |
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| A5 Spare Change:
Initiating Congregational Change It is said that the
only consistent thing in life is change. Change impacts our
congregations from all sides. There is good change, bad change, large
and small change, desired and undesired change. We will look at how
leaders initiate and structure change and how groups respond to change
and learn to cope with its implications. Facilitator: The Rev.
Joan Van Becelaere, District Executive, Ohio-Meadville District |
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| A6 Singing the Spirit
Home: Achieving Community Through Song Geoff Kaufman
will illustrate how he encourages audiences to participate and suggest
how important that participation is as a foil to the isolating
tendencies of modern culture. Come relish the pure joy of shared
singing, free from the fetters of printed parts, and the fear of “doing
it wrong.” |
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| A7 The Warm Glow of
Giving Designed to challenge traditional thinking in
congregational approaches to annual giving (aka “the canvass”), this
workshop explores best practices for 21st century philanthropy and donor
centered approaches. Facilitator: Lynda Bluestein, member,
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT), Director of Development for the
Fairfield Theatre Company, and Vice President of the Association of
Fund-raising Professionals, Fairfield County CT |
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| A8 Global Literacy, UU
Women's Activism, and the Meaning of Convocation This
workshop introduces participants to the first-ever International
Convocation of UU Women (Houston, February 2009), and invites all UUs to
participate in the Global Literacy Project. Learn about the work of UU
women to improve women’s lives worldwide and how to become a more
competent and empowered citizen of our UU global village.
Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Emerson, Co-Chair, Global Literacy
Project |
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| A9 Should the District
Pass a Resolution Against Torture? This workshop will
review recent U.S. history, the wording of the proposed resolution, and
reasons why such a resolution needs to be passed at the District level.
Facilitators: The Rev. Jim Bridges, Consulting Minister, the UU
Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) and the UU Fellowship of the Poconos
(Stroudsburg NY), and the Rev. Michael Tino, Minister, UU Fellowship of
Northern Westchester (Mount Kisco NY) |
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| A10 Building Your
Congregation’s Shared Ministry by Incorporating Young Adult Ministry
Young adults are key to the growth of UUism, yet so many youth drift
away once they reach adulthood. Other young adults don’t feel welcomed
as the gifted leaders they are and may become. This workshop focuses on
how to create favorable conditions for Young Adult Ministry.
Facilitator: Claire Sexton, District Young Adult and Campus Ministry
Consultant |
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| B1 Canceled |
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| B2 Dance as Worship and
Spiritual Practice Come let your body move in harmony
with others. We will warm up, do some improvisational choreography, and
learn a dance together. You will discover your passion for dance and
movement, and let this spiritual gift empower you to expand music and
movement in your congregation. Facilitators: Donna Renfro,
Director of Religious Exploration, and members of the Core of Fire
Interfaith Dance Ministry, UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft
NJ) |
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| B3 Fostering Anti-Racism
and Honoring Diversity within our Congregations and Communities
This workshop will help participants to understand that the work of
anti-racism and diversity is everyone’s respon¬sibility. It also honors
small, sometimes invisible, steps that we make towards building beloved
community that is welcoming to all. Facilitators: Members of the
District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee |
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| B4 Leading within Crisis
This workshop will explore what makes leadership healthy enough to work
through crisis. Using systems thinking, leaders can be better able to
see themselves, the opportunities and challenges more clearly and lead
effectively. Facilitator: The Rev. Richard Speck, District
Executive, Joseph Priestley District |
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| B5 Creating Dynamic
Worship Learn about creating spiritually alive,
inventive worship. Celebrate the participatory style of youth and young
adult worship as well as the traditional Sunday morning worship. Play
with elements such as visual arts, rhythm, music, inspirational words,
and drama. UU worship needs your ideas. Come share them. Facilitator:
The Rev. Lyn Cox, Acting Director for Lifespan Faith Development,
Joseph Priestley District |
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| B6 Big Screen Worship
The tendency of western religious traditions to emphasize the spoken
word has led to a paucity of visual imagery. Many churches are seeking
to remedy this imbalance through the gentle introduction of projected
images. Rev. Tom Martinez will share his experience as both a
photographer and minister who has incorporated images into worship.
Facilitator: The Rev. Tom Martinez, Minister, All Souls Bethlehem
Church (Brooklyn NY) |
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| B7 Caution: Life Changing
Experience Ahead You have the gift of hope. If you are
willing, there is a way to embolden that hope, to hone your talents and
to make good on the promise of UU. But make no mistake; it could change
your life. Is it time for you to attend the acclaimed UU Leadership Team
Institute? Learn about the 2008 Institute “Living the Promise of UU:
Turning Outward in Faith” and get ideas for covering the cost of
attendance. Facilitator: Douglas Zelinski, District Program
Consultant and Director of UULTI |
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| B8 Empowering UUs to
Create a Global Culture of Peace The workshop will discuss the
important role the United Nations plays in the world and how that role
has been distorted in the U.S. media. UU member Ambassador Adlai
Stevenson and others UUs have played and continue to play an important
role in creating a better world through our interaction with the United
Nations. Facilitator: Bruce Knotts, Executive Director, UU United
Nations Office |
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| B9 Bylaws and Budget (and
Bears, Oh My!) Do you have questions about the proposed bylaws
revisions coming before the assembly? Would you like to better
understand the draft 2008-09 District budget? To streamline the business
meeting, come share your concerns and questions. Facilitators:
Andrea Lerner, District Executive, and Ted Fetter, District Trustee and
Bylaws Task Force Chair |
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| B10 A Whole Congregation
Approach: Components of Healthy Youth Ministry UU youth
programs are founded on a model of six balanced components: worship,
leadership, community building, youth-adult partnership, learning, and
social action. This workshop will explore these components and engage
participants in thinking about how to take a whole congregation approach
to youth ministry. Facilitator: Beth Dana, District Youth
Ministry Consultant, and Kyle Reaves, Senior Youth Co-Chair, District
Youth Adult Committee |
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| B11 General Assembly 2008
in Ft. Lauderdale: The Complex Realities The GA Planning
Committee and the UUA Board of Trustees have struggled hard to respond
in faith to the concerns that have been raised about the site of GA 2008
which is inside the perimeter of Port Everglades. If you have questions
or concerns, you are invited to attend this session. Facilitators:
Lynda Bluestein, GA Planning Committee and former District President,
and Denny Davidoff, Chair, The Fifth Principle Task Force, and former
Moderator of the UUA |
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