Last updated: 01/06/2009

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Metro NY Minute -- July/August  2008

  
 
News From the District
Kierstin Homblette (pictured) will joining the District staff on August 1 as Youth Ministry Consultant, replacing Beth Dana who will begin her studies at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley CA. Kierstin will provide resources and services to congregational youth programs and serve as liaison to the District’s Youth Adult Committee and the Task Force for Youth Advisors. Read more Acrobat Reader Required from Kierstin. Read more Acrobat Reader Required from Beth .
District President Jerry Muntz was elected president of the District Presidents Association at General Assembly 2008. Congratulations! The District Presidents Association comprises presidents of the 19 districts of the UUA and acts in an advisory role with respect to the UUA's national board and staff.
The Spring 2007 Chalice Lighters call for the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY) has collected more than $17,000 as of July 1 to help the congregation hire a part-time Director of Religious Education. The Fall 2008 Chalice Lighters called congregation will be the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY). Funds collected will be used to help rebuild the congregation's facilities that were destroyed in a devastating fire on September 12, 2006. Four congregations have submitted an Intent to Apply for Spring 2009 Chalice Lighters funds. Grant Managers will be assigned to assist in developing their applications, tied to a long-term growth plan. 		 
Worth Repeating

Registration is open for UULTI 2008! Last year's acclaimed program returns for 2008. The UU Leadership Team Institute (UULTI) is a week-long training opportunity sponsored by the Metro NY, Joseph Priestly, Ohio-Meadville, and St. Lawrence districts, July 28-August 3, Juniata College, Huntingdon PA.

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

Worship Service Providers available to District congregations

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

InterConnections for lay leaders

Action Campaigns of the UUA

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

uuworld.org, UUA's online magazine
The first youth event of the 2008-09 year will be Covenant Con on September 27 at the Community Church New York UU (Manhattan). Attendees will create a covenant to be followed by youth at all District events. In previous years the District's Youth Adult Committee wrote the covenant, but to be more inclusive and accountable, the process is being opened up to the wider community. All youth and advisers are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Corinne Hallander.
News From the UUA
The Rev. Forrest Church, Minister of Public Theology at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan) received the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism at General Assembly 2008. Read more. In his honor, the UUA has partnered with the Unitarian Church of All Souls to establish the Forrest Church Fund (FCF) for the Advancement of Liberal Religion as part of the Now is the Time Campaign. In addition to making his acceptance speech for the award, Rev. Church also gave lecture about his newly published book, Love and Death: My Journey Through the Valley of the Shadow. Read more.
Delegates to General Assembly 2008 (Fort Lauderdale FL, June 25-30) passed the Youth and Young Adult Empowerment Resolution, a resolution calling for the continuation of the Consultation on Ministry To and With Youth, and a resolution urging the UUA to support affordable health care through socially responsible investing. Delegates also chose a new four-year Congregational Study Issue on Ethical Eating, approved bylaws changes Acrobat Reader Required relating to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and the consolidation of two districts (the Northeast and New Hampshire/Vermont districts are now the Northern New England District), and endorsed six Actions of Immediate Witness: End Present-Day Slavery in the Fields; Extend the Tax Credit for Wind and Solar Power; Oppose a U. S. Attack on Iran; Oppose the Florida and California Marriage Protection Initiatives; Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $10 in 2010, Single Payer Health Care. For a summary of resolutions and Actions of Immediate Witness, click here. For complete General Assembly coverage, including videos of many of the events, click here.
Van Jones delivered the Ware Lecture at General Assembly 2008 to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Claiming that the problems of poverty and the environment can be addressed simultaneously with a coordinated solution, Jones said "If we are willing to invest in new clean and green jobs, we'll save money — and the soul of the country." To listen to the lecture, click here (Windows Media format) or click here (RealVideo format). The UU Fellowship at Huntington (NY) plans to show the video on October 24 and October 26, and invites all UUs on Long Island to attend. If interested, email uufhoffice@optonline.net.
The Nominating Committee of the UUA invites applications for nomination to the committees, commissions, and positions that will be elected by the General Assembly in June 2009. Applications, including letters of recommendation, must be completed no later than August 15, 2008. For a description of the positions and an application, click here Acrobat Reader Required.
Planning for UU University 2009 is now underway. The highly successful lay leadership education program has offered since 2006 prior to the start of each General Assembly (GA). The current plan is for six tracks of UU University 2009 programming. Proposed tracks are Theology through the Arts, The Multi-generational Church, Multi-cultural Ministry, Effective Social Justice, Stewardship, and Conflict Transformation. Deans will be appointed for each track. To apply to serve as a dean, click here.
The UUA Office of Young Adult Ministries is sponsoring a training and networking workshop for young adult and campus ministry professionals. The workshop will be held at the UU Church at Washington Crossing (Titusville NJ) on October 10-11; participants are advised to arrive on the evening of October 9 and depart on October 12. Paid staff in young adult or campus ministry at the congregational, local, district, or other levels are invited to attend. For a flyer and registration form, click here Acrobat Reader Required. For more information, contact Nancy DiGiovanni.
Nurture Your Spirit, Help Heal Our World -- the tag line of Unitarian Universalism’s national awareness campaign -- are featured on banners, bumper stickers, and postcards available for congregations to purchase. To order, click here. To download graphics for free, click here.
Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship is one of five congregations named an Empowering Congregation by the UUA's Stewardship and Development Department for the Fellowship's outstanding contribution to Association Sunday 2007. Each Empowering Congregation donated more than $50 per member. Read more. To read the final report on Association Sunday 2007, click here. To sign up for Association Sunday 2008, October 12, click here.
Principled Commitment: A Program for Unitarian Universalist Couples is now available online free of charge. The 11-workshop program is written by Melanie J. Davis, Stephanie Haymaker, the Rev. Craig Hirshberg, and Richard Bellingham and was developed in response to adult UUs’ desire to build strong life-partner relationships. Each workshop connects one of the seven UU Principles with a broad principle, quality, or attribute that participants can cultivate in their relationship. Part of Tapestry of Faith, the UUA’s new series of programs and resources for all ages, Principled Commitment is suitable for use with committed couples of all sexual orientations and can easily be adapted to provide programming for couples’ retreats.
 News From Congregations

The UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) voted unanimously on June 8 to become a participating member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. As such, it joins a number of other American congregations of various faith traditions, including those of the Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim faiths, in working to change American policies.

Stefani Scott, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY), has received the first annual Guardian of the Future Award from the UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE). In recognition of Stefani's community-building earth ministry, an area in Louisiana devastated by Katrina will be reforested in Stefani's name. Nancy Hough was nominated by the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) for the award. In her honor, the UUMFE will plant a tree in a Gulf Coast community.		  
Milestones and Transitions

Aisha Hauser was awarded the status of Credentialed Religious Educator – Associate Level by the UUA on May 29, 2008. Currently Children and Families Program Director for the UUA, Aisha served as Director of Religious Education for the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan).

Rev. Justin Osterman has concluded his service as minister at Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ). Rev. Osterman has been called to serve the Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pennsylvania.
Rosemarie Newberry will be ordained by the UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) on November 2 at 5:00 p.m. Note this is a change in date from previous announcements.
The UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) had unexpected financial challenges and struggled to find a way to pay its fair share to the UUA and its full share the District. The Rev. Hope Johnson explains in a compelling piece why this is an area of concern and how the congregation eventually succeeded. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
 The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) is excited to announce the inaugural year of First Acoustics, a monthly folk music festival. The first concert will be held on October 25, featuring Livingston Taylor. Future acts include Holly Near, Olympia’s Daughters, Christine Lavin, and Leon Redbone. Season and single concert tickets are available online or through the church office at 718-624-5466.
The UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) is connecting its youth and families with Unitarian and Freireligioese (free religion group) youth and families in Germany through an international exchange program this summer, started with the help and guidance from professional staff of the UUA, the UU Partner Church Council, and the Deutsche Unitarier, a German Unitarians group. Read more.
Janice Marie Johnson, Director of Life Span Religious Education at Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan), has developed a series of adult educational opportunities that Janice calls "Onesies" and describes as "an eclectic assortment of sessions to capture one's interest and imagination." Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
Save the date! October 4 is the 3rd Annual Leadership Development Day at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY), a day-long program to inspire your faith and give you new tools for doing the work of congregational life. Here's what past attendees have said: "Tell more people how great it is." "Please do it again." "Let others know that this program will benefit everyone, whether leaders, chairs, or members." Watch for more information in the September issue of the Metro NY Minute.
Members of the UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ) are active in the Undoing Racism Committee, an organization working to "understand, challenge and act to dismantle systemic, institutional and cultural racism as it exists in our daily lives by providing educational programs, community outreach and cultural events to lead to greater awareness, analysis and action toward change," according to their materials. Read more.
Looking for an affordable stay in the Hamptons this summer or year round? Stay with members of the UU Congregation of the South Fork (Bridgehampton NY) and enjoy the wonderful East End of Long Island. For more information, click here , or visit www.uucsf.org and click on Hamptons Hospitality.
Other Noteworthy Items
 Rev. David Bryce (pictured) was among six speakers at a prayer service sponsored by the Metro New York Religious Campaign Against Torture at the United Nations Chapel on June 26, proclaimed by the United Nations to be an International Day in Support of Victims and Survivors of Torture. The service comprised participants of the Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist and Society of Friends traditions. Rev. Bryce serves as minister at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester (Hastings-on-Hudson NY). Also present at the service was the Rev. Katherine Torpey, who sang in the choir, and the Rev. Jim Bridges, who brought several parishioners with him from the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY).
A UU Heritage Tour, led by Rev. Barry Andrews and Rev. Ben Bortin, will take place November 13-16 in Boston. Participants will visit sites important to UU history, including the homes of Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. The cost is $550 per person or $460 per person double occupancy; meals are extra. For a flyer, click here Acrobat Reader Required. For more information, contact Rev. Ben Bortin at 516-627-6560 ext 134.
Building and Sustaining a Strong Small Group Ministry Program, a training workshop sponsored by the St. Lawrence District, will be held September 27 at the First UU Society of Albany. Workshop leader is the Rev. Dr. M'ellen Kennedy, a UU community minister and community psychologist. For a flyer and registration form, click here Acrobat Reader Required. For more information, contact the Rev. Deane Perkins.
The UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey Steering Committee is drafting Bylaws, a Priority Issues Determination, an Affiliation Agreement, and Financial Procedures and expects drafts to be ready for review and action in the fall. Priority issues survey responses from 15 of 21 New Jersey congregations have been received, and results will be communicated by September. Ten congregations are represented on the Steering Committee and other congregations are welcome. Contact co-chair Rohn Hein.
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet UU Leadership Team Institute: July 28-August 3, Juniata College, Huntingdon PA. To register, click here. For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
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Jr/Sr High OWL Training: August 8-10, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For a flyer, click here Acrobat Reader Required. To register, click here.
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Junior Youth Retreat: September 20-21, Camp Ma-Kee-Ya, Harriman State Park, NY. For a flyer, click here Acrobat Reader Required. To register, click here. For more information, contact Peter Green.
bullet Covenant Con: September 27, Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For more information, contact Corinne Hallander.
bullet UU Ministers Association District Chapter Meeting: October 1, Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For more information, contact the Rev. Tony Johnson.
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Young Adult and Campus Ministry Training: October 9-12, UU Church at Washington Crossing, Titusville NJ, sponsored by the UUA Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry. For a flyer and registration form, click here Acrobat Reader Required. For more information, contact Nancy DiGiovanni.
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bullet OWL Training: November 7-9, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. Elementary, Jr/Sr High, and Young Adult/Adult training will be offered. For more information, contact Andrea Lerner.
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Spirituality Development Con: November 14-16, South Nassau UU Congregation, Freeport NY. For more information, contact Corinne Hallander.
 

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.