Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed was the Keynote Speaker at the 2011 Central Midwest District Assembly in Bloomington Illinois.

“Why has becoming more culturally and racially diverse been such a challenge for UUism? Why, when our intentions are so good, is it still a struggle? There is a surprising, and painful, truth behind Unitarian Universalist efforts to become more racially and culturally diverse. This truth must begin with taking an honest look at who we are and why we are who we are, and it ends in a conundrum but not without hope. If UUs really want to change, accepting the truth is the only place to start. Torn between our reality and our aspirations, what are we to do?"

Judith Frediani, Resource Development Director of UUA’s Ministries and Faith Development, joins Nancy Combs-Morgan, Faith Development Director, Heartland District. An opportunity for religious professionals and lay leaders to find out more about the UUA developed religious education programs, “Tapestry of Faith.” “Tapestry of Faith” is an on-line series of programs and resources for all ages that nurture Unitarian Universalist identity, spiritual growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice and love. These resources are being developed out of a broad series of conversations that articulated a future direction for Unitarian Universalist religious growth and learning and denomination-wide focus groups which helped shape a program that would offer a variety of resources-downloadable, printed, viewable, interactive, and more - a religious growth and learning program for the twenty-first century.

We'll highlight the super resources in the “Tapestry of Faith” curriculum and discuss the Tapestry of Faith vision statement and how it can be a vision statement for lifespan faith development in your congregation.

Workshop held at UU Church of Rockford, IL

A key tension within our congregations, especially our growing congregations, is need for greater depth and range of lay leadership. This is perhaps being felt even more acutely in this period of post-recession financial strain where increasing professional staff is not an option. To meet this need congregations have been restructuring nominating committees into leadership development teams—broadening the charge of the group beyond filling a few key positions to stewardship of leadership development, intentional focus on growing new leaders.

This workshop was an opportunity for congregational teams to share the work they are doing in this area and to hear about emerging best practices for work in this area, including both examples of what has been working and points where there have been challenges.

Ian Evison, Congregational Services Director for the Central Midwest District, and Patricia D’Auria convened this discussion. Patricia D’Auria is a consultant with the CMwD and is part of a task force working on these issues at UU Church West in Brookfield, WI.

Online UU Resources on the Subject:

Harvest the Power: Developing Lay Leadership Tapestry of Faith Curriculum

Leadership Development in the Large Congregation by Stefan Jonasson

Nominating Committee: Making It Work for You, Don Skinner 2001,
www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/34755.shtml

Colorado Church Treats Volunteers with Care, Don Skinner, 2005,
www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/56776.shtml

Get The Most From Your Nominating Committee, Don Skinner, 2006,
www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/18838.shtml

Leadership Starts With Ownership, Don Skinner, 2009,
www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/interconnections/152593.shtml

www.dupageuuchurch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=94

We've moved all of our recorded online workshops to:

http://www.midwestuuleadership.org

The website also has the schedule for upcoming webinars!

Rev. Lynne Garner, "Selling Unitarian Universalism." This sermon won the CMwD Annual Sermon Contest and was presented on May 2, 2010 at the District Assembly in Wheeling, IL. Approx 20 minutes.

Rev. Lynne Garner, "Selling Unitarian Universalism." This sermon won the CMwD Annual Sermon Contest and was presented on May 2, 2010 at the District Assembly in Wheeling, IL. Approx 20 minutes.

This workshop presented by the Rev. Bret Meyers is about improving communications in our congregations by approaching it as a spiritual discipline.  It specifically focuses on communications in situations of conflict.  It was recorded on April 25th in Waukesha Wisconsin as a part of the 2009 District Assembly.

There is a spirit stirring in our congregations and with it a powerful desire to have a real impact on our culture.  The most powerful way to do this is through reaching new people with our faith.  This workshop looks at systems of growth, but more importantly we will explore what it means to lead with a missional mindset. 

The Rev. Dr. David Owen O'Quill is the minister leading a church planting effort in Chicago, known as Micah's Porch. This workshop was recorded at the CMWD District Assembly in Waukesha Wisconsin on the 25th of April, 2009