Everything we do is faith development. All we teach is Unitarian Universalism. The congregation is the curriculum. (Connie Goodbread and Susan Smith)

Watch and listen to this on-line session and find out the 10 good ideas for organizing and sustaining an adult religious education (RE) program that seeks to achieve such transformational faith development. Hear from other leaders on which adult RE resources are being used in our districts with success and hear more about emerging resources.

Facilitators

• Dori Davenport Thexton, Faith Development and Growth Director, Central Midwest District of the UUA
• Nancy Combs-Morgan, Faith Development Director, Heartland District of the UUA

A top need of most congregations is to find more volunteers, to use volunteers more effectively and to make volunteering better experience. This workshop will share some basics on the best practices on this subject.

From basic how-to tips to more advanced leadership techniques, including the importance of role clarification, this workshop focuses on successful facilitation for congregation leaders who wish to accomplish goals and have fun doing it! Follow along with the slideshow!

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

Here is a brief slideshow - random images from District Assembly 2009. Photos by the CMwD Media Team 2009: Pat Goller, Dorothy Krause, Gretchen Ohmann, David Pyle

This is our closing worship ceremony from the CMWD District Assembly 2009 in Wakusha Wisconsin, lead by the Young Adult Steering Committee and featuring the Youth Choir of North Shore Unitarian Church Church, from Deerfield Illinios. It runs for approximately 50 minutes. 

This is the opening worship at District Assembly 2009 in Waukesha Wisconsin, recorded on April 24th, 2009.  The hymns have been removed for copyright reasons.  It runs for approximately 59 minutes. 

This sermon was a part of the Opening Worship at the CMWD District Assembly, on April 24th 2009.  It runs for approximately 24 minutes.  Rev. Kennedy is the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI. 

Stories of our Ancestors, who created the change for the future we are now living, can help us understand how to support the changes we wish to see. Our forebears have lessons to teach and are models of transformation. These stories can be used in Worship, In Sunday School and in sermons to present to Unitarian Universalists positive and affirmative role models for supporting future change.

This 3-minute video interview was conducted by CMwD Media Team member Pat Goller (CMwD UU Women's Connection). She asks presenter Nancy Irons (CMwD Women and Religion Committee) about the basics of the workshop, presented at 2009 District Assembly.

Coed Cakes? Can it be done? - Nancy Irons
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven examines, “How would your life have been different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female?” Participants share their experiences as women in today’s patriarchal society. Can such workshops include men? Join us as we explore how to offer Coed Cakes. Experienced Cakes facilitators will present.

www.cakesforthequeenofheaven.org

This workshop from District Assembly 2009 was titled "Shared Leadership in Congregations" with presenters Janet Nortrom and Gretchen Ohmann.
Explore the ongoing paradigm shift from a hierarchical or pyramid model of social organization to a horizontal or network style. Utilize consensus building, facilitators, group roles and relationships, tasks, and conflict resolution to help a group accomplish its goals. Plus, organize a kazoo band!
Based on a booklet by Liz Fisher ("Rise Up and Call Her Name") and Robert Fisher, published by the Pacific Central District Women and Religion Task Force.

This workshop, entitled "Fresh Ideas for Lifespan Faith Development Programs" was recorded at the 2009 District Assembly.

Here is the description from the DA Brochure:

"Join a panel of experienced Religious Educators to hear about innovative programs and creative ideas they are using in their congregations.  Beryl Aschenberg from First Unitairan - Milwaukee, Maria O'Connor from UU Church West in Brookfield, and Dan Schlorff from Bradford UU Church in Kenosha will share new and interesting appraoches to building UU identity and community for all ages"

Our theme this year is "Leadership in Times of Profound Change".  This DA welcomed Sharon Daloz Parks, author of "Leadership Can Be Taught: A Bold Approach for a Complex World."  Dr. Parks led us in exploring how we discern, inspire, and mentor the next generation of leadership, in this workshop lasting 85 minutes.

This online workshop, "10 Good Ideas about Disaster Preparation" was presented January 15, 2009.

Is your congregation prepared to deal with the potential for a disaster? Whether it's fire, flooding, tornadoes, or hurricanes, every congregation needs to have a plan and be prepared to implement it.

Rev. Kate Seitz Bortner is the affiliated Community Minister with the UU Congregation of York, PA and serves as consulting Parish Minister for the UUs of Gettysburg, PA. A graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Kate recently retired from the York City Police Department after a 22-year career in Crime Prevention. She conducts trainings in Safety and Security in Houses of Worship and serves on a Central PA team for First Responders. She was a founding member of The Interfaith Alliance-York, the York County Community Against Racism, and the York County Hispanic Coalition.

This presentation was made at the Keweenaw UU Fellowship of Houghton, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, by Rev. Dr Ian Evison.

An online workshop, "10 Good Ideas for Integrating New Members," was recorded and added to the slideshow. Accompanying information is HERE.

This was recorded along with the Stewardship program, at Keweenaw UU Fellowship in Houghton, Michigan. David Pyle and Rev. Ian Evison are the presenters.

Two more podcasts from that session will be posted soon.

This was recorded in a January workshop at the Keweenaw UU Fellowship in Houghton MI.  David Pyle is a 4th year student at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Candidate for the UU Ministry, and a former UU Church Administrator and Stewardship co-chair. 

This online workshop was presented by Prairie Star District Executive Nancy Heege and Rev. Lisa Schwartz from the UU Fellowship of Topeka Kansas which recently added a service. This recording was made by the CMwD Media Team.

The accompanying Power Point presentation is HERE.

Disaster Preparedness was a talk given in the Central Midwest District by Rev. Stefan Jonasson on November 19, 2008.