CERG

The Central East Regional Group announces six congregations who are selected to be the third cohort of the region's Threshold Congregation growth program. They join the nine congregations that were selected last year and the nine congregations selected in 2011.

These congregations are healthy, vibrant, exciting and faithful Unitarian Universalist communities. The Threshold Congregation Program is designed to build on their strengths and to enable them to grow -- in numbers, in spiritual depth, in purposeful commitment within, and in outreach. While the aspect of growth that is easiest to measure is "seats in the pews" (and this is a critical component of success), it's not the only ingredient. Of equal importance is that the congregations offer vibrant and challenging worship experiences, welcome and true hospitality, an effective system of governance with effective leaders, loving social action beyond its walls, and radical inclusivity.

Individualized congregational planning will be taking place in April and May with consulting work to begin June 1 and to continue for the next three years. Along with working with a staff consultant, all 24 Threshold Congregations will also be working with one another in an intentional learning community—both in person and on line.

The Central East Regional Group - CERG – consists of the St. Lawrence, Metro New York, Ohio-Meadville and Joseph Priestley districts. For more information about how your congregation can apply for the next round, click here or contact your District Executive.

At GA 2013 the general assembly will elect a new moderator and president as well as several other committee and commission positions. To learn more about the election process visit www.uua.org/uuagovernance/elections/281126.shtml

The Unitarian Universalist discussion guide to The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, selected as the 2012-2013 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Common Read, is now available. Intended to help groups reflect on the book and consider together what steps they are called to take, as people of faith, in response to Alexander's call for awareness and action, the discussion guide is adaptable for congregational, cluster, or district programming for adults of all ages and life stages. Two formats are offered: A single, 90-minute session and three, 90-minute sessions. Download your copy for free from UUA.org: http://bit.ly/u0d55t.

Assessing Sexual Health: An Online Guide for Unitarian Universalist Association Congregations
Is your congregation sexually healthy and responsible?  Rev. Debra W. Haffner, President of Religious Institute, Inc. and an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, has created an assessment guide for congregations on their sexual health policies and procedures. Designed for clergy and lay leaders, the guide consists of 9 check lists known as building blocks.  A church could use all or part of the building blocks depending on their size and capabilities and where they are in the Safe Congregation Process.

UUA President Peter Morales and the General Assembly Planning Committee are delighted to announce that Beacon Press author Eboo Patel has been named the 2013 Ware Lecturer for the UUA General Assembly in Louisville, KY. Learn more at http://bit.ly/qrWUyt

A new "Congregations and Beyond Discussion Guide" has just been published at http://www.uua.org/documents/congservices/beyond/discussion_guide.pdf
It gives a framework for congregations to discuss the UUA's set of initiatives, new technologies and congregational stories of new methods of reaching out to spiritual seekers.  Please join the conversations on Facebook on the page "Unitarian Universalists Exploring Congregations and Beyond" and post your thoughts!

The UUA has created a resource page for those who want access to what they learned at Justice GA. You can access it here: http://www.uua.org/ga/2012/business/209020.shtml

After a highly competitive application process, nine additional congregations have been selected by the presidents and staff of the Central East Regional Group to participate in the second cohort of the region's Threshold Congregation growth program. They join the nine congregations that were selected last year in the program.

The congregations chosen are healthy, vibrant, exciting and religiously involved. The Threshold Congregation Program is designed to build on their strengths and to enable them to grow -- in numbers, in spiritual depth, in purposeful commitment within, and in outreach. While the aspect of growth that is easiest to measure is "seats in the pews" (and this is a critical component of success), it's not the only ingredient. Of equal importance is that the congregations offer vibrant and challenging worship experiences, welcome and true hospitality, an effective system of governance with effective leaders, loving social action beyond its walls, and radical inclusivity.

Individualized congregational program planning is taking place in April and May with work beginning June 1 and continuing for the next three years. Along with working with a staff consultant, all eighteen Threshold Congregations will also be working with one another in an intentional learning community—both in person and on line.

The Central East Regional Group - CERG – consists of the St. Lawrence, Metro New York, Ohio-Meadville and Joseph Priestley districts. For more information about how your congregation can apply for the next round, click here or contact your District Executive.

Occasionally events occur that require us to reach out to our fellow Unitarian Universalist for assistance. Below are listed the current appeals (if any) that are underway. Please respond if you can. Additional information on each situation can be found at the links provided.

Read more...

Nine outstanding congregations have been selected by the presidents and staff of the Central East Regional Group to participate in the first cohort of the region's new Threshold Congregation growth program. The Central East Regional Group - CERG – consists of the St. Lawrence, Metro New York, Ohio-Meadville and Joseph Priestley districts.

The staff and leadership of CERG believe that if we want our Association and liberal religion to thrive in the future, our congregations must grow -- in numbers, in spiritual depth, in commitment within, and in outreach. A dedication to fostering more vibrant, exciting and religiously involved congregations led to the development of the Threshold Congregations program.

CERG Threshold Congregations are those poised and ready to break through to the next level of activity and effectiveness. While the aspect of growth that is easiest to measure is "seats in the pews" (and this is a critical component of success), it's not the only ingredient. Of equal importance is that the congregations offer vibrant and challenging worship experiences, welcome and true hospitality, an effective system of governance with effective leaders, loving social action beyond its walls, vibrant faith development, and the inclusion of everyone in the work of the congregation. Read more...