TJ CONNECTION

Thomas Jefferson District
Unitarian Universalist Association

Thomas Jefferson District Young Adult and Campus Ministry Activity

By Lydia Deering

Young Adults (ages 18-35) in our district have been working hard this past year to form a district wide network including a Young Adult/Campus Ministries (YA/CM) steering committee. There are 5 current members. They include Committee Chairperson, Christine Gresser, Assistant Chairperson and District Representative, Lydia Deering, Financial and Budget Coordinator, Andrew LaRoy, E-Newsletter Editor, Thom Longino, and Past Chairperson, Frank Filz. The committee plans to meet at least three times a year. The steering committee has also put together what they are calling a "traveling road show." Basically they will come to your church and talk to you about YA/CM activities and ideas about getting them started.

The district has also been holding two YA/CM cons a year. Over Easter weekend Spectrum takes place in eastern Virginia near the Chesapeake Bay. Harvesting the Seeds of Tomorrow was held October 22^nd-24^th at the church in Outlaws Bridge, NC. There were workshops on various topics, great food, a little sleep and a lot of fun. Mark Easter weekend on your calendars now and plan to attend Spectrum this year (2000).

This year I attended Concentric and OPUS as our TJ district representative. Concentric is the business meeting and leadership development conference for the Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network (CUUYAN). Opus is the five day long YA/CM con held by CUUYAN every summer. This year Opus will be in Maryland (just outside of DC) August 8-13, 2000. Concentric will be three to four days just before Opus at the same site. This is something else I recommend for anyone who is interested in meeting UU Young Adults from all over the country.

There is a lot of YA/CM activity in our district right now. The YA/CM movement is really gaining momentum on a continental as well. CUUYAN just received sponsorship from the UUA. This means CUUAYN will now receive funding from the UUA similarly to YRUU. If anyone is interested in finding out more about anything in this article or getting involved in any of the activities mentioned please contact me, Lydia Deering at Kiah25@yahooo.com or call me at (336)882-9453.

One hundred and six people participated in the Fall Leadership Conference held recently at the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville. We were treated to a moving keynote address by Dr. Bill Murry, President and Academic Dean of Meadville/Lombard Theological School. Copies of his address are available online at our TJ website (http://www.tjd.uua.org) or hard copies are available through the district office. Workshops included two President’s forums specifically for smaller and larger sized congregations, brainstorming ideas for the TJ Connection, Defining the Mission of the Thomas Jefferson District, Endowments and Planned Giving, Conflict Phobia, Racism issues, Leadership for Transformative Congregations, What DRE’s and Denominational Affairs Representatives do, and sharing of ministry in the Caring Committee.

A special thank you to the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville who made us feel most welcome.

Change, it is said is the one constant in life that we can count on. As the new District Executive I can attest to the wisdom of this maxim. This issue of the TJD Connection carries word of the resignation of our District Administrator (DA) goddess, Krissa Palmer. Her resignation reflects one of the District’s most recent changes. We are sad to see her go. I have appreciated her presence during my first quarter. She provided me the continuity and support I needed while I acclimated myself in my new surroundings. I thank Krissa for that time. In the midst of such great changes in my own life I have had to reach deep inside to handle the changes induced by my new position, relocation, efforts to forge new working relationships, an accelerated learning curve and my hectic schedule to get out and meet our congregations. All this coupled with natural disasters of fire, flood, and transportation challenges; all while adjusting to my new position. Working to stay on top of all this has reminded me that the best way to deal with change is to create a mindset that is resilient enough to change and keep changing, as the circumstances require. Though we are sad to see Krissa leave we wish her the very best in her pursuits and we will hold her in our thoughts.

The DA is the first voice each of you hears. The DA's role is as extensive and complex as the District Executive's. With the anticipated hiring of an RE program position that will require administrative support from the DA it has become necessary to increase the DA position to full time. As we project increasing the total number of congregations from 56 to 66 the new RE position 's role becomes even more crucial if we are going to attract families with children. Research findings indicate "unchurched" families seek a place of worship as a way to help instill values in their children.

If you agree with me that the District Administrator plays an important role in the delivery of quality services to congregations; if you believe that it is important to promote the growth of UU'ism in our district, then we want to hear from. What do we want to hear? What should we be doing in the office to promote accessibility of services to our congregations? What do we need to be doing to utilize the DA's position to increase the connection between the district office and congregations? What do you feel is important for the DA to be sensitive and mindful of? Change gives us an opportunity to have you our membership tell us how we can better serve you through our District Administrator.

We know that the very forces that cause us such sadness can carry in them the seeds of renewal in the district office. Please let us hear from you.

A. Call in the DE.

B. Call in the DE only if your own congregation cannot resolve the conflict.

C. Call in a trained conflict management team only if your own congregation cannot resolve the conflict.

4. Bury your head in the sand and hope conflict goes away.

A. Annual all-district events

B. Regional or cluster events

C. Services delivered directly to your congregation

4. No training needed because you already know everything you need to know.

Like churches, districts also function in different ways. A "Family District" is small and makes decisions together, much like a small fellowship. A "Pastoral District" places the DE at the heart of the district along with a small team of volunteer leaders.

We are moving, both naturally and deliberately, toward the "Program District." As Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris describes this model, "The Field Staff remains at the center of this system but his/her role becomes recruiting, training, supervising, and supporting those who provide the various services in the system." The district becomes much more involved in planning and development to aid local congregations.

The final model, the "Corporate District," features multiple staffing, complex organizations, and diverse service. We aren't that complex—yet!

We see many advantages to the Program model. With more volunteer teams, we will be able to offer services and training geographically closer to our congregations. With more volunteer teams, the DE will be better able to train and support existing teams and committees. With a program district, our current DE and the new RE Program Consultant will be able to offer more services to wider groups of individuals and congregations.
 
 

In January all congregations with paid staff are being asked to fill out a questionnaire about their current compensation patterns, that is, salaries, benefits, and pension contributions paid for clergy and other religious professionals. The UUA Compensation, Benefits, and Pension Committee oversees the triennial review of progress by congregations in reaching fair compensation standards for ministers, religious educators, administrators, and music directors.

Congregations will receive their questionnaires from the District Compensation Consultants that work with local societies in analyzing and improving their compensation policies and practices.

Church treasurers and finance officers should begin to organize the payroll data they will need to promptly complete the survey.

The forms will need to be returned to the

Consultants in February. The information gathered will be strengthened by a high percentage return. Anecdotal reports suggest that many UU congregations are now seriously acknowledging that fair compensation is a social justice issue. The results of the 2000 survey will reveal just how much we

believe that justice begins in church.

The Rev. Carl Bretz and Rosemary Burns, of Oak Ridge, TN, were appointed as Co-Ministerial Settlement Representatives (MSR’s) for the Thomas Jefferson District in May. They attended four days of training in Boston in October, and are already involved with the work of orienting the Boards and congregations of those T.J. churches that are beginning the search for settled ministers. the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Va, and the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Glen Allen, Va are involved in the process.

A brief description of the process: When a minister resigns, the District Executive conducts an exit interview with the minister and a transition interview with the congregation. If the congregation decides to call a full time settled minister, they are eligible to invite the first of three visits by the MSRs. The MSRs will outline the details of the search process (12-15 months) and the selection of the Search Committee to the congregation. They also describe to the church board the parameters of their responsibilities. This includes setting the total cost of ministry (salary, housing, benefits, and professional expenses) with the help of our specially trained district Compensation Consultants, Martha Shore and Wendell Putney.

At the second visit, the MSR's will help the Search Committee explore the process of eliciting a description of the congregation’s strengths, weaknesses, and growing edges, as well as a profile of their desired qualities in a new minister. This information will be used in constructing the Congregational Record, a fairly lengthy document to be posted on line on the UUA Ministerial Settlement website.

Ministers who are in search will have access to all the Congregational Records of those societies which are also in search and can indicate by a click on the website which congregations they are interested in.

The UUA Ministerial Settlement Director, John Weston will send a list of names of interested ministers to the MSR's, who will take it to the Search Committee, along with Ministerial Records (MSR visit no. 3).

From there, the Search Committee goes through the process of selecting three or four pre-candidates, whom they interview and hear in neutral pulpits. Confidentiality vis-à-vis their congregations is preserved by the

Search Committee from the time they receive their list of ministers.

From those pre-candidates, the Committee selects one final candidate to recommend to the congregation. The candidate comes to the church for a week's visit, which begins and ends with a Sunday service, and the congregation then votes on whether or not to call him or her as their full time settled minister.

In accordance with our principle of congregational polity, each congregation may choose to follow its own decision about how to call a minister. However, the above-described process has been tested and evolved over time. The UU Ministers' Association has endorsed it and it is highly recommended by the UUA.

An MSR's expenses are paid by the UUA. This is one way in which Annual Program Fund contributions are returned to congregations.

It should be noted that the placement of part time ministers is the responsibility of the District Executive, and extension ministers' selection is handled by the UUA Extension Department.

The UUA Board of Trustees held its regular fall 1999 meeting in Boston on October 23 - 24. I am a member of the Congregations, Districts and Extension Working Group and serve as liaison to the Electronic Communications Committee. The three days prior to the board meeting I attended an orientation for new trustees. Leon Spencer, a.k.a. Saint Leon, was identified as a model for us to emulate.

Selected Board actions of general interest were:

• approval of the UU Fellowship of Rappahanoch, VA, . for membership in the UUA.
• approval of $42 and $44 APF "Fair Share" amounts for small congregations for FY 2001 and FY 2002, respectively., and 4.0% and 4.2% of total expenses for congregations of 550 or more, for FY 2001 and FY 2002, respectively.
• a request to congregations having developed covenants and mission statements as part of the Fulfilling the Promise program to send a copy of them to Barbara Ives at the UUA.
• encouragement of congregations to participate in a Congregational Life Survey sponsored by the Lily Foundation involving more than 40 denominations.
• to study a proposal from the Mountain for forming a partnership with the UUA in developing a leadership institute.

Co-led by Kathy Wimett and Ed Piper will be offered Feb. 24-26 in Charlotte, NC. For workshop details and registration form, see the brochure that was mailed to congregation presidents and ministers in October or contact the District Office.

Hello to my TJ friends. It's time I let you know what I'm up to "way up here."

I've been enjoying several months of being lazy. I get up in the morning, do my exercises, walk the dog, get breakfast, do the puzzles in the paper and generally get to my home "office" about 10:30 or 11. I've had a few consulting assignments, both here in the Northeast District and with the UUA, but nothing to take up a great deal of time. I also got to deliver the keynote address at the Northeast District's Fall Conference - the same talk I presented in Williamsburg last April. It went very well here, as well. And, I'm working by phone and e-mail with Tom Warth as he develops the new remote learning center there at The Mountain.

And, of course, there are many projects around the house - something I never had time for when I was traveling as your D.E. Still, I have lots of time for reading, watching sports on TV, being with family and friends. A few of our Southern friends have come by to visit us here as they traveled through the Northland.

At our new church here in Yarmouth, I've joined the choir and am signed up to lead a dream group. Also, I'll be working with the minister on a new "small group ministry" program, designed to bring the members into closer connection with each other - that hasn't started yet.
 

It's great living next door to three of our grandchildren - the two girls, Mikala and Lanier, and our new baby boy - Theodoret (Theo, for short.) We see them almost daily, and they bring energy and joy into our home. Faith is a great grandma, and they love being here. This past weekend, we drove to Burlington, VT area to visit with Russell, our son, and his family. Russ and Gillian, his wife, have just been asked to lead a yoga workshop in Costa Rica, and their vision quest practice is picking up.

The memory of your sendoff in Williamsburg still lingers, pleasantly. Your gifts have been put to good use. The clock adorns our living room, and the barometer (given me by the ministers) will hang in my new home office.

Since I'm in old clothes most of the time, Eunice's overalls have come in most handy. I miss seeing you all and being with you, but am gradually creating a community here. While it will never take your place, it will, I hope,

provide that sense of connection I so much need.

I hear things are going well with the District and that Qiyamah is off to a good start (once everyone got over the shock of the office fire.) Sorry to hear that Krissa is leaving, but I'm sure she is doing the right thing for her.

Faith and I will be at the General Assembly in Nashville next summer. Hope we get the chance to see all of you there. Keep up the good work!!

Love to you all,

Roger

#10 Why is the first row always full by the time I get there?

# 9 Why can't we sing more hymns I've never heard before?

# 8 I'd rather be in church than on the golf course any time.

# 7 That sermon was so good I didn't realize it was 45 minutes long.

# 6 I was in the hospital for a week but thank goodness the minister didn't come to see me.

# 5 How do I apply to be the permanent junior high Sunday School teacher?

# 4 I'm so sad my term on the Board is over. I wish I could stay on the Board for the rest of my life.

# 3 Do we have to have coffee hour every Sunday?

# 2 I'm so glad we have so many new people. I just love having to park two blocks away since I get more exercise that way.

# 1 Now the number one complaint ministers hear from church members - drum roll please:

"Pledge drive Sunday is my favorite Sunday. Why can't we have it every week?"

(thanks to Bill Murry for this list)

We professional UU ministers in central and eastern North Carolina gather together under the umbrella of THUUMA. We gather together monthly during the "church year" for mutual support, sharing of joys and concerns and continuing education through open discussion and exploration.

We usually begin our meetings going

around the circle to check in. I am always amazed at the depth of sharing and taken back by the pain and concerns so many of us often carry in our hearts. THUUMA is a safe space to express those concerns as well as our joys.

We include "retired" (a misnomer!) ministers, students, interns, parish, religious education and community ministers. We are a wonderful and strange bunch.

We gather every year for a Twelfth Night party and again at a beach home on the eastern shore in spring. For me, personally, THUUMA has become my primary source of ministerial support. It keeps me connected to colleagues off too distant (miles wise). It keeps me connected to the larger UU family/movement.

What does THUUMA stand for? Tar Heel UU Ministers Association. It also stands for collegiality embodied. In a very small religious movement, which is challenged so much by geographical distances between us; I look upon THUUMA as a model for keeping connected.
 

It is with sadness and excitement that I bid the Thomas Jefferson District goodbye. I have been "called" to minister to my creative self and will spend my time weaving words and fibers together.

Thank you for the opportunity to blossom into the District Goddess. This job has helped me to realize the depths of my faith, living my authentic self and being honored, celebrated, and blessed for it.

Change comes hard to this Libra, ENFP, and the decision to step out onto my path solo came with tears, but I know in my bones that it’s the right decision for me and for the district. Blessed Be and thank you.
 
 

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