Why Is Everyone Talking About Mission?

February 3rd, 2012

by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Ohio-Meadville Dist. Executive

Ohio-Meadville District staff have never worked with so many congregations at one time all focused on the same issue – mission.  Why are so many of our congregations involved in renewing, re-articulating, revising or rediscovering their mission and sense of purpose right now? What’s going on here?

It looks like there’s a kind of convergence of several different elements all at once.

1) Many of our congregations are involved in or have taken the Healthy Congregations curriculum where   teams are asked to work with their congregation’s mission statement. Teams have found that their current mission statement may not be adequate or doesn’t really express the congregation’s core purpose.

2) Visitors are asking more questions about a congregation’s purpose and mission when they check out a church. Congregational leaders find they need better answers to these queries.

3) Leaders and members sense that there has been a major shift in society that is creating new pressures on our congregations to redefine their core identities and revisit/revise their sense of purpose.  They need a new mission for a new day.

Why is mission so important now?  Alban consultant and author, Gil Rendle, recently noted: “People no longer join congregations because they want relationships or because they want to “belong.”…[P]eople now come to congregations because they want a purposeful relationship with others who are seeking a purpose and meaning in response to the questions that they feel in their lives. For many the function of relationships in congregations has now shifted from being only social to being also purposeful. “ (Journey to the Wilderness, Alban Institute, 2010)

Rendle notes that this shift is difficult for many congregations to grasp. Many congregations continue to think that providing warm and friendly relationships – a feeling of family – is their chief strength and the reason people join and attend. But now congregations find this is no longer an adequate mission. Instead, they are being asked to take on a different role and purpose as a place where people look to participate in something larger than themselves and come to shape meaning for their lives.

“For many leaders,”Rendle writes, “the new reality feels like a wilderness in which the territory is suddenly foreign and feels dangerous.” It feels like living in the wilderness.

Michael Piazza in his new book Liberating Hope says that the church can move beyond just offering a place for relationships. “In a world changing at the speed of the Internet, the church can offer transformation, and, in a world where people live with few margins, the church can offer a space of grace in which to find meaning and purpose. It is as if the church is poised and open to a new kind of spiritual experience that moves people away from frantic patterns of modern hyper-productivity and toward a renewed sense of awe, mystery, and incarnational life. We want to feel God, to relish the Sacred, to ponder the questions of meaning, faith, and transcendence.”

I believe that our congregations are feeling called to re-articulate their sense of mission and purpose in response to these larger social and spiritual shifts.  We Unitarian Universalists need to rediscover, re-energize, renew our core sense of purpose as a movement and as individual congregations if we want to be thriving, active, agents of transformative change and love in a 21st century world.  But how do we discover and discern that purpose? We can’t look to history for it. Purpose changes as the needs of society and people change.

To find our core purpose for today, one that will carry us into a healthy future, we need to ask ourselves some new and difficult questions. Questions like:
How is a religious community, a congregation different from:

  • a. Political Advocacy groups (ACLU)
  • b. Social network (Book Clubs, Facebook)
  • c. Group counseling (AA)
  • d. Social Service agencies (United Way)
  • e. Family and friends

In other words – does a religious community have a unique purpose or calling?  If so, what is our congregation’s unique calling?

We will have to ask ourselves questions like this and more as we discern our mission for today. Unfortunately, no one is going to give us ready-made answers. There are no ready-made answers. (And we wouldn’t want someone to hand us the answers even if they could.)

Instead, we need to talk to one another in our communities, engage in dialogue together, openly and honestly and deeply.
And people have begun that conversation.  I think that is why everyone is talking about mission. And will continue to talk about it for some time to come.

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This Year We Are Breaking Boundries

January 27th, 2012

We live in rapidly changing times. Do things the “old way” doesn’t bring the same results as it did in the past. So how do our congregations reach out, find new members, help our members, grow and thrive? We all need to think outside the box  – which is the theme of this year’s District Assembly – Breaking Boundries.

We have a great theme speaker in Rev. Dr. David Owen-O’Quill, known UU minister and church planter. He’s found a way to break a few boundries and create some innovative programs and he’s going to share his experiences with us. You will also have an opportunity to talk with him at the theme talkback and take an in-depth workshop with him called Deep Shift.

We keep hearing that our members value time together to network, talk and learn from each other, so this year, to answer that request, we’re replacing one of our workshop slots with networking time. We’ve lined up eight different topics you can choose to join. You do not need to be a committee chair or member for these areas, just interested in this particular facet of church life. Our traditional workshop slot will provide time to learn more about leadership development opportunities, outreach, stewardship, youth programming and more.

Friday night we’ll gather to participate in the new Gathered Here program. This is your opportunity to have the district and the UUA hear what you think the vision of Unitarian Universalism should be. We’ll also honor this year’s award winners. You can learn more about the Gathered Here program at the UUA website.

Of course there is the annual meeting of the OMD for congregational delegates to vote on the slate of officers, next year’s budget and bylaw changes. Don’t let your congregation miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.

This year we will meet on March 23-24, 2012 at UU Church of Meadville, PA on Friday and at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA on Saturday. There is limited home hospitality available, local hotels are inexpensive and the location is easily accessible from I-79. Registration is now open and details are available online at www.ohiomeadville.org/program/da/. Full Fair Share Congregation members qualify for a discount. Early bird registration, childcare and home hospitality request deadline is February 24.

The Annual Report with the meeting agenda, budget, committee and staff reports and proposed bylaws will be posted to the website and mailed to all congregations in mid-February.

Have questions? Contact me at the District Office.

Beth C

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Winter as a Spiritual Practice

January 20th, 2012

Life has a way of being a perpetual teacher. As the snow flies outside I am reminded of how winter is a vehicle for my personal spiritual growth.

LETTING GO Sometimes my schedule has to yield to minor annoyances like scraping car windows and layers of clothes, or more major like trips cancelled and roads closed. I am reminded to accept with an open heart what I can not change.

CULTIVATE AWE AND WONDER What amazing beauty and serenity this season brings! I need to fully embrace and delight in the beauty.

SLOWING DOWN Walking is slower in boots, and if I am smart so is my driving. This is also my chance to use the Crock-Pot as a balance to quick cooking on the summer grill.

REFLECTING ON THE CONTINUITY OF LIFE Recently my 94 year old aunt died a good death, and her large family gathered to celebrate her life. In the last picture taken of her she was rocking a 2 year old great-grandchild to sleep. Seasons and stages of families and congregations change, that is so true, but it reminds me how much is larger than me.

Just as so much growth takes place below the cover of snow, so to do congregations make use of this time to grow in depth.

Share those experiences with your neighbors in faith, so that we can grow with you!
Karen LoBracco
Lifespan Faith Development Consultant

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Music is Vital to Congregations

January 19th, 2012

musical noteI was looking over some notes from seminary and came across this insight: The music department is the spiritual engine of a congregation; where hearts are broken open. The two things that have been constant throughout my life have been church and music. Although the styles of both have changed as I’ve changed, I still firmly believe that music is our spiritual engine and holds the power of transformation.

What does our music say about us? About what we believe and hold dear? About our source of hope and our commitment to justice? A couple of years ago I made it my spiritual practice to write new lyrics to familiar hymn tunes. My self-appointed task was to try to capture a UU theology in song and to use the vehicle of music to bring (and sing) a new vision of our faith into being. As I wrote I discovered that my own theology became more grounded and less abstract.

So I share with you a hymn loosely based on the covenant created by James Vila Blake (Reading #473 Singing the Living Tradition – STLT). This covenant became a tool for transformation in my home congregation as we learned to live by its precepts – and I offer this hymn in honor of that community and the work we’ve done together. Feel free to borrow and use it in your own congregations and allow your hearts to be broken open.

Peace,
Michelle Buhite

Love is the Spirit of this Church    To the tune of STLT #34 (The Gift of Love)

Love is the spirit of this church
The search for truth its holy quest
With open minds and hearts we seek
To find the Holy, Unseen Guest.

Our lives become our fervent prayer
We live our faith throughout each day
We seek the good in all we meet
To dwell in peace, our holy way.

We sow the seeds of justice now
Encourage shoots of hope to grow
The generations yet to come
Will reap the harvest we now sow.

So may we dwell here now in peace
To seek and serve each human need
That all souls one day may be free.
And all the voice of Mystery heed.

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Is Your Congregation Planning to Fail?

January 4th, 2012

by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Ohio-Meadville District Executive

“If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” – This old business proverb is as true for congregations as it is for businesses. Congregations need to know how to think and act for the 21st century and all of the change going on around them. That requires a strategic planning process and leaders who think strategically.

At this time, when we are making resolutions and plans at the start of a New Year, it’s a good idea to check up on your congregations plans as well. Do you have a planning process? Do  you know how you are doing and why you are doing it? Have you evaluated your programs and priorities? Are you prepared for social and economic changes that keep coming our way?

To survive in the midst of change, congregations and leaders must be able to adapt and that requires assessment and strategic thinking. Unfortunately, many congregational leaders have trouble with ongoing planning and assessment processes. It’s thought to be too time consuming, too complex. Past efforts have been unhelpful. The methods used were corporate-minded and not appropriate for a faith community. They believe they are not qualified to do it.

It’s also often thought that if anything at all is happening in the congregation, it should be celebrated, not evaluated. Whether the effort supports the mission and leads toward the vision is thought to be irrelevant if , at least, something is happening. But we no longer have the luxury of wasting precious human and financial resources like that.

This is different from the long-range or strategic planning we’ve used in the past. Traditional long range planning is too incremental and life is changing too quickly today. You plan for five years but everything has changed in six months.

This is not conventional strategic planning. Conventional strategic planning was centralized and assumed that little change will take place. It assumed that we could anticipate the future. It that started with the past and tried to work forward, bringing the past with it. .

Tom Peters, in his book “Thriving on Chaos” notes: “Sound strategic direction has never been more important…Yet strategic planning, as we conventionally conceive of it, has become irrelevant, or worse, damaging. What is a good strategic plan? There is none. But there is a god strategic planning process.”

Instead of creating strategic or long range plans that sit on a shelf, leaders need to think and act strategically. This is an ongoing envisioning and implementation process that a ministry team uses on a regular basis to design and adapt the congregation’s ministry to meet the challenges of its context.

Strategic thinking is constantly assessing and pulling things together in new ways. It’s very messy. It works backward from the vision of the future. It is short term and assumes that much will change quickly. Strategic thinking assumes that we create the future to help fulfill our mission.

Strategic thinking requires that a congregation know its core values, have a clear and well-articulated sense of mission or purpose and know its vision for the future. Strategic thinking requires ongoing congregational assessment. Without this foundation, strategic thinking has no engine to drive it forward and will result in frustration.

Strategic thinking revolves around three key questions:
• Who are we? (identity and values)
• Where are we going? (mission and vision)
• How will we get there? (ministry strategy for reaching mission and vision)

At this start of the New Year, when we are all making resolutions and new plans, it’s a perfect time to check to see if your congregation has a process for strategic thinking and adaptation that can carry it forward to meet new challenges.

Have a blessed and wonderful (and adaptive) New Year.

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Bell Meditation for the New Year

December 23rd, 2011

Holida BellsBy Rev. Joan Van Becelaere

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Alfred lord Teynnyson

It is an ancient custom to ring bells to celebrate the Solstice, Christmas, and especially the New Year.  The sound of the bell is said to be auspicious, to both drive away evil and welcome the good.

We ring out the old while we ring in the new.

In this season of transformation, let us ring out our old prejudices and biases.
And ring in new understanding and appreciation of our world in its wholeness.

Ring out our old dysfunctional desires for that which harms us and others.
Ring in energy for creativity and the healing of self, society and our planet.

Ring out our fear and feelings of apathy and inadequacy.
Ring in courage and love that dares to overcome hate.

Ring out our old ways of living separate and alone.
Ring in celebration of our interdependence and the coming of the Beloved Community.

Ring out the death and sorrow of old pain and the coldness of heart that kills justice.
Ring in renewal of the joy of life and a rich New Year of peace.

Ring out the chill of despair.
Ring in the warmth of hope for the coming of true transformation within and without.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

The Staff and Board of the Ohio-Meadville District wish you and your loved ones the Happiest of Holidays and a Blessed New Year.

We would also like to remind you that the district office will be following the UUA’s holiday schedule and be closed from 3 pm on December 23rd through January 2nd to allow our staff time to rest, recharge and spend time with their families. If something urgent comes up during this week, please call the district office number for instructions on who to contact.

May whatever holiday you and yours celebrate at this time of year bring you joy and peace.

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Hey Youth, What Are You Doing This Summer?

December 16th, 2011

Are you a youth ages 14-18? Would you love to go somewhere this summer and do some hands on social justice work? You know, not just sitting around talking about it but actually helping folks repair their homes, paint, do maintenance and yard work for low income families and senior citizens. In your free time, you’ll get a chance to learn more about Appalachia – the area you will be working in – hearing the music, learning the history and industries and more. Does this sound like something you would be interested in doing?

Well, we have something planned for you. Introducing the OMD/SLD Youth Mission Camp. If you are a youth 14-18 who lives in the Ohio-Meadville or St. Lawrence District, this is your opportunity to participate in a work camp in southern West Virginia, the poorest region of our four-district area, known as the Central East Regional Group (CERG). The trip will take place June 24-30, 2012 (yes, that is the week after General Assembly in Phoenix). And we have room for 29 youth and adults.

To help us with the costs, the OMD has received a very generous grant from the UU Fund for Social Responsibility to underwrite some of the costs. Each youth will need to pay $250 to go, but we encourage congregations and youth groups to support their youth and help them raise the money to attend. Scholarships will be available for half the cost. Registration will open no later than January 15th. All the details and registration forms will be available on the OMD website by then at www.ohiomeadville.org/omdevents/226-youthcamp2012.

And if you are an adult and want to go along to help with the chaperoning duties, please fill out our adult interest form. We will select 2 adults to go along with our staff. If additional spaces are available after we admit all the youth who apply, additional adults will be accepted.

It is going to be a really cool week – so start making your plans now to attend and be sure to watch our website for details. Announcements will be sent out via facebook and twitter when registration is available.

Beth C

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Light One Candle

December 9th, 2011

This is the dark time of the year, a period of introspection and gestation. Sometimes massive bursts of light – from an over-the-top light display on a lawn or the mall intrude. But it’s the small candles that capture our heart – from the advent wreath, the menorah, the Yule log, the Christmas Eve service, the kinara. So too, it’s the small personal gifts we share that matter – an invitation to drive around looking at those lawn displays, or to view the night sky, or asking someone you hardly know to join a holiday meal or school concert. Your invitation just might light up someone’s entire world! Now that’s a real miracle!
Karen LoBracco
Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development

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Are You Ready?

December 2nd, 2011

car stuck in snowThat question means something very different to me now than it did when I was a teenager in an evangelical church and youth group. Then it would have been the point of entry to share my testimony and how I was ready for Heaven.  Well, actually, that’s not terribly different after all. The question is still a point of entry to share my testimony and how I am ready for… winter.

Am I being flip? Oh no! My experience last winter has made me a winter readiness evangelist, and I want you to be ready for the “snowpocalypse”.

Last year I had the great privilege of doing a ministerial internship at the UU Church of Buffalo, NY. I live in Jamestown and commuted three to five days per week. The drive from Jamestown to Buffalo is about 90 minutes… in good weather. When you get stuck in a freak, narrow band snow storm, it can take 15 hours.

Yes, I was trapped in my car on the thruway from 8pm to 8am, and then, once freed, it took another 3 hours to drive home. I won’t go into the grisly details of that long night… I’m not sure I want to relive the experience! I did think I was ready for anything with a blanket, my cell phone, a half bottle of water, and a box of Kleenex. I was wrong.

Although there were some Good Samaritans who brought food and water to stranded motorists along the thruway, nobody appeared on the exit ramp where I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper, completely stopped and snowed-in traffic. I started my car every 45 minutes and let it run for about 10 minutes to warm it up. During that time I got out and kicked snow away from the perimeter and brushed off the windshield, since the snow was so wet and heavy my wipers couldn’t move it.

This year I am interning in Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry for the OMD. That means I travel quite a bit (between 3-6 hours on clear roads), usually by myself.

So! This is what I carry in my car now:

  • Blanket
  • Collapsible shovel
  • Good snow brush
  • Extra socks (2 pair – in case I have a passenger)
  • Fleece shawl
  • Extra gloves (2 pair – one for me and one for my husband)
  • 2 hats
  • Sweat pants
  • A plastic container (you’re going to need a “restroom” sometime!)
  • Box of Kleenex
  • 2 bottles of water
  • Non-perishable snacks
  • A bottle with 3 pills each of my daily prescriptions
  • 4 tea light candles and a lighter (a lit candle adds heat)
  • Window hammer (in the glove box, because if I ever need it I will need it ASAP)
  • Keep your cell phone well charged
  • And don’t put off filling your tank until the ride home – keep at least ½ tank

Travel well, my friends! I pray you’ll never need your winter provisions – but if you do find yourself stranded, know that you’ve prepared well and that you are… ready!

Warmly,
Michelle Buhite

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In Gratitude…

November 25th, 2011

With this week being Thanksgiving and the official opening of the holiday season (well, ok not according to the stores), the OMD staff would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks.

Wordle of Blog Text

Thank you to the congregations who pay their fair share to the OMD and/or APF and those who stretch to pay as much as they can. Your funds make our work possible and allow us to provide resources, trainings and support to all our congregations in the district and even the region. Not many districts can boast a 92% district fair share payment by congregation and we are very proud of that statistic and what it represents.

Thank you to all our Chalice Lighters who make a commitment to help those beyond their own congregation with growth and outreach projects, or to recover from devastating situations. Your generosity has an impact on the lives of our congregations and members that you cannot imagine. To see how, visit our Up Close stories (October 2011, March 2011 and April 2010) on the results of our Chalice Lighter calls.

Friends of the OMD is a small but mighty program that allows the district to dream beyond its current situaion. Through this program we have been able to provide growth and vitality programs that have benefited a number of our congregations, and hire a part-time social justice coordinator. If you believe that Unitarian Universalism needs to grow in this region, this is the program to support. With donations from Friends, we want to plan to increase support for new start congregations and groups in under served areas. Thank you to those who give above and beyond your congregation to these worthy projects.

Finally, we could not do it without our volunteers. From the members of the OMD Board, our team and committee chairs and members, those who plan events, congregational volunteers who help us with on the ground planning and logistics for events and more. We would not be able to do anything without our volunteers. To you we say Thank You over and over again.

So to all of you who make these many things possible, we say Thank You.
Rev. Joan VanBecelaere, District Executive
Beth Casebolt, District Administrator
Karen LoBracco, Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development
Michelle Buhite, Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Intern
Rachel Buhite, Social Witness Coordinator

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