The mountains of Salt Lake City offer an attractive background for the CENTER (Continuing Education Network for Ministers)/UUMA (Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association) professionals days programming which occurs prior to each General Assembly. This year's programs occur at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Theme Presentation, "Money Ministry and Stewardship: Doing Better At All Three," will be offered on Wednesday, June 23, by the Rev. Steve Gray. Gray has been President of the Indiana/Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ since 1988. He was Director of Development of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC, and is a leading presenter and trainer on stewardship and fund raising. His talk is designed to offer a "fresh look at the power and role of money in the life of religious congregations: how it is raised, what it means to the donors and users, what responsibilities fall on the ministers, why there never seems to be enough, and what we can do move from a culture of scarcity to one of abundance."
Gray says, "Relying on money is a daily necessity. Worrying about how to get more is a frequent occurrence. Talking about money (in church) is the last taboo, and as long as we hold on to outmoded beliefs, we and our congregations are going to suffer the consequences."
Gray's talk is designed to present new ways to think about money to give us richer programs, real satisfactions, and more productive ministries for ministry professionals and for congregations.
Following Gray's keynote, ministers will participate in a series of workshops for the afternoon. Workshop topics include:
- Using Fundraising Consultants: when, how and why
- Continuing Education Needs in the ministry
- The OWL and the Minister, on the new Our Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum
- Creating Safe Congregations
- Prayer and Pastoral Care in UU Ministries
- Transgender Issues
- Enhancing Mentoring Relationships
- Planned Giving and Church Endowments
- The Multi-Staff Congregation
- Creating an Anti-Racist Ministry
- A guide to the new UUA on-line search and settlement procedures
- Raising Money for Social Justice
The day's activities will also include worship, a conversation with UUA President John Buehrens, and a celebration of the 25th anniversary of MSUU (Ministerial Sisterhood UU) as well as social activities.
Ministry days continue on Thursday, June 24, with a business meeting of members the UU Minister's Association, reflections by ministers celebrating 25 and 50 years in the ministry, a luncheon, collegial conversations on different aspects of professional ministry, and the annual Ministerial Conference on Berry Street, a lecture given this year in two parts by the Revs. Carolyn and Tom Owen-Towle, co-ministers of the Unitarian Church of San Diego, CA.
