Family Ministry Network Offers Information Packet

Congregations are invited to join the UUA's new UU Family Network for sharing family ministry information and resources.

The growing network, which already has about 100 congregations in its first year, is seeking contributions for its first annual information packet, which will go to members in late winter, on the topic of family worship.

Ideas and resources about family worship at church, home, retreats, etc., are invited from families, directors of religious education, ministers and others. The network seeks worship rituals, child dedication ceremonies, dinner table prayers and other types of family worship.

"There are wonderful ministries to families going on," said the Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer, the UUA's director of children's programs and ministry to families, "but we don't always know what others are doing. In signing up your congregation you're pledging to share your resources with others."

Send worship information and requests for membership to the Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer at 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108; (617) 742-2100, ext. 362.

Contributions Urged To Take Advantage of UUA Retirement Plan

Eligible congregations are encouraged to contribute to the UU Organizations Retirement Plan (401(a) on behalf of their employees. Ralph Mero, UUA director of church staff finances, estimates that 700 to 800 UU congregations have eligible employees but only about 400 are contributing to the plan.

Employees who are 21 and work at least 1,000 hours per year (approximately half-time) are eligible to participate after one year of employment. At least 70 per cent of eligible employees must be enrolled if a congregation is to take part.

Mero recommends that congregations contribute 14 percent of taxable income on behalf of each employee. The same percentage must be contributed for each eligible employee. All contributions are made by the employer.

Mero says some employers may be contributing to alternative 403(b) plans, but they are not as advantageous as the denominationally-sponsored 401(a) which includes a retired clergy housing allowance.

Contributions to the UU plan are limited to the lesser of $30,000 annually or 25 percent of taxable compensation, defined as salary plus overtime or other additional pay, but not any tax-free housing allowance, pretax contributions under flexible benefit plans or pre-tax contributions to a tax-sheltered annuity or account under section 403(b) of the IRS Code.

The UU retirement plan currently has about 1,500 participants, with combined assets of just under $82 million. Contributions may be allocated to any of six funds and participants may reallocate investments up to six times a year.

For more information contact Ralph Mero, director of church staff finances, UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. (617) 742-2100, ext. 404.

Fulfilling the Promise Photographs, Videos Sought

Congregations that will participate this year in Fulfilling the Promise are encouraged to make photographs or videos that can be used during one of the plenary sessions at General Assembly next June to highlight FTP activities across the denomination.

Fulfilling the Promise is a UUA initiative (see Covenanting page) that is inviting each congregation to recovenant–to look at and think deeply about its covenants and to hold thoughtful discussions about how members will relate to one another.

For the third year, Fulfilling the Promise will be the theme of General Assembly, which takes place from June 24 to 28 in Salt Lake City, UT. Please contact Barbara Ives at (617) 742-2100 x302 if you have photographs or videos to share.

Each congregation is asked to select a member to lead Fulfilling the Promise in their congregation and to send that person's name to Fulfilling the Promise, UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. Questions about Fulfilling the Promise may also be directed there.

How a Home Page Helps Link Your Community

In the days after the October murder of Matthew Shepard, Donald Griggs, a member of the UUA's Electronic Communications Committee, helped the UU Fellowship of Laramie, WY (82 members) create a congregational website that served as a focal point for the community.

Debbie Weiner, the UUA's director of electronic communications, noted that websites are especially important in times of crisis. "When disaster happens people want somewhere to turn for current information and to express their support," she said. "At Laramie the website supported not only the congregation, but the gay. lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community and the community at large."  The site also was instrumental in publicising a memorial fund that has grown to $23,000.

Weiner said more than 55 percent of UU congregations have websites and she encouraged others to consider them. Studies show that many visitors find UU congregations through their websites, she said.  "They're a very tangible way for a congregation to say to a community, 'Come join with us.'"

Large-Church Meeting In March in San Diego

The Fourth Continental Conference for Large Churches (550-plus members) will take place from March 11-14 in San Diego, CA. Workshop topics include community ministry, safe congregations, campus ministry and small groups within large congregations.

Keynote speaker is Peter Steinke, author of Healthy Congregations, a Systems Approach, (1996, Alban Institute, UUA Bookstore  #4667  $14.75).

Register by Feb. 1 to the education and research administrator, UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108; (617) 742-2100, ext. 269. Fees are $550 single occupancy, $375 double. Commuters who come for meals and the program pay $250.

Sexuality Education Information On Line

Information on how to advocate for comprehensive sexuality education in your community is available on the UUA web site. The information is from a workshop on the same topic at General Assembly '98.

The information is available at http://www.uua.org/ga/ga98/jun29sexed.html.

UU Backpacking: A New Faith Project for 18-22-year-olds

"I know Young Adult Ministry is important, but how do I do it?" is a frequently asked question. UU Backpacking is one way your congregation can assist in the spiritual development and retention of our young people. Its aim is to guide 'new' young adults as they take the next steps on their faith journey. It also serves as a guide for young people new to our religious communities.

A vital and transforming religious life has at least six components: worship, social service, social justice, history and theology, leadership, and community building. Each component of UU Backpacking is identified by a blaze (patch), to be sewn on clothing or a backpack, which is given after the completion of travel on that particular path. An initial blaze, the "bridging" patch, is given with the UU Backpacking Guide at a bridging ceremony when joining a congregation, young adult group or campus ministry.

The program is highly individualistic, but needs to be completed in community. Each young adult determines his or her own direction for the faith project.

We anticipate and hope that UU Backpacking helps bridgers find a path to their own personal journey of faith and ongoing involvement in Unitarian Universalism.

Resources

For information on UU Backpacking contact Donna DiSciullo, Young Adult/Campus Ministry director, 20 Nassau St., Suites 510-511, Princeton, NJ 08542; (609) 252-1412.

A Bridging Ceremony Resource Packet is available through the YA/CM Office to assist congregations in creating their own bridging ceremony.

Program Helps Churches Raise Anti-Racism Funds

It's not too late to sign up to conduct a Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday as part of a new UUA-designed program to help congregations raise money for fighting racism and oppression in their communites.

More than 200 congregations have already made plans for a dedicated Sunday service, including a special collection, in early 1999. This is the first year of the program, which grew out of the long-established Whitney Young Sundays.

The program enables congregations to raise money for anti-racism efforts of their own choosing while also supporting the UUA's Whitney M. Young Urban Ministry Fund, which will receive some of the money raised in each congregation.  This fund makes grants of up to $3,000 to congregations working to develop a Unitarian Universalist vision within an urban context.

For information on how your congreation can join Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday, call (888) 792-5885 or e-mail JTWSundayinfo@uua.org.  If your congregation can't participate this year, contributions to the Whitney M. Young Fund are being accepted from individuals.

For information on applying for Whitney M. Young Fund grants, call Paige Getty in the UUA's Faith in Action Department at 617-742-2100 ext. 456.

Most Church Income Is Tax-Exempt

When is a church's income subject to income tax? That's a question often asked of the Rev. Ralph Mero, UUA director of church staff finances. The following income sources are exempt from federal and state income taxes, he notes:

• Contributions and donations
• Fees charged for weddings, memorial services and other religious activities
• Dividends and interest on investments
• Income from tickets to a play or dinner event and earnings from annual festivals and auctions and occasional fairs, bazaars and fund-raisers.

Churches are expected to pay income tax on proceeds above $1,000 from renting out their parking lots, for example.

Mero can be reached at (617) 742-2100, ext. 404.