Now’s the Time . . .

. . . to subscribe to the new e-mail list, LayLeadershipTips, which the UUA’s director of lay leadership Harlan Limpert is using to communicate with congregational leaders. Information on the list includes leadership tips, ideas, quotes, and best practices, plus upcoming regional or continental leadership events. Subscribe at www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo.

New Book Titles From The UUA Bookstore

Beyond the Collection Plate: Overcoming the Obstacles of Faithful Giving, by Michael Durall. (Abingdon Press, 2003) #7040 $16. Analyzes prevailing attitudes in churches toward giving and managing money. Provides strategies for encouraging more giving. Durall is also the author of Creating Congregations of Generous People (Alban, 1999).

Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and Cultural Upheaval, by Ira Rifkin. (Skylight Paths, 2003) #3890 $16.95. What is the impact of globalization on our spiritual lives? Explains in nonjudgmental language the beliefs that motivate spiritual leaders, activists, academics, and others on all sides.

Contact the bookstore at 800-215-9076 or www.uua.org/bookstore.

Cluster Web Sites Improve Inward,Outward Contact

Most UU congregations have their own Web sites. Now Web sites are being created by clusters of congregations in metro areas. One of the most ambitious projects is in San Diego, Calif., where six area congregations have developed a site which will be a key part of an upcoming media/advertising campaign.

The site, www.uusandiego.org, was created by a professional Web site developer at a cost of $23,000. The cluster intends to begin a multi-year marketing campaign in late 2004. Campaign ads will direct people to the Web site. Having a separate site will make it possible to measure hits at the site before and during the campaign. The Web site has links to all the congregations plus a constantly updated newsletter of events at each congregation. The site also became a crucial link for UUs and out-of-area relatives during the fires that raged across San Diego County last fall.

Cluster sites are also a good place to provide information about projects involving more than one congregation, such as campus ministry and social justice programs. Anyone interested in learning more about the San Diego Web site is encouraged to contact Deena Tuttle at deenabanks@hotmail.com, or 619-697-1752.

Examples of other cluster Web sites are Cincinnati (www.netburg.net/uureligion/index.html), and Washington, D.C. (http://users.erols.com/
carlson2/gwa/index.html). A new site has been developed by the southeast Florida cluster and will be used in conjunction with a planned advertising program, www.uuflorida.org.

“Cluster Web sites help congregations share resources and think about what they can do together rather than separately,” says Deborah Weiner, the UUA’s director of electronic communication. “Beyond this they help get the UU message out better than any one congregation can do alone.” She said a cluster site can be created for probably less than $500 annually. “Given the numbers of people who are seeking congregations on the Web, this option is one of the best bargains around.”

Antiracism Resources Available Online

Get up-to-date information on the UUA's Journey Toward Wholeness Antiracism and Antiopression Programs at www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism/resources.html.

Information includes a list of frequently asked questions, worship resources, and ways of doing antiracist social justice programs. There are also new materials on white identity. One way of determining how to do antiracism work in your congregation is to use the "Continuum on Becoming an Antiracist Multicultural Institution."

Some Candles Better To Use Than Others

Some candles are better for you, says the Accessability Committeee of the UU Society: East Manchester, Conn. In a recent newsletter it offered these tips:

Choose beeswax or soy wax candles over paraffin, which is a petroleum waste product and produces smoke and soot.

Choose candles with cotton or hemp wicks and without a lead core.

Colored and scented candles can add chemicals to the air.

For more information go to www.healthycandles.org/choosing_healthy_candles.htm.

Larger Text May Helps Overcome Vision Issues

Twenty-five percent of elderly people have difficulty reading regular printed material, says Devorah Greenstein, the UUA’s accessibilities program associate. Help them by increasing text size, using bold print instead of italic, and avoiding glossy or colored paper. Print black on white.

But don’t make assumptions about what would be helpful, says Greenstein. Ask. Large print may not help everyone. Offer to provide audiotapes of newsletters and other important printed documents or have someone read the newsletters to them.

Anyone with a vision impairment can receive UU World on audio cassettes at no cost. Contact Greenstein at dgreenstein@uua.org, 617-948-6451.

The American Printing House for the Blind has “Large Print: Guidelines for Optimal Readability” at www.aph.org/edresearch/lpguide.htm. It goes into great detail about producing large-print documents.

For general accessibility information, download “Accessible Faith: A Technical Guide for Accessibility in Houses of Worship” at www.rrf.org/noteworthy/accessible.html.

UUA accessibility resources are at www.uua.org/programs/justice/accessibility.

Get Active

The Washington Office for Advocacy wants examples of any letters to the editor, editorials, and letters to elected officials that you or members of your congregations have written on social justice issues.

Send them to khomblette@uua.org, arose@uua.org, or mjoiner@uua.org or by ground mail to Washington Office for Advocacy, 1320 Eighteenth St., Suite 300B, Washington, D.C. 20036.

Joys Become Electronic

Friends and members of the First UU Church, Columbus, Ohio, no longer have to be present to have their joys and sorrows presented on Sunday morning. The congregation’s Web site has a form that can be filled out and e-mailed to the Caring Committee, which sees that joys and sorrows are announced. Check it out at http://firstuucolumbus.org/signmeup.

Being Part of Religious Community Important To Teen Health

Teens who attend and feel supported by their congregations may be less prone to depression than teens who don’t have that support, says a University of Kansas psychologist in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Todd Little and two colleagues interviewed 744 seventh, eighth, and ninth graders about five aspects of religion.

They found the biggest factor affecting depression was whether a teen’s social experiences with the congregation were positive or negative. Another finding to come out of the study is that private spiritual practices, such as prayer, have little influence on depression among teenagers, Little said.

E-Mail List Begun for Coming of Age Topics

A UUA-sponsored e-mail discussion list for people involved in Coming of Age programming was begun this past fall. Subscribe to it at
www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/coa-L.

It is intended to facilitate communication among UU religious educators, including ministers, DREs, Coming of Age facilitators or leaders, and program developers. Subscribers can share ideas related to Coming of Age programming.

Synapse is Back

Synapse, the UUA Youth Office magazine for youth, is available in both print and on-line formats. Because of budget cuts the last issue of the magazine was Spring 2002. The magazine has been restored and can be viewed at www.uua.org/yruu/synapse. Those who previously subscribed must resubscribe to receive the magazine by ground mail or to receive electronic notification. Instructions are on the Web site. For more information contact Ethan Field, youth office assistant, efield@uua.org or 617-948-4355.

Demonstrate Diversity To Attract Young Adults

A comment made on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” program on Oct. 21 about ways that cities are trying to attract young adults might be instructive to congregations trying to reach the same group.

“We found in some of our focus groups that one of the things that young people look for in cities were rainbow flags showing the presence of a gay or lesbian community, or at least a public acknowledgement of that. These young people are not necessarily gay or lesbian, but they see that as a sign that the city is welcoming and tolerant of people who are different, whether you have a tattoo or piercings, or whether you’re gay or lesbian, or speak a different language, or are of a different race or ethnicity.” —Gary Gates, demographer at the Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.

Growth Resources On-line

Time was when promoting a UU congregation in its community was pretty much a theoretical exercise. There just weren’t that many resources for congregations looking to expand their visibility.

Not any more. As a result of last year’s “The Uncommon Denomination” media test in the Kansas City area, the Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, director of congregational services, has collected resources that any congregation interested in growth can use. The first major group of those resources is now available at www.uua.org/uncommondenomination. Two more groups will be added before spring.

Robinson-Harris says congregations have increasingly been asking for such resources.

There are several levels of the resources, designed to accommodate not only congregations that simply want to become more welcoming, but also those which might be interested in comprehensive media campaigns that could include radio and television ads and billboards.

“We learned a lot from the Kansas City test, including how important hospitality is and how important our presence in the public square really is. Now it’s time for us to get out there and do it. These resources will enable us to spread our message of respect, dignity, and affection.”

50th Anniversary Video

For its 50th anniversary, the UU Congregation of Atlanta, Ga., is preparing a video documentary, “Liberal Religion in the Heart of the South,” about the history of the congregation. It will include interviews with members, archival photos, and music.

Election Rules: Support Issues, not Candidates

With the start of another election year, we need to remember that there are certain ways that congregations can be involved in the political process. And certain ways that they should not be. Generally, congregations can address moral/political issues such as environmentalism, abortion, etc., including passing resolutions and communicating those views to politicians and the public. They can engage in voter registration drives and in candidate forums (if ALL legally qualified candidates are invited to speak).

Congregations should avoid political activity with partisan overtones, including endorsing or opposing specific candidates or political parties, making financial contributions to candidates, and distributing partisan campaign literature. Ministers and members may work on behalf of a candidate personally, but not from the pulpit or in any other organized church setting. For more information visit the Americans United for Separation of Church and State Web site, www.au.org.

Public Ministry Forums

Adult education classes this winter at Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, Minn., include a series of noon hour forums on “Personal Ministry in the Public Arena,” giving members and others an opportunity to reflect on their personal experiences of living out their gifts and values in a public way.

UUA News Items

Local newsletter editors can now find newsletter-ready content about UUA activities on the UUA’s homepage under “News and Events.” The clips can be used in a “denominational moment” section of the newsletter or be used as informative filler. It’s a great way to keep the congregation in touch with the wider faith community. The clips can be accessed by going to www.uua.org/cde/education/ newsletterclips.doc.