In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. If you would like to submit a question, please write to InterConnections at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, or e-mail dskinner@uua.org.

Q. Could you tell me where I can order the UUA's Coming of Age curriculum?

A. The UUA's Youth Office, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108, will send you a Coming of Age resource for $10. Youth Office director Jesse Jaeger says it is a collection of COA programs from congregations. There is no single UUA Coming of Age curriculum, although one is being developed.

Q. Our Social Action Committee is struggling with the question of supporting charitable organizations that do not completely adhere to our UU principles. Our society has always prepared and served a meal each month for the local Salvation Army's program to feed the hungry. However, the Salvation Army does not support gay rights. How do other congregations handle this paradox? We want to be a part of one of the only organizations locally that provide meals to the poor, and yet we feel as if we cannot support an organization that discriminates. HELP!

A. This is an issue in values clarification, says William Gardiner, director of the office of Congregational Justice Making Resources. For example, many UU congregations have struggled with having Boy Scout troops use their facilities although Scout policies are homophobic. As a result some congregations have decided not to let the Scouts continue to use their facilities. Others let them use their facilities, but send letters of protest to Scout leaders and educate their young people about this prejudice. The important thing is to have the members of your church talk through the competing values and interests here and make a decision that can be articulated in public.

InterConnections also encourages you to sign up for the Just-UUs e-mail list and pose your question there for responses from individual congregations.

Q. How do congregations search for an intern minister? Is there an application process? Is there a search committee?

A. The UUA's resource center for congregations that are searching for an intern minister is the Internship Clearinghouse. Contact Rev. Kenneth A. Olliff, Internship Clearinghouse Coordinator, at (773) 426-8183. A good first step in learning about the process is the Internship Manual, available from the clearinghouse. At the Web site, congregations and potential interns may list information about themselves. Students peruse the on-line list of available internships and apply directly to the congregations that interest them.

Congregations appoint an intern committee. The committee decides which candidates to schedule for interviews, which take place either by phone or in person if the congregation can pay for travel. The committee may ask about various aspects of ministry and should also be prepared to answer questions.

CLARIFICATION

A question and answer in the Summer 2002 InterConnections should have mentioned that information about memorial societies can also be obtained from many UU congregations that either support or have knowledge of local societies.