Community Building

Canadian Unitarian Council and Lifespan Learning

Sylvia Bass West
Canadian Unitarian Council
London, Ontario, Canada

Reflecting on our start …

My goals as Director of Lifespan Learning:

To support a flourishing, welcoming lifespan education program in all congregations.

To support the religious education professionals and volunteers across Canada through our "Regions and RNGs" structure of regional network groups including CUC staff, service consultants, congregational networkers and advisory committees.

To encourage congregations in developing and articulating a vision of lifespan learning (religious education for children, youth, young adults and adult learners) that is an integral part of the overall mission/vision of the congregation.

To advocate for congregational lifespan education visions where:

• opportunities for personal, individual spiritual growth for members and friends of all ages are supported in a caring community,
• community outreach and social activism relevant to our times and our regional diversity is strengthened,
• youth and young adult ministry is valued and nurtured with resources of the congregation, the CUC and the UUA,
• opportunities to connect the generations within our congregations are encouraged and celebrated,
• societal and congregational changes are recognized and accepted, so that professional and volunteer staffing and organizational procedures can be put in place and supported with appropriate resources, including fair remuneration and professional expenses.

The team keeps growing…
As the new DLL and part of the new program staff team, Director of Regional Services -West, Sara McEwan Director of Regional Services - East, Linda Thomson I hope that I can help to meet the diverse needs of our Canadian congregations' religious educators and programs. By developing and nurturing connections, being knowledgeable about resources, offering support and leadership development opportunities, and empowering ownership, leadership, shared ministry and a sense of belonging to a larger denominational community across Canada and the world, our work together is full of possibilities!

I am thrilled to announce the names of the four wonderfully talented, committed individuals who've been selected to act as Lifespan Learning Service Consultants within the four regions across Canada. Lynn Sabourin will be representing the BC region, Leuba Franko will be representing the Western Canada region, Diane Bosman will be representing Central Canada region and Jo-Anne Elder-Gomes will be representing Eastern Canada region. Each of these service consultants brings a set of skills, understanding and experience which will serve us well!

I encourage religious educators and others involved in Lifespan Learning to remember that we can also connect with the expert leadership available both within Canada and the US for Renaissance Modules, OWL trainings, LREDA (chapter meetings and fall conference,) Leadership School, Meadville Lombard Winter Institute , Youth Advisor or Youth Leadership development opportunities and continental youth and young adult conferences. So please ~ be intentional, keep yourself informed and stay connected!

Communication…
Communication continues to be a key. So please add me to your list of those you connect and dialogue with. I can be reached at my home office in London, Ontario by e-mail at sylvia@cuc.ca or by phone at 519-472-7073.

I invite colleagues in the United States to please include me and others whenever appropriate in your discussions on lifespan learning issues so that we can continue to learn from one another, as we all work to address needs for religious education for children, ministry with youth, adult programming, community building, intergenerational gatherings, social action connections, leadership development, and curriculum and resource development.

To date in Lifespan Learning we have worked to develop:

• A Congregational Religious Educational Profile (survey) sent to all congregations in September to begin to assess strengths and needs
• Communication through congregational monthly mailings and e-lists. Check us out on the web at www.cuc.ca
• A collaborative and supportive team approach with CUC staff to develop the RNGs (Regional Network Groups) plan, including volunteer position descriptions and guidelines for Congregational Networkers and Service Consultants
• Connections in person, at our regional fall gatherings or by phone with the professional religious educators and/or RE coordinators and teams
• Connections in person or by phone with UUA district program staff and continental offices for youth (Jesse Jaeger) and young adults (Michael Tino )
• Support and enhancement of the Lifespan Learning Library (held at the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, Karen Mills, librarian)
• A CANUUE Advisory Group ( Canadian Unitarian Universalist Educators)
• A CUC National Youth Advisory Group, with a visioning gathering in Toronto, Ontario December 2002
• Youth and Young Adult Mind The Gap information sharing and advocacy (Alison Miller)
• Safe Congregations and Ontario Screening Initiative "Screening in Faith" advocacy (web-site development contracted and leadership training on-going)

What we are working toward over the next several months:

• Support of the four new regional Service Consultants for Lifespan Learning
• Development of a Lifespan Learning Advisory Group, and visioning for the future of Lifespan Learning in our new Canadian structure
• Support of regional Youth Adult Committees (YAC, SHOUT, RRYSC…)
• Support of Contiental YRUU and YA/CM visioning and long term planning
• Input into the May 2003 CUC AGM in Winnipeg, including,
  1. Professional Development for religious educators (A History Renaissance Module Thursday May 15 /Friday May 16 before the AGM)
  2. A variety of Lifespan Learning workshops during the AGM weekend, including Youth and Young Adult ministries
  3. CanUUdle youth conference running concurrently with the AGM
  4. The possibility of an EMPTY BOWLS meal at the AGM
  5. OWL Training for grades 7-9 and 10-12 following the AGM weekend
• An enhanced Lifespan Learning presence on the CUC website
• Canadian Religious Education / Lifespan Learning brochure development
• A process for developing Canadian content and supplements for the wonderful curriculum and resources we have access to through the UUA and others
• Leadership development opportunities
• Continued sharing of expertise and resources