Tapestry of Faith
A Unitarian Universalist Online Lifespan Curriculum

>What new programs are being created?

Tapestry of Faith offers programs at many levels. All programs focus around four themes:

• Living Faith
• Seeking Truth
• Creating Love
• Serving Community

Children need to learn Unitarian Universalism with their minds, hearts, and hands. They need meaningful integrated experiences that are anchored by soul-stirring narratives. They need to learn faith by doing faith. They need experiences that nurture a belie in the transformative power of justice and love.

Tapestry of Faith for Children (Grades K-6)

Unitarian Universalist religious identity development, faith development, ethical development, and spiritual development are the threads into which other facets are woven. Each program will nourish the child's quest to understand what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. These programs will hold our children in love, ignite their passion for justice, and satisfy their need to know more deeply the diversity and wholeness of our Unitarian Universalist faith.

Middle School Programs (Grades 7-9): The Exuberant Years

Landmark Unitarian Universalist programming for youth in grades 7-9 is vibrant and strong. Our Whole Lives and a new and comprehensive Coming-of-Age resource will form two of the cornerstones of programming for this age group. Also under development is a replacement of the current Neighboring Faiths with a new, more relevant version of this curriculum that connects Unitarian Universalist youth with other faith traditions.

Two additional programs are anticipated for this age group: one that explores ethics, values, and character in real life, and another providing age-appropriate projects for social service within and beyond the congregation.

High School Programs (Grades 10-12): To Believe, Belong, and Be Competent

We have identified three priorities for high school youth in our congregations:

• to feel a sense of belonging and affirmation
• to find support for ethical decision-making and living
• to develop, articulate and draw strength from one's faith and spiritual center.

We also recognize the importance of promoting responsible leadership and empowering youth. In "Choosing Church," research Carol E. Lytch identifies what teens seek from church as the need to believe (faith), belong (community, acceptance), and be competent (life skills, leadership). These are the elements we will focus on in curriculum development, informed by findings from the UUA's Consultation on Ministry To and With Youth and our own focus group findings.

Adult Programs

Surveys and needs assessments conducted over the last five years have revealed a high degree of interest in UU congregations for programs focusing on seven area for adult education. These are:

• ethics and living one's values
• knowledge about Unitarian Universalism
• spiritual growth
• stewardship and leadership
• social action
• world religions
• life issues

A significant concern for today's adults is time. Career, family, and volunteer commitments leave many adults with little free time, making it difficult to participate in traditional multi-session evening programs. Therefore, Tapestry of Faith adult programs will be developed with flexibility in mind: sessions may be run as one-hour workshops before or after a worship service, and most will not depend on consistent, long term commitment. Congregations will be able to adapt the materials for longer programs as desired, but a key goal is to keep these programs as accessible as possible to a broad range of Unitarian Universalist adults, deepening both their personal faith and UU commitment.

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100