UCE UCE, Author at UC Evanston

Seeking Your Input: February 13, 2022

Seeking your input by February 13th for the Shared Plate Program Criteria Review

The Social Justice Council will be reviewing the criteria used to select recipients of the Shared Plate Program at its next meeting on February 16, 2022, at 7:00 pm. You are invited to participate in this review. If you would like to attend the Council meeting, please email Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org for the Zoom link. Otherwise, you may email your input to Rev. Susan and she will convey it to the Council.

The list of criteria that we have used for determining the recipients of the Shared Plate Program for the past two years is located on our website and listed here:

Must be a 501(c)(3) organization or have a fiscal sponsor.
Must be nominated by a UCE member or staff person.
Organization addresses systemic racism and/or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the poor.
Must meet at least 3 of the 8 criteria (1-8) listed below:
1. Organization focuses on systemic, structural change or, if social service provider, also engages in significant advocacy/policy work.
2. There is evidence that the organization is effective in meeting its goals and efficient in use of its funding; this can be through an independent non-profit vetting service, information the organization furnishes other funders, or other non-subjective source of information.
3. Organization is rooted in its community, and provides valuable services or leadership important to that community.
4. Organization has a UU identity (ex: BLUU, UUSC, UUANI).
5. Organization is small and not well funded (our help would be significant) but evidences staying power (has existed at least 3 years).
6. UCE members are or have been active with the organization as volunteers, staff or board members, or as beneficiaries of services.
7. Organization operates collaboratively with other social justice organizations and/or exhibits understanding of intersectionality among peoples and issues.
8. Organization provides UCE members opportunities for engagement with people who are subject to racial oppression and/or the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 or the issues that arise from these realities.

I look forward to your input.

In faith,

Rev. Susan Frances

Seeking Your Input: February 13, 2022UCE UCE2022-02-03T02:24:56+00:00

WTCC Discussion: February 20, 2022

Widening the Circle of Concern
Reading 2 Chapters for February 20, 2022 Faith Formation Hour

6th Chapter – Religious Professionals and 7th Chapter – Educating for Liberation

Want to learn what our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is recommending as ways to dismantle white supremacy culture within our Faith Formation structures? Congregants are encouraged to participate in small group discussions of the Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, Widening the Circle of Concern. This report is a guiding document for UCE’s Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work.

For our discussion in February, we will be reading 2 chapters. You are encouraged to read the chapter on Religious Professionals and the chapter on Educating for Liberation before February 20th so you are prepared for the conversation. You do not need to have participated in previous conversations to join this one!

If you would like to take part on Zoom, here is the link for February 20th at 11:30 am, join here.  

These conversations will be taking place in-person as well as on Zoom. If you hold a marginalized identity and would want an identity-based caucus space to discuss Widening the Circle of Concern, please contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances by February 13th so we can arrange that space.

The UUA Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) was commissioned by the 2017 General Assembly to conduct an audit of the power structures within the UUA and analyze systemic racism and white supremacy culture within our movement. This report, issued in June 2020, is the result of three years of labor by the COIC, gathering painful stories and doing the difficult emotional labor of identifying the ways systemic racism exists within Unitarian Universalism. The purpose and goals of the report include, to “identify the aspects of [white supremacy] culture that must be dismantled to transform us into a faith for our times.” 

As the Board of Trustees, staff, and a few members have engaged with this report over the past year, we are clear that dismantling systemic racism within our institution is a shared responsibility and requires all of us to take part. Please join us in these vital conversations the 3rd Sunday of each month during the Faith Formation Hour through June 2022 (except April will be the 2nd Sunday). 

~ Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Rev. Susan Frances

WTCC Discussion: February 20, 2022UCE UCE2022-02-18T16:26:55+00:00

Article II Study Commission Interested in Your Thoughts: February 4, 2022

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has commissioned a study of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is comprised of our Principles and Purposes and is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA.

The Article II Study Commission is hosting monthly public conversations with a panel of speakers. Those in attendance are provided a survey link to provide the Study Commission with their thoughts.

Thursday, February 24, 2022, 7:00 pm: A Conversation on Inspiration

What are our founts of inspiration? Where have we drawn them from, how have they developed in our history as a faith, and which ones speak to us now? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on inspirations.

Thursday, March 24, 2022, 7:00pm: A Conversation on Purpose

What is our mission as Unitarian Universalists? What are called to do in the world? How do we, as individuals and as an organization, answer that call? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on purpose.

Friday, April 15, 2022, 7:00pm: A Conversation on Values

What shared values do we have as a faith? What common dreams need to be reflected in a new Article II? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on values.

Background Information:

Our current Principles and Purposes as listed in Article II of the UUA Bylaws were last revised in 1987. At General Assembly (GA) 2017, there was discussion of amending the Principles to add the 8th Principle, addressing racism, and an amended 1st Principle, addressing non-human life. The 5th Principle was the subject of a report in 2009, which dealt with the ways in which GA and other UU gatherings do and don’t embody an inclusive democratic process. The 7th Principle has also been the subject of discussions about possible amendments. In response to those discussions, in 2020 the UUA Board established an Article II Study Commission to conduct a review and consider revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws.

Article II Study Commission Interested in Your Thoughts: February 4, 2022UCE UCE2022-02-03T01:56:44+00:00

From Director of Faith Formation: February 4, 2022

And so the rollercoaster called Covid continues! Case numbers go up, then down, then back up. We close our doors, then open them, then close them, now opening them again. As much as I love rollercoasters, this one is wearing on me. And I’m not alone. We may never totally get off this ride.

There has been a recent thread on one of the Facebook pages for religious educators on the lack of motivation everywhere. Families are facing it, parents are facing it, congregations are facing it, and religious educators are facing it in all these places as well as in their own homes and families. I am seeing more posts about leaving the profession, which saddens me. I can’t blame them for tapping out. And yet it brings me to ask, “How does one stay engage and connected during hard times – especially when related to the trauma of a pandemic?”

I can’t begin to count the number of people I have seen leave their congregation over the years. Sometimes, it was simply because they moved away. But too often, it was due to not wanting to stay engaged – whether over a disagreement, being offended by another’s words or actions, or from microaggressions. As Rev. Eileen said more eloquently than this in her sermon last week, all who enter have the choice to stay or go. What helps to keep us here is our Covenant of Engagement, which in part says, “We covenant to speak and listen with open hearts and minds, be kind and gracious, and practice resilience and perseverance.”

Doing this as we continue to navigate through this pandemic has its challenges, of course. How do we stay in covenant and be engaged considering all we are dealing with in our daily lives? In my experience, keeping in touch with one or two people helps immensely. Sharing our experiences, thoughts, and feelings validates us and ensures a feeling of connection that we need. Self-care goes a long way too, which may seem obvious. The connection between self-care and self-compassion though is not as obvious. Research from the University of Washington showed that there are three symptoms of burnout, one of which is exhaustion (physical or mental), and the most effective way to recover from burnout was by re-energizing acts of self-care and self-compassion. They also found that compassion is like a muscle and can be trained through practices such as meditation, yoga, appreciation exercises, and movement practices. These things can re-wire the neural systems in the brain.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have opportunities at UCE to learn about and practice some of these things that can help us? We are so blessed to have people in our congregation who are willing to share their talents and knowledge! My wish and endeavor is for all of us to stay connected and engaged in some way – with a friend or a group, by doing a spiritual practice or social justice work – and hang on to one another until the rollercoaster ride comes to an exhilarating stop.

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood

From Director of Faith Formation: February 4, 2022UCE UCE2022-02-03T01:44:46+00:00

February 6, 2022

We will host a virtual worship service on Sunday, February 6th at 10:15 am.

Widening the Circle of Theology and Faith Formation
What is a Unitarian Universalist theology and how does our shared Unitarian Universalist faith – in humanity and in the possibility of justice – call us to dismantle oppression?

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is Assata’s Daughters.

February 6, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-31T14:11:58+00:00

January 28, 2022

Click here to read this week’s newsletter.

January 28, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-28T20:16:30+00:00

From Rev. Susan Frances & the Committee on Shared Ministry: January 28, 2022

Dear Friends,

Some of you have already been collaborating with the Committee on Shared Ministry. For others, you may not even know that we have a Committee on Shared Ministry or know they exist, but not know their mission and purpose. In the spirit of shared ministry, we (Carla Williams, the chair of this Committee, and Rev. Susan Frances) have prepared this deeply meaningful (a/k/a highly contrived, yet immensely informative) note for you. 

Carla: Are you ready for examples?

Susan: Maybe a definition first.

Carla: Okay. Shared Ministry refers to shared endeavor. Living the mission of this church is a shared endeavor, a shared ministry. That means, each of us, whether ordained minister, staff, or lay leader, newcomer or long-term member, has a part to play and important contributions to make. 

It means creating a welcoming environment that supports participation in our ministry, ensuring there’s a clear way of offering feedback and communicating with ministers and each other, and clarifying expectations for how we participate in the endeavor to support our mission. Are you ready for examples now?    

Susan: Yes, I’m ready.

Carla: Examples of shared ministry are when members help plan and assist with worship and provide pastoral care for the congregation or work with the religious education program as teachers or serve as social justice advocates within the church and the larger community. 

What each of us does for UCE “is” the ministry we each share with one another; be it serving on the Board or a committee, singing in the choir, being a worship associate, devoting time to an aspect of Lifespan Faith Formation, participating on social justice teams, composting or caring for the natural habitats around us — the list goes on. In the midst of all our efforts it is important to remember that shared ministry has a sacred quality to it that strengthens the congregation, strengthens us, while also serving our mission.

Susan: Shared ministry is such a wonderful community model. What is the purpose of the Committee on Shared Ministry?

Carla: Well, glad you asked. The Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM) was formed to grow greater transparency, accountability and communication into our shared ministry. This means conveying to the congregation that each person has something to contribute to the shared ministry of the congregation, which is our mission: nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole. How ever you participate in that mission is shared ministry.

For example, do you remember just last spring when Rev. Eileen, Rev. Karen Gustafson, and Jessica Meis worked on creating an annual review process for all the groups and teams?

Susan: Yes, I do. In fact, Rev. Eileen, Jessica, and I just finished updating the online annual review form based on feedback from last year. We’re about to send it out to leaders to complete by April 20th for this year’s congregational annual meeting.

Carla: Well, the COSM is now involved in the annual review process and is available to work with teams to help them complete their annual review process and form.

Susan: That’s a lot of teams for the COSM to work with each spring. Do you meet with teams at other times?

Carla: Yes. Some teams complete their annual review process and realize they need to reflect more on one aspect or another from that review and we can assist with that. For example, members of the COSM met with the Green Team in early December and facilitated a conversation about communication practices and the structure of their working groups. It is great to work with our various teams. There’s a lot to be learned about all that we are doing! 

Susan: Knock. Knock.

Carla: Who’s there?

Susan: Orange.

Carla: Orange who?

Susan: Orange you glad you said yes to joining the Committee on Shared Ministry!

Carla: That’s a terrible joke. But, in fact, I am glad to have joined the COSM. I have found the more I learn about shared ministry, the more I see the deep benefits to our community in living out our principles, especially our 8th Principle to accountably “build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community”. COSM members continue to seek ways of creating synergy with the various groups, teams, and councils. 

One key aspect of Unitarian Universalism is our belief that ministry of the congregation does not belong exclusively to ordained clergy, but to everyone. In Our Professional Ministry: Structure, Support and Renewal, the UUA Commission’s 1992 study, Neil Shadle stated, “Ministry is the vocation of every person of faith, [and] Unitarian Universalism, as a democratic faith, affirms the ‘priesthood of all believers’; we are all lay ministers, whether or not we choose to be professional religious leaders.” This belief in the “priesthood of all believers” is central to who we are as a religious movement.

Despite the challenges of the past two years we have accomplished much. We have a newly settled Senior Minister with the skills, talents and passion we require, professional staff committed to our success, a congregation of members generous in their time, talents, and treasure, and a collective commitment to revisit what’s important and evolve and change in ways necessary to achieve our mission.

Volunteers are teaming with staff to reimagine religious education as Faith Formation Hour. Councils, committees, and teams are looking inward at their work and outward to their relationship with the whole to confirm alignment with the mission and seek synergy when possible. The New Member Team is looking across groups to find common opportunities to radically welcome and engage potential and new members in the work. Guidance by our professional staff supports intentionality and top of mind thinking about the things we say are important, like the 8th Principle. Everywhere you look there are groups of people engaging in conversation, looking for opportunities, doing things to make a difference. The work is all around us. The work is us, together, in shared ministry.

Susan: This is a such a great way to explain that shared ministry involves all of us and is all of us. 

Carla: Let’s turn this conversation into an action of shared ministry! If you are reading this and are part of a group, team, council, committee, or working group, you are invited to reach out to me about how the Committee on Shared Ministry might make a presentation to elaborate on what we’ve shared here or assist you with this year’s annual review process! 

Susan: Another way to engage is to look for examples of where you see shared ministry in action and acknowledge that good work. Then, share those stories with me, Rev. Eileen, Carla or someone else on the COSM, Susan Carlton, Ben Kornfeld, Ann McCallister, Jim Strickler, or Jenny Walsh. We’re looking forward to continuing this shared ministry journey with you!

Yours in building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community,

Rev. Susan & Carla

From Rev. Susan Frances & the Committee on Shared Ministry: January 28, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-28T18:24:51+00:00

Endowment – Looking Back & Looking Forward: January 30, 2022

January is the perfect month for looking back and looking forward. Although it’s the beginning of the calendar year, January is the middle of our church fiscal year, FY21/22.

Looking back over the first half of the fiscal year, the UCE Board of Trustees approved fourteen grant applications. These grants fulfill the total Endowment Fund distribution of $87,729 for FY21/22.

Six grants support community organizations or outreach:

Interfaith Action Community Support (FAST) – $15,000
Family Focus Scholarships (FAST) – $6,650
Solidarity Circles and Training (IST) – $5,900
Expansion of Youth Housing – CFH (FAST) – $23,000
Immigrant Family Support (IST) – $3,500
Soup Kitchen (FAST) – $1,000
Total = $55,050

Seven grants support UCE programs, projects, and scholarships:

8 Principles (BOT) – $950
Hybrid worship/conferencing equipment (STF) (-$5,047 which was funded in FY20/21) – $18,600
RE Storyteller (FFF) – $1,800
Worship Arts Section Leads (WAC) – $9,000
Installation Service (BOT) – $2,000
UUA General Assembly Funding (DA) – $4,376
Lobby Arts Program (LAP) – $1,000
Total = $37,726

A grant supporting scholarships for the MidWest Leadership Training School has been combined with the UUA General Assembly Funding grant, reducing the total grants by one.

Looking ahead, the Endowment Fund distribution amount for FY22/23 is $95,496 (5% of the Fund principal on 12/31/2021). Applications for FY22/23 may be submitted for the May 31 deadline. If recommended by the Endowment Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees, these will be funded in July, 2022.

Contact Trustees Margaret Schatz, Tom Hempfling, and Bill Hartgering, if you have questions.

Endowment – Looking Back & Looking Forward: January 30, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-26T21:34:57+00:00

Your Input Needed: January 28, 2022

Article II Study Commission Requests YOUR Input by April 30, 2022

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has commissioned a study of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is comprised of our Principles and Purposes and is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA.

The Article II Study Commission welcomes input from individual Unitarian Universalists to inform the reimagining of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. The Commission has identified four areas of inquiry: Shared Values, Inspirations, Purpose, and Covenant. Click the "Article II Individual Survey" button below to answer questions in each of these areas. Toward the end of the survey, there are questions to collect demographic information. Lastly, you will have an opportunity to share any other input you'd like as well as ask any follow-up questions you have for the Commission.

We encourage you to click on the "Article II Materials" button below to engage with some of the many events, workshops, small groups, classes, and materials offered by the Commission before you take the survey to allow yourself time and space to think deeply about the questions before completing the survey. This survey will remain open until April 30, 2022.

Our current Principles and Purposes as listed in Article II of the UUA Bylaws were last revised in 1987. At General Assembly (GA) 2017, there was discussion of amending the Principles to add the 8th Principle, addressing racism, and an amended 1st Principle, addressing non-human life. The 5th Principle was the subject of a report in 2009, which dealt with the ways in which GA and other UU gatherings do and don't embody an inclusive democratic process. The 7th Principle has also been the subject of discussions about possible amendments. In response to those discussions, in 2020 the UUA Board established an Article II Study Commission to conduct a review and consider revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws.

Article II Materials

Article II Individual Survey

Your Input Needed: January 28, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-25T22:45:05+00:00

January 30, 2022

We will host a virtual worship service on Sunday, January 30th at 10:15 am.

Resilience and Perseverance Wherever We Engage
Our Covenant of Engagement, which is the set of promises we aspire to fulfill together in Beloved Community concludes with the hope that we will, ”practice resilience and perseverance wherever we engage.” Staying connected across physical distance and social isolation is challenging. Returning to one another again and again to reconcile and repair when we break our covenants is hard work. How do we fulfill the promise of resilience and perseverance even when our reserves are low? Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads the service with Worship Associate, Marianne Griebler.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is Mother & Child Alliance.

January 30, 2022UCE UCE2022-01-28T17:23:30+00:00

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Widening the Circle of Concern Reading 2 Chapters for February 20, 2022 Faith Formation Hour

Widening the Circle of Concern
Reading 2 Chapters for February 20, 2022 Faith Formation Hour