[Lekooks] December newsletter

Fri Dec 1 10:20:37 CST 2017

Some News for UU's...

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: MidAmerica Region UUA <tech at midamericauua.org>
To: gymbeau at netzero.com
Subject: December newsletter
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2017 02:02:52 -0500 (EST)

Happy Holidays from your Regional staffHaving trouble viewing this email? View online  MidAmerica Messenger
Volume 5 Issue 5 | December 2017
The MidAmerica Region is where UUs visibly live our faith, create connections, grow our membership, and welcome all persons who share our UU values.In this issue:Holiday GreetingsTrustees CallingUUA Salary RecommendationsMUUSJA Social Justice WebinarsBrilliant Bits from Boston
Calendar
Contact UsWelcome! 
Nancy Combs-Morgan, Faith Development Director/Congregational Life Consultant
 Holiday Greetings and welcome to our December newsletter. Winter is a purposeful season in our congregations, focused on celebrations -- community celebrations encompassing many different holiday traditions. The best in our pluralism is experienced during this season, from heartfelt Winter Solstice celebrations to moving Christmas Eve services. For religious professionals and lay leaders alike, the season brings a flurry of activity. When I look at many of our MidAmerica congregational newsletters I am moved to see how many of you take part in community building service projects, from delivering holiday packages to local homeless shelters to singing carols at Senior Centers. Thankfully, we embody in those moments our shared intent for deeper connections with our larger community. Our UU congregations, in my estimation, are best when we exemplify humane and loving community. My holiday wish for each of you is a moment of peace: a peace reflected in joyous music, hands held in worship, laughter in the fellowship hall, and multigenerational moments of great tenderness.Supporting One Another in the Work of Our Faith
Eric Huffer, MidAmerica Region Board President
Every year in the fall, the members of our MidAmerica Region Board of Trustees make phone calls to leaders of some of our congregations to check in and gather feedback. We have conversations about how they are doing, what seems to be working well, and where they might be experiencing struggles. We check to see how and if they feel connected to the Region and UUA, and which, if any, of the resources and programming made available by the region and UUA have proven useful to them or their congregation.
Our hope is that these calls will help the region and UUA create better connections with our congregations, and find ways we can better serve them. Each year, in November, the MidAmerica Region board and the congregational life staff team meet and review the notes from the calls, and look for general themes that appear across the conversations. We try to identify successes and opportunities for improvement, as well as areas of need.
This year, the tone of the calls felt a little different. We kept hearing how stressed and tired both congregations and leaders are feeling. They spoke of having to respond to so many different social justice issues over the last year, and the need to provide sanctuary and ministry to their members as they too struggle with the many demands on those seeking justice in our world.
There is no denying that these are trying times, and the demands on our time and resources are many as we work toward bringing forth the beloved community. Many congregations feel isolated, and may even withdraw into themselves to focus on taking care of their members. I want to take this opportunity to raise up that these are the times that make being part of an "association of congregations" so important. We have covenanted to join together in body and spirit in the work of our faith. We know we are not alone, and that knowledge gives us strength, resolve, and creativity.
I am asking you to live into that knowledge, both in the work that you do, and the resources you share, as we go forward in community.Salary Recommendations Now Posted Jan Gartner, UUA Compensation and Staffing Practices Manager

The UUA Office of Church Staff Finances team has now posted Salary Recommendations and related resources for the 2018-2019 year. Please note:
New for 2018-2019, the Geo Index Listing features a designation for areas with an especially high cost of living relative to cost of wages. (The Geo Index itself is based on cost of wages.)
You may recall that 2017-2018 was a "catch-up year," in which we held all recommendations steady to allow for thoughtful congregational review and adjustment of salaries with respect to our guidelines. Thus, the 4% increase in salaries for all positions in 2018-2019 reflects changes in wages over a 2-year period.
The Guide to Salary Recommendations has been updated to provide a deeper understanding of our recommendations and how to use them in your context for new and continuing staff.
Look for our Compensation Worksheet, modified for greater flexibility, which helps congregational leaders ensure that they are properly budgeting for benefits.
About congregations in search: We are aware that congregations in search have been using 2017-2018 numbers to complete their materials. It's okay for them to use these for now -- and to say they are meeting our compensation guidelines based on this year's figures. However, as winter turns to spring and they are dealing with actual religious professionals, everyone will be looking at 2018-2019 numbers and they should be prepared to negotiate based on those.

This is the earliest we've ever posted the following program year's salary charts, but I know it's still on the late side for those in ministerial search. Timing is an issue every year. Will try to give a better heads-up in the future. (Still riding that learning curve.)

Questions? The Compensation Consultants and I (JGartner at uua.org) are here to help!Coming Soon: Social Justice Webinars 
MidAmerica UUA is partnering with the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) to present a series of six social justice webinars beginning January 9, 2018. There will be one webinar on the second Tuesday of each month between January and June. MUUSJA's Executive Director Rev. Ashley Horan and Statewide Organizer Pastor Danny Givens will host.

There will also be webinars next year on covenant, building safety, dealing with disruptive behavior, congregational discernment, accessibility, and endowments. Watch for further details in next month's MidAmerica Messenger or visit https://midamericauua.org/events/webinars.Brilliant Bits from Boston
Follow the UUA President on Social Media! Want to stay connected with UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray on social media?Follow her Facebook page and Twitter account (@sfrederickgray) for updates and conversations on Unitarian Universalism and the work of the UUA! Want more ways to connect and stay informed? Follow the UUA on Facebook and Twitter (@UUA) as well.Calendar

Dec 11  7:45 - 9:00PM
 Coffee Hour Conversations with Lisa Presley

 Dec 31
 Donate to Chalice Lighters Fall Call by today!

Jan 9
 WEBINAR: Social Justice hosted by MUUSJA

Jan 13-15
OWL Training in Columbia MO

 Jan 18  7:45 - 9:00PM
 Coffee Hour Conversations with Lisa Presley

Jan 26-28
inCONsistent Senior High Cluster Con in Kalamazoo MI

 Feb 2-3
 Holly Near at Womanspirit in Evanston IL

 Feb 15
 Chalice Lighter Grant Applications due

 Feb 17  9:00AM - 5:00PM
 Courage for Racial Justice, Courage for Collective Liberation workshop w Chris Crass in Louisville KY

 Feb 19  1:00 - 4:30PM
 Clergy Seminar in Congregation-Based Spiritual Direction

 Feb 19  7:45 - 9:00PM
 Coffee Hour Conversations with Lisa Presley Live events are local time. Webinars are Eastern time.See our full calendarWe are seeking to covenant with each other to find new ways of partnering and standing together on the side of love for the flourishing of our world, our communities, our congregations and our members.STAY CONNECTED
midamerica at uua.org
312-636-9724
www.MidAmericaUUA.orgMidAmerica Region UUA, 2355 Fairview Ave. #312, Roseville, MN 55113SafeUnsubscribe™ gymbeau at netzero.comForward this email | Update Profile | About our service providerSent by tech at midamericauua.org in collaboration withTry it free today
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