Purpose, Not Perfection
by Erica Baron
As we come to a year in this pandemic here in New England, we at the regional staff remain in awe and deep gratitude for the resilience of our congregations. For the excellent work you continue to do in this time. We see how hard you are working. And we see that some of you are aiming for perfection. You are striving for polish. But is it exacting a cost?
Perfectionism is a feature of dominant white culture. So it is also a feature of the culture of many Unitarian Universalist congregations. Right now, it is often showing up as an expectation that worship will be technically smooth, polished, even flawless. This is especially true in congregations that are pre-recording worship. Because videos can be re-recorded until they are something approaching perfection, people want to see perfect videos. Even for live services, such as those on Zoom, there is often a desire for perfection. This is also showing up in some congregations as a belief that all the usual programs should continue. They can shift online, but nothing should be dropped. You are getting as close to perfect as you can.
We are hearing, though, about the toll this is taking. That toll is felt as a sensation of being stretched. That toll is felt as defensiveness at critique. That toll is felt as burnout. That toll is felt as exhaustion. Beneath the surface of congregations that are mostly doing okay, leaders are struggling. You have struggled and shifted and adapted and found creative ways to try to keep your people connected, and it feels unsustainable.
We want to relieve you of the burden of perfection. Striving for perfection does not nourish.
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Now Online!
We are delighted to share that a version of the workshop we hosted last year is now accessible nationwide as an online training through the UU Leadership Institute.
Click here for more information and the course structure. Register today and gather a team from your congregation to engage together!
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General Assembly Updates! |
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Registration for virtual GA 2021 is $200 per person. General Assembly registrants will receive access to the 2021 Online Participation Portal, including live, simu-live, and on-demand video content, the virtual exhibit hall, chat features, support, and a ( new!) GA mobile app. Register Now!
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Preacher for the Service
of the Living Tradition Announced!
Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore has been named the preacher for the 2021 Service of the Living Tradition. She is Minister for Lifespan Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY, the former President of the Liberal Religious Educators Association, and former Vice President of Star King School for the Ministry's Board of Trustees.
Please join us Thursday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. CDT for the Service of the Living Tradition. This annual worship service at General Assembly is where we honor fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders, remember those who have died, recognize those who have completed active service, and welcome those who have received fellowship or credentialed status in the past year. The service includes a collection to benefit the Living Tradition Fund.
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Introducing our Volunteer Conflict &
Covenant Team Leads!
The 2021 co-leads for this team are Rev. Elizabeth Mount and Rev. AJ van Tine. Rev. Elizabeth Mount is minister of the First UU Church of Indiana, PA and also the Florence UU Fellowship in Oregon. Rev. AJ van Tine is minister at Sierra Foothills UUs in Auburn, CA.
The Conflict & Covenant Team assists registered attendees of virtual General Assembly who are in conflict and/or whose actions violate the GA covenant, which is accepted and agreed to by all attendees prior to being granted access to the virtual GA Portal.
Thank you Rev. Mount and Rev. van Tine for your leadership!
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Stay home and travel the UU world!
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Pastoral Care Training
for and with Youth
Pastoral care is an essential part of religious community and an essential part of caring for each other as human beings. Compassion, witness, listening, and empathy are gifts we can all give each other. To help with this, Pastoral Care Training for and with Youth series are being offered for Youth Advisors, Religious Educators and for middle school youth (grades 7-9). Each training is a three or four part series.
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Small congregations are invited to join us for a series focused on collaboration and program and staff sharing.
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Witness, Connect, Act!
A social witness convening
March 24, 7-9pm ET
The Commission on Social Witness (CSW) invites all UUs to share and connect on the most recent collective social witness statements. Commissioners will also review how to make new statements at GA 2021, and provide an opportunity to connect and plan in advance of GA.
If you are doing work related to any of these statements, or seeking inspiration and ideas for such work, this meeting is for you. We will share ideas, build relationships across the country, and envision new ways to bring our values to life in the world.
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UU at the United Nations:
Qualify by March 31
The UUA Office at the United Nations announces a new annual award to recognize congregations that show their support of the UU@UN and their commitment to our Sixth Principle’s “goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all” through their actions and financial giving.
Through this award, the UU@UN hopes to form closer ties with congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada who value international engagement and local action on global issues relating to human rights, peace, and climate justice. Find detailed information about the Sixth Principle Award and how to qualify. Contact [email protected] with any questions about how your congregation can get more deeply involved.
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UU Office at the United Nations (UU@UN)
April 9-11
This Seminar is part of the UU Ministry for Earth’s Spring for Change Season of Sacred Activism which focuses on the path to healing and regeneration. Come learn alongside change-makers across the generations about how to take spiritually-grounded action to advance climate justice through equitable and sustainable food systems. (and have fun as well!)
Registration is open through March 18 and offers a flexible fee scale for equity and accessibility.
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April 10
In this workshop, a multi-regional team will talk about:
- Theological and ethical underpinning of covenant
- The upside and down sides of covenant
- Appropriate accountability in congregations – where and how to set the boundaries
- How to create and design both a covenant of right relationship and policies and procedures for dealing with destructive behavior
- Special situations involving staff, youth, and limited access agreements
- And answer your questions.
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Virtual Gathering for
Study/Action Guide Leaders
Save the date:
April 29, 7-8:30pm ET
NER staff will host a virtual gathering for those already leading or planning to lead their congregation or group through the Widening the Circle of Concern Study Action Guide process to share ideas, questions and stories. Details and registration coming soon.
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While this era has many challenges, it also brings opportunities for us to realize just how interconnected we really are.
UUs from all over the country are now live-streaming worship! If you are among them, you can add your congregation to this list.
Consider dropping in on congregations you might never have a chance to visit otherwise!
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List of Resources for COVID-19 |
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About the New England Region |
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and to our UUA Annual Program Fund make all of our work possible.
We offer learning opportunities throughout the New England Region for congregational members, lay leaders, and religious professionals.
Know someone at church who would like to subscribe?
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Contact us!
(617) 948-6415
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