September In Care In Covenant Newsletter

Hello and welcome back!!

I hope that you are settling into your year- arriving on campus, picking out classes, starting your internships, and gearing up for the beginning of the church year. I know it is a busy but exciting time at seminary and in the life of an intern. I am so glad to welcome you back and hear all of your summer stories of leading worship, adventures, and CPE!

I'm also looking forward to connecting with you soon if we have not met! Please make anappointment to connect and fill out this member form if you would like to participate in this year's program as a district seminarian or ministerial student. Forward this email along to anyone who is new and would like to connect as well.

This year's In Care, In Covenant program will have a few different focuses.

1.) Helping to motivate each seminarian or ministerial student to engage or advance in the ministerial credentialing process.

2.) Matching seminarians with district and congregational learning opportunities and ministry mentors whom can help provide guidance and accountability.

3.) Opportunities for discernment, leadership development and ministerial formation within a community of Unitarian Universalists, guided by district ministers and professional leadership staff.

4.) Experiential educational programming which focuses primarily on Unitarian Universalist Rites of Passage, Liturgy, Congregational Life and Preaching.

5.) Marking milestones such as entrance into a new phase of credentialing and graduation.

See you this fall!

Rev. Lissa Gundlach Andrea Lerner

In Care, In Covenant Coordinator District Executive

lissa@allsoulsnyc.org alerner@uua.org

Upcoming Fall Events:

Friday, Sept. 9 3:00 pm

UU Seminarian/ In Care Meet and Greet

the Pit at Union Theological Seminary

9/12, Monday 12:30 pm

UU Seminarian In Care Lunch

Union Courtyard (Bring your lunches), Rain Location, Pit

9/20 Tuesday 6:30 pm

Forrest Church Memorial Lecture

James Chapel

Meet in Chapel Lobby at 6:15 to sit together

10/5 Wednesday: 7:00-9:00 pm

Introduction to the Ministerial Credentialing Process

Union Theological Seminary, Location to be Announced

10/6 Thursday: 7-8:30 pm

2^nd Year Credentialing Conversation

Unitarian Church of All Souls, 2nd Floor Offices

10/7 Friday, 3:00-4:30 pm

3^rd Year Credentialing Conversation

Unitarian Church of All Souls, 2nd Floor Offices

Get Connected and stay informed:

Blog: In Care In Covenant on the web: http://uuicic.blogspot.com

Facebook: Friend Lissa Anne Gundlach, program coordinator. She will add you to the Metro NY District In Care In Covenant Seminarian Outreach group.

Join our Google Group: incare_incovenant@googlegroups.com

Fall In Care, In Covenant Calendar

In Care, In Covenant Seminarian Outreach Program 2011-2012 Member Information

Dear All,

Hope you have had a wonderful summer!! Looking forward to seeing you this fall and to meeting new students at seminaries in the District. Stay tuned for ways to connect as things get going. As the new school year begins, please take a moment to help us learn more about who you are to better communicate with you and serve your needs. This form will offer us helpful information and will indicate your interest in participating in the 2011-2012 program year.

As a reminder, the In Care, In Covenant Seminarian Outreach Program provides support, advising, and programming to enrolled seminarians preparing for the Unitarian Universalist ministry in the Metro New York District of the UUA. Ministerial interns and seminary graduates actively engaged in the ministerial credentialing process are also invited to join the program.

The program is sponsored by the Metro New York District, supervised by District Executive Andrea Lerner and coordinated by Rev. Lissa Gundlach. Thank you so much for your time! See you this fall!

In faith,

Lissa Gundlach

Assistant Minister

Unitarian Church of All Souls

In Care In Covenant Coordinator

Here's the link for a second time!
hhttp://bit.ly/pxb8C9

Deep Listening Skills for Seminarians- Please RSVP

Deep Listening Skills for Seminarians

April 29 2:30 – 5:00 PM

Rm. 207 Union Theological Seminary

One of the central roles of any ministry is the ability to be fully present with another person’s sorrow, joy, anxiety, doubt, grief, or fear. This ability to be present requires deep listening. Listening comes through intention, but also through skill.

Deep Listening Skills for Seminarians will help you sharpen your listening skills for universal application: with congregants, with colleagues, with church leadership, with the wider community, as well as with your own loved ones. Deep listening will help you be in right-relationship with those important to your life and your life’s work.

This highly interactive workshop will include:

· Group discussions and activities

· Live demonstrations

· Large and small group practice sessions

Jeff Levy-Lyons will lead the workshop. Jeff (who is married to a Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Ana Levy-Lyons) has conducted communication skills trainings in Fortune 500 corporations, not-for-profits, and UU churches over the past 18 years. He has also taught relationship skills for couples and done private coaching in presentation skills for executives.

Please RSVP to Rev. Lissa Gundlach

The Leading Edge: A National Conference for Leaders on Faith, Justice and the Economy

Check out an amazing opportunity to network, worship with and learn from progressive scholars, leaders and people of faith who care about creating multicultural, justice-centered religious community! Kudos to UUs Taquiena Boston, UUA Director of Multicultural Growth and Witness and Yale Divinity PhD student Rev. Sophia Betancourt who appear in this photo! The group rate is $100 each, let me know if you'd like to go.

The Leading Edge Conference Series

Building on the success of four annual national conferences for leadership in multicultural congregations, Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, and The Middle Project, an institute that prepares ethical leaders for a just society, are proud to host a three-day conference for clergy, seminarians, and other congregational leaders.

A National Conference for Leaders on Faith, Justice & the Economy

April 30-May 3, 2011

Confirmed Speakers: Dalton Conley, Miguel De La Torre, Gary Dorrien, John Janka, Jacqui Lewis, Ivan Petrella, Tricia Sheffield, Chad Tanaka Pack, Adriene Thorne, Roger Toussaint, and James Forbes, Jr. – Conference Preacher

The prophets and the gospel writers depict an alternative reality to the status quo, one in which justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. In this reality, God requires us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. What does that look like in our lives of faith? What does “doing justice” mean in today’s economy? How do multicultural/multiracial congregations help mirror God’s Reign in their communities? How do leaders understand the relationships between race/ethnicity, class, and power?

Participants will not only engage in deep theological reflection about these issues, they will also do practical work as they-

• Deepen their understanding of the ways racial ethnicity, class, economic status, immigration and gender issues converge in our culture to widen the disparity between the rich and the poor.
• Find power and purpose in the narrative of the progressive movement’s historical involvement in economic justice.
• Discover practical tools for congregational education, activism, witness, and advocacy.
• Create strategies for developing leaders and organizing their communities for justice work

Conference Offerings:

All speakers will do implications and applications as part of their presentations.

• American Empire, Militarism, and Economic Justice
• A Liberation Perspective on Global Economic Justice: Learning from the Margins
• Creating a Culture of Critical Consumption
• Building a Movement for Economic Justice
• Race, Immigration, and the Economy: Why the Rage?
• The Middle Class Squeeze: A Disappearing Reality
• The Role of Religious Leaders in “Storying” Racial and Economic Justice
• Spirituality, Theology, and Money
• Film Screening: “Capitalism: A Love Story”

Click here to see our Conference Schedule!

April In Care In Covenant Calendar

Getting Professional Skill Share

Tired of theorizing about ministry in the classroom? Come learn some skills you can use in your preparation and share about your experiences! I encourage those candidates to come who are freshly through the RSCC (Regional Subcomittee on Candidacy) to share with us. I will share about the Internship and MFC (Ministerial Fellowship Committee) interview process. Get tips on resumes and presentation. Participate in a professional skills-share and get a crash course in managing preparation with an Online MFC Portfolio tutorial from Rev. Taylor.

Come at 6:30 to grab a snack and fellowship! Email Lissa lgundlach@gmail.com with questions.

Rm. A 34, Union Theological Seminary

"Like" the Hot Plate Report and Hot Stove Report

Two fun and informative pages to "like" on Facebook:

Hot Plate Report:

Ever wonder who is going to the be the intern at which UU congregation? We have too, so we're ripping off the "Hot Stove Report," which follows where ministers are candidating and being called, to produce this report about ministerial interns. If you are a ministerial intern and it's been confirmed, add your name to the page so we can cheer for you!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hot-Plate-Report/110871615661635

Hot Stove Report:

Who is being invited to be the candidate at what UU church? How do we keep track of it all? Get a taste of what the search and settlement process is all about!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hot-Stove-Report/393426962222?ref=ts

In Care In Covenant Congratulations Newly Minted Candidates and Newly Fellowshipped Ministers!

These past weeks, the New England Regional Sub-Committee on Candidacy and the Ministerial Fellowship Committee have both met in Boston, Massachusetts. An incredible amount of preparation, commitment and experience is required to appear before these committees of ministers, lay leaders, scholars and Unitarian Universalist Association staff.

To receive an affirmation from the Regional Sub-Committee on Candidacy indicates that the candidate may continue preparing for ministerial fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. The In Care In Covenant program of the Metro NY District applaud the newly minted candidates, including our own Daniel Gregoire, 2nd year Union Theological student and student minister at Community Church of New York. Daniel, we welcome you into candidacy!

We also celebrate the ministerial fellowship of all those who received the blessing of the MFC. Congratulations! Recognizing that this process is incredibly challenging, we also hold those who were asked to return again to see these evaluative committees and encourage you to continue pursuing your ministerial aspirations. Keep hope--We need you and love you!

To all those working towards fellowship-- keep up the good work. Keep making progress and learning about the ministerial felllowshiping process.

Blessings for your journey!

Lissa

New UUA Report from the Strategic Review of Professional Ministries Task Force

UUA President Peter Morales Releases Strategic Plan for Professional Ministries

From the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): "I'm pleased to announce the public release of the new five-page UUA Strategic Plan for Professional Ministries. The plan, developed by our Professional Ministries Task Force, outlines eight key recommendations gleaned from our 64-page Strategic Review of Professional Ministries Report. I cannot emphasize enough how valuable input from individuals and organizations has been in developing these recommendations, all of which can effectively be advanced through the efforts of UUA staff working closely with our partners and constituents. We already are acting on several initiatives in the report, and look forward to sharing our progress with you as these efforts come to fruition."

excerpted from the full document: http://www.uua.org/documents/mpl/110406_sppm.pdf

Final report from the Strategic Review of Professional Ministries Task Force

to UUA President Peter Morales

April 2011

Executive Summary

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

25 Beacon St.

Boston, MA 02108 uua.org

Our Unitarian and Universalist ancestors were notable for always getting into trouble. They raised a ruckus in their time by loudly questioning outworn religious thought and working to bend the arc of the universe toward justice. What kind of a ruckus are we Unitarian Universalists making in our time? We certainly cannot afford to rest on the great legacy of our Unitarian Universalist past, as if the intellect and the passionate engagement of our religious pioneers and prophets ennobled us today. If you were to walk up the grand marble staircase at UUA headquarters at 25 Beacon Street in Boston, you would see powerful photographs of UUs in yellow “Standing on the Side of Love” t-shirts witnessing for immigration justice in Arizona. Yet despite these inspiring contemporary images, you also might feel that you were stepping back in time, with busts and portraits of our 19th century forebears holding you in their gaze from their hallowed perches above.

How do we take the best from our past and at the same time live with radical creativity in the multicultural reality of the present day? Unitarian Universalism lifts up a powerful theological message, poured through the vessel of covenant: you are at once precious and distinct, and at the same time intrinsically a part of the oneness of all being. This message provides us with a quandary and a call. The quandary is this: we must live out our faith as individual members and congregations while holding in tension the needs of the whole. And the call is this: we are to walk together in the ways of love, inviting all who would join us in our big tent of faith.

Our UUA President, the Rev. Peter Morales, was elected in 2009 on a platform of change. He believes most urgently that Unitarian Universalism can and should be the religion for our time. If we are to live up to this challenge, we must equip our religious professionals to become deeply grounded in theology, cross-culturally competent, strategic about the use of technology, entrepreneurial as leaders, and resilient in the face of new challenges.

To this end, President Morales commissioned a Task Force composed largely of UUA staff to study key areas in the formation of our professional ministries, and to make recommendations for how the UUA might best direct its energies and resources in the service of a dynamic multicultural future for our faith. This Strategic Review of Professional Ministries, the culminating report of that Task Force, offers eight recommendations (presented in more detail on pages 4-5):

1. Aggressively Recruit Leaders;

2. Support Multicultural Immersion Learning;

3. Re-imagine and Evaluate our Credentialing Efforts;

4. ExpandTransitionSystems;

5. Support Advanced Learning for All Religious Professionals;

6. Be More Strategic in the Use of Scholarships and Grants;

7. Measure What is Truly Important;

8. Go Deeper: Partner with Related UU Organizations.

Read on for more information!!

http://www.uua.org/documents/mpl/110406_sppm.pdf

Event Reminders: Explore Chaplaincy with Megan Joiner and Aidan McCormack

Reminder: March 31st--Explore Chaplaincy with Megan Joiner and Aidan McCormack, Rm. A-34 at Union Theological, 7-9 pm

Dear Friends,

I am happy to remind you that there is a conversation about chaplaincy happening tomorrow at Union in Room A 34 with not one but two wonderful, talented candidates for UU ministry. Come join the conversation and hear about the ministry journeys of Aidan and Megan, who are both candidates for Unitarian Universalist ministry and chaplain residents this year.

Take a study break and enjoy fellowship! See you tomorrow, and please note the upcoming events and Rescheduled "Getting Professional" event.

Lissa

In Care, In Covenant Coordinator

Megan Lloyd Joiner is a Candidate for Unitarian Universalist Ministry and Chaplain Resident for Pastoral Care and Education at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell. She is a 2009 graduate of Union Theological School and complete her ministerial internship next year.

Aidan McCormack is a Candidate for Unitarian Universalist Ministry and Resident Chaplain at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois. He is also Director of Youth Ministry at Northshore Unitarian Church. He completed his ministerial internship and will graduate from Meadville Lombard Theological School this spring.

Upcoming Events:

April 13th, (Wednesday) 7-9 pm: Getting Professional with Rev. Lissa Gundlach and Rev. Julie Taylor Professional skills-share and introduction to managing your preparation with an Online MFC Portfolio tutorial. Rm. A 34, Union Theological Seminary

April 29th: 2-5 pm Communication and Listening Skills Workshop with Jeff Levy-Lyons Rm. AD 207, Union Theological Seminary

May 6-7th: UU Metro NY District Annual Meeting Morristown, NJ

In Care will be meeting for lunch at 1 pm on Saturday in the Hotel Lobby. We will go to this local place: Pazzo Pazzo

In Care Update

Dear In Care, In Covenant,

I hope this email finds you well as our early spring weather roller coaster continues. It is a turbulent time in the world, and our hearts are with the people of Japan struggling to make sense of their lives as they mourn the dead and begin to think about recovery. Some of you are returning from Spring Break and settling back in for the remainder of the semester. Some are beginning to think about spring liturgies and holidays

just around the corner. Many of you are taking up the Lenten practice of reflection, prayer and intentionality. For some, just on the other side of Easter lies graduation, and a new life after seminary.

I'm still buzzing from the Preaching Retreat--many of you joined myself, Jan Nolte and Rev. Galen Guengerich Saturday, March 12th. I know that the time was transformative for many of you. We thank you for your willingness to dive in, take risks, and lean into the support of the In Care community. Jan Nolte described your openness to receive coaching and ability to synthesize and apply what you learned as remarkable. Rev. Galen Guengerich also very much enjoyed meeting with the group. We all firmly believe that the future of Unitarian Universalism is in good hands with preachers like you! Jan and I are still committed to following up with more resources from the day, so stay tuned. For those of you who were not able to join, Jan is interested in continuing to do work with In Care, In Covenant so hopefully you will get to experience her work.

Thursday's "Getting Professional; Interviews and Resumes" event will be rescheduled. This is to strengthen this event with support from the Rev. Julie Taylor, last year's ICIC coordinator who is adept at using an online portfolio to manage preparatory information. I feel her knowledge will improve the quality of this event. I am also in dialogue with Rev. David Pettee and Rev. Sarah Lammert from the UUA about best practices and will be able to bring this information to our rescheduled event. I'll send a new date asap, but it will most likely be on or around April 14th.

Also, mark your calendars for the following events:

March 31st--Explore Chaplaincy with Megan Joiner, Rm. A-34 at Union Theological, 7-9 pm

April 3rd: Lissa Gundlach's Ordination by the Unitarian Church of All Souls

April 14th: Worship and Fellowship with Lissa (Or possibly rescheduled Getting Professional with Rev. Julie Taylor)

April 29th: 2-5 pm Communications and Listening Skills Workshop with Jeff Levy-Lyons

May 6-7th: UU Metro NY District Annual Meeting Morristown, NJ

Thanks! See you at our next event, or feel free to call or email me for some time to connect soon.

Be well, and be a blessing!

Lissa

In Care, In Covenant Coordinator

Join in Care at the UU Metro NY District Annual Meeting!

Just a reminder to all that registration is open for the UU Metro NY 2011 Annual Meeting, May 6th-7th.

In Care, In Covenant encourages everyone to attend! This year will be an incredibly wonderful program, featuring the inspirational Rev. Mark Morrison Reed as the keynote, and Peter Mayer (of Blue Boat Home fame!) Also, fabulous and relevant workshops, fellowship, worship, and Metro NY District business!

In Care will be meeting for lunch at 1 pm on Saturday in the Hotel Lobby. We will go to this local place: Pazzo Pazzo which looks fun and not as pricey as the hotel. We will be joined by the Rev. Keith Kron from the Unitarian Universalist Association. This is a special opportunity to ask him questions about the credentialing, search and settlement process. Rev. Kron will also be available for conversation after lunch back at the hotel.

Please RSVP to me if you will be joining us.

The meeting is $90 total. You get a lot for your money with all of the awesome programming, but we recognize that many of you are stretching your budgets to attend. The District would like to offer you a few ways to reduce the registration fee.

1.) Lunch is very expensive. If you'd like to register for $40 and join us for lunch at Pazzo Pazzo or bring your own lunch, type In the Special Requirements field that you are a seminarian and would like the NO LUNCH option. Pay by credit card or check onsite when you arrive with this option.

2.) Partial scholarships are available to offset the remainder of the registration fee. Please write me with information about what might make this affordable for you to attend.

3.) You are welcome to just like to come for lunch, and/ or meet with Rev. Kron afterwards, without registering. However, please let me know you are coming so I can make a reservation and let Keith know who is attending.

==========================================

For further registration questions, please contact UU Metro NY Administrator Laurie Golson. She is aware of the seminarian no-lunch option.

Laurie Golson

Administrator

UU District of Metro NY

PO Box 898

Croton-on-Hudson NY 10520

914-271-7861

ls.golson@verizon.net

www.uumetrony.org

March ICIC Newsletter

Dear Metro New York In Care and Covenant Members!

It's hard to believe that it's March already, but for most of us I'm sure, the prospect of spring (and spring break for you lucky students) is a welcome one. I am beginning a blog to help keep track of the many wonderful In Care In Covenant events happening each month in the Metro New York District, and to communicate about issues relevant to ministerial formation and support. Hopefully it will serve as a useful tool for this group going forward, and we can continue to expand our use of media to better serve you.

To reflect a little bit about our February meetings, we met at Union twice, once on February 3rd for a discernment workshop with me, and once with the Rev. Jude Geiger on February 24th to talk about lifespan and multigenerational models of ministry. These meetings were wonderful opportunities to connect with one another and with Rev. Jude. I heard some feedback about having more opportunities for discernment as a group. We will definitely make more opportunities available in the coming months. This work can also continue on your own or with a partner.

I also had the chance to connect with many of you throughout the month, and really enjoy these opportunities to connect with you and learn more about you. While all are required to fulfill the same requirements, each person has a unique path to ministry. These meetings allow me to support your ministerial development in ways that are tailored to your individual needs.

I have a joy that many In Care In Covenant candidates for UU ministry have found a match for a ministerial internship site for next year. This is no small feat, and for many this process has been extremely difficult and required creativity, patience and faith. We will all look forward to hearing your reports from "the field" next year, and are grateful you have found a congregation to serve with mentorship that will nurture and challenge you in your next year of preparation for ministry. While holding this joy, I continue to hold in support those candidates who still searching for the right fit. I know the right opportunity will emerge that serves your needs and a congregation's.

Finally, this weekend we hold in our thoughts and prayers the members of our In Care In Covenant group who present themselves to the Regional Sub-Committee on Candidacy. To reach this stage of the process requires commitment, theological depth and breadth, self-awareness and spiritual maturity. We know that our members have all of these qualities and more, and give thanks for your decision to answer your calls to ministry and serve our Unitarian Universalist faith!

Keep your eye on this blog for upcoming posts and relevant information. I look forward to seeing you all soon at our upcoming events this month and for our meetings.

Many Blessings,

Lissa Gundlach

March In Care In Covenant Calendar

March is a busy month for In Care In Covenant. Check out our calendar of events below. I'm pleased to help offer opportunities dedicated to learning on a number of different exciting topics.

March 4th-6th South/ East RSCC Meeting for Aspirants to Ministry including our own Lara Campbell, Annie Gonzalez and Beth Dana

March 12th-- Preaching Retreat with Jan Nolte and Galen Guengerich, 10-6 pm All Souls Church

March 14-16 Metro NY District UUMA Retreat-Candidates for Ministry Welcome-- At Stony Point Register: https://www.formdesk.com/uuforms/UUMARetreat

March 20th- Hymnal Sing-A-Long, Rev. Richard Leonard's apartment, 142 West End Ave Apt. 15 V, New York, New York

March 31st--Explore Chaplaincy with Megan Joiner, Rm. A-34 at Union Theological, 7-9 pm

April 1- Ministerial Fellowship Committee meets in Boston

We realize not everyone can commit to each of these events due to scheduling constraints. Lissa is available to meet individually and has office hours by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays for March.

In Care In Covenant March Calendar