2015 Leadership Conference: Coordinate, Promote, Support & Strengthen
Our 2nd annual Leadership Cluster Conference was held on Saturday, January 31st at the Hillcrest campus of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego.With over 80 attendees, four sessions, two worship services and a communal lunch and lots of networking it was a solid success! Read a recap on our blog.
Downloads: 2015 Printer-friendly flyer (pdf) | 2015 Program (pdf)
Downloads: 2015 Printer-friendly flyer (pdf) | 2015 Program (pdf)
Schedule:
- 8:30-9 Registration & gathering
- 9-9:30 Worship service
- 9:30-9:45 Break
- 9:45-noon Morning Sessions (two at the same time) with a 15 break
- 12:00-12:45 Lunch
- 12:45-3:00 Afternoon Sessions (two same time) with a 15 break.
- 3:00-3:30 Closing and worship
Sessions
Morning Sessions
What is a Planned Giving Program and Why Does Our Congregation Need One?
Presented by Laura Randall of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Rev. Laura Randall is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and is the Unitarian Universalist Association's Legacy Gifts Manager. She is also an educator with Healing Moments Alzheimer’s Ministry and works as an advertising assistant for UU World magazine.
In this rousing and dynamic workshop, we will explore what it takes to set up a functional and effective program in planned giving. We answer these questions (and more!):
Presented by Laura Randall of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Rev. Laura Randall is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and is the Unitarian Universalist Association's Legacy Gifts Manager. She is also an educator with Healing Moments Alzheimer’s Ministry and works as an advertising assistant for UU World magazine.
In this rousing and dynamic workshop, we will explore what it takes to set up a functional and effective program in planned giving. We answer these questions (and more!):
- What is "planned giving?"
- How does the appeal for legacy gifts best fit within the overall funding appeals of a congregation's life?
- Why does every congregation need some kind of planned giving emphasis?
- What are some examples of the creative and meaningful things people have done in their estate planning?
- What kinds of congregational policies and procedures might it be important to have in developing a planned giving program?
- What resources are available through the UUA that can support our members' estate planning and help a congregation promote planned giving?
Nomination Committees Leadership Development
Presented by Rev. Nancy Bowen, Pacific Western Regional Lead for the Unitarian Universalist Association
After an efficient review of the shift from a strict Nominating Committee to a Leadership Development Committee we will focus on implementation ideas. What have congregational experiments taught us? Who is enjoying this work and how does that help recruitment? What has a successful timeline looked like? How is this change best described? What is the role of the minister? What is the role of the board? Please bring your stories and your questions to our conversation about this important congregational ministry.
Download the presentation (.ppt format)
Presented by Rev. Nancy Bowen, Pacific Western Regional Lead for the Unitarian Universalist Association
After an efficient review of the shift from a strict Nominating Committee to a Leadership Development Committee we will focus on implementation ideas. What have congregational experiments taught us? Who is enjoying this work and how does that help recruitment? What has a successful timeline looked like? How is this change best described? What is the role of the minister? What is the role of the board? Please bring your stories and your questions to our conversation about this important congregational ministry.
Download the presentation (.ppt format)
Afternoon Sessions
What Church Leaders Need to Know About Mental Health
Presented by Anabel Kuykendall and Bonnie Bear, San Diego County Health and Human Services
Our religious communities are in a position to offer care and support to congregants facing depression but we often don't know what the symptoms of serious depression are, or how to ask what may feel like difficult questions. This workshop features a presentation on aging and mental health, as well as suicide prevention training, to help church leaders better understand how to recognize symptoms and offer support to our congregants struggling with mental health challenges.
Presented by Anabel Kuykendall and Bonnie Bear, San Diego County Health and Human Services
Our religious communities are in a position to offer care and support to congregants facing depression but we often don't know what the symptoms of serious depression are, or how to ask what may feel like difficult questions. This workshop features a presentation on aging and mental health, as well as suicide prevention training, to help church leaders better understand how to recognize symptoms and offer support to our congregants struggling with mental health challenges.
Online Ministry
Presented by Rev. Nate Walker, Associate Director, Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum, Washington DC.
It has been said that the technological advances of the twenty-first century must be matched by comparable advances in human relations. In this two-hour workshop, leaders will explore best practices for using technological advances to enrich the quality of congregational outreach to address the moral issues of our time. Whether struggling with email or Facebook, or whether succeeding at building a robust online ministry, it is imperative for lay and ordained leaders to be individually and collectively conscious about the primary purpose of using technology: to advance human relations.
About the Presenter: For the last fifteen years, Reverend Nate Walker has served congregations in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, the last seven as the Senior Minister and Executive Director of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. His Youtube sermons and podcasts have received over 45,000 views and he has given over two dozen workshops on online ministry. His masters thesis from Columbia University was on how technology can enhance the moral and intellectual development of adult learners. As a technology and education specialist, he helped New York University launch its Virtual College in 1999 and he is currently developing online courses through his role as the Associate Director for the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum in Washington, DC. For more about his research and ministry visit www.ReligionAndPublicLife.com.
Presented by Rev. Nate Walker, Associate Director, Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum, Washington DC.
It has been said that the technological advances of the twenty-first century must be matched by comparable advances in human relations. In this two-hour workshop, leaders will explore best practices for using technological advances to enrich the quality of congregational outreach to address the moral issues of our time. Whether struggling with email or Facebook, or whether succeeding at building a robust online ministry, it is imperative for lay and ordained leaders to be individually and collectively conscious about the primary purpose of using technology: to advance human relations.
About the Presenter: For the last fifteen years, Reverend Nate Walker has served congregations in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, the last seven as the Senior Minister and Executive Director of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. His Youtube sermons and podcasts have received over 45,000 views and he has given over two dozen workshops on online ministry. His masters thesis from Columbia University was on how technology can enhance the moral and intellectual development of adult learners. As a technology and education specialist, he helped New York University launch its Virtual College in 1999 and he is currently developing online courses through his role as the Associate Director for the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum in Washington, DC. For more about his research and ministry visit www.ReligionAndPublicLife.com.