eNews: January 15, 2025 – Issue 168

This Issue:

• Letter from Vyda
• The Theme for 2025’s Sharing our Faith Program is “Belonging”
  
• Why Burnout?
• Why You Don’t Want to Miss “UU Expressions: Love in Real Life”
• CUC Receives Grant for Dismantling Barriers Work
• Meet a Music Director: Dallas Bergen
• CUC Fund Deadlines Approaching
• Inherent Dignity and Reducing Poverty
• Update from the CUC Congregational Life Team
• CanUUdle Update
• Things to Know About the CUC
• What’s Making us Smile
• CUC Events from  to January 15, 2025 to June 11, 2025
  

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Letter from Vyda

What restores you?

2025 has started with news of turmoil and troublesome events. The resignation of the Prime Minister and all that follows, the looming possible threat of tariffs, devastating fires in Los Angeles, the ongoing strife in Israel-Gaza, the earthquake in Tibet… it is overwhelming to our senses and to our identities as global citizens.

My usual go-to is to immediately ask ‘what do I do?’ But my friends, this year, at this time, I am admitting to you that I am tired. Exhausted, really. 2024 was a rough year for many reasons. While I was never exactly hare-like in speed, these days I am more like the plodding tortoise, needing more frequent pauses. So, it took me a little while to figure out what I could do, because first of all, I decided to sit with my helplessness and grief and outrage and feelings of overwhelm-ness. Sometimes pushing those feelings away and down takes more energy – energy that we could use to replenish and refresh ourselves for the next thing. Or simply just for existing.

The CUC’s newest staff member, Camellia Jahanshahi, Dismantling Barriers Lead, is very much in tune with our feelings of disjointedness and fatigue. She has created a toolkit that explores burnout – what it is, recognizing it, how we experience it, and practices for daily life. The toolkit is available on the CUC’s website here, and more importantly, join Camellia on January 30 to meet her and to talk about burnout. Read Camellia’s letter below.

We need the people who jump immediately into action when a crisis or situation calls for it. Thank you to the crews who mobilized immediately to help Los Angeles – that’s what neighbours and global citizens do. Thank you to those who set up shelters, food and clothing for disasters. Thank you to the medical personnel who brave harsh and dangerous conditions to serve the world.  I wish for them moments of restoration and quiet so that they may recharge to continue doing the necessary work.

What is it that restores you? I cook, read, walk, take a deep breath, sit still, talk with a friend, put on music. Being part of this Unitarian Universalist community also means that we have the ability to restore and be present for each other; join us for events like the launch of the Sharing Our Faith ‘choose your own adventure’ on the theme of Belonging, and be assured that we are not alone.

In faith,
Vyda Ng
Executive Director

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The Theme for 2025’s Sharing our Faith Program is “Belonging”

New for Sharing Our Faith 2025, we invite you to choose your own adventure!

Come to the launch event on Sunday, February 7 at 4:00 pm ET to find out what is involved with choosing your own adventure. Explore our new options for engaging with SOF, a spiritual and growth initiative for Unitarians and Universalists. This launch event is NOT a Sharing Our Faith service, and is hosted by Congregational Life staff Revs. Linda Thomson and Anne Barker.

Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, creator of the 2025 Sharing Our Faith program, will join us as we introduce this new resource format – and honour the many ways we Share Our Faith as Canadian UUs. Part Celebration, part Information, biggest part “Belonging” 

For EVERYONE, not just for congregations, this year’s theme of “Belonging” asks: in these divisive times, how do we create spaces where belonging is available for everyone? How do we nurture our own sense of belonging to our communities and this earth?

The Sharing Our Faith program* materials will offer opportunities to explore the meaning of belonging (and not belonging) in our own personal lives as well as inviting us to lean into our commitment to dismantle oppression in our communities — our 8th principle.

Choose your own adventure includes:

• • Worship services: 1) a sermon-based option, “Whose Belonging?” available as a video or text option; OR, 2) A panel service option in which you invite 3-5 members of your UU community to reflect on one of the theme questions (provided). Information is provided for organizing panel-style services. Also provided are the Order of Service, publicity suggestions, social media images and song choices.
  • Book Study: on Annahid Dashtgard’s Bones of Belonging: Finding Wholeness in a White World (2023). A study guide with reflection questions is provided.
  • Small Group Ministry session on “Belonging”: Small group session plan and individual handout provided.
  • Large Group Conversation on “Belonging”: Large group session plan and individual handout provided.
  • Individual/group Reflection: Even if it doesn’t work to create an opportunity to gather, you can still participate. See if you can seed some informal conversations by sending the handout out to your membership via your email list. Share it on social media. Encourage members and friends to share it with their family and friends. Individual handout provided, which includes the “why belonging” reflection as well as quotes, stories and questions for journaling or discussion.

Find all the Sharing Our Faith materials in this folder and start exploring “Belonging!”

Please donate to The Sharing Our Faith fund, a program of the Canadian Unitarian Council, supporting projects that enhance ministry, growth, and outreach for congregations and for the Unitarian Universalist movement in Canada.

Join us on Zoom for this launch event!

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Why Burnout?
From Camellia Jahanshahi, CUC Dismantling Barriers Lead

Hello, Beloveds! 

I offer these resources around burnout with great pleasure and humble hopes for a stronger and well-nourished faith community. Some may wonder why this is where I’m starting my work as the new Dismantling Barriers Lead, given all the work that needs to be done in this realm. The reason is that no matter who we are or where we are, I am confident we are collectively overwhelmed. At the very least, we are overwhelmed in our personal lives, congregations, activism, and societies. With so much change and grief, we could all use a reminder to rest, ground, resist joy and pleasure, and offer ourselves the kindness of a bit of space to breathe.

Dismantling barriers to inclusion is easier when we actively understand and work with our nervous systems. Conflict can be productive and valuable when we are collectively more rested. Addressing burnout and being transparent about what’s happening in our lives makes us more ready to engage in challenges and keep learning, respecting our inherent worth and dignity at the core of that work. 

This toolkit is based on research and my many personal experiences and challenges with burnout as a faith-based activist trying to navigate the world. I hope that you find this offering helpful. Not all of it will resonate, but I hope it provides you with whatever external permission you need before you can reflect and rest. 

We have grown so much as a faith, but we have much more to do and learn about each other, the world around us, and the future. Let’s ensure we meet those challenges as best we can while caring for ourselves and our communities.

I look forward to working with you all in this spirit. I hope to see you on January 30th for an informal meet-up at 7:00 p.m. ET to discuss this tool kit.

In solidarity,
Camellia Jahanshahi | camellia.jahanshahi@cuc.ca 

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Why You Don’t Want to Miss “UU Expressions: Love in Real Life”

The conversation is starting – Don’t be left behind!

What does bringing Unitarian Universalist (UUism) values to life in Canada in 2025 mean? How can we embrace the diversity of our faith while imagining a sustainable future together?

These big questions drive UU Expressions: Love in Real Life, a 10-episode docu-podcast series that uncovers, celebrates, and challenges how UUism is expressed nationwide. Learn more about it here.

 

 

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CUC Receives Grant for Dismantling Barriers Work

The Unitarian Universalist Funding Program (UUFP) is a denominational grant-making program of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Inspired by the richness and diversity of our liberal religious tradition, the mission of the UUFP is to promote the influence of Unitarian Universalist principles through grantmaking. With funds generously provided by the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, the UUFP awards grants to Unitarian Universalist (UU) and non-UU projects and organizations. Grants are made that:

• • Support the work of social justice.
  • Strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions.
  • Transform gratitude for being into generosity of living.
  • Make Unitarian Universalism more visible in the world.

The program recently awarded the CUC $16,000 USD to the end of 2026 for its Dismantling Barriers work with a matching grant of $4,000 USD (i.e. if the CUC can raise that amount of money they will match it).

“Receiving this support is an amazing step in creating security for this new position and making sure the CUC can maintain dedication to the work of the 8th principle,” says CUC DIsmantling Barriers Lead Camellia Jahanshahi. “I’m so excited that we were able to receive this grant and set a precedent about the importance of this work and our goals on dismantling barriers.”

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Meet a Music Director: Dallas Bergen

Dallas Bergen has served as the music director for the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto since 2009. He was encouraged to apply for the position by a member of one of the other choirs he was leading at the time, and while he came to it having little prior knowledge of Unitarian Universalism, he’s glad he took on the role.

“It’s been a really wonderful experience to be able to lead music there,” he says.

Dallas has found being a part of the community at Toronto First the most rewarding part of his experience there. He appreciates the chance to lead the choir and work as part of a team with the other staff members.

“I really think it’s wonderful in our UU congregations that we have a diversity of backgrounds and beliefs and that we really work to come together to build community across that. And so we’ve just got great strength in our congregation with the relationships between each other.  Also with our staff team we’ve got a staff covenant that I think has been really integral in us working well together as staff, managing conflict and differences. And all of that has made it a real pleasure to have been there for this long.”

Although Dallas sometimes finds it a challenge to choose the right music for a given service, it’s a challenge he enjoys. It’s also something he believes is unique to his work within a UU congregation, as opposed to a traditional Christian one.

“This is a challenge I enjoy, but I think as with the freedom of our pulpit, depending on who is preaching and what the theme is that day, it could be the breadth of  what we have in our services. So that is a joy of mine that I can draw on music with positive messaging that aligns to our values, our sources, our principles.”

In his spare time, Dallas enjoys his periodic visits to Thailand, cheering on the Toronto Argonauts, and spending time in nature.

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CUC Fund Deadlines Approaching

The application deadline for two of the Canadian Unitarian Council’s subsidy funds is approaching. Applications are due March 31 for the Sharing Our Faith fund, and Theological Education Funds.

The Sharing Our Faith program provides funds for congregational initiatives. These can be to enhance ministry and aid congregational projects and outreach. And to enhance the Unitarian Universalist movement in Canada. The fund consists of monies donated to the Sharing Our Faith fund. Supplemented by a Foundation Fund administered by the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto. The CUC distributes the funds as grants to congregations for growth projects and initiatives.

The Theological Education Fund bursaries support Unitarian and Universalist (UU) theological education in Canada by supporting:

• • UUs in Canada with expenses incurred annually by studying for the Ministry;
  • Canadian UU ministers with continuing education expenses; and
  • Canadian UU congregations who wish to support an intern minister.

Bursaries are awarded based on financial need. An individual may receive a bursary up to three times in each category (three times for a student and three times for a minister).

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Inherent Dignity and Reducing Poverty
By Wendy Benson, Calgary Unitarians

We covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. 

Canadian Unitarian Universalists support the first principle in many ways by welcoming and including 2SLGBTLQIA+ people, valuing the roles and contributions of all genders, and shifting our systems and structures for more racially diverse communities. Valuing the inherent worth and dignity of everyone also means supporting people living in poverty and reducing the “systems and structures that have a role in creating and perpetuating poverty – discrimination, racism, inequality and colonialism.” (National Advisory Council on Poverty Report, 2024).

Canada has persistent poverty rates ranging from 6.4% to over 12% from 2000 to 2022*. In 2022, 9.9% of all Canadians lived in poverty. Yet, poverty rates for disadvantaged groups are higher. 

• • 32.1% for single women (under age 65) 
  • 23.8% for female led lone parent families and 22.6% for lone parent families
  • 19.3% for transgender youth 18-24 years
  • 17.5% for Indigenous people (age 15 and over) living off-reserve
  • 14.0% for immigrants (age 15 and over) who lived in Canada 5 years or less
  • 13.0% for racialized persons
  • 12.3% for people (age 15 and over) with disabilities

Poverty rates are thought to be higher for 2SLGBTLQIA+than those with a cis-sexual orientation and identity. Despite limited data on poverty rates, we know that 18.4% 2SLGBTLQIA+ people are in the lowest income group compared to 13.5% of non-2SLGBTLQIA+ adults(25 to 64 years of age).

There are many social programs to support families** with low-incomes from the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as thousands of charities. The Euro-centric history of Canada and many Western nations characterize low-income people as ‘deserving’ or ‘undeserving’ poor. Canadians tend to agree with supporting children, seniors and handicapped people via government transfers such as Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) or Old Age Supplement (OAS)and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). This leaves single adults and especially people who experience discrimination, racism, inequality and colonialism most vulnerable to low-income. 

Responding to low-income families through charity is essential and needed in Canada. An upstream approach is needed, so fewer and fewer families live with insufficient income in the first place.

Poverty reduction advocates are working for new ways to support a livable income for people experiencing barriers to adequate income. Some of the alternatives include:

• • Basic Income Guarantee–for working age adults. Advocates are asking federal and provincial governments to collaborate for a minimum income so all adults would have an income that will not fall below the costs of the Market Basket Measure. 
  • Expanding the GST/HST credit for low-income families to the Grocery and Essential Benefit that would cover some household essentials like food and housing but be less than Basic Income. 
  • Canada’s Disability Benefit–The CDB initial payments start July, 2025. However, the number of people eligible and the $200/month compensation needs to be increased.
  • Living wage–The hourly wage required to cover the actual living costs in their community. 
  • First Nations Modernized Annuity—A Working Group is suggesting fair annual compensation for the First Nations included in the Robinson and Numbered Treaties. Current annual compensation rates are the same as when the treaty was signed. Most compensation rates are $4 to $5 per year.

What can Unitarians do to move economic justice forward in Canada? 

1. 1. Join a Canada-wide CUC group to update the 1996 Economic Justice Resolution and 2020 Statement on Guaranteed Liveable Income to support Basic Income after the Pandemic. The position statement needs to be updated so the CUC and individuals or small groups of Unitarians have a strong foundation for advocacy and can lend our support to poverty reduction advocacy groups. To join this effort, contact Wendy Benson.
   2. Join a local or provincial Basic Income advocacy group. They are across Canada and especially active in Atlantic Canada. 
   3. Meet with candidates running for Parliament and the Provincial/Territorial Legislatures. Ask candidates what is included in their platform that will help improve the dignity and income of fellow residents living in poverty. For talking points, use the solutions listed above. 
   4. Ask candidates running for municipal council if they support employees and contractors being paid a living wage and how the municipal governments can work with federal or provincial governments to increase income of low-income residents. 
   5. As this is being written, Ontario First Nations included in the Robinson-Huron or Robinson-Superior treaties are negotiating or have court-ordered compensation for past land use. Learn about the Robinson treaties and their settlements. As of 2024, future annuity payment increases have not been determined.
   6. Learn more about the First Nations Modernization Annuity Working Group and how the First Nations near your community see the Annuity changing. 

Canadian Unitarians affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every Canadian, especially when they live in poverty. There is much work to be done: a policy statement to prepare and approve; many politicians to talk with; and many friends, neighbours, and communities to share the options to reducing poverty in Canada. Reducing the poverty rate is the right choice for Canadian Unitarians and Universalists and it is possible to make the changes in Canada. 

*Poverty criteria change from Low-Income cutoff to Market Basket Measure in 2018.
**Families: for this article, family or families refers to people living alone and multiple people living in the same home.

Wendy Benson
Calgary Unitarians
References available on request

Wendy Benson is a Basic Income Advocate and a settler living on Treaty 7 and AB Metis District 5 which includes Calgary, AB. Wendy has been a Calgary Unitarian since 1998. Wendy is putting together a working group to update the CUC’s 1996 Economic Justice resolution and 2020 statement on Guaranteed Livable Income. If you’d like to be involved in this working group, please contact Wendy.

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Update from the CUC Congregational Life Team

HAPPY NEW YEAR from your Congregational Life Team: Rev Anne Barker & Rev Linda Thomson 

Connect & Deepen 2025
Looking for Connection?
Connect & Deepen is an online community for adults interested in meaningful reflection, conversation, and shared ideas for living our values.
All sessions run Saturdays: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (90 minutes)
You can find the registration form and zoom link in the CUC Calendar. 

• • Saturday January 18: Seeking
    January is that time of year when, after REFLECTING (our December theme), we look to the year ahead. What do you seek – in your life, in your communities, in your dreams? Are there things you want more of? Less of? Different than before? Join us this month for a conversation about SEEKING.   Host: Linda Thomson
  • Saturday February 15: Belonging
    February is CUC month – and the Sharing Our Faith program is featured in congregations and communities across the country. For the first time, Connect & Deepen will also be using the wonderful Sharing Our Faith materials provided by Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz. Join us this month for a conversation about BELONGING.   Host: Anne Barker
  • Saturday March 15: Stretching
    Host: Linda Thomson
  • Saturday April 19: Transforming
    Host: Linda Thomson

Congregational Conversations 2025
Congregational Conversations are an opportunity for leaders to gather, connect, share insights and challenges, and learn from one another. They are facilitated by your Congregational Life team.

• • Thursday January 22: Pastoral Care for Lay-Led Congregations (2nd Run)
    4:30 pm PT | 5:30 pm MT | 6:30 pm CT | 7:30 pm ET | 8:30 pm AT | 9:00 pm NT (1.5 hours)
    Open to everyone, this session will focus specifically on the unique challenges of pastoral care when there is not full-time professional ministry available. What are your strengths? What help do you need? Where can help be found? What creative options have you tried?
  • Saturday March 22: Hard Conversations – Hard Practices (2nd Run)
    10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)
  • Wednesday April 9: Transitions (1 of 2)
    10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)
  • Saturday April 12: Transitions (2 of 2)
    10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

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CanUUdle Update

Thank you to all the youth and adults who applied to be on CanUUdle Staff! If you submitted an application, you will be hearing from us within the next week. 

CanUUdle XXV, happening in Montreal this May 16 to 19, is the annual national Canadian UU Youth Conference for youth ages 14 to 19. More information about CanUUdle can be found here. 

Parents and youth advisors should be aware that funds in the Rev. Rod Fund for Youth and Young Adults are depleted and financial support from the CUC for youth to get to CanUUdle will be very limited this year. Please email Raven at canuudle@cuc.ca for fundraising ideas for youth groups. To donate to the Rev. Rod Fund to support the participation of youth at CanUUdle, visit the CUC website. 

Registration for CanUUdle will open in mid-February, stay tuned! In the meantime, please direct any questions about CanUUdle to Raven, canuudle@cuc.ca.

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Things to Know About the CUC  

The CUC’s Annual General Meeting takes place online on Saturday, May 31 from 1:00 – 4:30 pm ET. There are no motions coming forward this year, apart from the regular business of budgets and reports. However, the CUC Board, acting on one of the recommendations of the Decision Making Exploration Team, has decided to use the Gradients of Agreement for the voting process. This is allowed by our by-laws, as long as our rules of procedure are made known and approved by delegates.

Financial and other reports will be shared with congregations at the beginning of April and there will be several information and discussion sessions in April and May on all-things AGM. Dates and registration will be coming soon, including information for registering your congregation’s delegates.

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What’s Making Us Smile

Every New Year, every social media platform inundates you with New Year’s resolutions from friends, family, and strangers who want to share their goals with the world. Fun fact: they aren’t the only ones. It turns out that characters from classic literature also make promises to themselves in the coming year. Like our lofty aspirations, they won’t be able to keep some of these goals.