eNews: November 19, 2025 – Issue 177

This Issue:

• Letter from Vyda
• There’s Still Time to Join the 2025 Fall Gathering: The Harvest Table, November 21–23, 2025
• Dismantling Barriers: Your Chance to Make a Change
• Interview with Tatiana Saliba, New CUC Communications Manager
• Annual General Meeting 2026
• CanUUdle 2026 in Vancouver – Staff Applications now open!
• Practicing Hope: Facing the Future with Gratitude, Imagination, Courage & Action
• First Unitarian Church of Hamilton Installs Rev. Danie Webber
• Charity of the Month: VETS
• In Memoriam: Jennifer Dickson, 1945 -2025
• Holiday Office Closure
• Things to Know About the CUC
• What’s Making us Smile
• CUC Events from November 19 to December 21, 2025
  

 

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Letter from Vyda

Governance as Spiritual Practice

In my younger years, ‘governance’ and ‘spiritual’ would not have ended up in the same sentence together. I’ve always been drawn to clear processes because these make sense to me, but I hadn’t paired this with my spiritual life until my time on the CUC Board of Trustees. At my first Board meeting in May 2004, I was tasked with learning about policy governance, the model of governance that the Board had just adopted and was working to implement. 

That initial learning about a method of governance that was new to me made me want to dive deeper into the patterns and efficiencies of policies and how these can smooth the way and decrease misunderstandings and conflicts. When I took on this Executive Director role in 2012, it became increasingly more evident to me that good governance processes are tools that can be used to advance our values and Principles through clear policies, transparent decision-making, accountable practices, and open communications.

Each fall, I prepare for the next year’s spring AGM (AGM article follows below) and ponder how we can improve the CUC’s processes to be more inclusive, accessible and efficient, and how we can use these to live out our values in the world. I have immense satisfaction when one of our policies translates into impactful action – like reducing financial barriers to participation in CUC events. Our sliding scale fee and subsidy policy breaks down those barriers and makes it possible for more people to engage in events.   

Behind every congregational Sunday service, program and initiative are hours of thinking, planning, meetings and work fueled by volunteers and staff. Our congregations run on good governance and policies. But making clear policy isn’t always easy or, well, clear. It takes trial and error, persistence, many rewrites, and sometimes disagreement or conflict. And at times, the lack of a policy results in misunderstanding which point to the need for sound governance. So for those who are responsible for policy-making – please do persevere.    

This “Reading for a Standing Committee” by Phyllis B. O’Connell resonates with me each fall. I share it with all of you who work behind the scenes to make your UU community a thriving and resilient space, and whose efforts are absolutely vital.

 To the Governing Board at the beginning of a new year:

Let us know going into it,
That we will never have all the answers.
We will never have it exactly right.
No matter what we do or how hard we try, we will never please everyone.
And we will never finish all the work.
We may never be in complete agreement on anything
And we may hear more criticism than thanks.
Much of what we do will be unseen by most of the congregation.
We will, without even realizing it, reinvent the wheel.
And there will be times when we wonder why in the world we signed on for this. But there will be other times too, times when we are able to make real the mission and vision of the church.
There will be times when we laugh together and are grateful to be in this place and be part of the process.
Times when our trust builds and our confidence is high and we feel the deep satisfaction of a job well done.
Times when we are proud to be counted among the leaders of this congregation.
No policy handbook ever says that what the Standing Committee does is holy work: This is not a committee that leads worship or makes moving music or stirs hearts in prayer. But without your leadership and the work you do, there would be no church.
While no one would ever call serving on the Standing Committee a spiritual discipline, it is, without question, an act of faith.

From “Bless the Imperfect: Meditations for Congregational Leaders,” Edited by Kathleen Montgomery, Skinner House Books.

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There’s Still Time to Join the 2025 Fall Gathering: The Harvest Table, November 21–23, 2025

There’s still room at the table, and we’d love for you and your congregation to be part of this year’s Fall Gathering. This nationwide UU weekend is a shared experience of connection, exploration and reflection. 

This year’s theme, The Harvest Table, offers a creative, guided journey which could be particularly beneficial for groups, teams, and congregations who want to: 

• • strengthen relationships,
  • explore purpose and direction for the year ahead, and
  • have fun together while trying something new.

Through a playful “Community Archetypes” process, groups will uncover their natural strengths, and how each person’s gifts fit together to form something greater than the sum of its parts.

You can take part in one of two ways:

• • Gather locally in-person or online as a small group with others in your community.
  • Join online to connect with Unitarian Universalists across Canada.

There’s no cost to attend, just come as you are, with an open heart and a curious mind.
Registration remains open throughout.
Register today, invite your friend(s), and take your seat at The Harvest Table.
We hope to see many of you! 

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Dismantling Barriers: Your Chance to Make a Change

Camellia Jahanshahi, the CUC’s Dismantling Barriers Lead, has shared how meaningful this work has been for her. But she’s not the only one for whom it’s had a great impact. Here’s what others are saying:

• • “Having someone who can dedicate their time to not only finding existing resources but creating original ones contributes greatly to our ability as a movement to pay more than lip service to our 8th principle.”
  • “We very much value Camelia as she supports us in our efforts to learn, unlearn, and take informed action.”
  • “I appreciated her welcoming and open manner, which welcomed questions, rather than making people afraid they were going to ‘say the wrong thing.’”

This impact stems from the work Camellia’s done over the past year to host monthly Dismantling Barriers webinars, create a series of toolkits, and work one-on-one with congregations across the country, and more. There’s plenty of other initiatives planned for the coming year, and with the opportunity to receive a matching grant, Camellia’s work can have an even greater reach by creating opportunities to amplify marginalized voices, build bridges, and lay the groundwork for what’s to come.

Help create a thriving future for our faith by donating today. Even a small contribution will go a long way.

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Interview with Tatiana Saliba, New CUC Communications Manager

Tatiana Saliba recently began serving as the CUC’s Communications Manager. 

For her, this role is more than a professional opportunity; it’s a form of ministry, a calling that allows her to serve not only those already within our congregations, but also those who may not realize that a community like this exists. 

Tatiana notes that while our world is flooded with news of political turmoil, social fragmentation, and a mental-health epidemic, there is also so much goodness in the world. “It is found in quiet places. In spiritual communities that carry the wisdom of ancient traditions; wisdom that modern science is now confirming, like the positive impact that belonging to a community has on one’s joy and even longevity. Or the mental-health benefits of experiencing awe and having purpose. Or the healing impact of having shared practices and rituals. We see all this in UU congregations. We experience them in simple things like singing together in a service, walking meditation, or rituals such as UU’s ‘water communion’ procession or shared candle-lighting.”

“What drew me specifically to Unitarian Universalism,” she continues, “is that it’s truly universal, open, non-dogmatic, and welcoming of wisdom from any source: religious, scientific, philosophical, or personal.”

Tatiana brings a varied professional background to her role, but believes her greatest strength is her ability to see UU and the CUC communications through the eyes of a newcomer. She shares that two things guide her approach: her own spiritual experience, which helps her recognize the universal dimension of this faith, and her mindfulness practice, which enables her to bring deep awareness and care to every interaction. “I see communication as a way of living out our values,” she says. “Every message, every conversation, every image—they’re all opportunities to embody care and connection.”

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Annual General Meeting 2026

Save the date! The CUC’s 2026 Annual General Meeting is on Saturday, May 23, from 1:00 – 4:30 pm ET. It will be held in person at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto  and online via Zoom, and you are invited. 

The CUC’s AGM is an opportunity for discussion and decision-making at the national level. If you’re curious, interested or invested in what and how decisions are made for our national faith community, the AGM is where it’s at!  

In early January 2026, proposed motions will be sent out to congregations and UUs for discussion and feedback. You are invited to provide feedback through several ways – CUC-hosted conversations, surveys and congregational discussions. Dates are coming soon.

Delegates

It’s not too soon to think about your congregation’s delegates. They are the people who will be voting on motions and making decisions on your congregation’s behalf. We suggest that delegates are folks who are interested in congregational and national matters, be prepared to host or help facilitate conversations within their congregations, are open to being a delegate for two years for continuity, and be comfortable using Zoom and Google drive. More on delegate selection here. If your congregation is ready to confirm your delegates, register them here by May 20, 2026.

Got a Motion?
A motion is a proposed resolution that has national relevance and importance for Canadian Unitarian Universalists . Proposed motions for the 2026 Annual General Meeting are due by December 15 to resolutions@cuc.ca. For full details on who, how and whether to submit a motion, the resolutions process on the CUC website has the information you need.

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CanUUdle 2026 in Vancouver – Staff Applications now open!

CanUUdle, the annual national conference for UU youth (aged 14 to 19) and their youth advisors (age 25+) is coming to Vancouver from May 15 to 18, 2026! CanUUdle is a youth-led con where youth and adults create an amazing community, worship together, attend workshops, play and grow as spiritual beings. It’s a beautiful weekend full of fun, laughter, games, discussion, thought, and above all, love and friendship—the special kind that can only be found in UU community! 

The CanUUdle Staff is a group of about 10 youth and 2 adults who work together to plan the annual, national youth con. Youth staff are between the ages of 14 and 19. Adult staff must be over 25.

We’re currently looking for staff for CanUUdle 2026 in Vancouver!

What does the CanUUdle Staff do?

CanUUdle is a youth con by and for youth. The staff team plans the con schedule, workshops, activities, worships and runs the show during the weekend. From January to May, the staff team gathers for online meetings every two weeks and works in small teams to plan the schedule and program. During CanUUdle, the staff function as community stewards, organizers and, most importantly, role models and leaders of the youth community.

Planning is supported by the CanUUdle Coordinator, a part-time contract staff who works with the staff team and organizes logistics. If you have questions about being on CanUUdle staff, contact Raven, this year’s coordinator, by emailing canuudle@cuc.ca.

Why would you want to be on CanUUdle staff?

• • To give back to our wonderful youth community by planning a con where everyone can enjoy themselves, make great friends, and explore their UU identity.
  • To develop your leadership skills, learn how to organize a big event, plan a schedule, facilitate meetings and much more! Take a look at the CanUUdle Staff Roles document to see what’s involved.
  • To meet amazing youth and adults from across Canada and the U.S. and make long-lasting friendships through the planning process.

For more information and to apply to be on CanUUdle staff: Click here!
Deadline to Apply: Sunday, December 14, 2025 at midnight PT

Additional Important Dates: 

• • Co-deans chosen: Week of December 14, 2025
  • Other staff positions chosen: Week of January 4, 2026
  • The first All Staff meeting will be a must-attend meeting the week of January 11, 2026
  • All CanUUdle staff are required to be onsite in Vancouver, from 5pm on Thursday, May 14, 2026 until Monday, May 18, 2026 at 2pm

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Practicing Hope: Facing the Future with Gratitude, Imagination, Courage & Action
By Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz

This year’s Sharing our Faith theme was developed by over 50 UUs attending Canadian UUs Read last month. Participants included congregation members, independent UUs, and leaders from many Canadian UU organizations.

Seven ministers pitched books and responded to questions.

• • Rev. Anne Barker – Imaginable: How to Create a Hopeful Future—in Your Own Life, Your Community, the World by Jane McGonigal (2023)
  • Rev. Debra Faulk – Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations by the late Richard Wagamese (2016)
  • Rev. Lynn Harrison – The Eloquence of Silence: Surprising Wisdom in Tales of Emptiness, by Thomas Moore (2023)
  • Rev. Pat Trudeau – Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power ( the revised edition) by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone (2022)
  • Rev. Rosemary Morrison – Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love by Linnea Nelson (2022). 
  • Rev. Samaya Oakley – North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner by Marie Wilson (2024) 

There was laughter and sadness, anxiety and passion. We talked about the state of the world, how we want to live, what we have to share, and we agreed that all seven books have something valuable to offer and could be resources for our Sharing our Faith packet . 

At the end of the event, everyone contributed their top three theme words. 

Watch for 2026’s Sharing our Faith packet, available online on December 1 on the CUC website.  The packet will help you bring the theme to life with options for a worship service and a congregational conversation. Early in the new year there will be an online launch with an orientation to the packet and Q&A.

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First Unitarian Church of Hamilton Installs Rev. Danie Webber

A Celebration of Ministry and What It Awakens in Us

On October 26, the sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton was filled with joy, pride, and possibility. Members, joined by friends from across Canada, gathered to officially install Rev. Danie Webber as their settled minister. A ministerial installation is one of the deepest rituals in Unitarian Universalist life: It is the moment when a community says, “Yes, this is our spiritual leader,” and the minister responds, “Yes, this is my community.” That mutual commitment carries weight, especially in our time. 

Hamilton embraced that moment fully.

The installation was more than a ceremonial milestone, it was a moment that reminded many of us why Unitarian Universalism endures, and why spiritual leadership matters so deeply in our time.

As the congregation reflected on its own history, a story marked by courage, struggle, and steadfast commitment to liberal faith, the significance of welcoming Rev. Danie came sharply into focus. For generations, Hamilton Unitarians persevered when being a UU meant risking reputation, livelihood, and belonging. They kept going anyway. Their resilience created the thriving, justice-seeking, music-loving community that exists today.

Into this lineage of courage and hope steps Rev. Danie.

Their ministry brings experience in congregational growth, support for youth and young adults, deep commitment to social justice, and a calm, grounded presence that invites both trust and possibility. As they spoke, their words carried the kind of leadership we yearn for now: compassionate, steady, thoughtful, and courageous in the face of the challenges our world is navigating.

Rev. Shawn Gauthier offered a message that beautifully framed this new chapter: that our movement has faced turning points before, and that we already possess the spiritual muscles we need- resilience, generosity, curiosity, and the capacity to build real community.

And then the choir sang- with such clarity and joy, the whole room felt lifted and people could not hold their snapping and clapping. The sanctuary radiated unified hearts and shared hope. 

In the glow of that moment, it was hard not to feel proud to be a Unitarian Universalist, part of a tradition that keeps evolving, keeps welcoming, keeps calling us into deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the world.

Rev. Danie’s installation didn’t just mark the beginning of a ministry.

It reminded us that our congregations, and our movement, can be places of transformation and hope. And that each of us has an important role in shaping the future we long for.

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Charity of the Month: VETS

Each month, the eNews will be profiling a different Canadian charity. We want to showcase the wide range of charitable organizations in Canada that align with our values and offer opportunities for UUs to give and serve.

VETS (Veterans Emergency Transition Services) Canada began in 2010 as a grassroots movement when Jim Lowther, a veteran himself, realized that there were veterans slipping through the cracks. These veterans had lost their families and were living in the streets in high-risk situations. Jim and his wife, Debbie, formed a small team in Halifax, Nova Scotia to seek out and help homeless and at-risk veterans with a view to helping reintegrate them into civilian life.

In the years since its founding VETS Canada has evolved from mostly assisting homeless veterans to also providing support to those facing difficulties of any kind, which may include the inability to afford groceries or a power bill, or an emotional or mental health crisis. VETS Canada has provided much needed assistance to veterans across the country, helping over 4500 veterans and providing over $800,000 in direct veteran support.

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In Memoriam: Jennifer Dickson, 1945 -2025

The Canadian Unitarian Council and the broader UU community mourn the passing of former CUC Executive DirectorJennifer Dickson, who served in this role from May 2009 – November 2011. Her complete obituary is available here.

 

 

 

 

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Holiday Office Closure

The CUC office will be closed from noon ET on December 22, reopening Monday January 5, 2026. We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season.

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Things to Know About the CUC

The Canadian Unitarian Council recognizes what it means to dedicate one’s life to ministry. We are deeply grateful to those who answer that call and strive to support them throughout their journey.

The CUC’s Theological Education Fund provides bursaries that help strengthen Unitarian Universalist (UU) ministry and spiritual leadership in Canada.

The Fund supports:

• • 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.

Although bursaries from the fund can’t fully cover the costs of theological education, recipients have testified to the value of the support they provide. For one recipient, the bursary enabled them to cover their rent and grocery costs during their clinical psychospiritual education.

This support is made possible through the generosity of the Percy Simpson Bailey Fund,  donations from the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto’s Rouff/Mackie-Jenkins Trust, special collections at ordinations and installations, and by individual contributions from those who want to help sustain vibrant UU ministry and leadership.

The Fund welcomes donations of any amount at any time. Recipients are announced each year at the CUC AGM.

Want to Support Future Ministers? You Can Contribute Here.

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What’s Making Us Smile

Puppy Mochi’s first snow encounter was pure magic; she leaped, nibbled snowflakes, and hopped like a bunny through the drifts, eyes wide with wonder. Watching her was a reminder how puppies and babies gift us with something precious: a mirror to the simple joy of being. What if we approached the familiar with that same beginner’s mind: the snow we’ve seen a hundred times, our daily work, the people we think we know, even ourselves? There’s always something new to discover when we look with fresh eyes.