eNews: October 23, 2024 – Issue 165

This Issue:

Letter from Vyda

When individuals who have a common interest and are passionately committed to one thing get together, magical things can happen.

The CUC Board and Staff met recently in Edmonton from October 16-20 for an in-person planning retreat. This group as a whole had never been together in-person before; indeed, the current staff team had only ‘met’ on Zoom. Since the last time we were all together at the 2023 Symposium in Ottawa, three people have joined the CUC staff team – Shirley Marquez (Admin and Financial Assistant), Deoluwa Atayero (Communications Manager), and Camellia Jahanshahi (Dismantling Barriers Lead).

This time together was focused on planning, reviewing, communications and collaboration, and tying together what we do in fulfillment of the CUC’s Goal and Strategic Priorities. Our conversations were excited, contemplative, intense and fun, and we found many points of connection with each other. We got an insightful update from Robbie Brydon on the Decision-Making Exploration work, and Joanne Green and James Garland provided a comprehensive overview of the CUC’s financial situation. 

Since 2023, CUC staff have begun a series of initiatives that move us into contemplating our future and how Canadian Unitarians and Universalists and our national faith community can thrive in that future. Congregations are the steady heartbeat of Canadian UUism and the identified members of the CUC. We also know that there are manifestations and expressions of UUism beyond congregations, and we need to explore where these opportunities could take us. 

The Goal and Strategic Priorities approved at the 2024 Annual General Meeting reflect our top areas of focus over the next two years.

The CUC’s current initiatives explore how we make decisions together, discover where the needs and opportunities are, connecting and collaborating with each other, dismantling barriers to full inclusion, how we live into the future, and increasing revenue streams. All this in the next two years!

I invite you to engage with us as we do this work – we truly cannot do it without you. You, who are questioning, curious, excited, apprehensive, faithful, disillusioned, engaged, courageous, reflective. Join us in the ongoing Congregational Conversations hosted by Revs. Linda Thomson and Anne Barker, where people connect with each other to ask, learn and connect. Discover what exists in communities which are not congregations but are held together by UU values by listening to UU Expressions, a series which explores life beyond congregations. And join us for Co-Lab happening from November 1-3, where we will imagine, create and wonder together.

Let’s co-create our future together.

In spirit with you,
Vyda Ng
Executive Director

CUC Annual General Meeting 2025

Save the date! The CUC’s 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held online on Saturday, May 31, 2025 starting at 1:00 pm ET.

Before that, in early January, proposed motions will be sent out to congregations and UUs for discussion and feedback. As in 2024, everyone is invited to provide feedback through several ways – hosted conversations, surveys and congregational discussions.

It’s also not too soon to consider who your congregation’s delegates will be. We suggest that delegates be interested in congregational and national matters, be prepared to host or help facilitate conversations within their congregations, be prepared to consider being a delegate for two years for continuity, and be comfortable using Zoom and Google drive. More on delegate selection here.

Call for Motions
Proposed motions for the 2025 Annual General Meeting are due by December 15 to resolutions@cuc.ca. For details about this process and how to submit a motion, please see the article “Did You Know? How to Submit a Motion to the CUC AGM”

Decision-Making Exploration
Many of you know that the CUC’s Decision Making processes have been under review for the last two and a half years, led by Robbie Brydon of the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto. The final report was presented at the 2024 AGM, and after a final exploration session and presentation by Robbie, the CUC Board is considering recommendations. For now, the current delegate, voting and parliamentary processes remain in place.

Introducing Dismantling Barriers Lead

The CUC is pleased to welcome Camellia Jahanshahi as its Dismantling Barriers Lead. Within the Unitarian Universalist world Camellia has worked extensively with several congregations in their Religious Exploration departments, youth work, and, more recently, also acts as a lay chaplain for the Unitarian Church of Montreal. Camellia is the lead facilitator and founder of the CUC’s Rising Together, a virtual gathering space for Canadian UU’s of colour, and has demonstrated her passion for anti-racism and solidarity work several times over the years with various sermons, events, workshops, and projects. 

Camellia’s extensive experience in anti oppression work, both within and outside of the UU world, was what inspired her to apply for the Dismantling Barriers position. 

“I’ve been doing this work in and out of the church for quite a while,” she says. “And I’m very passionate about it, and I was so excited that this position opened up the potential to do this work on such a large scale, nationwide.”

Camellia anticipates that her first few months in this position will involve talking, listening, and connecting about how best to respond to current needs within the CUC.

 “I do have my own ideas and priorities for what I would like to see,” she says. “But I think the first few months are really making sure that the things that I have in mind are in line with the actual needs of people coming forward.”

In two years’ time, Camellia hopes to have created systems to help with resource sharing, congregational support, and outreach support, as well as facilitating in-person meetings of BIPOC Unitarians. She also wants to co-create a better accountability plan.

“What happens when we mess up?” she says. “How do we respond with compassion? How do we keep justice at our forefront, community at our forefront, when feelings are hurt, how do we respond? How do we know when something is uncomfortable versus dangerous and how do we figure those things out and move through hurt feelings. So I’m really hoping that I could create some systems of accountability and conversations around conflict. I think that’s something that you really need, both in relation to anti-racism work. But then also just in terms of being groups of people that come together. We all need to learn how to be in conflict just as well as in community.”

Camellia also hopes to create a sustainable foundation for continued anti-oppression work, both for herself and those who follow.

“I really want to do it in a way that sets up systems and processes and things that are aligned with the work, but that are also gentle,” she says. “Because it’s a lot of emotional labour that goes into this type of work. And I want to make sure that I am doing it responsibly for the people who come after me, so that this work is sustainable and full of rest and joy as much as it is full of emotional labour.”

Introducing New Board Member Liz Goodger

  • The CUC’s Board of Trustees recently appointed Liz Goodger to fill a vacancy in the BC/Western region.

Liz is grateful to live on the unceded traditional territory of the K’omoks First Nation. 

She grew up in the Montreal area and moved to the Comox Valley (Vancouver Island) with her husband Greg Olynyk in 1993. She worked as an elementary French Immersion teacher and retired in 2021.

Having two children led to her search for a faith community.  She discovered the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship, brought Greg and the kids, and they have been members since 2000.  She has held many volunteer positions in her congregation: Children’s Program, DRE, Youth Advisor, Board member and Board President, Sunday Services Committee, Nominating Committee and Joint Liaison Committee. Liz has been interested in the wider movement from early on, enjoying first BC Fall Gatherings and then National Conferences.

She and her family have attended Eliot Institute camps since 2002 at Naramata,BC and Seabeck, WA. This has been another place for Liz to connect with UUs and volunteer: at-camp jobs, year-round Committees and also a 3-year term on the Eliot Board.

Besides volunteer work Liz enjoys reading, spending time with friends, daily walks in the woods with her dog, playing games, doing puzzles and working in her garden.  She is currently learning Spanish and hopes to do some travelling to practice her skills. 

Connect & Deepen: CONNECTING

Saturday, October 26 – 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

When you think about Connecting, what comes to mind? What does being a UU have to add? How’s it going for you? What do you need? 

Join us for a small group conversation on the theme of CONNECTING … and make connections with UUs from across the country.

This month’s Host: Rev. Anne Barker, CUC Congregational Life Team

 

Countdown to Co-Lab! November 1-3, 2024

We’re almost there – ready to gather, imagine, and stretch our creative muscles! Join us for a meaning-rich weekend of inspiration, ideas, opportunities, and worship. 

Click HERE for a detailed overview, as well as ‘easy to navigate’ .pdfs with schedules and links. Want to host a group of friends, or open your building to a Saturday Satellite in-person event? You’ll find info for that too! 

Register now, to get advance materials. 

We’re excited to spend this nourishing time together. 

P.S. If you can’t make the whole thing – we recommend picking one of the Friday sessions. Whatever you can attend, we’ll be glad to see you.

Congregational Conversations Continues …

Congregational Conversations continues this fall, with all conversations at 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:30 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (90 minutes). Newly scheduled conversations include:

Hard Conversations: Hard Practices – October 30
A Healthy community anticipates there will be hard conversations.  Join us as we consider challenges and best practices.

UU Expressions – November 23
Have you been listening to the UU Expressions recordings? Join us to share Insights, questions, and possibilities.  

Success stories – December 7
To close the calendar year, let’s celebrate our successes, large and small. We will highlight a few stories and invite you to share yours. 

Details & Registration: Congregational Conversations 2024-2025

CanUUdle 2025 in Montreal!

The Unitarian Church of Montreal (UCM) is hosting CanUUdle 2025! Held over the May long weekend from May 16-19, this con for youth from 14-19 years, will be supported by Katharine Childs and the religious exploration team at UCM. 

Raven Booth, who recently coordinated the September Young Adult Retreat at Unicamp of Ontario, is CanUUdle Coordinator. Over the next few months, Raven will be recruiting a CanUUdle staff team, working on organization and logistics, and planning.

In 2024, 43 youth (including youth advisors) came together in Edmonton for CanUUdle; some youth were aided by subsidies from the Rev. Rod Fund for Youth and Young Adults. For 2025, the fund could use a generous injection of cash. Donate now to help our UU youth build connections and be inspired together.

Youth groups and youth advisors who are planning to be at CanUUdle 2025 are encouraged to find creative ways to fundraise? Got an idea? Share it to canuudle@cuc.ca. 

Meet a Music Director: Gavin Caldwell

Gavin Caldwell has served as Calgary Unitarians’ music director since September 2024. He had previously served as the congregation’s interim pianist, filling a role vacated by an earlier music director, the late Jane Perry. When an opportunity arose to take on the music role, Gavin concluded it was a good fit, having gotten to know the congregation and having interest in returning to a congregational setting.

“This community’s awesome,” he says. “And this music program is awesome. And I’m really happy to be here.”

Gavin sees music as a vehicle for building community, which he believes is more important than achieving excellence in performance. Having previously worked alongside Jane Perry as an accompanist for one of her community choirs, he believes this was a value she also held and appreciates the chance to carry on her legacy in this way.

“That was hugely important for her as well,” he says. “She was beloved, and walked with love in everything that she did.”

Both in his role at Calgary Unitarians and in his other gigs, Gavin encourages performers to be themselves and be vulnerable. He was able to witness members of Calgary Unitarians’ choir doing just this in preparing for their annual Cabaret earlier this year, an experience that helped convince him to take on his current role.

“I really believe in transparency and connection and being yourself,” he says. “And I have a gift to encourage that.”

Gavin is excited about the two main concert’s he’s tasked with producing, the WInter Holiday Epic Singalong this December and Cabaret next spring. He’s also planning to hold a series of “Gavin and Friends” concerts in the coming months, bringing in outside artists to collaborate with him as a means of both fundraising and community building.

Unitarian Congregation In Mississauga: Awesome Since 1954
By Candice Rice

The Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga is delighted to be celebrating our 70th Anniversary. Our first official member signed the membership book on April 11, 1954. We were known as the Unitarian Congregation of South Peel, but eventually changed to be known by our current name.

Originally we met in a local school, but in 1956 were a large enough congregation to need our own building. After a lot of dedicated hard work by the members, the first service in our present site, a former farm, took place in September 1956. The Congregation persevered through challenging times and eventually built our new Great Hall in 2007.

We continue to be an awesome welcoming community serving the western portion of the Greater Toronto Metropolitan Area and look forward to celebrating our 80th!

Unitarian Congregation of Niagara Marks 70th Anniversary
By Mary-lyn Hopper

If..only we could time travel and see what it was like to sit in a service throughout the 70 years  the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara has existed in Niagara. 

Our small congregation celebrated the event with fall flowers, beautiful classical music and insightful conversations.  Although many of our members are aging, younger members have joined in the last few years.

 

 

Exciting News for UU Congregations and Communities: The New Docu-Series UU Expressions: Love in Real Life!

The CUC is thrilled to introduce UU Expressions: Love in Real Life. This groundbreaking 10-episode docu-series takes an inspiring and honest look at how Unitarian Universalism (UU) is evolving across Canada in 2024. This isn’t just a celebration—it’s an invitation to all of us to reflect on what it means to live our UU values in the diverse communities we call home, from bustling cities to small towns. Your unique perspective is what makes our UU community so vibrant.

The Canadian Unitarian Council staff team has continued to wonder if there is a sustainable way for diverse people to shape diverse expressions of UUism beyond congregations and, if so, what this means for our national identity. Erin Horvath, PhD, and Amber Bellemare from the CUC’s Justice and Equity team lead the charge in exploring fresh perspectives, uncovering roadblocks, and envisioning powerful possibilities for the future of UUism.

UU Expressions was born from a bold vision first imagined in May 2013, when young adults at the Canadian Unitarian Council’s (CUC) Annual Conference crafted “The Church of Our Imagination” – a dream of a UU community without physical walls. Fast forward to 2024, and this docu-series dives even more profoundly, with interviews from 27 UUs representing 17 unique expressions of UUism. The series shows our faith’s thriving moments and challenges today.

This series is a perfect lead-up to our upcoming Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation weekend from November 1-3, 2024. Let the docu-series spark inspiration, fuel meaningful conversations, and help us explore the big questions of change, transformation, and renewal as we connect across our congregations.

We need your help to amplify this powerful series within your congregation and community! Please share this announcement with your members, include it in your newsletters, and encourage friends to join the conversation. Together, we can create a space for deep reflection and connection as we imagine the future of UUism. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

New Book Offers Insights in an Era of Uncertainty

“I have long argued that we should not avoid life’s all-encompassing fragility but rather embrace it. Fragility, uncertainty, unpredictability, dependence, and porousness, however difficult they often can be, are sources of deep insights. Disruptive experiences bring us into borderlands. They make our vulnerability manifest but also reveal new perspectives and creativity.”

Disruptive experiences knock the ground out from under your feet. Who are you when nothing is as it was before? Who can you become, and who can help you get there?

In the era of climate change, refugee crises, growing inequality and war – an era in which prior certainties cease to be and new certainties are yet to be discovered – Christa Anbeek’s Embracing Vulnerability lays out the contours of communities with a heart. Precisely from our vulnerability, we can seek and discover new  connections.

 

CUC Board and Staff Gather for Retreat

CUC Board and staff members gathered at Edmonton’s Providence Renewal Centre from October 17-19, taking the opportunity to plan for the coming year and deepen spiritual connections to their faith and each other. Conversations were inspiring and exciting, even while delving into some complex and challenging topics, and everyone had a chance to explore and contribute together. It was an exceptionally rich experience.

In addition to planning and visioning, we also got to know each other more – and discovered some exciting things!.

Did you know that the Board and staff team are quite diverse in different ways? For example:

    • We were born in Canada (QC, AB, ON, SK, BC), the USA (Illinois, Texas), Philippines, Scotland, Nigeria, France and Malaysia
    • Among us we speak several languages – English, Yoruba, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Anishinaabemowin, Tagalog, Cantonese, Bahasa Malaysia
    • There are 11 introverts, 2 extroverts, and 7 ambiverts among us 
    • We are between the ages of 20 – 80 years
    • Our favourite childhood comfort foods include sour mango, perogies, beef bourguignon, baked custard, pounded yam, cabbage rolls, enchilada pie, tahdig, mama’s lasagna, peanut butter toast, pork chops and scalloped potatoes, fried fish, apple crisp, and more!

We also did an informal version of the Colours Personality Dimensions test, a quick way to indicate personality types. The colours are blue, green, orange and gold. Here’s how we came out:

    • Blue (sensitive, artistic nurturer by nature, relationship focused): 10
    • Green (independent, creative, curious, visionary): 8
    • Orange: (flexible, fun-loving, optimistic): 2
    • Gold: (stable, organized, goal-oriented): 3

Can you guess who is which colour? Check out staff and board bios!

Did You Know? How to Submit a Motion to the CUC’s AGM

The CUC Resolutions Process guides all motions that are intended to be discussed and approved at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Canadian Unitarian Council, except motions relating to parliamentary and statutory procedures at such a meeting.

Key Dates Each Year

    • The deadline for submission of resolutions is December 15, prior to the AGM at which they will be considered.  Send proposed resolutions to resolutions@cuc.ca. 
    • Resolutions are distributed to congregations by January 15.
    • Written comments to the proponents are invited until February 28.
    • Amended resolutions are distributed to congregations by March 15.

What’s Involved in Submitting a Resolution?

    1. Read the CUC Resolutions Process (pdf). This detailed description of the resolutions process includes information on who can propose a resolution, and what happens after a proposal is submitted.
    2. Check to see if your intended topic is already covered by a previously approved resolution on the CUC Implementation of Resolutions document or the list of previously approved CUC resolutions.
    3. Find out why new resolutions may not be necessary, in this response from CUC Parliamentarian on the submission of new resolutions for the 2015 AGM. If your topic is already covered, you probably don’t need a new resolution. For example, if your congregations wants CUC to take action on ensuring all Canadians have access to clean water, this was addressed in the 2015 resolution on Right to Clean Air, Water and Soil. Previously approved resolutions continue to guide our actions and inform our policies.
    4. Consult with the Resolutions Advisory Committee BEFORE you submit a resolution. This will save you time. Email resolutions@cuc.ca.
    5. Submit a resolution only if: a) there is no previous resolution and it addresses a completely new issue; b) is of national importance; and c) is timely. Please use the provided Resolutions Submission Form; you will also need to submit an Action Plan at the same time.
    6. Confirm that all the criteria have been met and all steps have been completed on the handy CUC Resolutions Flow Chart (pdf).
    7. Email your completed documents to resolutions@cuc.ca by December 15.

What’s Making Us Smile

With the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa kicking off its pledge campaign recently, some members composed and performed a song for the occasion.

CUC Events from October 23, 2024 to December 31, 2024

Share what’s going on in your congregation. Contact communications@cuc.ca

Congregational Conversations: Pastoral Care for Lay Led Congregations (Online)
Oct. 25: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT 

Connect and Deepen (Online)
Oct. 26: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT

Congregational Conversations: Hard Conversations: Hard Practices (Online)
Oct. 30: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT

CUC Co-Lab: Experiences of Transformation (Online)
Nov. 1 – 3

National Worship Sunday Service
Nov. 3: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT 

Gathered Here
Nov. 12: 5:00 pm PT | 6:00 pm MT | 7:00 pm CT | 8:00 pm ET | 9:00 pm AT | 9:30 pm NT 

Rising Together: Unitarian Universalists of Colour (Online)
Nov. 13: 4:30 pm PT | 5:30 pm MT | 6:30 pm CT | 7:30 pm ET | 8:30 pm AT | 9:00 pm NT

Connect and Deepen (Online)
Nov. 16: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT

Congregational Conversations: Communications Needs & Resources (Online)
Nov. 20: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT 

Congregational Conversations: UU Expressions (Online)
Nov. 23: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT

Congregational Conversations: Challenges of Being a Congregational Leader (Online)
Dec. 4: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT 

Congregational Conversations: Success Stories (Online)
Dec. 7: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT

Rising Together: Unitarian Universalists of Colour (Online)
Dec. 11: 4:30 pm PT | 5:30 pm MT | 6:30 pm CT | 7:30 pm ET | 8:30 pm AT | 9:00 pm NT

Connect and Deepen (Online)
Dec. 21: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT

Enews Prepared and Formatted by Brigitte Twomey, Website Specialist