Saturday Workshops (A) 10:30–11:45
Justice
1A: Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
(CCFC) has taken root in the Quad Cities. Members of
this social outreach committee would like to tell the
story of how their grassroots effort joined forces with the
national organization to pilot an education and advocacy
effort locally. They will share print and PowerPoint
information and explain how your congregation could
also have a local chapter of the CCFC. Kathy Bowman
and Joyce Wiley, Davenport Unitarian Church
Leadership
2A: Diversity Fosters Strong Lay Leadership
Does your congregation think it is easier to just have one
or two leaders running everything? Do the same people
keep doing the same volunteer jobs over and over until
they get burned out? Get a hands-on look at what Mid
West Leadership School (MWLS) can do for leaders in
your congregation. Join two former MWLS staffers who
will demonstrate how MWLS can strengthen your lay
leadership and promote the health of your congregation.
Marsha Diggs, First Unitarian of Wichita, and Deb
Kline, UU Fellowship of Ames
Community
3A: Growing Joys/ Welcoming All
How can your congregation experience growing joys (as
opposed to pains)? What are the ways that growth can
support and enliven your church community? In this
session the many facets of congregational growth, in
essence a theology of growth, will be explored. Effective
and practical tools to reach out, welcome and integrate
visitors will be presented. Rev. Jim Eller and Chloe
Mason Seagrove, Membership Director, All Souls UU
Church, Kansas City
4A: Learning Nonviolent Communication
Nonviolent communication, also called compassionate
communication, teaches an empathetic process of
communication to help people talk and listen to each
other during conflicts. It also helps individuals learn how
to give empathy to themselves when needed. Using the
principles in nonviolent communication, you can
improve the quality of your relationships, and in the
process, you can change the world. Margaret Kinney,
Dakota UU Church, Burnsville, MN
Other
5A: Theological Diversity: Contention or
Convergence?
Two Iowa ministers, one a member of HUUmanists, and
the other a member of the UU Christian Fellowship,
discuss areas of agreement, divergence, and convergence
as they understand Unitarian Universalism. They
celebrate their mutual respect and the movement that
enables each to covenant with the other in ways both
transformative and renewing. Rev. Brian Eslinger, UU
Fellowship of Ames, and Rev. Roger Butts, Davenport
Unitarian Church
Intergenerational
6A: Oral History: Capturing the Real Story on Tape
Oral history is one of the most exciting tools available
for collecting and preserving history. In this workshop
James E. Fogerty will describe oral history—what it is
and how to use it to record family and community
history—with comments on the legal realities, ethics and
equipment necessary to do the job right. Here’s your
chance to get some tips to do oral history with members
of your congregation. James E. Fogerty, Minnesota
Historical Society
Resources
7A: Sharing Best Practices
Come join representatives from congregations in
Northfield, Iowa City and Saint Paul as we share best
practices for small, medium, and large congregations.
Rev. Phillip Lund, PSD Lifespan Program Director,
and panel
Off-site
(transportation will be provided)
8A: Tour of Unity Church–Unitarian
Visit host church Unity Church–Unitarian in St. Paul’s
historic Cathedral Hill neighborhood. The tour will
detail the church’s unique history and focus on
significant architectural details, including the sanctuary
and chapel. Betsy Guthmann, Unity Church–Unitarian
Off-site
(transportation will be provided)
9A: Frederick May Eliot: Shaping UU History
This workshop, following a brief tour of Unity, features a
recent documentary on the ministry of Rev. Frederick
May Eliot and his impact on both Unity Church and the
wider denomination. Eliot was minister of Unity Church
from 1917–1937 and president of the American
Unitarian Association from 1937–1958—just prior to the
merger of Unitarianism and Universalism. The
documentary includes interviews with Unity Church
members, ministers and UUA historian Rev. Stefan
Jonasson, and features photos, music and audio from
throughout the history of the church. Briana Melom,
Coordinator of Young Adults and Special Projects,
Unity Church–Unitarian