[cuc-uumoc] Message from Mary Bennett, Canadian Unitarian Council - April, 2007

Fri Apr 6 22:52:45 EDT 2007

April 6, 2007

Dear Professional Ministers in Canada,

There's a bumper crop of messages this month.  Do let me know what topics
are most appreciated, so I can pick the news that fits.

I'm off to England Monday morning to attend the British Unitarian General
Assembly where I will be part of an international panel on an ICUU workshop.

- Mary

--------OPENING AND CLOSING WORDS AT THE CUC ANNUAL MEETING----------

The CUC Annual Conference & Meeting is coming up soon. Some of you are
involved in leading worship, workshops and/or on the board. 

I would like to invite any of you, and especially those who are not involved
in some other formal way, to consider doing a reading to open or close one
of the three Annual Meetings. 

We have in the past number of years attempted to offer the readings in
English and in French. If you are willing, but do not speak French, you
could invite a member of your congregation who will be present to read that
portion .

Some bilingual resources can be found in

 --  vers un reve/side by side - book published by the CUC in 2002 - If you
wish to borrow a copy of this, let us know. (If you wish to purchase, it's
available through cuc.ca/store for $15.) 

 -- icuu.net CUC has arranged for Global Chalice Lightings over the past
year plus to be translated into French.

Please let me know if you are available to offer opening or closing words at
any of the 3 Annual Meeting sessions.

--------and a message from CUC President, Vyda Ng------------------

AN INVITATION

Friday, May 18th

9:00 – 10:30 pm

Vancouver School of Theology

(Room to be confirmed)

We’d like to continue the tradition we started last year. The CUC Board
invites all professional ministers to an opportunity for dialogue at the
2007 Annual Conference and Meeting in Vancouver. Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher,
principle of the Vancouver School of Theology, has graciously made space
available for us after the In-gathering and Banner Parade. Your president,
Rev. Dr. Steven Epperson, and I will co-facilitate the discussion. We will
take a look at where the CUC is after 5 years of standing on our own feet,
discuss our partnership and mutual work, explore where we are going, and how
we can make the journey together. 

I look forward to seeing you there.

Respectfully,

Vyda Ng

President

CUC Board of Trustees

----------------------------------------------------

------------------DIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHS NEEDED-----------------

We invite EACH congregation in Canada to send us a digital photo
representing diversity in your congregation. Please email this to Leslie
Kemp at HYPERLINK "mailto:lkemp at telus.net"lkemp at telus.net no later than
April 30.

These photos will be used to produce a similar slide show to that produced
by Saint John congregation last year for the Ingathering. Their theme,
however, was "Riding the UU Tide", so the request was for photos of water.

You can view last year's show at:

HYPERLINK
"http://www.slideshare.net/cucmaryca"http://www.slideshare.net/cucmaryca

If you wish to replace the photo representing your congregation, please send
that to Leslie as well.  Thanks.

You can also see a "preview" of the Slide Show we'll use for the CUC ACM on
Friday night before the ingathering there.

---------------------------MINISTERIAL TRANSITIONS-----------------

Rev. Wendy Jerome will be the interim minister in Winnipeg for 2007-08.
.
Candidates announced

Toronto First's candidate for their 22nd settled minister is Rev. Kevin
Shawn Newton. The Candidating Week is April 14th to 22nd

North Shore Unitarian Church has selected Rev. Stephen Atkinson as their
Ministerial Candidate. Candidating Week is April 14-22.

Stephen is a native of Fredericton NB, and will graduate with an M.Div. from
Meadville-Lombard this June. For 20 years, Stephen was a psychiatrist in
private practice in Toronto. NSUC will hold a candidating week from April
15-22, with a congregational vote on the afternoon of April 22.

Peterborough Unitarian Fellowship have selected Rev. Julie Stoneberg as
candidate. 

-------------------------

-----------------------MINISTER'S ROLE ON CUC LAY CHAPLAINCY
COMMITTEES------------------

Rev. Julie Stoneberg and Rev. Carole Martignacco are members of the CUC's
Lay Chaplaincy Committees West and East. They have drafted the following to
articulate the role of the professional minister on these committees.

Role of the minister on the CUC Lay Chaplaincy Committee (East and West) 

It is the intention that a minister serves on each of the two CUC Lay
Chaplaincy Committees. 

Recognizing that lay chaplaincy is an essential ministry of the CUC and each
of its congregations, we believe that increased communication, collaboration
and mutual support between lay chaplains and professional ministry is of
great benefit to us all.  

That said, there are several areas where a minister can be of particular
service to these committees.  

1.	To maintain a focus on the spiritual development of lay chaplains.
This can be done through trainings, through celebrations with the lay
chaplains’ congregations, and as part of the regular business of the CUC Lay
Chaplaincy Committees.  A minister may pay particular attention to, and hold
up for others, those moments and events in which a lay chaplain gains
spiritual growth or awakening in the process of their duties as a lay
chaplain.  

2.	To foster right relations within the CUC Lay Chaplaincy Committees,
between the committee members and their assigned congregations, and between
lay chaplains and their congregations.  A minister may provide mentoring and
counselling in these relationships by being available and listening to the
needs of lay chaplains.  This is of particular import for those lay
chaplains who serve congregations without professional ministry. 

3.	To minister to the CUC Lay Chaplaincy Committee Members.  The
members of these committees have taken on a responsibility that may at times
be stressful and demanding, and at other times fulfilling and rewarding.
The minister may aid the committee members by providing spiritual support
and by celebrating and making meaning of their service to the CUC.
Committee members may contact the minister directly for spiritual support.

4.	To liaison with other professional ministers.  The minister may
provide a helpful link between CUC ministers and the lay chaplaincy program.
This could be of great benefit to ministers who are new to Canada and are
unfamiliar with the lay chaplaincy program.    

5.	The minister is particularly committed to upholding a vision of lay
chaplaincy within the context of our shared principles.

With respect for the unique gifts, needs and contributions of each
individual involved in the many aspects of lay chaplaincy and the Lay
Chaplaincy Committees, the unique gifts and contributions of the minister
are also encouraged and welcomed.

------------ANNUAL CONFERENCE & MEETING 2007--------------

There are 8 now pre-registered for the course co-sponsored by Vancouver
School of Theology and the CUC led by Dr. Robert Corrington. 
I'm very pleased at the response, and may consider similar programs in
future years - if we have an academic partner interested in a
co-sponsorship.  If you have ideas, or suggestions, let me know.

250 people have pre-registered at this point.  We expect the total
registration, including children and youth, will top 500.

Lots of information on registration and accommodation at: HYPERLINK
"http://www.cuc.ca/conference/2007"www.cuc.ca/conference/2007

If you wish to receive updates (2-3 per month till the ACM starts), send a
blank email to HYPERLINK
"mailto:cuc-acm-2007-news-subscribe at yahoogroups.com"cuc-acm-2007-news-subscr
ibe at yahoogroups.com

-----------INTERIM MINISTER SEARCH FOR EDINBURGH UNITARIAN
CHURCH--------------

VACANCY FOR A QUALIFIED INTERIM MINISTER

FOR A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS

St Mark’s Unitarian Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, has a vacancy
specifically for the appointment of a suitable person holding an Interim
Ministry qualification, to serve the congregation for a period of about one
year commencing around September 2007.

Following the recent retirement of the minister who served us with love and
distinction for 32 years, we are now searching for a qualified Interim
Minister to work in partnership with us through the period of transition
until a new permanent minister can be appointed. We have an enthusiastic and
hard-working congregation (membership 86; average attendance 40), and we
look forward with confidence to the opportunities for change that are now
available to us.

The ministerial remuneration package is based on the British General
Assembly guidelines*, and is broadly as follows (but details negotiable):

Stipend £18,972; a Manse is provided – equivalent to an allowance of £5,964,
giving a total of £24,936.

In addition, there is a flexible package of benefits and expenses
commensurable with the British guidelines for the remuneration of Unitarian
ministers, the details of which are be subject to negotiation with
applicants.

(* sums of money quoted in £ sterling – approximate current rate of exchange
is £1 = Canadian $2.45).

An Information Pack will be available to applicants, and further information
can be obtained from our website: HYPERLINK
"http://www.edinburgh-unitarians.org.uk/"www.edinburgh-unitarians.org.uk

April 2007

Take care, 
Mary 

Mary Bennett, Executive Director  HYPERLINK "mailto:mary at cuc.ca"mary at cuc.ca

CANADIAN UNITARIAN COUNCIL 
HYPERLINK "http://www.cuc.ca/"www.cuc.ca   Toll-free: 1-888-568-5723
Toronto: 416-489-4121 Vancouver: 604-264-0088 

To view an ACM overview and last year's ingathering slides, go to:
HYPERLINK
"http://www.slideshare.net/cucmaryca"http://www.slideshare.net/cucmaryca

HYPERLINK "http://www.cuc.ca/conference/2007"www.cuc.ca/conference/2007

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