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PNWD Anniversary Celebration

May 10, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

Perhaps you’ve heard by now that PNWD turns 50 this year. At our first-ever District Assembly in Alaska we will honor this occasion. If you can’t make it to Anchorage next week, take a look at our Anniversary Page to see a bit of what we will be sharing. Enjoy some pictures from times past, snippets from old board minutes, and quotes from the history book (Our Stories) compiled by Gladys Burns recounting our first 25 years. We have also included some wonderful recollections and greetings from long-time district leaders.

Our official date of incorporation is November 7, so check back occasionally as we add new treasures to the Anniversary Page during the next six months.

For PNWD history in a nutshell and some truly classic photos, take a look at the current article on our front page.

Hope to see you in Anchorage next week!

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Webinar: Youth Advisor Coaching-Building a Sustainable Youth Ministry

May 3, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

If you walked away as the youth advisor tomorrow, what would happen to the youth program? Do you have a strong foundation in place with advisors ready to step in and a network ready to support them? Few of us do, and that’s why you need to attend this webinar. We can build strong – and sustainable – youth programs. Come find out how with coaching from Anne-Marie Davidson.

The Youth Advisor Coaching webinar on Building a Sustainable Youth Ministry is on May 8 at 7 pm PST. Online registration is $15 per connection. You may view this alone or with a team. For questions, email the PNWD Training Coordinator Lori Ragona at training@pnwd.org.

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Webinar: Educating Your Congregation on Safety- May 7, 7 pm PST

May 3, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

Educating the whole congregation on safety is a critical part in the implementation of your Safety Team’s plans and policies, and yet it can be an overwhelming, ongoing task. In this webinar Barbara Cornell, PNWD Safe Congregations Consultant, will address questions such as: What are various strategies in communicating with the whole congregation? How can we inspire creative problem solving and increasing awareness instead of provoking anxiety? Barbara will offer suggestions for newsletter articles, blog posts and a lay-led worship service. Register today to hold a place in this webinar.

The Educating Your Congregation on Safety webinar  is on May 7 at 7 pm PST. Online registration is $15 per connection. For questions, email the PNWD Training Coordinator Lori Ragona at training@pnwd.org.

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UU Church of the Palouse Calls Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

May 1, 2012 in All, Congregational News, Religious Professionals by PNWD News | No comments

The UU Church of the Palouse (Moscow, ID) voted unanimously on April 29 to call the Rev. Elizabeth Stevens to settled ministry.

Rev. Stevens served two congregations in Massachusetts and was settled minister of the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (Bremerton, WA) for six years. She has preached in congregations from California to Alaska, and from Virginia to Vermont.  Over the past two years, she has enjoyed working with the Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship (WA), while participating in the Pastoral Leadership Program at Seattle University and working toward a Doctorate in Ministry.

Rev. Stevens has served on the staff of PNWD’s Goldmine Youth Leadership School, and has been a member of the PNWD Youth Empowerment Services team. She is also a Chrysalis Trainer of Trainers, and serves on the UUA’s Youth Ministry Advisory Committee, working closely with the Youth and Young Adult Office and with President Peter Morales to discern how to sustain and strengthen youth ministry nationwide.

Rev. Stevens will start as UUCP minister in mid-August, and her first service as minister of the church will be on Sunday, August, 26th.

Shoreline UUC Calls Kate Landis to Settlement

April 27, 2012 in All, Congregational News, Religious Professionals by PNWD News | No comments

Kate LandisShoreline UU Church (Seattle, WA) has called Kate Landis to settlement, by vote of the congregation on April 22.

Kate received her D.Min from Andover Newton Theological School and was recently welcomed into Preliminary Fellowship by the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee. For the past two years, she has served as Youth Advisor at First Unitarian Society in Newton, MA. She is in the process of completing a two-year internship at the UU Area Church at First Parish in Sherborn, MA.

Kate’s ministry with Shoreline begins August 1.

Anchorage UUs Call Minister, Celebrate Two Others

April 27, 2012 in All, Congregational News, Religious Professionals by PNWD News | No comments

GaryHolthausThe Anchorage UU Fellowship called the Rev. Gary Holthaus to settled ministry by vote of the congregation on April 22.

Rev. Holthaus is an author and poet, nonprofit administrator and educator. He has been a proponent of sustainable agriculture, arts and the humanities, and served for nearly 20 years as executive director of The Alaska Humanities Forum. He has had a wide ranging career as a speaker, consultant and facilitator.

Rev. Holthaus is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church and served several churches as an undergraduate and seminarian. He was co-pastor of the Kenai Parish in Alaska (Kenai, Soldotna, Tustumena, Ninilchik, and North Kenai) and recalls being a consultant to the Anchorage fellowship in 1970s or 1980s; he has been an occasional speaker there in years since.

Rev. Holthaus notes, “These parishes involved all aspects of ministerial work: hospital visits, counseling, preparing for services, Sunday morning services, weddings, funerals, community activities, fundraising, administration, etc…  Since 1963 I have been on voluntary location (ordained but without a church appointment) in the Methodist Church.”

Though he has lived in Red Wing, MN, and elsewhere for several years, he has maintained close ties with Alaska and has children and grandchildren there. He will begin service to AUUF this fall.

Anchorage UU Fellowship will ordain Ruth Greenwood on July 15. Ruth, a member of AUUF, is completing her M.Div. at Meadville Lombard Theological School and has been granted Preliminary Fellowship by the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee.

The Rev. Heather Christensen, also a member of AUUF, was accepted into Fellowship by the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee after completing a lengthy process to transfer credentials. She is a former Presbyterian minister.

 


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School of Theology & Ministry Waives Application Fee

April 26, 2012 in All, Events & Resources, Religious Professionals by PNWD News | 1 comment

Are you considering submitting an application to Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry (STM)? From now until Friday, June 15th, the School of Theology and Ministry will pay your $55 fee when you apply.

Click here to Apply now. Or, contact Colette Casavant to speak with an advisor or to reserve a campus tour and Coffee Conversation on May 31 or June 5.

Several UU students choose Seattle U for seminary (M.Div) or other graduate degree or certificate programs in religion and spirituality, and many Seattle area UU ministers are graduates of STM.

The Rev. Marian Stewart (Northlake UU Church, Kirkland, WA) serves as UU Denominational Formation Coordinator and the Rev. Dr. Barbara Wells ten Hove (Cedars UU Church, Bainbridge Island, WA) serves as UU Liturgical Consultant.

Local UU clergy who graduated from STM include the Revs. Bruce Davis (Evergreen UU Fellowship, Marysville, WA), Bill Graves (Tahoma UU Congregation, Tacoma, WA), Carmen McDowell (Cascade UU Fellowship, Wenatchee, WA), Peg Morgan (Westside UU Church, Seattle, WA) and Karen Taliesin (Chaplain, Seattle Children’s).

Many other PNWD clergy and lay leaders have participated in Seattle University’s Pastoral Leadership Program, which can articulate to a Doctorate in Ministry through STM’s partnership with the San Francisco Theological Union.

For more information on preparing for UU ministry, see the many resources on “Becoming a UU Minister” at the UUA website:  http://www.uua.org/careers/ministers/becoming/index.shtml

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CLF Sunday Services Come to You

April 25, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

LogoAre you unable to get to church on Sunday morning? The UUA’s Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) offers weekly online worship.  Church can come to you!

Join CLF and UUs from around the world on:

Sundays at 7:00 pm (Eastern Time); 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific, 3 pm Alaska.

Sunday Contemporary service at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time); 7 pm Mountain, 6 pm Pacific, 5 pm Alaska.

Mondays at 1:30 pm (Eastern Time); 11:30 am Mountain, 10:30 Pacific, 9:30 Alaska.

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Workshop Changes for District Assembly

April 18, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

We have had a workshop change for District Assembly. If you registered for the just-cancelled workshop, 2A “Feeding the Flame: Right Resources Right Now for Religious Education”, you might be interested in attending 2C “Carry the Flame: UU Faith for Life.” Workshop 1A “Nurturing the Fire of Commitment: Small Group Justice Ministries”, has been reworked as a two-part workshop (1A and 2A) and has a new title, “Nurturing the Fire of Commitment: Building Beloved Community.” If you registered for 1A, you are invited to delve deeper into this topic by also registering for 2A.

Full workshop descriptions are on the District Assembly Workshops page. This workshop update, along with details on how to request a change due to the affected workshops, will be sent to everyone who has registered for District Assembly. Look for an email soon.

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21st Century Faith Formation Coming to the Northwest

April 17, 2012 in All, Events & Resources by PNWD News | No comments

Faith Formation TrainingCongregation leaders are encouraged to attend one of the summer trainings on “Faith Formation 2020″ in Portland, OR, or Federal Way, WA. These 3-day interactive seminars, presented by Vibrant Faith Ministries, come highly recommended by UUA District Staff throughout the Association.

Although presented from a distinctly Christian perspective, UU leaders can easily translate the experience to speak to the broader vision and practice of faith formation in our congregations. Clergy, Directors of Religious Education (children, youth, adult) and lay leaders interested in the meaning of faith formation will find much to stimulate thinking and growth in this educational program.

Goals of the training are to help us:

  • Understand the new context of faith formation and the diverse religious and spiritual needs of all generations
  • Understand the emerging vision of 21st century faith formation
  • Envision faith formation in the “Age of Networks” and learn how to create a Lifelong Faith Formation Network for the 21st century
  • Discover a variety of 21st century approaches and resources for faith formation in the congregation, at home, and online
  • Learn how to use the new digital media and web technologies in faith formation
  • Develop the skills for curating religious content and experiences for all ages and generations

For more information, see http://www.vibrantfaith.org/faith-formation-training.html.

If you are interested in attending this training, please contact Janine Larsen, District Executive, to see about discounted registration fees by joining a PNWD or UUA team attending in either Portland (July 10-12) or Federal Way (July 16-18).

An overview of “Faith Formation 2020″ findings and recommendations will be presented at District Assembly in Anchorage, May 18-20, by the Rev. Jeanelyse Doran Adams, Director of Congregational Services, UUA Pacific Central District. Look for Workshop #2C.

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