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Home || Members || Join || Public Resources ||Our Free E-Newsletter || Resources for Sale COVENANT GROUP NEWS
Covenant Group News is a free electronic newsletter on Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups read by 1300 forward-looking Unitarian Universalists. CGNews is edited by Peter Freedman Bowden and distributed by the UU Small Group Ministry Network. The mission of the UU SGM Network is to help create healthy congregations and a vital Unitarian Universalist movement by supporting and promoting Small Group Ministry. 2006
ISSUES COVENANT
GROUP NEWS * HOLIDAY EDITION
Dear friends, Attached is a PDF file containing
three important documents (5star_CGNEWS.PDF). With these lovely documents in hand, if you recognize the need for small group ministry and covenant group support/resources, please take some of the actions below. Want five star support for covenant groups and small group ministry? Do five of the following actions. Not so much? Do one. Don't care either way? Bah humbug! Thank you for taking a
moment to... Thank you!  And now something for those of you wondering what that light bulb thing was all about.... Know all those things our association is trying to accomplish?
I'm convinced that the lay leadership, authentic relationships, intentional ministry and passion for our faith that come from small group ministry participation are the means by which we will accomplish them. Not campaigns. Not programs. Ministry! Join me and over two hundred member
individuals and congregations in harnessing the power of our
shared ministry. This is the way we are going to bend
the world toward justice, heal the world, and live happily
ever after. We do need to turn the lights on. To me life changing small groups are the way. My friend agrees. I never got him to church except to crash coffee hour (great snacks!), but he did join our small group ministry for almost two years. Visualize a bunch of people with lamps, bulbs and walls with outlets, but not quite getting how to put the three together. You know what to do. Right? You put the people in the small
groups. Make sure the group has good leadership, structure
and content. You plug it into our faith and then .... As a former UUA staff member I *LOVE* the UUA -- honest and true -- and have the greatest admiration for the work our association is collectively doing. But when it comes to leadership development, service, life change, and moving people from being members to being ministers we've been in the dark. But not now. You know what to do. I know what to do. Our UU SGM Network community knows too. Let's get to it ... I believe the key to unleashing the transformative power of our faith is our shared ministry. The best way to harness this power appears to be small group ministry. It works better than any program or campaign I know of. As a UU church geek I can attest to the fact that all the books I read and people I talk to, in our faith and others, affirm that yes, this thing called "church" needs to be done in small groups. Period. You don't get that, you don't get a UUA staff salary. Sorry turn it over. We'll move into your office on the 1st of January. Thank you very much. If only it were true... As small group leaders you and I know how to "do Unitarian Universalism" better than the average UU ten years ago. But we still have much to learn. To master all the subtleties of this ministry we need MONEY HONEY! We need to develop resources and trainings and yes, session plans. UUA central doesn't get small group ministry yet. Not if getting it equals funding it. Since there was no funding we started the UU Small Group Ministry Network. We're doing great work, but need to grow. We need members and donors and a handful of wealthy benefactors who understand the power of shared ministry and small groups. You can help. Join our network. Tell others about our organization and our website, www.smallgroupministry.net Help me, our board and our growing community build a network that can give our shared ministry -- your small group ministry --the support it deserves. You may mail all forms, surveys and checks made payable to "UU SGM NETWORK" to the address below. Over the Spring we will be filing for non-profit status. This means that donations are not presently tax deductible. If you'd like to make a donation of a size that would make our board do a happy little dance, please contact me. We have several congregations which have agreed to serve as a fiscal agent your donation. Not sure what is dance worthy? Give me a call at 401 855-0037. UU SGM Network Thank you for your ideas,
energy and for putting your money where our ministry is.
Peter Freedman Bowden IN THIS ISSUE
* FROM THE EDITOR ========================================= Friends, In February the UUA will be holding an event to "explore together what we can do to lead Congregations into a Multi-Racial, Multi-Cultural Future". The title of this event is "Now is the time". It is my hope that a significant delegation from our small group ministry community will attend. Please make sure your fellow leaders and group participants know about this event. This is not a small group ministry event, but it is an event where wisdom from small group ministry leaders is needed. YOU KNOW THINGS that our association's leaders need to hear. I've had conversations a number of you already about engaging our congregations in anti-racism work via small group ministry. Please share your insight by attending this event. I'd like to offer that if "now is the time", THIS IS THE MINISTRY. If anti-racism is hard spiritual work -- and our association's leaders in this area say it is -- then we need to address anti-racism through ministry, not programs. As a faith we need to learn to listen, to engage more deeply with one another, and to care. We need to learn to minister to each other. In the context of a safe, caring AND challenging small group we can engage in this work. I don't think we can succeed in this area without integrating it into our ministry and the life of our groups. Please share this event information and attend this event if you can. In
faith, Peter
Bowden PS - If you have ideas about how we can integrate AR work into our ministry through small group ministry I would love to hear from you. ========================================= Now is the Time - Join congregational leaders from around the country as we explore together what we can do to lead Congregations into a Multi-Racial, Multi-Cultural Future. Where:
Key Bridge Marriott, Arlington, VA Dr. Lewis' keynote speech on Friday will be followed by a day-long workshop including small group conversation and in depth exploration of what it means to lead a congregation into a multi-racial, multi-cultural future. Relevant programming continues through Saturday. Bring your learning back to your congregation and small group to further the UU dialog on creating communities that are truly welcoming to all. Online
registration starts on November 15, 2006. For details see: Submitted
by Diane Martin
Graphic artists and other creative beings - we need you! The UU Small Group Ministry Network is seeking a distinctive logo (and slogan if you'd like) to grace our website and publications. We want a logo that visually represents both small group ministry and Unitarian Universalism. In addition to thanks and plenty of recognition, the creator will win a year’s free membership in our Network. Already a member? We'll extend your membership an additional year! Submit your designs electronically as to Susan Hollister at sbhollister@juno.com or via mail on 8 1/2" by 11" paper to Peter Bowden at 155 Evarts Street, Newport, RI 02840. Paper entries will be scanned and sent to Susan. Entries will be accepted through December 31, 2006. All entries will be evaluated for originality and aesthetic appeal. Questions
about the contest?
Starting
a Revolution: An interview with the Rev. Glenn Turner During a recent small group ministry seminar it came up that a number of the congregations in my area haven't met the Rev. Glenn Turner. Realizing this I decided it would be good to start preserving our small group ministry movements oral history and insight from its leaders. To start I chose to interview Glenn Turner. You may know that he is the one who got Calvin Dame and Bob Hill started. Sure, we may have found small group ministry without him, but there is no doubt that Rev. Turner's efforts served as an important catalyst. Next on the list to interview, Bob Hill! I'll be honest, this will be of greatest interest to UU church geeks and small group junkies like me. Those of you interested in getting to know more of our SGM movements history, Glenn's experiences with small groups and working with facilitators, and his thoughts on where all of this is going -- you'll enjoy this 70 minute interview. We even discuss anti-racism and diversity! The interview is divided into 15 tracks. You
may listen to samples of each track and order the audio CD here:
To subscribe send an email to: mailto:cgnews-request@smallgroupministry.net with the subject: subscribe To unsubscribe send an email to: mailto:cgnews-request@smallgroupministry.net with the subject: unsubscribe
Peter
Freedman Bowden Editor,
Covenant Group News Mailing
Address: CGNEWS
#85, September 26, 2006 LETTER
FROM THE EDITOR UPCOMING
EVENTS READERS
WRITE IN SESSION
PLANS
ARCHIVES SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE ________________________________ LETTER
FROM THE EDITOR Friends, In this issue of CGNews we have news of 4 events, 3 teleseminars, 22 sessions and 1 great dinner. I'm very pleased that a number of submitted resources and news following my email last week. On the other side. I'm sorry to hear from some of you that your small group ministries are not doing so well. You will be happy to know that there is good reason for your program floundering, flopping, mutating out of control, atrophying or in some other way falling apart. Somebody messed up. These days we have a very good sense of what leads to small group ministries that are health, life changing, outward reaching and growth producing. I have yet to find a congregation with a "mysterious" reason for its small group ministry failing. Across the board the problems are a result of some failure to impliment a viable model or a failure prior to launching to support this ministry through time, energy and resources. Those of you with thriving programs know just what I'm talking about. SGM isn't rocket science, but it is hard work. If your ministry is in need of help, consider attending one of the events mentioned in this issue AND join our network. When you do you will get our journal, the SGM Quarterly, mailed to you four times per year. Each ~8 page volume contains articles, tips, and suggestions to help you in your ministry. Thanks to M'ellen Kennedy for editing this fabulous publication. ________________________________
For FULL DETAILS on these events visit our event page
2.
Small Group Teleseminars with Peter Freedman Bowden
4.
Southwest UU Conference Fall Conference 5.
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford _______________
Each Summer our minister leads a facilitator training preparing for new groups to be added come the new season. We like to start things new in the fall when everyone is returning from their summer vacations. To welcome people into our small groups we begin "advertising" in our church newsletter, then we present during one of our early Fall services. Someone who is already a facilitator gives a short presentation on Small Group Ministry and may additionally include what the experience has meant to them personally. After the Sunday with this presentation we hold a dinner for all small group participants and anyone with an interest in joining a group. There is a question and answer segement of our dinner. During this time we discuss group dynamics. Topics include when and how we meet. Small group ministry started in our church about 4 years ago. We currently have 11 active groups. We are very excited to be including this year a specific youth group which will be led by our minister's two teenage children. Sign ups are renewed at the dinner and then posted in the hallways thruout the remainder of the year. Members are encouraged to sign up at any time, not just in the Fall. We
debated this year as to whether small group ministries grew
and enriched group members or the church body as a whole. The
overwhelming conclusion was that it did both. Our dinner for
existing participants and potential new group members has proved
an effective way to share this ministry with others. mailto:peter@smallgroupministry.net _______________
Before sending out each issue of Covenant Group News we are now asking readers if they have resources to share. This month the following small group sessions were shared. A special thank you to Liz, Ruth and Kat for sharing these resources. Session
series based on the book "Ten Eternal Questions" Service
- Living our Beliefs To
Live Deliberately Visit
our session page online at ________________________________ SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE To subscribe send an email to: cgnews-request@smallgroupministry.net with the subject: subscribe To unsubscribe send an email to: cgnews-request@smallgroupministry.net with the subject: unsubscribe
We are experimenting with distributing larger issues of CGNews as PDF files. Please click the link below to open our most recent issue, #83.
COVENANT
GROUP NEWS Covenant Group News is a free electronic newsletter on Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups read by 1209 forward-looking Unitarian Universalists. CGNews is edited by Peter Freedman Bowden (www.uuplanet.com) and distributed by the UU Small Group Ministry Network (www.smallgroupministry.net). Friends, I hope this first CGNEWS of 2006 finds you well. I've been sticking to the "PERIODIC" nature of CGNEWS as originally maintained by its founder, the Rev. Bob Hill (www.farfarsouthwest.blogspot.com). Yes, I aim for monthly but there have been very few submissions. Ah, but which comes first? CGNEWS or the SUBMISSIONS? I'm not sure, but if you have anything newsworthy send it my way. In
faith,
IN THIS ISSUE
* TECH UPGRADES ________________________________ TECH
UPGRADES FOR CGNEWS AND There are number of tech upgrades I'm looking at for CGNews and our Network. Some for enhanced functionality, others to address network growth and our desire to get more people involved in producing content for our site. A few tech issues to be addressed over the Spring: Spam filtering and related issues is preventing a number of people from getting this mailing. Some of you have requested we use a higher tech e-mailing system (and some don't). For members of our network there have been requests to upgrade the login system of our website so password reminders may be requested. Apparently there's a problem with the integration of our database and e-mailing system as a number of people have reported bounced emails to my @smallgroupministry.net address. If that has happened to you please write to me at peter@uuplanet.com and I'll assist you immediately. Over the Spring and Summer look for improved automation for our site, membership, better content management, and so on. I look forward to this site upgrade as I'm sure many of you do. If any of you have special expertise or opinions on any of this I welcome your input! Any recommendations on content management software is greatly appreciated! Thank
you!
The WINTER issue of the SGM Quarterly, our member journal, is will be mailed out mid February. The theme of this issue is Social Justice. Interested in getting the Quarterly? Join by February 10th to get this as your first issue. More
about membership Have
feedback about previous issues of the quarterly? Let us know. ________________________________
It's
exciting when you come across some new resource for SGM topics. http://www.edge.org/questioncenter.html Stephen
Pinker, author of "The Blank Slate" (the most challenging
book I've ever read about human nature) solicits answers to
a provocative question once a year and puts the answers people
send him online. Check it out. Rev. Glenn Turner ________________________________
Small Groups are inherently feminist in construct and intention, being both non-hierarchical and honoring individual experience. The Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation's Margaret Fuller Awards Program has recognized this by funding the development of a series of sessions exploring feminist theology and theologians. Dr. Mellen Kennedy, MDiv (www.smallgroupministry.net/mkennedy) has been awarded $3,000 to research and write a small group ministry demonstration project on Encountering Feminist Theologies. Dr.Kennedy is a community minister, a consulting parish minister and community psychologist in Vermont, and co-founder and co-coordinator of the UU Small Group Ministry Network. She hopes this project will increase the exposure to feminist theologies within congregations through sessions on images of the divine, violence and non-violence, spiritual experiences of women, and the language of God Talk. The sessions will include material from a wide variety of theologians such as: Rita Nakashima Brock, Susan Griffin, Rebecca Parker, and Alice Walker. She expects to pilot test these sessions in the spring and summer of 2006 in a Small Group Ministry program at a UU congregation. Pending adequate funding, the product of this demonstration project will be an exportable booklet, available at the UUA General Assembly and on line. Since l989, the Margaret Fuller Awards Program has given over 35 grants to UU women doing scholarly, creative and prophetic work in religious feminisms. More information is available at www.uuwf.org. Submitted by the Rev. Marti Keller (www.revmartikeller.com) ________________________________
The UU SGM Network's 2005 Ferry Beach week was a huge success with 35 participants including ministers, program coordinators, facilitators, coaches and teams getting ready to launch new ministries! We are pleased to announce that this event will be held again this Summer. Registration Now Open! You may learn more about this week and/or register by visiting the Ferry Beach website www.ferrybeach.org. PHOTO of 2005 participants is now online at http://www.smallgroupministry.net/events.html ________________________________
The UU SGM Network will be offering the following workshop for religious professionals at CENTER Day on June 20, 2006. The Possibilities and Perplexities of Small Group Ministry More than half of our congregations have tried Small Group Ministry (SGM) or Covenant Groups as a way of meeting the needs for intimacy and spiritual growth. Groups hold the promise for revitalizing our churches. Yet many of us are encountering challenges and frustrations as we use this approach. This session will provide a candid review of SGM and explore ways to successfully run programs to prevent and avoid some of the common pitfalls. We'll explore the hidden, cultural biases that can limit program effectiveness. We'll invite sharing with colleagues on their views of and experiences with SGM. Presenters will be Dr. M'ellen Kennedy, MDiv, Rev. Helen Zidowecki, and Rev. Marti Keller. The time of the workshop is yet to be determined. More information at www.uuma.org ________________________________
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