September, 2010

For our Fall 2010 call, we bring you a very different kind of proposal from the district. This grant will go towards research and development of new, more direct, financially sustainable methods of supporting Youth and Young Adult Ministries in our congregations. It is widely documented that faith exploration and identification with a faith community or religious tradition are key features of development in teenagers and 20-somethings. (See the end of this letter for some web resources on this.)

For a long time, many of our UU leaders have wished that we could do a better job of retaining and attracting youth and young adults, and a better job of integrating them into the life of our congregations. If we can help congregations succeed at this, Unitarian Universalism would grow - plain and simple!

The Central Midwest District would like to devote significant staff time from January-June, 2011, to learning more about how we can create innovative processes and resources to directly support our congregations in this area.  Currently, we are fortunate to have an outstanding staff person in our district serving as our Youth and Young Adult Coordinator, Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson.  Kimberlee is recognized around the country as a deeply experienced and highly competent leader in both Youth and Young Adult ministries.

Currently, Kimberlee’s work in this half-time position is focused on planning district-sponsored events for youth and young adults, with assistance from Youth and Young Adult Steering Committees.
 
In order to allow Kimberlee to successfully focus her time and energy in exploring new directions for district service to congregations, she would essentially have a new job for the six-month period. Thus, we are appealing to our Chalice Lighters, to support this transitional period.  In addition to researching a wide variety of sources, it is our goal to involve congregational leaders in discussion with us, to learn what they feel would be the most effective support the district could offer to them.

We believe the end results will support our congregations and their growth efforts with youth and young adults.
 
While this appeal comes out of the difficult economic circumstances currently experienced in our congregations and at the district level, the staff of the Central Midwest District is committed to a philosophy of innovation of services.  We have found that we are still able to offer many services to congregations in new, more cost-effective ways as we have tightened our financial belt. We see Chalice Lighter call as an opportunity to explore and refocus our services to congregations for more direct support as they strengthen their ministries with youth and young adults.

More information on this project can be found on our district website.

This call will close on November 30, 2010. All checks written as of that date will be applied to the Fall Call.  We hope you can send your check, made out to CMWD Chalice Lighters, for $20 or more ($10 minimum) in the enclosed envelope addressed to CMwD Chalice Lighters, 1555 Sherman Avenue, Ste 345, Evanston, IL 60201.  You can also donate online HERE.

Thank you for your generosity to the Chalice Lighter program of the Central Midwest District. Together, we can grow Unitarian Universalism!

Sincerely,

The Chalice Lighter Committee
Matthew Brenner, Rev. Brian Covell, Rev. Lori Hlaban, Kimberly Perry, with staff support from Dori Davenport Thexton.

Selected web resources on faith/religious identity in youth and young adults:

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3254

http://lifelongfaith.com/ff2020-overview.htm

http://www.jesna.org/sosland/resources/Jewish-Identity/Influences-on-the-Religious-Identity-of-Jewish-Adolescents/details

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/OLC/teenreligion.xml

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Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation
745 Woodside Road
Springfield, IL 62711
(217) 585-9550      www.aluuc.org

Kurt DeWeese   President Douglas Liberati   Vice President Stacey Shinkle    Treasurer Kelly Anderson   Secretary Rev. Martin Woulfe   Minister Rev. Berkley Moore   Minister Emeritus Cheryl Wycoff   Office Assistant

August 30 2010 Dear Dori, On behalf of the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, Illinois, we are delighted to have been chosen as the recent recipient of the CMwD-UUA's Chalice Lighter's grant. We applied for the grant in order that we might hire our first ever Membership Coordinator, Susan Solon, and that has now come to pass. We are all very excited about the possibilities for growth, along with forming deeper connections with long-term and newer members. We could not have made this significant step had it not for the generous support of the Chalice Lighters. We are equally honored and blessed. Sincerely, Rev. Martin E. Woulfe