General Assembly update

Below is an update on the UU SGM Network's GA programming.

The Small Group Ministry Network is planning the following activities at General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale, June 25-29, 2008. Check at the Booth for updates and additional information.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the UU Small Group Ministry Network is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 1:30 PM. The draft agenda for the Annual Meeting Agenda includes the following items. The location of the meeting and the final agenda will be available at the Booth:

1. Welcome/Introductions/Opening Words

2. Minutes from last Annual Meeting

3. Report of the President on activities for the last year and status of the Network

4. Financial Report

5. Approval of Bylaws changes – please see the Summer Quarterly and the web site for proposed changes.

6. Report of the Nominating Committee

7. Election of Board Members

8. Plans for the coming year, including the conference at The Mountain

9. Open discussion on the work of the Small Group Ministry Network

10. Closing Words

EXHIBIT HALL: Please visit us in the exhibit hall at BOOTH #432

Resources, opportunities to talk with people about Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups, share what is working and what the challenges are for you.

In addition to the many ongoing resources, there will be new items:

*Behind the Scenes: Implementing Small Group Ministry, a compilation of materials from the SGMN web site and Covenant Group News, with some new material (for sale);

*Directories of resources on and linked with the SGMN website and of Small Group Ministry/Covenant Group Sessions;

*A Prototype of a Facilitator’s Manual and a request for your input on what needs to be included.

Booth Chats are being planned. We appreciate the interest in sharing ideas around specific parts of Small Group Ministry. If you have a topic to suggest for a chat of up to a half hour with possibility of ongoing discussion, please contact us at Office@smallgroupministry.net with your suggestion, something that you have to share, and a suggested time.

WORKSHOP
#3058 Strategies and Solutions for Small Group Ministry Challenges
Friday, 3:15-4:30 pm Convention Center Grand Floridian F
GA Planning Committee, Small Group Ministry Network

Many congregations are using Small Group Ministry to meet the needs for intimacy and spiritual growth. We will provide strategies to successfully run programs to prevent and avoid common pitfalls. We’ll focus particularly on handling “extra grace needed members,” and hidden cultural biases that can limit program effectiveness.

Presenters are: Diana Dorroh, Baton Rogue, LA; Rev. Russ Savage, Bethesda, MD, Steve Becker, Seattle, WA

CGNews #90

Below is CG NEWS #90, sent out earlier this month by UU SGM Network president Diana Dorroh.

In this issue ---- A link to a UUA funding survey, Contributions from three CG News subscribers on extra-care-required or "difficult" members, an invitation to participate in and attend the SGM Network workshop at GA and, finally, an invitation to join your peers at the Mountain for a full-week conference, August 17 - 22.


Friends,

I welcome your contributions to this newsletter at any time. Please send your submissions to office@smallgroupministry.net

The SGM Network Board has been working during March on a strategic plan and shoring up our financial base. We meet by conference call every month. The nominating committee is currently looking for new Board and committee members. If you’d like to serve or to recommend someone, let us know at office@smallgroupministry.net . There are many wonderful projects we could do with more working members.

The Network is all about sharing. Send us your sessions and your ideas. If you'll be attending the UUA General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale in June, let us know if you have some time to work in the booth.

And finally, join the Network and make sure your congregation is a member. If you are a member, you have received copies of the Winter and Spring Quarterlies. The Winter Quarterly will be available soon on our website www.smallgroupministry.net, but you can receive the Spring Quarterly now if you send in your membership.
http://www.smallgroupministry.net/pdf/Membership%20Form.pdf


UU Small Group Ministry continues to allow ministry to more members by distributing that ministry to small group leaders. The leaders in turn ask their group members to minister to each other and the result is a magnification of healing ministry. The UU Small Group Ministry Network allows us to help each other achieve our ministry goals.


In faith, Diana

Diana Dorroh
225-766-2764
President, UU Small Group Ministry Network
Editor, CG News

CONTENTS

* ASSOCIATION 2008 FUNDING OPTIONS SURVEY

* SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUNE 25-29, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

* SMALL GROUP MINISTRY INSTITUTE AT THE MOUNTAIN, August 17 - 22


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ASSOCIATION 2008 FUNDING OPTIONS SURVEY

Please consider following the link below to fill out the UUA's Association 2008 Funding Options Survey and indicating a high priority for the funding of small group ministry support. Funding for small group ministry is an option in the first question. A "1" means you give it the highest priority. Currently, there is no UUA funding for small group ministry. The Network is supported by its membership. We are currently working with interested UUA staff to create an effective working relationship between UUA staff and the Network. Funding UUA staff to work on small group ministry or funding the Network to hire staff to support small group ministry would be very helpful.

http://www.uua.org/giving/associationsunday/index.shtml

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SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUNE 25-29, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
The Network workshop is “Strategies and Solutions for Small Group Ministry Challenges” with a focus “extra grace needed” participants and hidden cultural biases that impact small group ministry sessions.

Please send us your experiences with the possibility of having them shared in the workshop or used in articles for the next General Assembly Quarterly.

Also, consider spending an hour or two fielding questions about small group ministry in the UU Small Group Ministry Network booth. Slots are available between 11am, Wednesday June 25 and 1pm, Sunday June 29. The Board will provide you with a list of frequently asked questions.
Please e-mail us at office@smallgroupministry.net. We look forward to receiving your input.

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SMALL GROUP MINISTRY INSTITUTE
August 17 - August 22, 2008
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers, Inc.
The Highlands, North Carolina

An opportunity for teams and individuals from congregations of all sizes to learn and practice Small Group Ministry (SGM) with experienced practitioners and leaders. Sessions are designed for new and experienced program organizers, facilitators, ministers and congregational leaders. The week will include presentations, hands-on workshops, small group ministry experiences, sharing, networking, informal 'porch chats, worship - and time to enjoy what The Mountain has to offer!

Details and Registration
http://www.smallgroupministry.net/events/mountain.html

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Contatct the UU Small Group Ministry Network

UU SGM Network Office
General inquiries and submissions

Diana Dorroh, President

Rev. Helen Zidowecki, Secretary

Susan Hollister, Treasurer

Small Group Ministry at General Assembly, June 25-29, 2008, Fort Lauderdale, FL

The Network workshop is “Strategies and Solutions for Small Group Ministry Challenges” with a focus “extra grace needed” participants and hidden cultural biases that impact small group ministry sessions. CALL for Your experiences will the possibility of sharing in the workshop and articles for the General Assembly Quarterly.

Please e-mail us at office@smallgroupministry.net immediately.
We look forward to receiving you input.

CGNEWS #89 - Update on Small Group Ministry at General Assembly

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.

Friends,

Here is an update on Small Group Ministry events at General Assembly. Please take note of our Annual Meeting announcement. There are lots of changes with Independent Affiliates and the UUA, something we'll certainly discuss. Also, I wanted to let you know that the slump in CGNews messages has been a result of my going to film school. Fortunately that is coming to an end. You can read about the UU Video I'm making over the next two weeks at http://uuplanet.com. Going to GA? You may even get to be in it.

Now on to General Assembly!
Peter

* For complete GA information, registration forms, and live updates visit www.uua.org.

* We invite you to join our network. Your support makes our ministry, website and resource development possible.
http://smallgroupministry.net/pdf/Membership%20Form.pdf

Small Group Ministry at General Assembly 2007

Once a year representatives and members of our Unitarian Universalist congregations and organizations gather for the annual meeting of our association. This meeting is called General Assembly (GA). This year, GA will be in Portland, OR and will feature opportunities for Small Group Ministry (SGM) or Covenant Groups.

UU Small Group Ministry Network Booth #852
“Small Groups, Deep Connections”

The UU Small Group Ministry Network is offering a booth in the Exhibit Hall this year at General Assembly. Come learn more about Small Group Ministry, receive free consulting about your SGM questions, talk with the experts, hear mini-workshops, join the Network, pick up free materials, purchase materials, meet SGM enthusiasts from around the country, and tell us about your SGM Program. See You there!

Hours: Wednesday: Noon to 7 PM
Thursday through Saturday: 11 AM to 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM to 4 PM

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UU Small Group Ministry Network Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 23, 1-2

Meet at the UU Small Group Ministry Network Booth ("Small Groups, Deep Connections") # 852. From the
booth, we’ll go to the Lounge Refreshment Area in the Exhibit Hall and find a table where we can conduct
the Annual Meeting. We will conduct the business of the Network including: vote on a slate of officers for the coming year; hear a report from our out-going p President, Rev. Calvin Dame; hear a financial report from our treasurer Susan Hollister; and discuss the UUA affiliate Status changes. We’re open to hearing your ideas and suggestions on making a strong SGM Network. If You’ll be at GA, please join us.

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#2043 Emerging Models of Small Group Ministry
Thursday, June 21, 1-2:15 PM, Rooms D133-134
UU Small Group Ministry Network

Congregations across our denomination are developing successful and exciting variations on Small Group Ministry or Covenant Groups. This panel of members and friends of the Small Group Ministry Network will share our significant innovations including theme groups, short-term groups, groups in the community, use in Religious Education and by religious professionals. Panelists are Rev. Ken Beldon, Dr. M’ellen Kennedy, Rev. Helen Zidowecki, and others.

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# 3053 Facilitator Training for Small Group Ministry
Friday, June 22, 2:45-4 PM, Room E 145
UU Small Group Ministry Network

Small Group Ministry or Covenant Groups are transforming how we do congregational life. One of the challenges that lay and professional leaders face is how to adequately train facilitators. In this workshop, members of the Small Group Ministry Network will share our collective wisdom on what makes for quality leadership development.Presenters: Dr. M’ellen Kennedy, Rev. Marti Keller, Diana Dorroh and Peter Bowden.

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Covenant Groups at GA
On Hiatus In Portland 2007

Harlan Limpert, Director for District Services of the Unitarian Universalist Association, has announced that a decision has been made to take a one-year hiatus from having covenant groups at General Assembly. Plan on covenant groups returning to GA in 2008 -- bigger and stronger than ever. (Around 300 people participated last year!) If You have a story to share about your Covenant Group experience at GA in past years, please send it to mellen@smallgroupministry.net for inclusion in future issues of this Quarterly or in our Covenant Group News. We'd love to hear from you.

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UUSC's Announces the launch of
Covenant Group Ministry
web based Resources

"This is one of the most exciting developments in the Small Group Ministry movements. It combines for me two of the more important aspects of Small Group Ministry -- connections among the people and concerns of the world."
- Rev. Calvin O. Dame

"The power of deep sharing among seekers, the essence of the Small Group Ministry, is key to my own vision of Living Democracy. It is through such common seeking that we gain clarity and courage to express our truest selves."
- Frances Moore Lappe

With these resources, UUSC supports members of the UU community in: the search for connection with each other and the larger global community; the quest for meaningful engagement with life’s most challenging questions; and the pursuit to engage more effectively with local, national, and global social justice initiatives.

Through the Covenant Group model of intimacy and ultimacy, members will be inspired to take action on human rights issues that affect our global community. Small group worship and community building changes lives and enlivens commitments with purpose and passion. Individuals will find the strength and courage to take simple action steps or lead social justice projects that will ultimately help to change the world.

In modules of four to six session, Covenant Group Ministry resources address such topics as:

• Living on Democracy's Edge
• Drumbeat for Darfur
• Wage Justice
• The Human Right to Water

For more information and to download these free resources visit The UUSC Covenant Group resource page. New resources will be added throughout the summer of 2007.

For more information or to participating in a Small Group Ministry Circle at General Assembly in Portland, OR please contact Carie Johnsen, UUSC Ministerial Intern at cjohnsen@uusc.org.

Peter Freedman Bowden
UU PLANET Ministry & Media
Independent Unitarian Universalist Consulting & Media Services
Office (401) 855-0037
155 Evarts Street
Newport, RI 02840
www.uuplanet.com

UUSC offering new resources for small groups

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is pleased to announce the development of Covenant Group Ministry resources. With these resources, UUSC supports members of the UU community in: the search for connection with each other and the larger global community; the quest for meaningful engagement with life’s most challenging questions; and the pursuit to engage more effectively with local, national, and global social justice initiatives.

The Covenant Group resources will include modules of 4-6 sessions for UUSC’s major program areas: civil liberties, environmental justice, economic justice, and rights in humanitarian crises. These web-based resources will be available at www.uusc.org in late May.

Stay tuned for more information on UUSC's presence at General Assembly 2007 in Portland, Ore., at the Small Group Ministry Network booth and events as well as distribution of print resources.

Carie Johnsen, UUSC ministerial intern, who has led the development of these new resources, will facilitate two Small Group Ministry circles during General Assembly 2007. If you are interested in participating, please contact Carie at cjohnsen@uusc.org. Participation will be limited.

CGNews Issue #87

Friends,

I just sent out CGNews Issue #87. You can view the message as it was sent here or read the posts below.

It has been a little while since CGNews has gone out. All quiet on the UU small group front? Not a chance! The board of the UU SGM Network has been working hard on planning for General Assembly and getting incorporating us as a non-profit. More on this below. This is particularly exciting for me as it happened magically while I've been busy commuting to Boston every day. I'm doing an eight month training in television/digital film so I can be an even bigger UU church geek and spend my life flooding the internet with UU media. I plan on dragging our movement into the 21st century. I'll be sure to make some small group related materials while I'm at it. Feel free to send me any special requests.

On to what the majority of you really want - group sessions. This is still the hottest item on our site. Those of you hungry for peace, justice and small group sessions will be happy to know the following:

1. The UUSC is developing a series of small group ministry modules related to their social justice campaigns. I spoke with the UUSC intern working on this project again this morning. Carie Johnson reports that of the four modules being published, two will be distributed at GA. One on Civil Liberties. The other on the genocide in Darfur. These resources are scheduled to be on their website this May. The UUSC will let me know as soon as they go online and I'll pass the word on to you. Keep posted!

2. Judy Morgan of the Peacemaking Congregational Study Action Issue Core Team has announced that small group ministry sessions based on the peacemaking Study Action Issue are now online. You can read more about these sessions and find the link below. I have not had a chance to read over these, though I did speak with members of that team before the sessions were produced.

My take on these efforts?

I think they represent a step forward for our movement -- provided the sessions are well done. Small groups are the ideal place to reflect on the spiritual, moral and ethical issues underlying the problems of our world. I think that if we discuss these issues we will find the strength to take action. We can't go on like we are.

As organizations realize that small group ministry sessions are a great way to engage with UU's across our association -- be it the UUSC, CSW, or others -- we need to make sure that the resources they produce stay true to the purposes of this ministry. It is a fine line. Ever have your congregation's stewardship committee want to canvass people in their small group meetings? From my conversations with representatives from the UUSC and the CSW these organizations are working hard to honor the nature of this ministry while trying to get us to wake up and engage with a big long list of critical issues. This weekend I went to a used bookstore that had a wall of books labeled "See what happened while you weren't looking" -- I won't go into the contents of the shelf. Needless to say, genocide and the need for peacemaking were represented. I bet you could name some more...

I love small groups and I want to change our world. I suspect that you do to. If so I hope you'll take the time to give these new session resources a look and tell me what you think of them.

In faith,
Peter

Peter Freedman Bowden
Editor, CGNews

Small Group Ministry at GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2007

Representatives and members of our Unitarian Universalist congregations and organizations will be gathering for our General Assembly (GA). Programs about Small Group Ministry or Covenant Groups are among the many exciting offerings at GA in Portland, OR, this year. The UU Small Group Ministry Network Is Offering the Following Workshops:

Facilitator Training for Small Group Ministry
Small Group Ministry or Covenant Groups are transforming how we do congregational life. One of the challenges that lay and professional leaders face is how to adequately train facilitators. In this workshop, members of the Small Group Ministry Network will share our collective wisdom on what makes for quality leadership development.

Emerging Models of Small Group Ministry
Congregations across our denomination are developing successful and exciting variations on Small Group Ministry or Covenant Groups. This panel of members of the Small Group Ministry Network will share our significant innovations including theme groups, short-term groups, groups in the community, use in Religious Education and by religious professionals.

UUSGM Network Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the UU Small Group Ministry Network will be held at GA in Portland. Details on the Meeting will be announced closer to GA.

UUSGM Network Booth
An Opportunity to Help Out & Learn More about SGM ... The UU Small Group Ministry Network plans to have a booth in the Exhibit Hall again this year at General Assembly. If you would like to help staff our booth, please contact M'ellen Kennedy at mellen@smallgroupministry.net. Staffing the booth is a great opportunity to share your enthusiasm about and experience with Small Group Ministry. You also get to meet and learn from folks from all over the country who are engaged in this vital work. We'd love to have you join us!

Are You planning an SGM event at GA?
Let us know and we'll help You get the word out in the Summer/GA Issue of this Quarterly and future issues of CGNews.


Submitted by M'ellen Kennedy

Covenant Groups at GA 2007 on hiatus

From: Harlan Limpert
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 1:23 PM
Subject: Covenant Groups at GA 2007 on hiatus...

A decision has been made to take a one-year hiatus from having covenant groups at General Assembly.

Plan on covenant groups returning to GA in 2008 -- bigger and stronger than ever. (Around 300 people participated last year!)

Please share this information with anyone who might want or need to know.

Harlan

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Rev. Harlan Limpert
Director for District Services
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations