From the Heartland DE

What is it, actually, that a DE does?

2009-09-15T21:37:00.000-04:00

One of my least favorite question when I first meet someone is "What do you do?" Generally it's asked by someone I don't really know, and someone with whom I probably won't have a very long relationship. Like today, when I got my hair cut.

You might be familiar with the part of trying to explain what a Unitarian Universalist is--that can be relatively simple, or not, depending on how familiar the person is with religion in general, and how much they don't think that what we are is a religion. In my 18 years of ministry, I've got my patter down really well. I can easily say that we believe it's everyone's right, and responsibility, to determine their own beliefs and we support them on that journey. It's easy to say that we're pretty much on the liberal side of the religious discussion.

Most people have an image of what a minister does, although more often than not, the details flee from their brains. What they know is the public part: speaking in church services, doing weddings, funerals, and baby dedications. But they don't know what goes into these public activities, nor what we do in the background. They don't know about the reading, the meetings, the organizing, thinking, dreaming, planning. They don't know about sitting with peolpe during the hard times, they don't know about the struggle to celebrate Christmas and Easter in new ways for the umpteenth time. They don't know about how wonderful this profesion is, and how sometimes it's enough to make us think about a different profession.

But most people have no sense of what a District Executive does. I answer simply: I'm like a bishop (district superintendent, conference minister), but with no power or authority. My job is to help the 53 congregations in the Heartland District do what they want to do, and do it better. My job is to help them understand the priorities that the UUA Board and President think are important for our movement. My job is to help them grow--at least in functioning if not in numbers; and my job is to help them grow in depth: dealing with issues of racism and oppression, delving into the theology at the heart of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. My job is to be a generalist in an ever specialized world, and to be able to provide specialists when the generalist approach doesn't work.

For you in the pews and in the board and committee rooms of our congregations, my job is to help you do your job better. The District Office should be the first stop when you have questions, or are looking for resources. We can help you with leaders for board retreats and congregational retreats. We provide assistance in your search for new leadership, and in learning how to start well with those new leaders. We can help you get connected to deeper social justice work. We are here if (or should I say when) your congregation faces rough times and needs someone to help you manage your way through conflict. We're here to help you do all the parts of church better: lifespan religious education, stewardship, committees, and many other things.

Feel free to call. It's even okay to call up and ask "What is it, actually, that a DE does?"

See you around the Heartland!

And So We Begin

2009-09-08T21:57:00.000-04:00

If you've been paying attention recently, you might have noticed that I'm relatively new, this time around, to the Heartland District District Exec position. I began my work on August 1st, and it's taken this long for me to begin to get my sea legs and figure out about the Heartland District.

But if you've been paying attention for longer, you'll remember that I was the Interim District Executive between 2005-2007. So it's not so much learning an entirely new job, but rather, figuring out how things have changed around these parts during the two years that i was sojourning on the west coast.

What have you been up to? How have your congregations changed in the past two years? How is the economy effecting (and affecting!) your congregation? What's new for you?

These are not simply rhetorical questions--I really do want to know. So take a moment and drop me a line (de@heartlanduu.org) or call me (248.514.5458) to let me know what's happening with you.

This blog is one of the newer things. First time around, I tried to blog when I could, but now I want to try to blog on a regular basis. To share thoughts, impressions, ideas, resources with you. Some will repeat what I say in other place, and some will be said only here. I'll be dealing with church stuff, mostly. But some times other things will slip in.

You will also notice (if you're paying attention) that the Heartland District has a new website. Or will soon, if you stumble upon this blog between when it's written (September 8) and when it gets announced in the new web site (September 12). We're working hard to make sure that we give you what you need in a clear and concise manner.

So let me know what you want, what you're thinking, what you'd like to learn about. We are here to serve you. That is, when we're not serving dinner.

Welcome the the Heartland District of the UUA DE Blog

2009-09-06T16:29:00.000-04:00

I know, that is a real mouthful, isn't it?

But as we launch our new website (www.heartlanduu.org) on or around September 12, 2009 we are also launching into the world of blogging.

The Heartland District of the UUA is Strong and Growing!

We have a new District Executive, Lisa Presley; a new website, see above; and many new plans for the next couple of years.

Be sure to subscribe to our on-line newsletter, The Heartline On-line. You can contact the office directly or subscribe at the new website.

Our contact info is below:

Heartland District of the UUA
445 North Pennsylvania Street Suite 510
Indianapolis, IN 46204-1893

Map and Directions
888.948.4883 toll free
317.634.5384 telephone
317.634.5385 fax
email office@heartlanduu.org

DE Direct line: 248.514.5458.

Hope to hear from you soon ... Colleen Kelly (helping Lisa get started with blogging!)