Denominational Affairs

DISTRICT DOINGS

June 2001

LEADERSHIP SCHOOL

Each year, the district runs a week-long leadership development experience. This is a high quality, intensive program designed to teach and reinforce leadership skills valuable for church, career and life. This year, it will be held July 7 - 13 at Austin College in Sherman, TX.

Please let me know if you might be interested and I can provide details.

Jon Durbin
Denominational Affairs

May 2001

Every so often, I like writing about happenings in our larger UU community and since this past weekend, Donna and I traveled nearly to the eastern edge of our district to attend the district Spring Conference in Baton Rouge, I feel inspired to write.

All of the candidates for both Unitarian Universalist Association President and Moderator were there. They each gave very brief talks about there vision for the denomination. It was really a great opportunity and an important juncture for our denomination with some very fundamental differences between the candidates. However, unfortunately, Live Oak will not be able to vote this year.

I was pleasantly surprised and am happy to report that the south Austin congregation received a chalice lighter grant check for $8,595!

The new chalice lighter grant is another great one that I hope we will strongly support. I will be providing more details later, but basically it is for the UU Fellowship of Hidalgo County for the renovation of a recently purchased building which they intend to turn into a church/community center - a showplace for UUism in the Rio Grande Valley.

While I always get new ideas from the workshops and discussions, for me one of the highlights is the renewing of friendships.

Upcoming District events: Leadership Module (organizational development) - May 4-6 Oklahoma City

Leadership School - July 7-13 Sherman, TX

Southwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SWUUSI) July 22-27 Lake Texoma Resort

~Jon Durbin
Denominational Affairs