Activities

UURMaPA offers worthwhile ways for members to stay connected, socialize, share ideas, and continue learning. Scroll down (or jump to link) for more about:

NEXT CONFERENCE (April 15–17, 2024):

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As before, this conference will be Zoomed to your computer over three days, beginning at 1 pm, Eastern time, Monday, April 15. We hope you can join us! The conference will offer opportunities to connect more deeply in various small groups, and of course, through a Service of Remembrance honoring those we’ve lost recently.

Our theme inspires us to service, but in new ways: “Emergent Elderhood: Service is our Prayer.” Although we may be restrained by our bodies, as elders, we need to find new ways to serve our communities. Where once we were leaders or organizers, but now in retirement, what roles can we play? How can we use our talents and knowledge we developed in our ministries for new organizations, new people and new ways of being?

If we were lucky, we found meaning in our profession, or we found meaning in our practice of it. But now, as we emerge into Elderhood, our practice has changed or stopped, so how do we find meaning now?

Theme Presenter Sharon Welch Learn about Sharon HERE.

Our theme presenter, Dr. Sharon D. Welch, will help us explore these questions together. You can learn more about Dr. Welch HERE. The conference will also offer opportunities to connect more deeply in small groups, and we’ll enjoy an Odyssey or two. Of course, a Service of Remembrance honoring those we’ve lost recently is part of the conference.

Our special guest is Peter Mayer, composer of “Blue Boat Home,” who will give a concert on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 pm Eastern (6:30 Central, 5:30 Mountain, and 4:30 Pacific).  Enjoy a sample of his music HERE. (To see this concert you must be registered for the conference.)


Special Guest: Peter Mayer (Learn about Peter HERE.)
Anita Farber-Robertson

Anita Farber-Robertson will present the minister odyssey (learn about Anita HERE), and Joyce Gilbert will present the partner odyssey (learn about Joyce HERE).

Joyce Gilbert

The conference will also include small break-out sessions addressing a variety of specified TOPICS OF INTEREST. These small groups are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 at 4 pm, Eastern. See a full listing of the 10 options HERE.

We will be glad to welcome to our conference the UUA staff who interact most often with retirees, Richard Nugent and Keith Kron. On Tuesday, April 16, at 3 pm Eastern, the Church-Staff Finances staff will present a video update on our retirement plan. Richard will appear in a live Q&A session after the video to answer your questions. On Wednesday, April 17, at 1 pm Eastern time, Transitions Director Keith Kron will update us in a live presentation concerning the 2024 search season.

See Conference Guidelines HERE

Learn about this conference’s Chaplains HERE

See Conference Schedule (as of March 8) HERE.

The online registration site is available now at  https://uurmapa.regfox.com/uurmapa-spring-conference-2024

Registration fee for this virtual conference is $45.00 per individual. Scholarships toward the registration fee are readily available. To apply, send a message to Richard Speck <treasurer@uurmapa.org>.

PODS! Two in-person locations will be available for members to meet and enjoy the conference together. One location is in Kingston, Massachusetts and the other is in Wilmington, Delaware. See HERE for details about both sites. See the latest guide to hosting an onsite pod HERE.

Watch for updated postings from time to time in this space and also on our Facebook page—the private group “UURMaPA (Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association)” as well as the open group “UURMaPA.” In addition, be sure to check your in-box for “UURMaPA-Announce” e-mails in the coming months.

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RECENT Conference (Oct. 23–25, 2023):

THEME: “Blessings and Challenges: Faithfully Navigating Change” 

An online event and also at several gathering PODS (including at Seabeck Conference Center, see group photo HERE).

ODYSSEYS PRESENTED: Eleanor Richardson as our Partner Member and the Rev. Olav Nieuwejaar as our Ministerial Member. Both Eleanor (partner to Rev. Peter Richardson) and Olav (partner to Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar) have long and rich histories within our UU congregations. Many of you know both of these UURMaPA Members who have contributed so much to the UUA and to our organization. See fuller profiles and photos HERE.

Full Conference Review HERE
(also in Winter ’24 Elderberries, page 23)

THEME DESCRIPTION: As we UURMaPAns retire and face advancing age, we encounter both blessings and challenges in our personal relationships, our faith communities, and the wider world in which we live. How do we navigate all these changes while being true to our deepest convictions, living our lives as responsible elders, creative beings, bringers of joy and peace and justice? 

No matter our differences, we are all in this same boat. How good it is to come together to find our collective wisdom, encourage one another, and move forward with our faith renewed. The experiences in the virtual Land of Zoom these past three years are very much at the heart of the fall conference theme. Watch a 6-minute video message from our Planning Team Convener Barbro Hansson HERE: << www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7dB5OmZqgU >>

Roberta Finkelstein was your Fall 2023 Conference Planning Team’s Theme Panel Coordinator. Enjoy her 2.5 minute video introduction to this aspect of our gathering HERE: << www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5nQ3kGvalY >>.

Small Groups again provided us with meaningful moments of interaction around our lives and the theme. Watch a two-minute video about this aspect from Small Group Coordinator, Sonya Sukalski, HERE <<https://youtu.be/SE-7STfXsjA>>.

See 3-day Conference Schedule in four time zones HERE.

More prep details HERE, incl. theme panel, POD info and Planning Team members.

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PAST Conferences:

SKIP to “Even Earlier Conferences” (Winter, 2022, and back) HERE

UURMaPA SPRING 2023 Conference
Monday, May 1 — Wednesday, May 3
THEME: “Thirty Years Both Ways:
Remembering the past and imagining the future.”

See Follow-up Report HERE.

Pre-conference materials:
See THEME description & Conference Notes HERE
See Draft Conference Schedule (as of 3/15) HERE
Wanna convene a local “POD”? See Helpful Hints HERE
WATCH a 3-min. video on SMALL GROUPS HERE
• WATCH a 2-min. video from featured presenter Reggie Harris HERE
WATCH a 5-min. video on the THEME HERE (or below)

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PREVIOUS UURMaPA CONFERENCE: Fall 2022
** Mon., Oct. 24 – Wed., Oct. 26, 2022 **
Topic:  “Preparing for Your Own Farewell”

REPORT:
The Fall ’22 UURMaPA conference was again virtual (188 people registered!) but with an innovative variation this time around: regional in-person “pods,” three of which included a total of 43 attendees. A full conference report appears on Page 33 in the Winter issue of Elderberries, but below are intriguing passages and links that show some of what went on during this well-received multi-platform event…

Keynoter:  The Reverend Dr. Tom Owen-Towle
Topic:  “Preparing for Your Own Farewell”

When we can liberate ourselves from our fear of death, we free ourselves to live.  ~ Epicurus

••••The Reverend Dr. Tom Owen-Towle discussed his theology on death using concepts from his recent book, Making Peace With Our Own Death. The presentation challenged UURMaPAns to reflect deeply and prime diligently for our own deaths while we’re still awake and kicking. Tom’s stirring reflections were followed by discussion questions in small groups.
••••During two supportive sessions, we shared personal notes on our fears and regrets as well as desired elements of a “good death.” We addressed our post-death theologies and the inquiry, “How do we wish to be remembered?” 
••••Tom Owen-Towle was ordained in 1967 and served for 24 years with his life-mate, Carolyn, as co-ministers of First UU Church of San Diego. Tom is still preaching as well as conducting workshops on themes of conscious aging and mindful dying.

IN ADDITION:
Program Schedule
• Service of Remembrance Celebrants
• Two Odysseys (Yvonne Seon & MaryKay Hamilton
• Topics of Interest
• Engagement with UURMaPA and UUA leadership
PODs info
• Worship
• Small Group Interactives
• A Slide Show, featuring photos of attendees
• Lots of music, including a UURMaPA Virtual Choir led by Richard Speck

Deep human connection is … the purpose and the result of a meaningful life - and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.  ~ Melinda Gates

Even Earlier UURMaPA Conferences

Typically we’ve organized two conferences a year, one in the fall and one in late winter (or early spring). The conferences have been held in retreat centers for two or more nights (or virtually during and since the pandemic). Programing usually included a keynote talk or panel, workshops, a personal Odyssey (or two), and worship as well as ample free time to mingle and reminisce.

Fall Conference in Attleboro, MA, 2017 (photo by Eleanor Richardson)


Want to read about even earlier conferences? Click these links:

If you can consider helping with the planning of a gathering, be sure to look over the Conference Planning Guidelines (especially the last few paragraphs).

Ingathering and Welcome Events

2023 — New Member Welcome Event (virtual)
Monday, July 10, 2023
See details & registration info HERE (Report to come…)

2022 — We hosted two separate Ingathering events, primarily to welcome newly retired colleagues and partners, but with other features as well.

The first was our annual luncheon, held at General Assembly from 12–2 pm on Friday, June 24, at the Hyatt Regency Portland (OR). At this, our first in-person GA lunch since 2019, we warmly greeted our newest members who were present in Portland, and announced the recipient of our 2022 “Creative Sageing Award”—Jaco B. ten Hove. (See more about this in the Summer Elderberries page 8, and/or HERE.) We also heard from UUA staff and ate a delicious meal together.

The second, companion event was a virtual Ingathering on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. We provided an overview of UURMaPA and welcomed all the newest members to join the ranks of retired ministers. (See list in Summer Elderberries, page 4.) Duane Fickeisen was honored with (and surprised by) the latest “Unsung UURMaPAN Award.” (See more about this in the Summer Elderberries page 6, and/or HERE .)  We also heard from UUA and UUMA leaders, including an update on upcoming Retirement Fund changes from new director Gloria Guldager. There was a video intro to the website, a partner reflection from Roger Rochester, and small break-out rooms to connect further with each other. This event was free to everyone, with pre-registration required to receive the Zoom link.

Awards

We recognize member’s contributions with three different awards. The Unsung UURMaPAn award is given in recognition of vital contributions and generous service on behalf of the community of retired UU ministers and partners. The Creative Sageing award is given for creativity in pursuing new ventures in retirement. To learn more, read about recent awardees, and find out how to nominate someone ==> click here.

Rainbow History Project

UURMaPA’s Rainbow History Project focuses on the UU Journey Toward LGBTQIA Rights. As a part of Project, we hosted two conferences in 2019 recognizing the Golden Anniversary of UU work in addressing LGBTQIA rights since the Stonewall Uprising, 50 years ago. Both conferences were led by LGBTQIA colleagues.

The project, beyond the conferences, is collecting and highlighting stories of LGBTQIA ministers, their partners and allies who influenced and were affected by the sometimes uneven trajectory of LGBTQ+ issues within the UUA.

Both conferences included opportunities for recording video interviews with LGBTQ+ colleagues, partners and allies, sharing their experiences. We have created a website, and use it and social media as well as library archives to keep alive the stories of a significant turning point in UU history. And plans are to edit a book capturing the historic challenges and contributions of UUs from the beginning of the gay rights movement.

This project and the conferences are supported in part by a grant from the UU Funding Program.

For information, see the website and cover stories in Elderberries, Spring and Autumn 2019. Have stories, sermons, or memorabilia you would like to contribute to the archives? Contact the project coordinator.

Local Gatherings

Our Area Connections Contacts help members in specific geographic regions keep in touch with one another. Events, such as a luncheon gathering or dinner outing, are sometimes organized by members within the Connections Area. If you would like to organize or host a small gathering contact your Area Connections Contact person. To find your area and who the contact is, check out the Area Connections Directory, found on the Publications page.

Ministry Days and General Assembly Gatherings

In a typical year at Ministry Days we present a “collegial conversation” to address retirement issues, and we host a luncheon to welcome new UURMaPA members during General Assembly.  We also take part in the special luncheon that is hosted by the UUA for surviving family members of ministers who have died that past year.

But in 2020 and 2021, with Ministry Days and General Assembly being virtual, we held online Ingatherings. In 2022 we held two: in-person at GA in June and a July virtual event. See a summary of both HERE.

At these occasions we enjoy the opportunity to recognize and welcome the newest members to join the ranks of retired ministers (and partners) and we provide an overview of UURMaPA. Special guests usually speak briefly about resources available to retirees from the UUA Department of Ministries and Faith Development and the Office of Church Staff Finances. And there is time to check in and share with each other.

Retirement Seminar

UURMaPA and the UUMA have collaborated to present two Retirement Planning Seminars supported by grants from the UU Funding Program. The UUA is now running the project. Contact the UUA Office of Church Staff Finances for information.

Targeted Ministry Program (TMP)

UURMaPA and the UUA have teamed up to create a program where experienced ministers with special training can offer short-term ministry with specific (targeted) goals. Retired ministers might well find this an attractive post-retirement opportunity. Two trainings have been held. For more information, contact the UUA Transitions Office. Learn more here.