“Thirty Years Both Ways: Remembering the past and imagining the future“
THEME DESCRIPTION
Where were you in 1993? Yes, that was thirty years ago now. The year the first web browser came into use. The year Delores Williams published her first book of womanist theology. The year of the Thomas Jefferson Ball at General Assembly, and the subsequent upheaval. UURMaPA’s Spring Conference May 1–3 will remind us how much has changed in the last three decades and get us thinking about what the next three may bring. The program will include panels, each looking at tensions from the past and trends towards the future – one reviewing the history of the Thomas Jefferson Ball debacle, another looking at the role of women in UU ministry, and a third a multi-generational panel to help us look forward to the next thirty years. Plus, we’ll have a Monday program from Reggie Harris, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and lecturer associated with the UU Living Legacy program. Here’s a sample of his music and here is an intro video from him. Of course, we will have our usual inspiring worship, including the Remembrance Service, opportunities for deep connection in small groups, and an Odyssey.
Watch a 5 minute video of the theme.
PLANNING TEAM WELCOME
Spring ’23 Conference Planning Team
Convener: Barbro Hansson, Peterborough, NH
Scribe: Anne Marsh, Albuquerque, NM
Publicity: Jonalu Johnstone, Davis, OK
Worship: Lynda Sutherland, Brinnon, WA
Small Grps: Sonya Sukalski, Castro Valley, CA
Odyssey: Charles Stephens, Blue Hill, ME
Theme Panels: Wayne Arnason, Charlottesville, VA
Slide Show: Jeff Briere, Johnson City, TN
Tech Ass’t: Richard Speck, Wilmington, DE
Tech Pro: Jon Claney, Wilmington, DE
AGENDA
THEME PANELS
The theme for this conference, “THIRTY YEARS BOTH WAYS,” originated in conversations about the events around the 1993 UUA General Assembly. Ideas for what theme panels might be possible expanded when we remembered other important events in culture and technology from 1993.
Monday’s first panel, “After The Ball Is Over,” brought together a diverse group of colleagues and friends who shared personal experiences from before, during, and after the 1993 General Assembly that concluded with a Thomas Jefferson-era costume ball, a moment that highlighted the way planners had thoughtlessly centered White experience. Wayne Arnason, Janice Marie Johnson, Barbro Hansson, Leon Spencer, Elnora Williams and Mel Hoover each told their personal stories and reflected on the evolution of anti-racist and anti-oppression work after the Ball in their own lives and within the UUA.
Our Tuesday theme Panel, “Women, Identity and Leadership,” brought together for the first time four women who have aspired to the UUA Presidency. Current UUA Presidential Candidate Sofia Betancourt acted as Moderator for a panel featuring Carolyn Owen-Towle (1993), Diane Miller (2001) and Laurel Hallman (2009), inviting conversation about women in leadership in our Association and the ways that identity issues shape (and some would say distort!) our expectations about leaders. Memories and insights from each person about the circumstances 30, 20, and 10 years ago, the changes that have happened since, and the future of identity considerations in leadership roles in denominational and congregational life all made for an engaging conversation that sparked many moving comments and questions.
The third theme Panel on Wednesday fulfilled the “Both Ways” title with the focus “The Future of our Movement and our Ministry – Multigenerational Perspectives.” Three serving ministers, in parish and community roles (only one of them a retiree with a new community ministry career), and a seminary president each gave us their points of view from which to look towards the future. Jacqueline Brett, Elias Ortega, Chris Rothbauer and Arvid Straube began with reflections on a study described by Arvid that predicts two-thirds of our congregations might not exist or exist very differently thirty years from now. This somber prediction brought forward comments from several panelists about the sources for hope they find in their ministries, colleagues, and students. All reflected on the ways that resilience and flexibility will be required for our movement not only to survive but to thrive.
ODYSSEYS
Of course, our conferences usually feature two Odysseys, one from a minister, and one from a partner. And at this conference, we featured Carol Hepokoski .
Odysseys have always been a popular feature of UU ministerial culture. The sharing of experiences and insights gleaned through experience is an excellent resource for younger ministers and a source of connection for colleagues.