Music at the Institute: The music director selection team is pleased to announce that, from an incredibly talented pool of applicants, the team of Matt Meyer and Francisco Ruiz have been selected as co-music directors for the 2026 UUMA Institute for the Learning Ministry. We are excited for their vision of codirectors and share these words from their application:
“We believe our most powerful ministry happens through collaboration. We each bring different skill sets and different backgrounds to our music and our worship planning. Working together will offer more comprehensive musical leadership than either could provide alone. We’re committed to creating an Institute choir and worship music that reflects our denomination’s diversity and welcomes different skill levels.”
Institute Registration Update: 242 of you have registered for the Institute. We know there were a couple of glitches in the last week and they should be fixed now so if you were waiting to register now is a great time! Earlier this summer we awarded raffle prizes of free registration, flight, and more – please remember that if you register before October 15th you are entered in our second raffle! Register Today!
Sabbatical Handbook Revamp: Did you recently take a sabbatical? Wish you could? Please come on over and tell us about it. We are revamping the Sabbatical Handbook and will benefit from your wisdom and experiences. And please share with other religious professionals!
Something for the Journey
Hannah Franco-Isaacs, Administrator
This July (how is August already!?) I celebrated 7 years with the UUMA. A couple of cross country moves, two new babies, two big huge personal losses, a global pandemic, a fascist government (a couple of times) and all the little things that make up a life later and it is time for a sabbatical. I am so grateful that the UUMA affords this privilege to all of our staff, not just those in ministerial roles. Can I believe that it has been 7 years and that I am at this point in my career? No, no I cannot but given that time isn’t real and pandemic years were at least 2 or 3 years long I guess I sort of can.
I am being creative in how I take my sabbatical. I am not working Fridays during the Summer and then will be off completely in September and October. What’s my plan? Parenting with minimal multitasking, settling into our new to us, old to the world house, resting, processing continued grief and loss after my parent’s untimely deaths and, hopefully, some plain old fun.
When I come back from sabbatical I will be transitioning into a new administrative role and am so looking forward to working more directly with the program team and with all of you to make the UUMA mission alive in the world – because we need one another. Stay tuned next week for more information about our newest staffing structure and coverage plans for while I am on sabbatical.
7 years ago I said a joyful yes to the job offer from the UUMA not having any idea what was coming in our world and in my personal life and I am so incredibly grateful I did. The support and stability I have gotten as a staff member has been life changing and life giving. Thank you for saying yes right back, again and again and again and again.
At the core of the MFN are programs for discernment support and collegiality. This conversation will offer updates and early registration for aspirants looking to connect and learn more about the UU Wellspring for Seminarians project, a new Co-Hearts initiative for small groups and a revised format for 1:1 Vocational Advising. Come explore ways to engage care for your formation phase/stage & circumstances as you prepare for a career in ministry.
MFN Formation Conversation: The More Things Change: Intended for folks in fellowship who are wanting to know what’s up with credentialing and discernment with Darrick Jackson and Michelle Favreault. Join us Tuesday, September 9, at 2:30pm ET /1:30pm CT/12:30pm MT/11:30am PT.
This is an opportunity for current and future intern supervisors, teaching ministers, mentors, advisors, chapter leaders et al. to get the facts about Mdiv equivalencies, the current MFC experience and learn more about “Widening the Pathway to Ministry.” We’ll share thoughts on learning goals/the learning serving agreement and sources of support for those who are in the process and those who are wanting to keep up to date on the very different realities of UU ministry formation today.
Something Extra
All Pathways of Recovery for UUMA Members: A meeting especially for clergy (UUMA members) on Mondays at 1pm ET/ 12 pm CT/ 11 am MT/ 10 am PT. Registration is not required. For security purposes we have removed the Zoom link from this event. You can find the Zoom link by clicking here. You must be logged into the UUMA website to access the link.
Latest News: We want to be sure lift up a few posts from our colleagues at the UUA we have recently amplified on Social Media. And as a reminder, news we amplify on Social Media we also post to our Latest News feed at uuma.org.
Learning Opportunity: Our colleague the Rev Dr Adam Robersmith is offering a 9-month cohort program on Authentic Leadership and Public Intimacy through Meadville Lombard’s Leadership Institute for Growth, Healing and Transformation (LIGHT). Registration is open now; early bird pricing and half-scholarships are still available. Check it out!
Upcoming Events
You can view our calendar events here. Please make sure you are logged into uuma.org to see our full calendar as some events are available for members only.
Mondays, Ongoing: UUMA Recovery Meeting
Wed, Aug 13: Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Clergyperson: From “Too Sensitive” to Embracing Your Insight and Empathy
