May 12, 2023

Something For the Moment 

• Board Dialogue Session: Your UUMA Board of Trustees would like to invite our members to participate in our next dialogue session on Friday, May 19, 2023 at 4-5ET/3-4CT/2-3MT/1-2PT. There are currently 5 people registered -if registration is under 10 people we will need to cancel so please don’t wait to register! 

• Current Trends in Ministry: This has been an extraordinarily difficult and fast changing time in parish ministry. Trends that were once reliable are rapidly changing. This conversation will offer a snapshot of current trends from multiple vantage points. Read more and register for this collegial
  conversation on Wednesday, May 24 at 2-3:300pm ET/ 1-2:30pm CT/ Noon-1:30pm MT/ 11am-12:30pm PT.

• Deadlines for Ministry Days: May 15th is the deadline to purchase baseball tickets, sign up for childcare*, and request a snack box. 
  *The UUMA is proud to offer onsite childcare for our members to increase accessibility for parents at our events. To register your child(ren) please click here. 

Something for the Journey

At the May 10 Multigenerational Collegial Conversation “Our Great Joy” it didn’t surprise me that there were so many reflections about the power and poignancy of colleagues mentoring, accompanying, and teaching. The joy of witnessing the growth and development of ministers is something I get to celebrate as part of the Ministerial Formation Network and (now) a long time, mid-career clergy person! What did catch me a little bit was how folks spoke about the joy of supporting lay folks coming into Unitarian Universalist ministry when those they serve experience their call to this vocation. Now this seems like an obvious part of the process, but perhaps it was so long ago for me, I’d forgotten. And as a (primarily) community based minister for a couple decades, that particular perspective of noticing the gifts of a tentative youth group member, or enthusiastic newcomer blooming in relationship and honoring their call into ministry happens outside my context – well, of course! Being noticed and brought into circles of (future) colleagues in those early days of my own formation fills me with tears of gratitude for the patient and persistent companions. It was so wonderful to be reminded of the deep satisfaction of finding a community of care, being encouraged and supported through so, so many discernment adventures.

The small group I was in highlighted how it takes intentional tending, discipline, and trust to notice and receive the joys of being in ministry. We shared what a vital practice it is to remind one another of the necessity of joy, connection, and nurture amidst the bigness of the work of ministering. Let us lift up the gifts of long haul people, those who stay and make the change we wish to see in the world. And may we stay open to the joy of hearing a first time preacher and letting our hearts and circles of care open to all who dare to share their tentative and vulnerable entry into this profession. The MFN is a particular place to make such connections. Reach out to get more involved. We need one another, indeed.  Indeed. 

~with gratitude,

Michelle Favreault, MFN Program Manager

Something Extra

Ministry Days Update: There are currently 452 people registered for Ministry Days – 374 in person and 78 virtually. We are working hard to get all our ducks in a row for a strong multi-platform experience. Learn more about the programming, schedule and more here. 

Singers of the Living Tradition: This week we sent an email to all folks who indicated they planned to sing in the choir. The Singers of the Living Tradition welcome all religious professionals and their partners and spouses. If you know of someone who would like to participate who has not received this email please forward and ask them to contact Hannah Franco-Isaacs to be added to the distribution list.

Empower Transition Update:  At the UU Retirement Plan, we receive occasional questions about why some money remains with TIAA after the transition to Empower as recordkeeper. If you had funds invested in TIAA Traditional (an annuity fund), the majority of that money is still at TIAA. Since TIAA Traditional is a proprietary fund with TIAA, those monies are being transferred to Empower over a 60-month period (1/60 per month, ending after 5 years) to the Putnam Stable Value Fund.  When these funds transfer, the transaction shows up in Empower as a “contribution” but it is actually a transfer.  

If you aren’t sure if this affects you, you can log into your TIAA account and see if you have a balance. Your account with TIAA should still be active with the same login credentials you used before the transition, which means you still have access to statements and tax documents. If you do have money in TIAA Traditional, you will continue to receive statements (electronic or paper) from TIAA, so please keep your contact information up to date with TIAA until you no longer have a balance with them.

If you are 59 ½ and older and would like to activate the annuity with your balance in TIAA Traditional, you can do this at any time. If you do annuitize, your TIAA Traditional balance is removed from the UU Plan and lifetime income payments begin. Please contact TIAA if you would like to annuitize.

Please note: TIAA has an option called Transfer Payout Annuity (TPA) that can be used to receive payments from your TIAA Traditional monies. This is not the same thing as the lifetime income annuity. The TPA allows you to start receiving payments from TIAA Traditional, but the monies not yet paid to you continue to transfer to Empower over the 60-month period. Please contact Anna Gehres, Retirement Plan Specialist, with questions: retirementplan@uua.org, (617) 948-6421.