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Weekly News May 15, 2026

To the Future and To The Now

May 15, 2026

Something For the Moment 

Ministry Days Deadlines: Today, May 15, is the second deadline for scholarship applications. Finances should never be a barrier to participating in UUMA programming so please apply today if a scholarship would help you attend (getting this over the weekend? We will work on awards on Monday – go. do. now). Today is also the last day to register to recieve snacks and swag

Calling All Chapter Leaders: If you are a current (or incoming) chapter leader and haven’t registered for a chapter leader call please do! In order to recieve your chapter subsidy one chapter leader from each chapter is required to attend but the more the merrier! 

Dialogue Session: The Board of Trustees wants to meet with you for a conversation on issues vital to our shared profession. This session will focus on our upcoming Annual Meeting and give space for questions. Join us on Friday, May 29 at 4-5:15 ET / 3-4:15 CT / 2-3:15 MT / 1-2:15 PT. Register to get reminders and let us know you’re planning to join! 

Reminder! Looking for the link to register for the Healthy Boundaries class next week? Here it is! Register today with code LastMinute for $10 off your registration! 

Something for the Journey

Janette M. Lallier, Director of Operations and Finance

By now, many of you have heard the exciting news thatJanette M. Lallier Rev. Mr. Barb Greve will be joining the UUMA as my new Co-Executive Director. I was deeply grateful to have been fully included in the search process and to have helped bring the perspective of staff and our shared leadership model into the conversation. I especially want to thank Board President Robin Tanner and Search Committee co-chairs Carol Thomas Cissel and Sarah Lenzi, along with the entire committee, for their care, wisdom, and faithful work throughout the process.

Most of all, I am excited for the partnership ahead. I look forward to seeing where this new collaboration will lead and to beginning this next chapter of shared ministry together. I know many of you know Barb – but I encourage you to read the Search Committee report in the Annual Meeting Packet as I am sure there is something you didn’t know! 

As we celebrate what is ahead, I also want to lift up things that are now — right now.

May 15 is a deadline for lots of things, so if you have not been paying much attention to plans for Louisville, I think today is the day the important becomes the urgent. The most important takeaway:

If you plan to attend the Studio Site in Louisville, you must register for BOTH Ministry Days and General Assembly.

There are multiple ways to register for General Assembly, including a free GA registration if you stay at the Galt House Hotel. The hotel is beautiful, affordable, and our housing block closes next week — so now is the time to reserve your room.

GA rates are also expected to increase any day, so if Louisville is in your plans:

We’re also looking forward to celebrating Melissa Carvill Ziemer during the General Assembly period. You can read more about those celebrations — along with reports from the board and committees — in the Annual Meeting Packet, which was distributed yesterday.

May 28th is the deadline to submit any amendments or resolutions so please take time to read the packet sooner rather than later, and join the Board Dialogue Session next week if you have questions, concerns, or simply want to be in conversation with the board.

There is a great deal asking for our attention this time of year. Thank you for making space for the work, for one another, and for the work of the association.

Call to Action from Side with Love 

Something for Formation

The Ministerial Formation Network is thrilled to celebrate the aspirants and candidates who are participating in graduations, completing internships and field work, and moving into CPE programs and new roles along the path to credentialed ministry.  

Congratulations to our 2026 Seminary Graduates

MFN Formation Program: UU Mosaic for Aspirants & Candidates Registration is now open and space is limited! In response to the recommendations of the Commission on Institutional Change’s (COIC) 2020 report, Widening the Circle of Concern, the UUA has developed anti-racism resources and programs to further support the anti-racist transformation, and foster belonging and liberation in Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities. Our work for collective liberation can be as colorful, multi-faceted, and diverse as the tiles of a mosaic.This offering for folks in formation is designed to be supportive of folks at all stages of preparing for leading the faith into the future. UUMA Mosaic Adult Gatherings are formatted as 14 Lessons over 6 Sessions to be held on Wednesdays, August 12-September 16,  7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT.

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. 

UUMA Staff
 

Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer,
Director of Ministries and Programs

Janette M. Lallier
Director of Operations and Finance

Executive Leadership Team
Melissa & Janette


Rev. Denise Cawley,
Membership Administrator

Rev. Michelle Favreault,
MFN Program Manager

Hannah Franco-Isaacs,
Program Administrator


Rev. Julica Hermann de la Fuente,
Lifelong Learning Manager

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