October 30, 2026

Something for the Moment

Coming Up: Opportunities You Won’t Want to Miss!

The Grief Altar: Making Space for Grief: Grief takes many forms, and we need not carry it alone. Join colleagues for The Grief Altar, a two-session gathering offering ritual, reflection, and practical support for tending to grief in our lives and ministries. Come as you are, with whatever grief you carry. November 5 & 12 | Learn more and register.

Collegial Conversation About Sabbaticals: Want to talk about a recent or upcoming sabbatical? Join colleagues for an informal conversation where we can ask questions and hear each other’s stories. Tuesday, November 10 | Learn more and register.

UUMA Board Dialogue Session: Your voice matters in shaping the future of our Association! Join the UUMA Board of Trustees for an opportunity to connect, hear what the Board is considering, share what’s on your mind, and help inform our collective work. Because governance is relational, and we need one another. Sunday, November 15 | Learn more and join the dialogue.

Something for the Journey

Michelle Favreault, UUMA Ministerial Formation Manager

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Clinical Pastoral Education is a major component of the training we engage before heading into fellowship, and it’s like so many other parts of religious leadership: changing. Over recent decades, the standard of a 10 week, 400 hour program in a medical setting has become one way of learning in a clinical setting. But there are many other options, including programs with significant online components and extended programs conducted over 20-36 or more weeks. Some programs that once supported lots of UU students have gone by the wayside, so new programs are popping up, and a variety of community-based CPE programs have come into existence. Students now learn through pastoral outreach at gay bars, laundromats, in movement chaplaincy, at youth detention centers, and so much more. “Trauma Informed” curricula has (mostly) replaced the tear-them-down-to build-them-up philosophy that past generations experienced with emotional harm and not-very-inclusive theological framing.

At our MFN webinar earlier this week, we heard from colleagues involved in the work of CPE right now. We have 15 CPE educators (certified folks and those in training) listed in our UUMA database. Among them are Kevin Jagoe who works with the American Humanist Association. AHA is launching their first CPE program this month. Celeste Lebak brings IFS (internal family systems) perspective to specialized CPE training and workshops. Karen Hutt, CPE educator to many UUMA colleagues, shared that the average age of CPE leaders has dramatically increased (to 67) and the need for teachers committed to a new generation of spiritual care providers just might be ∞ (infinite!). After all, the world needs folks who can “integrate rigorous clinical practice with reflective learning to develop the self-awareness, knowledge, and professional competencies essential for compassionate and ethical care.”

I’m pretty sure that there are more among us who might be trained (or are in training) to be added to the list of CPE Educators — just let me know so we can invite you to the next gathering. And since ‘tis the season for applications and interviews, and because it is so true that we need one another to do the work of collective liberation, we seek to support building collegial networks all the more. If you are starting the search for a first unit, or you are midcareer and thinking about a CPE residency program for yourself, here are the links to the 4 accredited programs on the MFC list. Ask around your chapter and be sure to check in with the Ministerial Credentialing Office – there are so many great new ways to learn and grow. And let us count the many blessings of our CPE educator colleagues who guide our pedagogy and transform our faith with creativity and care!

Something for Justice

Democracy is More Than Election Day

With Election Day approaching, Side with Love reminds us that democracy is more than casting a ballot—it is something we build and sustain together. Their latest Action Center Update highlights grassroots organizing, voter protection, and community-led efforts to strengthen democratic participation, with opportunities to join UU the Vote:

Oct. 31: Virtual Textbank with TXUUJM and WHEW
Nov. 1: Philadelphia Canvass with UU the Vote and New Voices for Reproductive Justice
Nov. 2: Phonebank with UU the Vote and New Voices for Reproductive Justice
Nov. 9: The Gathering: Post-Election Roundup offering reflection, spiritual grounding, and a look at what comes next.

Read the November Update | Explore the Side with Love Action Center

Side With Love has also updated its Toolkit, Grounded, Resilient, & Responsible: Responding and Organizing in Authoritarian Times, to address the heightened anxiety about the elections. You are invited to download and share with your congregational leadership team!

Something Extra

Property & Casualty Insurance Renewals and Upcoming Workshops: It’s time to begin planning your congregation’s Property & Casualty Insurance renewal for policies renewing in October, November, December, or January 2027. Please contact Kenessa O’Dell, Insurance Account Manager, at kenessa_odell@ajg.com for additional information or to request a quote. Please also join the UUA Benefit Plans & Services for one of the upcoming workshops,“Understanding the Essentials for Property Coverage”:

November 12 at 10am ET / 9am CT / 8am MT / 7am PT
November 18 at 1pm ET / 12pm CT / 11am MT / 10am PT

During these one-hour sessions, we’ll provide an overview of key industry underwriting requirements for appropriate property coverage and discuss common challenges that can lead to underinsurance or create obstacles to securing coverage. Please mark your calendar and look for an invitation this week.

2027 UUA Health Plan Updates: The UUA Health Plan has announced a 12% premium increase for 2027, and its updated rate calculator is available to help employers plan. New pharmacy benefit rules will also take effect January 1, including a transition to RxBenefits and new ID cards. Read more about these changes.

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.