21 February 2005

Online Unitarian Universalist Religious Education and Lifespan Faith Development Resources (from an article written for my congregation's newsletter)

You've just volunteered to teach an eight week pillar of religious education classes at All Souls and after your enthusiasm wears off you realize that you need extra help and information right now.

Or you've agreed to lead an adult religious education class and you're scrambling for resources to present your topic.

But it's 3 AM on Sunday morning when you realize that you need help. You don't want to call Susan (our DRE) or Melissa (our Religious Education Chair) and wake them at 3 AM.

There is no need to panic. Help may be just a mouse-click away.

Here's a listing of available online religious education resources for you that are available 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - ready and willing to help you in working with children, youth, and adults.

UUA Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group (formerly known as the "Religious Education Department") - According to this UUA web, the Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group provides " ... lifespan resources for education, worship, advocacy, and social action that nurture UU identity, spiritual growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice and love."

Curriculum Mapping - "The purpose of Curriculum Mapping is to help congregations and other groups plan religious education programs for children, youth, adults, and multi-age groups by providing one place to review all the published curricula possibilities before deciding which to explore further."

Discussion Guides - The online book discussion guides designed to promote reflection and discussion can be used by individuals and groups. Most of the books listed are Beacon Press book.

The Beacon Press Discussion Guides for Unitarian Universalist Communities - "A resource for adult religious education or adult discussion groups seeking to examine issues of concern to the UU movement."

Short Programs -- " ... developed for timely publication on the Web or published here after they are no longer available in print -- to download, print, and use"

The currently available free-to-download short programs online include:

"Stewardship: The Joy of Giving" - a five-session curriculum in which primary children, intermediate children, youth, and adults learn about stewardship with their peers, then celebrate it with all generations.

"The New UU: An Orientation Program for New Members of Unitarian Universalist Congregations"


"UUA 101: You and the UUA" -- A downloadable workshop about your Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Our Whole Lives - Lifespan Sexuality Education Curricula jointly developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ

Multicultural and Anti-Bias Resources

Selected Faith Development Resources for Adults

UU History Resources

Unitarian Universalist Family Network - "To articulate and advocate a definition of FAMILY and FAMILY VALUES as reflections of our Unitarian Universalist theology; To serve and service UU family ministry through spiritual development, education programs, social justice advocacy, and caring companionship"

UUA Loan Library - "Many programs for adults, youth, children and congregations are available on loan for a two-week period from the Lifespan Faith Development Loan Library. Before contacting us for materials, we ask that you check first with your district about borrowing resources."

Southwest District Religious Education Resources and Loan Library


Email Mailing Lists - The UUA sponsors these RE-related email mailing lists for religious education professionals and volunteers working with children, youth, and adults.

Some of these email lists included on this resource are:

REACH-L - Discussion and sharing of UU Religious Education

Adult-RE - Discussion on UU adult religious education programs

YRUU-L - A resource for UU youth programs including Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU)

Advisor-L - Discussion Resource for YRUU Group Advisors

Resources for Youth and Adults working with Youth - Middle School Youth (Grades 6-8) and YRUU Youth (Ages 14-20)

Covenant Group and Small Group Ministry Resources for UU Young Adults (Ages 18-35)

UU Faith Works - A clearinghouse packet to support lifespan faith development and empower religious educators, ministers, and lay leaders in their work.

Religious Education Leadership Development Resources

These religious education resources are provided to our congregation through the generous financial contributions that our congregation and other UU congregations make to the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Southwest District of the UUA.

These resources reflect the cooperative - interdependent spirit of Unitarian Universalism and are freely available to all who need them.

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