Dreaming and Experimenting in 2014

by Maggie Lovins, Congregational Life Consultant

As we move in 2014, many of us have new goals, new resolutions or aspirations for a new way of being. We often start off with mass amounts of enthusiasm and gusto only to have this momentum wane in the coming months. Whether this waning is due to daily life ‘getting in the way’, lack of motivation, or the goal not being realistically achievable, I would like to give us all a reminder to be gentle with ourselves. We as Unitarian Universalists hold ourselves, and others in most cases, to a very high standard. With this in mind we must be more comfortable with allowing ourselves to experiment and to stand on our growing edges to imagine what could be.
 

As Kenn Hurto explained in his last blog post on Jan. 3rd, the concept of “experi-fail” is being discussed at many levels of leadership. I like this concept for many reasons, mostly I appreciate it's permission giving. “Experi-fail” gives us ‘permission’ to step out in Faith, to take risks and try new things without the focus on failure, but on the adventure of discovery to come! Utilizing this thought process gives ourselves, and others, permission to unfurl our wings and see exactly how high and far we can fly, it gives us permission to go boldly into the next phase of being Unitarian Universalists. It is this part of permission giving that allows our fear or anxiety to fall away. If we were to rid ourselves of the fear of showing we are truly human and fallible, and the anxiety of possible judgment for not reaching that goal of 100% what could we dream?

Experimentation does not always spell success, but the lessons we learn from what does not work are just as valuable as the lessons of what does work. We learn what is not the right course of action for a particular situation, what variables need to be changed, and as long as we are learning, as long as we have grown from the experience then we have not failed!

If we removed the anxieties of perfection for just this year, what could we really accomplish? How deep could we really go? What good works as a Faith community could we achieve? Maybe one of our resolutions should be to experiment more and worry less about the perfection of the outcome. I invite you to ponder these questions and others that arise in your meditations on how you could use the “experi-fail” concept in your personal and congregational lives. And then, when you’re ready, step out in Faith knowing that success is as great of a probability, (and maybe even more when we stop second guessing ourselves!), as failure when you allow yourself to experiment, be bold, innovative and courageous!

Commentary from your Southern Region Staff

So, a new year unfolds. The annual rite of making of resolutions is in process. This notion has its origins in ancient cultures, notably setting people free from literal or spiritual enslavements.

 

There is something appealing about putting old habits to rest and think of a new year as a “fresh start,” a “new page,” or a “blank slate” upon which to write a new chapter. But we all know that power of the status quo to get in the way. We can anticipate news articles early next month about how few people were able to sustain their resolve for even a month. Ah, yes, the more things change the more they stay the same.

 

Even so, marking time’s passing helps one focus: what have we learned? What does that suggest for our next steps?

 

The last three years have been a period of trying new things for our Region, even as we coped with sustaining what is already in place. Your staff and Boards have embraced the notion of “experi-fail” to indicate the vulnerability we feel as we seek to create something very new to serve our Unitarian Universalist future and our existing congregations.

 

Premised on the idea of encouraging innovation, we’ve sought to risk new approaches to the larger ministry across four unique Districts and to collaborate in forming a unified Southern Region.

 

Two joint meetings since 2010 (see the website uuasouthernregion.org for The Orlando Platform and the Mountain View documents) have led to these outcomes:

 

Routine and frequent collaboration between the four boards;

The launch of a twice-monthly regional newsletter and consolidation of four websites into one;

The addition of (SUULE) the Southern Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience to (DBLE) the Dwight Brown Leadership Experience as annual events;

The establishment of Convocations of Congregational Presidents each spring, in addition to local and District-based trainings such as Fall Harvest, the Congregational Toolbox, and Spring Training;

The transformation of 6 ½ District-based staff to 7 Regional positions called Congregational Life Staff. Each has a direct 1st-call relationship with roughly 30 to 35 congregations in addition to being available to the entire region;

The merger of four administrative offices into two;

The creation of a unified budget for the whole region;

 

All of this, however, is mere re-arranging of the chairs unless we use the efficiencies and combined talents better to serve our congregations and their leaders, as well as create new inter-congregational connections and partner with like-hearted groups beyond the congregation.

 

The new pages turning as we enter this new year include:

 

Rolling out the new approach to Regional funding, called (GIFT) Generously Investing for Tomorrow — a unified, single Ask for both our UUA’s Annual Program Fund and“dues” to support the Districts. See details at: http://www.uuasouthernregion.org/stewardshipgiftprogram/giftprogram.html.

Redefining the role of our Boards as at-large advisors or “Elders” to our congregations;

Holding our first simultaneous District Assemblies/Annual Meetings April 25-27, with UUA Moderator Jim Keyproviding a live-stream keynote to all four gatherings;

Fully integrating the four District finances while establishing protocols for the management of District-specific assets (e.g., endowments, Chalice Lighter funds);

Developing strategies for strengthening existing and creating new cluster arrangements, including the establishment of new “affinity” clusters (such as, adding to the current three state-wide legislative ministries or linking congregations with campus ministries, etc.).

 

It is that last item that generates great excitement. The philosophic idea that we are better together than apart — including the notion of shared nurture, support, and accountability — challenges our congregations no longer to view themselves as separate, do it yourself communities. We need each other to succeed. The challenges of our time call us to reclaim the second half of our polity, that the “autonomous” congregation is also a “connected” congregation. Clusters, geographic or affinity, are one way to do that. Congregational coaching by one congregation with one or two others is another.

 

As we move into this new year, we look back eager to retain what is solid and of value in our Districts. We also look forward to what a larger, collaborative ministry across the Southern Region might yet make possible — all to ensure the voices of the Free Church, our liberal religious outlook, and our commitment to love and justice are heard more clearly, more often.

 

Let’s resolve to make this a year of great and shared ministry.

 

Kenn

 

The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto

Congregational Life Staff member

and Lead Executive for the Southern Region

khurto@uua.org or 239.560.5628