Resources & Services
We are pleased to offer a wide range of resources for congregations and lay leaders, church professionals, ministers, and religious educators- we look forward to serving you!
The MBD email list, MBD-L, is a great way to keep up-to-date with discussions and announcements in the MBD. Join MBD-L here.
Resources for Congregations and their Leaders
MBD Ethics and Safety Guidelines
OSHA Regulations and Congregations
Transformation Team
The Mass Bay Transformation Team works with a congregation to learn and develop healthy and open behaviors that help it adapt to the inevitable challenges that face us. We believe that a congregation itself has the capacity to do this work, and that our role is simply to provide coaching in methods that have been shown to be successful in other congregations. We are rooted in a philosophy that conflict is inevitable in our congregations, and that it exists to teach us something about how to live with differing opinions and perspectives. We begin by conducting an assessment with the governing board and then training a team of well-respected members within the congregation to conduct listening circles in which better knowledge of the situation and dreams and desires of all the congregants may be gathered. This information is then given back to the governing board to discern future steps. We believe such a method is far more healthy than a confrontative "all-congregational meeting" in the beginning of a time of stress.
The charge for this service is $500 to have the consultant work with the board and train the facilitators. The District matches this fee for the consultant.
Grants for Congregations
- Harbor UU Congregation Endowment Fund
- Chalice Lighter
- President's Freedom to Marry Fund
- UU Funding Panel
- UU Partner Church Council Travel Grants
- UU Women's Federation Funding Programs
- Woburn Fund
- Young Adult and Campus Ministry Grants
Grants Panel
Drive Time Essays: Wisdom for and by Unitarian Universalist Lay Leaders like You
Ministerial Settlement Representative
Contact: the Rev. Sylvia Howe - msr@mbduua.org
Nominating Committee
In developing a slate of candidates for MBD leadership, to be presented at the Annual Meeting, the NomCom seeks to create a balanced representation among elected officials of the district.
Contact: Jim Staton - nomcom@mbduua.org
Music & Worship Services
The MBD Music and Worship Arts Team is available for consultation, workshops, and worship. The team leader is the Rev. Art Lavoie, contact him at fathaatha@verizon.net
Ministry For Earth Representatives For MBD
Ministry For Earth is deeply committed to assisting UU congregations who are working to raise UU consciousness and affirmation of the 7th Principle through congregational and individual action. Among the principal ways the MFE works towards this goal is by supporting congregations who are interested in making comments on the UUA SAI Threat of Global Warming, and by administering the UU Green Sanctuary program.
Contact: Wendi Irvine or Bruce Langmuir - MFE_MBD@yahoo.com
MFE web site: www.uuministryforearth.org
Personnel Policy Manual for Religious Organizations
Click this link for a model policy manual: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/22672.shtml. The model manual is for consideration by Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations that may wish to modify their current personnel Manual, or to create such a Manual for the first time. It is available both in Word format (so it can be edited) and in PDF format.
The purpose of the AUUA, and the Massachusetts Bay Chapter, is to provide training and support for members; to be a clearing house for church administrative information; and to improve recognition of church administration as a profession. The UUMN provides consultation and assists in making referrals dealing with church music programs and musicians, and also provides musical workshops for district-wide conferences. Email Julie Shaw at jshaw@uua.org, Melrose UU Church Eastern Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Employees Group offers health insurance coverage through the Harvard Pilgrim Community Health Plan to employees living and working in the plan's coverage area. Find out more about the UUA's Health Plan CLF is a UU congregation by mail and cyberspace providing a UU connection for people who are housebound, work on a Sunday morning, want additional UU resources, are looking for UUism 24/7. What resources can the CLF provide?
Web site: http://www.clfuu.org To enhance our ministerial skills, effectiveness, and leadership, we, the ministers of the UUA, do provide and maintain the UUMA, whose purposes are to defend the tradition of freedom in all church, denominational, and ministerial relations, tempered only by our obligations to one another as colleagues and the standards set forth in the Code of Professional Practice. The CMC was established to facilitate the integration of community ministers into the life of the district and its congregations through the specific ministries they offer. CLF is a UU congregation by mail and cyberspace providing a UU connection for people who are housebound, work on a Sunday morning, want additional UU resources, are looking for UUism 24/7. What resources can the CLF provide?
Web site: http://www.clfuu.org Eastern Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Employees Group offers health insurance coverage through the Harvard Pilgrim Community Health Plan to employees living and working in the plan's coverage area. CLF is a UU congregation by mail and cyberspace providing a UU connection for people who are housebound, work on a Sunday morning, want additional UU resources, are looking for UUism 24/7. What resources can the CLF provide?
Web site: http://www.clfuu.orgThe Parish Paper: Ideas and Insights for Active Congregations
Resources for Church Professionals
Association of Unitarian Univeralist Administrators
Contact: Sue King
Web site: http://www.auua.org/Unitarian Universalist Musician's Network
Web site: http://www.uumn.orgEastern Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Employees Group (EMUUMEG)
Contact: Janet Manning - emuumeg@mbduua.orgMedical Insurance for Church Employees
The Church of the Larger Fellowship
♦Quest, a monthly publication of sermons and other material
♦Lifespan Religious Education resources
♦A loan library including books, sermons, videotapes and more
♦Online classes
♦E-mail lists, cyber communities, and online covenant groups focusing on sharing ideas and spirituality
♦Online worship and religious education resources for small groups and individuals
♦Prison letter writing ministry
Resources for Ministers
Unitarian Univeralist Ministers Association
Web site: http://www.uuma.org/main/chapter.aspCommunity Ministry Commitee
Contact: Rev. Maddie Sifantus - commin@mbduua.orgThe Church of the Larger Fellowship
♦Quest, a monthly publication of sermons and other material
♦Lifespan Religious Education resources
♦A loan library including books, sermons, videotapes and more
♦Online classes
♦E-mail lists, cyber communities, and online covenant groups focusing on sharing ideas and spirituality
♦Online worship and religious education resources for small groups and individuals
♦Prison letter writing ministry
MBD Compensation Consultants
Eastern Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Employees Group (EMUUMEG)
Contact: Janet Manning - emuumeg@mbduua.orgResources for Religious Educators
Massachusetts Bay District Religious Education Team
The Church of the Larger Fellowship
♦Quest, a monthly publication of sermons and other material
♦Lifespan Religious Education resources
♦A loan library including books, sermons, videotapes and more
♦Online classes
♦E-mail lists, cyber communities, and online covenant groups focusing on sharing ideas and spirituality
♦Online worship and religious education resources for small groups and individuals
♦Prison letter writing ministry