Welcome to the UUA Central Midwest District! We are one of 20 districts working to further liberal religious values as part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The district covers all or part of five states – Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan and Indiana – and serves more than 80 congregations with over 12,000 members.
Young Adult and Campus Ministry Award Goes to CMwD's Kimberlee Carlson
For years, young adults in the Central Midwest District have known how fortunate they are to have Kimberlee Carlson as the Youth and Young Adult Coordinator for the district. Now she is receiving the national recognition she deserves for all her tireless efforts and dedication to youth and young adult ministry, having been awarded the Donna DiSciullo Young Adult and Campus Ministry Award this past summer.
“Kimberlee has made tireless and far-reaching efforts to connect and network with a wide array of young adults and those ministering with them from all across the country,” says Erik Kesting, Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director for the Unitarian Universalist Association. In addition to her work with the Central Midwest District, she has served as a leader at the congregational, and denominational level, along with being a UUA Young Adult and Campus Ministry Regional Organizing Consultant and serving on the Church of the Younger Fellowship (CYF) Steering Committee.
For the past two years, Kimberlee has spearheaded and been instrumental in the coordination of the newly established Midwest Youth Leadership School which runs in conjunction with Midwest Leadership School, a joint venture of three districts: Central Midwest, Heartland and Prairie Star. The youth leadership school allows youth and adults to learn and work together in worship, education and achievement. This unique opportunity, sponsored by the districts, brings together youth and volunteer staff from across the Midwest to create a place for our Unitarian Universalist youth to explore their religion, values and heritage while developing leadership skills.
District Assembly 2011
Thursday, 29 July 2010 13:38 | Author: CMwD Staff |
SAVE THE DATE! April 29 - May 1 in Bloomington Illinois
Fuzzy Aspirations & Hard Realities Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed will be our Keynote Speaker
Morrison-Reed's graduate thesis, Black Pioneers in a White Denomination, was published in 1984 and is still in print. Now retired from full-time ministry, Morrison-Reed divides his time between writing and other interests. He has been working with Meadville Lombard Theological School to organize and build the library's archive of materials relating to African American involvement in Universalism, Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism and is teaching at the school on his research. Download and share a "save the date" flyer! (PDF 388KB) Standing on the Side of Love in Arizona
Saturday, 31 July 2010 10:43 | Author: CMwD Staff |
On July 29th, 2010 Arizona’s SB 1070 was put into effect. CMwD ministers Hilary Krivchenia & Matthew Johnson Doyle are in AZ and they say... Rev. Hilary Krivchenia: "The protests went well, we got everyone but one out of jail. Then this evening a small group from Puente went to prevent a police sweep of a barrio. The ten of them were arrested as was the leader, Salvator Reza -- as he was getting into his car in a parking lot. So we are back in cars headed this time to Tent City to hold a vigil. This is a very violent place on account of this terrible sheriff. I shudder to think what will happen after we leave. It isn't about immigration -- it is about race."Rev. Matthew Johnson-Doyle: "Lots of things struck me and I'm still processing much of it. Most powerful for me was the clear effect we had on those here who oppose this law and its spirit - on the ground, at businesses, and so on. So often I heard "thank you for being here" and how important it was people of faith came, people who had nothing at stake except their values. I return knowing that we need to engage this work at home. "In Rockford we need to challenge the "secure communities" program and the way it divides people and alienates Latinos from law enforcement, when we need to be building trust. Our faith calls us to learn, learn, learn, then stand with others in their struggle for freedom. "It was powerful how much it can matter when we come not to lead but to stand with others." At the end of the day, people gathered outside of the Maricopa County jail house for a candlelight vigil to stand in solidarity with the 83 people who were arrested in protest of the racist anti-immigrant law SB 1070 and the culture that dehumanizes undocumented immigrants. Many of those present wore their yellow Standing on the Side of Love shirts. In this video, UUA Moderator Gini Courter recounts her perspective on the day’s events. She tells us, “This is what it means to be a religious movement in a democracy.”
A Youth Report from YOUTH COUNCIL 2010
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 08:09 | Author: Elias Waddington & Theresa Kennedy |
Saturday July 11th marked the end of the Youth Council meeting. Even though this is only its third year, the idea of having a group of democratically elected youth serving as leaders and quality control dates back to the days of Continental Conferences and LRY, the precursor to today’s YRUU. Youth Council is designed to incorporate two representatives from each congregation within the Central Midwestern District (CMwD). Once there, these representatives discuss what issues should be agenda items at the following year’s District Youth Steering Committee (DYSC) meetings. During the year, DYSC follows through on the topics which are discussed at Youth Council, and returns to the next Youth Council to report on what has been resolved and presents a proposal for future work. Youth Midwest Leadership School 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010 13:45 | Author: Kimberlee Carlson |
Youth Midwest Leadership School is an intensive week of learning and friendship for youth in Prairie Star, Central Midwest and Heartland Districts of the UUA. The school, in its second year, runs in tandem with the adult leadership school alllowing youth and adults to learn and work together in worship, education and achievement. This unique opportunity, sponsored by the districts, brings together youth and volunteer staff from across the Midwest to create a place for our Unitarian Universalist youth to explore their religion, values and heritage while developing leadership skills. This year we were able to work again with Rockford Urban Ministry to spend one day of leadership school giving back to our communities by doing an afternoon of social justice work. To hear our students speak about their experience please watch our video and consider sending your youth to leadership school next year!
Read more about Midwest Leadership School at www.mwls.org! |
General Assembly |
Photos 2010 General Assembly Opening Ceremony included the traditional banner parade, plus musicians Jim Scott, Ann Reed, and Peter Mayer. The District Ingathering was held jointly with Heartland District. It was conducted (sans sound system) by our own Ian Evison and Heartland's Nancy Combs-Morgan and Lisa Presley. |
