Youth Religious Education CommitteeOur children are growing up now, here before our very eyes. Their bones are forming, their hearts are growing, their brains are wiring, their experiences here with us now shape who they are and who they will be. Every minute is precious. As you know, they grow and soon will be away from us and making their own decisions and deciding their own paths.... sooner than we can believe when we look back in confusion-- where did the years go? The time is now. We are the adults who have the privilege of helping support and nurture the positive growth of these growing human beings. We have no right to squander this time, this time that we, as a church family have to impact these children. These, who will leave us someday and take with them much of what we have offered them. Let us know that we served them well and our world is a better place for it. As a member of the YRE committee, we need you to make a commitment to our children and to our group and the support of our Director of YRE, Natalie. This is a *new and improved* YRE committee, (a ministry, if you prefer). The commitment is greater-- (i.e., BETTER), and our potential as a group will be greater (i.e. MORE SUBSTANTIAL) because of the synergy that happens when a group of dedicated folks put their energy in focus and work together toward goals with a promise that we will see it through. Our YRE committee members have a 3-year commitment to the committee. Barring unforeseen changes in individual needs (geographical move, family needs, medical necessity, etc.), we really want to have a group that will stay together for a period of time with a planned turnover. The YRE committee makes important decisions that affect children and youth in our program. We will have six members of the committee. Other folks are welcome to all YRE Committee meetings, which will be open and advertised, and all MVUUF members and friends will be welcome to speak at meetings, but if there is decision to be made, we will count on the appointed members of the committee to make the decisions, by consensus, and if not by consensus, then by 2/3 vote. Decisions may be regarding things such as teacher training, curriculum, budget planning, program design, and teacher support. We need for our members to show up to meetings whenever possible, once per month, currently on the third Sunday at 12:30, unless it needs to be rescheduled due to conflict. Members need to attend at least 4 of the last 6 meetings to participate in decision making. We need our YRE committee members to participate and to contribute to the conversations in meetings, bring your ideas, energy, insight, and wisdom. We ask committee members help fill a committee role, such as meeting chair, note-taker, time-keeper, publicity, and, if at all possible, chairing one event during the church year, such as Mystery Friends, or Easter Egg Hunt. Other activities during the year may benefit from participation of members, such as program evaluation, child registration, and teacher recruitment. The Committee chair is to be appointed by the LRE Rep, per the bylaws and approved by the Program Council. There are no bylaws or policies regarding committee membership. For the YRE committee composition, the LRE Rep and DRE have invited some new members and others volunteered as continuing members. In the future the LRE Rep, DRE, and Chair will be responsible for identifying and inviting future committee members. Non-committee members may attend and participate in all YRE committee meetings and events AND they can chair events. The DRE and LRE Rep may (and most likely will always) attend and participate, but The YRE Committee is intended to a core group of folks who work as a team, who promise to be there for a specific term, provide support, make decisions, give the committee a share of their energy, and make a contribution toward the great (i.e., FABULOUS) end of Religious Education: The mission of Youth Religious Education at MVUUF is to help children and youth learn, internalize, and apply the UU Principles, live ethically and justly, be spiritually fulfilled, be able to make informed decisions about their own beliefs and practices and be able to articulate their faith.
With Gratitude! |