Pacific Central District - Unitarian Universalist Association

Chalice Lighters

Read the Fall 2011 Chalice Lighter Call. (PDF, 146 KB)

Read how you can join the Chalice Lighter program. (PDF, 190 KB)

What is the Chalice Lighters program?
The Chalice Lighter program is an exciting opportunity to promote and strengthen Unitarian and Universalism in the Pacific Central District. You can help spread the light of liberal religious values through the District by making a donation to growth initiatives in our member congregations.
 
Some of those initiatives have included funding a first minister or religious education professional, new buildings and building improvements or even seeding a spin-off congregation.
 
  PCD UUA Chalice Lighter commit to donating to three Chalice Lighter calls per year. Each call is for a specific growth project.  Before you make your decision to donate please consider the benefits of being part of a Unitarian Universalist congregation and what you hope to build as a legacy so there will always be a liberal religious alternative.  

How does the Chalice Lighters Program Work?
Individuals are encouraged to make three donations per year to raise funds for specific growth projects. There are six levels at which persons may sign up: $250 (Beacon), $100 (Benefactor), $50 (Builder), $20 (Believer) and $10 (Basic). We appreciate all contributions! Make your check out to the PCD with "Chalice Lighters" on the memo line. All donations are tax deductible.

As a Chalice Lighter, you will be sent a letter telling you about the current "call" to be funded. This letter will explain the current project and request that you send in your pledged amount.

What is the "One out of Two @ $10 Campaign?"
Imagine if one out of every two members in our PCD congregations gave at least $10 three times a year to each call? With a 2011 membership of 6609 congregants, that would mean that we could raise more than $99,000.00 for the growth of Unitarian Universalism in the Pacific Central District! This level of contributions could make a HUGE difference in the growth of Unitarian Universalism in this district. But we need your help to convince more members of PCD to participate in this vital program!

Download an Intent to Apply form. (Word Document, 33 KB)

Download a Chalice Lighter Grant application. (Word Document, 112 KB)

Downlaod a Chalice Lighter Special Grant Application (Word Document, 68KB) The Special Project Fund is program for small projects intended to promote growth.  It is a matching grant program that extends the fund raising efforts of congregations. This fund is for awards between $500 and $2000, and can be used to purchase signage, improve worship, upgrade a church website, create a new program, partially fund a part-time staff person, and all other programs intended to increase visitors, integrate new members and retain current members. Fair Share congregations will be given preference; however, congregations in an active program to become Fair Share will be considered. 

Find your Growth Committee Liaison.

Read Congregations Count! (PDF, 1.6 MB) or, How a UU Membership Chair Stopped Trying to Doing Everything. Presented to the General Assembly at Portland, Oregon on June 22, 2007, by Linda Laskowski, Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, and UUA Trustee (PCD)

How to apply for a Chalice Lighters Grant
The "Intent to Apply" application must precede a Chalice Lighter Grant application in order to provide adequate time for the District staff and the Growth Committee to assist a congregation in completing its full application; the Chalice Lighter Grant application will require a congregational growth plan to be included with the application.

The underlying goal of any proposal should be the growth of Unitarian Universalism in our district.

Your congregation's board should approve any grant proposal. We encourage innovative and multi-congregational grant proposals. We give preference to congregations that have at least 10% of their membership signed up to be Chalice Lighters.

We require you to submit your Chalice Lighter applications electronically!

Questions? Write: