Unitarian Universalist Leadership School
Pacific Central District
August 2nd – August 8th, 2008 (Saturday -
Friday)
Camp Tuolumne Trails in Groveland, CA
Testimonials
Send your
testimonial to Joy-Ellen Lipsky
Liz Shivell – 1998
First Unitarian Church
of San Jose
I attended Leadership School in 1998. I am still turning to the
resource materials and absorbing the lessons I learned there. Proust once said
that great journeys come not from finding new vistas, but by seeing the
familiar landscapes with new eyes. Leadership School gave me more open, informed and
insightful eyes when leading my congregation. But, perhaps more importantly,
PCDLS taught me I might offer the most by supporting another leader, as well. I learned that my "Lone Ranger"
style could un-wittingly undermine my efforts with others, my service to my
church, and the sense of community I treasured. You may sign up thinking you
are doing Leadership School to be a better church volunteer, but you
will soon learn to embrace its lessons for the doors it opens to your soul and
your passion and your people. And your eyes will never see more clearly.
Karen Sindelar – 2007
Mission Peak UU Church
Leadership school is a
relatively small collection of fellow UU’s from Northern California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii, who wish to deepen their understanding
of UU faith, help grow their congregation, and better understand what to expect
in helping to lead UUs. What you actually get from it DOES
encompass that, tenfold, PLUS about a hundred other takeaways you never
dreamed of. I feel like I’m a team
player, and also that I’m a strong person. But I was definitely challenged at
times. That’s the goal. In the setting of Leadership School, you learn
BECAUSE you are being ENCOURAGED – not forced -- to step out of your comfort
zone. But true learning and real change has the opportunity to occur when we
are rocked to our core. Leadership school is subtle and wise in the way it does
this, but it happens. Now, just because you go to Leadership school doesn’t
obligate you to a leadership role. I was never pushed, and didn’t have any
grand plans to LEAD. It was perfectly OK to take it at my own pace, in stages,
and when I was comfortable.
Doris Lang -
2004
Unitarian
Universalist
Church
of Fresno
The question from Susan made me realize
how much of LS I've been able to incorporate, without actually making the
deliberate decision to do this or that. The week spent with you really made an
impact on me and gave me the > confidence to step up and do what I feel to
be right. So far, no one has complained. I know it is possible to establish a
community in seven days, and I have shared this insight with the board. I think
often of our time together and how very special it was for me. I succeeded in
branding the candlelight of our closing circle into my brain. I can close my
eyes and be with all of you in that beautiful setting once again.
Lorna Jaynes
- 2004
Mission
Peak
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
The religious
heritage classes (called ‘Heretics Hour’) deepened my understanding and
appreciation of our UU history. The Community Building segments (relationship over task!)
provided many tools to facilitate the effective functioning of committees and
other leadership functions. And the worship, music, spiritual practices, wisdom
circles, and closing circles touched my heart and soul in deep ways, and
provided inspiration to enhance worship at my own church.
Before attending
Leadership School, I was perfectly content to limit my UU
activities and connections to Mission Peak. No longer. Leadership School instilled both a need and a desire to
participate in the wider UU community, for myself, for Mission Peak and for the greater UU movement.
Participants leave Leadership School not only spiritually transformed and more deeply connected
to the UU faith and its values, but with a new and beautiful vision of
possibility, of what a church community can be, and wanting that for your own
church community.
And the setting
and facilities are beautiful and the food is fabulous!
Greg
Rouillard - 2003
Bull Run
Unitarian Univeralists (Manasses)
Don’t Go to Leadership School...
That’s right –
don’t go to leadership school…unless you’re willing to let it change your
life! When I attended as a student in 2003, I had just graduated from the
Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, and I was heading off to a “payback”
tour in Virginia and my last five years as a
Marine. After retirement, I planned to return to the Monterey area, teach, and eventually explore
becoming a UU minister. As a military UU, I was something of a novelty – one of
my classmates laughingly said “as a gay man I’m instantly accepted here, but
you had to ‘come out’ as a Marine!” Many of the staff and my classmates
were curious about my life in the military, and in conversations they would
often ask me what I would do when I got out. For the most part I gave my
stock answer about retiring back to Monterey to teach, and occasionally I would make
mention of my interest in ministry.
One morning,
staff and students all gathered together in the Meditation Garden as my worship group presented our
celebration of the earth, her elements, and our community. While leading
my part of this ritual, for the first time in my life I felt as though I were
“channeling” something greater than myself. Call it what you will – God,
the Tao, or the Energy of the Universe - it was there, it was real, and it was
exhilarating and unforgettable.
This worship was
the culmination of what to me was the defining element of LS – preparing the
worship with Sterling, Jeanelyse and Ross. Never before had I engaged in a
process that felt so natural, so harmonious, and so collaborative. We
were essentially strangers when we began, but by the time we were finished we
were brothers and sister. I am still in awe of the peaceful, connected
way we were able to cooperate with each other in bringing our gifts together.
Soon after this
worship, I sat with Claire, the Dean of the PCD LS, during a meal. She
asked me about my plans after the military, and I was as surprised as she when
“I want to be a minister” came out of my mouth!
A year and a
half later, I am more committed than ever to following this insistent call to
ministry. It has transformed my life, and I am overjoyed to be on this
path of love and service. In many ways, my week as a Leadership School student marked the beginning of this
journey.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity
to attend Leadership School. I wish I had the words to adequately
convey the moving, profound and spiritually transformative experience that Leadership School is. In only five days, twenty-five
virtual strangers come together to create a deep and rich community of love,
laughter, song, tears, gratitude, and joy and peace, and so much more.
Mike McGirr -
2003
First UU Society of San Francisco
I had the terrific experience of
attending Leadership School. Twenty-one students and eight staff came
together from around the district (Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii) for a week of small and large group
activities, lectures, and socializing. We also had the opportunity to
participate in a variety of group and personal spiritual practices. There was a
lot of laughter and singing, and not a few tears. At the end of the week I came
away feeling I now have friends all around the district who have shared this
unique experience. And I now know there are at least 34 of us from FUUSSF who
have attended the school since 1979, most of whom remain active in the life of
our congregation. Certainly the inspiring staff achieved the school's mission
of helping us grow our understanding of successful group process, become more
aware of historical and current UU issues, gain greater insight into our
personal spiritual journeys, and renew personal commitments to living our
values and strengthening our UU congregations and institutions. This was quite
a different kind of intensity from my experience at General Assembly, and much
deeper personally.
Ellen Skagerberg - 2003
UU Congregation of Santa Rosa
I am a Leadership School graduate, as is my husband Eric. Leadership School is a great investment -- grads are so
motivated that a congregation benefits well beyond any financial contribution.
Far from being a remedial course, Leadership School is designed as an advanced course for
current leaders, as well as a kick-start for prospective leaders.
Eric Gable - 2002
Starr-King UU Church
(Hayward)
Leadership School was not what I expected, but exactly
what I wanted. I expected classes and lectures and tests about church
governance, canvass, buildiings. What I found there was that through laughter
and some tears I learned how to truly work within a church structore where
every voice counts and is allowed to be heard. I learned how to listen with my
heart as well as my ears. I learned the value of silence. I learned pride in
the deep roots of our heritage, how spiritually based it is, and how to be
evangelical about it in today's world. I learned peace. I learned love. The
only thing I didn't learn was why anyone would NOT want to go.
Marge Goka - 2002
UU
Fellowship of Sunnyvale
Leadership School was an enriching, heartening and fun
experience. I recommend it highly to others for next year. We lived dorm style
in a lovely old house, now a retreat, and were treated to great food. Our
leadership skills were honed in workshops daily for community building,
worship, which we each helped plan for one day, faith centering groups where we
could speak out on religious questions, and some lectures on our religious
identity and heritage. The information on our UU heritage was excellently
presented. You will not regret a week at Leadership School, and it will inspire you to be a better
leader.
Theresa Novak - 2002
UU
Congregation of Marin
My experience was one of transformation.
I was very involved, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually the entire
week. I asked questions of myself and others. I had moments of insight, made
connections and some of my deepest questions were answered. Worship services
were of the most moving I have ever experienced. Faith centering group sessions
made me reach deep into some fearsome places, where my yearnings for connection
to Spirit waited to be called forth. The sense of a truly religious community
and the heart connections I made with the other people were awesome in the
truest sense It was an experience of both religious learning and religious
practice in community. I think we all left as UU evangelists. If you get a
chance to go, don't miss it!
Linda Haumann – 2001
UU
Congregation of Marin
I came to Leadership School with no expectations and I
was delighted with the whole experience. I'd been to many group
experiences over the course of my studies and training to become a psycho-dramatist
and expressive arts therapist, but I'd never really been on a
spiritual/learning retreat before.
What impressed
me the most was the level of care, nurturing, respect, and love that I received
and witnessed others receiving on this week-long journey. Along with
a fabulous staff, our group of leaders from various congregations
throughout the Bay area co-created a cohesive, caring community within
three days! We created worship together, we learned about our U.U.
heritage and values, we had opportunities in smaller groups to share on a
deeper level those values that truly matter in our lives. We deepened our
connection to our chosen faith of Unitarian Universalism.
We also created
a truly caring community and learned how to pay attention to the process
of how we go about getting tasks done in committee-type groups.
Accomplishing the goal became an outgrowth of how we cared for each other.
Time to ourselves to meditate and digest all that we were learning
was also built in to the curriculum, so that we could truly
"retreat".
Now I'm very
committed to taking this experience home and serving my own congregation and
community in this caring tradition. We have a faith we can truly be
proud of and Leadership School is a fabulous environment in which
we can deepen our faith.
Kate Hand – 2001
First Unitarian Church
of Oakland
Leadership School was fantastic. I urge any of you
who are looking for a week that feeds your soul, your funny bone, and your
belly to make plans to attend next summer. Summer 2002 will be the 25th
anniversary of Leadership School, so designs are underway to pull out all
the stops to make it the best one ever. It’s hard to imagine it being
much better than it was, however. We 26 students from all over the
Pacific Central District (including northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii)
were treated to a rich smorgasbord of experiences that gave us powerful tools
to be effective leaders (not just in church, but in all areas of life);
soul-stirring, foot-stomping (or sometimes quietly gentle) celebrations of
worship; and deep appreciation for our UU heritage. Add to that
tender, respectful, often surprising and frequently hilarious encounters with
each other’s humanity and abundant and incredibly delicious meals, all taking
place in a beautiful mansion poised on the edge of regional parkland, and you
start to get the idea of what it was like. I don’t think I’ve ever had so
much good food, good fellowship and good laughter in one week (unfortunately,
laughter doesn’t burn very many calories – I gained five pounds!). Anyone
who’s thinking of attending and wants to find out more, please feel free to ask
me anything about it. I’m so grateful to have attended, and wish for you
all the gift of this extraordinary experience.
Jann Geyer - 2000
Mount
Diablo Unitarian
Universalist
Church,
Walnut Creek
I knew Leadership School would be a gift: a gift of opportunity
to myself. Time to focus, not to lead. Time to reflect and get ready to lead. I
opened myself to as many of the experiences as I could: I meditated, trying
every possibility introduced to us from labyrinth walking, calling questions to
the four directions to intentional breathing; I thought about our UU history
and tried to connect the themes and lessons to our lives and our futures; I
explored my faith as openly as a child raised in an atheistic home which
scoffed at faith could, and I experienced acceptance of fumbling ways; I
altered altar cloths and gained ironic understanding of my leadership style and
the style I would rather have; I worked in community to create a worship
meaningful to all of us and not just one of us. This was a week of luxury: good
food, welcoming minds, new friends, hard work, togetherness, and solitude. I am
not the same person now as I was then, and that is good.
Joy-Ellen Lipsky - 2000
First Unitarian Church
of San Jose
The experience of Leadership School 2000
will forever be with me! Not only from the wonderful people I came to know, the
fun, the wonderful food and scenery, but, from the wealth of information that I
received. Leadership School should be a MUST for all who are or
intend to be leaders within their spiritual communities. Whether your
leadership takes the form of an elected office or volunteering for the many
tasks to be done at your church or fellowship, the lessons learned at Leadership School will be of immense help to you. The
learnings came from the areas of community building, religious history and
heritage, how to create an extraordinary worship service, connecting to others,
meditation practices, and quiet times. Please take advantage of this wonderful
experience to grow and make your spiritual community even better.
Download our Registration Form
Download Leadership School Brochure
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