First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

So where do we learn enough to possibly start formulating a theology or a belief set for ourselves? We believe that wisdom and the sacred are everywhere, so you could find inspiration in the morning comics...but you would also quite possibly find inspiration anywhere else. If you're looking for focused, UU-specific information and conversation, though, sometimes you have to go to the source: the congregation. Many congregations have regular classes in Religious Exploration. Some of them focus on one subject or another, some are more lectures and some are totally hands-on. Some are age-specific, some are for all ages. All are you-get-what-you-put-in kinds of classes.

activity: find out what your congregation offers for Religious Exploration for adults, for children, and for youth.

activity: interview your Minister or Director of Religious Exploration or alternatively your parish minister or Religious Exploration committee chairperson about the shape, form, and intention of the Religious Exploration program in your congregation. Ask what the goals are, and how the programme works toward those goals.

activity: sit in on three children's Religious Exploration sessions. Take the teachers out for lunch afterwards and talk with them about their experience of teaching children's RE.

activity: get permission from the youth group to sit in on one of their meetings or classes. Interview a youth and an advisor about the youth programme afterwards.

activity: take an adult Religious Exploration class, one which sounds interesting. When all the class sessions are over, talk with the teacher about the course, what you got out of it, and why ze chose to teach it.

activity: find out where your congregation stores the Religious Exploration curricula, and spend a few hours browsing. Choose a few to take home and read, then discuss them with the Director of Religious Exploration or a minister. Bonus: get several people together to read a curriculum and then discuss it over dinner. Is there anything you would change? Why?

making change: think about what you've learned about your congregation's programmes. What would you change? Would you add programming for a particular age or interest group? Cut back on something? Find out who is responsible for making those choices in your congregation and schedule a meeting to discuss your ideas.

activity: research the OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education curriculum available from the UUA. If possible, read the teacher's guides and take a teacher training for one of the age groups. If possible, interview a youth or adult who has taken the class about zir experience. Unitarian Universalists are often on the cutting edge of sexuality education and inclusivity issues. Why or how do you think this fits in with commonly held values? The Purposes and Principles?

activity: interview three elementary-age children about their Religious Exploration classes and experiences. Consider what you hear in light of what you know about the goals and shape of the RE program in general.

making change: volunteer to teach a Religious Exploration class in your congregation if you are qualified. Keep a journal about the experience, and meet afterward with your Religious Exploration professional or parish minister to debrief.

lead me onward

lead me backward

take me home

Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary

A Quirky Intro to Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism by Leela Sinha
Religious Exploration	If you like things in order . . . Introduction to the guided tour: . . . . .. lead me onward If your mind loves a search . . . Menu by Subject general information about Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism history polity general theology personal theology Religious Exploration political/social action involvement at First Unitarian, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA
So where do we learn enough to possibly start formulating a theology or a belief set for ourselves? We believe that wisdom and the sacred are everywhere, so you could find inspiration in the morning comics...but you would also quite possibly find inspiration anywhere else. If you're looking for focused, UU-specific information and conversation, though, sometimes you have to go to the source: the congregation. Many congregations have regular classes in Religious Exploration. Some of them focus on one subject or another, some are more lectures and some are totally hands-on. Some are age-specific, some are for all ages. All are you-get-what-you-put-in kinds of classes. *activity:* find out what your congregation offers for Religious Exploration for adults, for children, and for youth. activity: interview your Minister or Director of Religious Exploration or alternatively your parish minister or Religious Exploration committee chairperson about the shape, form, and intention of the Religious Exploration program in your congregation. Ask what the goals are, and how the programme works toward those goals. activity: sit in on three children's Religious Exploration sessions. Take the teachers out for lunch afterwards and talk with them about their experience of teaching children's RE. activity: get permission from the youth group to sit in on one of their meetings or classes. Interview a youth and an advisor about the youth programme afterwards. activity: take an adult Religious Exploration class, one which sounds interesting. When all the class sessions are over, talk with the teacher about the course, what you got out of it, and why ze chose to teach it. activity: find out where your congregation stores the Religious Exploration curricula, and spend a few hours browsing. Choose a few to take home and read, then discuss them with the Director of Religious Exploration or a minister. Bonus: get several people together to read a curriculum and then discuss it over dinner. Is there anything you would change? Why? making change: think about what you've learned about your congregation's programmes. What would you change? Would you add programming for a particular age or interest group? Cut back on something? Find out who is responsible for making those choices in your congregation and schedule a meeting to discuss your ideas. activity: research the OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education curriculum available from the UUA. If possible, read the teacher's guides and take a teacher training for one of the age groups. If possible, interview a youth or adult who has taken the class about zir experience. Unitarian Universalists are often on the cutting edge of sexuality education and inclusivity issues. Why or how do you think this fits in with commonly held values? The Purposes and Principles? activity: interview three elementary-age children about their Religious Exploration classes and experiences. Consider what you hear in light of what you know about the goals and shape of the RE program in general. making change: volunteer to teach a Religious Exploration class in your congregation if you are qualified. Keep a journal about the experience, and meet afterward with your Religious Exploration professional or parish minister to debrief. lead me onward lead me backward take me home Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary
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