FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: [Interweave-d] FW: BCT facilitator application (application embedded)

[jojane (jojane]

Application questions 12-16 are most interesting - this is a great
training for folks who are able to travel and help work with UU
congregations.

(Quick story: I learned from talking with a UU at GLBT Pride in
Fargo-Moorhead a couple of weeks ago that the UU congregation there had
issues in RECENT history with a lesbian minister they hired; not everyone
in the congregation knew she was a lesbian when hired, and several
congregation members said they would not have supported her for the
position if they knew.  So, we should not feel that being a UU means we
are beyond this kind of thinking.  According to the UU I spoke with, the
lesbian minister was great, helped the congregation grow significantly,
was very successful, etc.  She's now working for the UUA.)

Jo


--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Keith Kron" <KKron [at] uua.org>
To: <interweave-d [at] uua.org>
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:09:23 -0400
Subject: [Interweave-d] FW: BCT facilitator application (application
embedded)
Message-ID: <80BCC712CC44034CB63482BB48C08B1DF1366F [at] exchsrv.uua.org>
References: <80BCC712CC44034CB63482BB48C08B1D015E3875 [at] exchsrv.uua.org> 
        <80BCC712CC44034CB63482BB48C08B1DF1366D [at] exchsrv.uua.org>
 
Friends,
 
 
I am planning to train a new group of Beyond Categorical Thinking
Facilitators this fall in Minneapolis. The dates are September 19-21,
2008 beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday and ending at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The
weekend training will include observing an actual training for the 1st
Universalist Church of Minneapolis.  
 
 
In particular, I am looking for people of color and people with
disabilities to become facilitators, though everyone interested is
encouraged to apply.   
 
 
The requirements for someone interested in doing this training are: 1) to
be able to attend the entire training over the weekend (not leaving early
or arriving late) and 2) being able and willing to commit to
co-facilitating two BCT workshops a year (with some flexibility in your
schedule).  
 
 
Faciliators must be good speakers, good facilitators, and have "thick
skins."
 
 
Beyond Categorical Thinking has been a program to promote equal access in
the ministry since 1989. Back then in the first year, eight congregations
participated in the program. Over the last two years nearly 80
congregations have participated. The program does seem to make a
difference for search committees, for congregations, and for our clergy. 

 
 
Please pass on this application to anyone you know who would be a good
facilitator, including yourself. 
 
 
Applications are below. Feel free to respond via email.  Formatting will
matter less than answering all questions (especially things like how
often you answer your email and preferred phone numbers).  Last time
references were vital in most selections.  
 
 
Fourteen to sixteen people will be selected by July 28th to participate
in the training, all expenses covered by the UUA.
 
 
If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at kkron [at] uua.org, or
check the UUA website for details about Beyond Categorical Thinking,
http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/beyondcategorical/index.shtml
<http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/beyondcategorical/index.shtml>
.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Rev. Keith Kron
 
Director, Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns
 
Beyond Categorical Thinking
 
Unitarian Universalist Association
 
Beyond Categorical Thinking
 
Facilitator Application
 
 
Basic Information
 
 
1. Name:   
 
 
2. Address:  
 
 
3. Phone(s)   (List in order of best way to reach you):
 
 
4. E-mail address(es) (and how often do you check your e-mail? How
quickly do you respond)?
 
 
5. Current Congregational Affiliation: 
 
 
6. Can you commit to being able to do 2 trainings a year (or more)?  
 
 
 
 
Introduction
 
 
7. Why do you wish to be a Beyond Categorical Thinking Facilitator?
 
 
 
Experience in Unitarian Universalism
 
 
8. What experience do you have with Unitarian Universalist (Unitarian in
Canada) congregations?  (Please include length of membership,
committees/projects you have worked on, district experience,
denominational experience. Also list which congregations you have worked
with. Don't hesitate to include work with children, youth, and young
adults as well.)
 
 
 
 
9. What experience have you had with public speaking, including in
congregations? (Please give an estimate of the size of the largest group
you have spoken to.)
 
 
 
10. What experience have you had leading a training, teaching a class,
facilitating a group? 
 
 
 
11. For the above three questions, what qualities make for a good
facilitator and speaker? (and which do you have?)
 
 
 
Experience in Anti-Oppression Work
 
 
12. What is your experience with any kind of training around
anti-oppression issues, with in our faith and elsewhere?
 
 
 
13. What do you need to know about anti-oppression work, including
specifics about issues of race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, disabilities of all kinds?  (also, if you wish,
gender, class, age, and size).
 
 
14. Often Unitarian Universalists make statements in BCT workshops that
are surprisingly awful.  Over the years, we've heard UUs say things
(repeatedly) like, "Is a person of color smart enough to be our
minister?"  "Will children be safe around a gay (b/l/t) person?" "Will a
minister with a disability have stamina to be able to do the job?" "I
don't want a minister who is depressed." "We're not ready for a
transgender minister." "Will a minister of color fit in here?" "We'll
lose members." "The minister will have only agenda."   How would you
respond to comments like this?  (Hint:  we're looking for people with
thick skins who do well under pressure when people say stupid things.)
 
 
 
 
Identity
 
 
15. What identities do you hold that would be important in this workshop?
 (We ask this question because it is often important for a congregation
engaging in BCT to see someone with a disability leading worship, someone
who is transgender leading a workshop, someone of color facilitating a
difficult conversation as they then can see the person with this identity
as their minister-yes, it can be that basic still).  Feel free to list
any identities that you think would be useful for us to know about.
 
 
 
 
 
16. How have you been an ally for the identities you don't hold, specific
to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender,
disabilities of all kinds (e.g., physical, emotional, cognitive, sensory,
and invisible)? (Feel free to include other groups you've been an ally to
as well.)
 
 
 
 
Other Important Questions
 
 
17. What else should we know about you?
 
 
 
18. Write a concise 1-2 paragraph biography of yourself (don't be modest)
that could be sent to congregations that would be used as an introduction
of you for the service and the workshop.   You are encouraged to list
both anti-oppression work (congregational and otherwise) and other
leadership work (also congregational and otherwise) in your biography.
 
 
 
Travel Questions for the Training
 
 
19. The training is scheduled for Friday, September 19th beginning at 3
pm CDT sharp and concluding by 5 pm on Sunday (no arrivals after 2 on
Friday or departures before 6 on Sunday). Given these time commitments
can you commit to being there for this weekend for the entire time?  (We
pick up expenses, no expectation there of you.)
 
 
 
20. What special travel needs do you have in regard to transportation,
accommodations, accessibility, and food in order to make your presence
effective?  (Don't be shy but do be honest).  Are you willing and/or able
to share a room at the training to cut expenses?
 
 
 
References
 
 
21. Please list one reference (name and best way to contact them).  The
reference should either be a minister of your congregation, a ministerial
colleague, a District Executive or Program Specialist, and/or a current
Beyond Categorical Thinking Trainer. (We will contact them.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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