Posts By Elizabeth Foster

The UU Ordination Process

By , April 29, 2024
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The questions I’m asked most frequently when people discover that I’m in the ordination process are simply: How does that work? or How long does that take? And the answer is that this process has a lot of steps! Compared to most other denominations, our process is definitely on the more involved end of the

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OWL (Our Whole Lives) Program

By , January 25, 2024
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I am very excited to report that our OWL program has officially taken flight! Our Whole Lives, as you’ve probably heard me say many times throughout my internship, is, as the UUA puts it, “sexuality education that fosters informed, responsible, and values-based decisions about sexual health and behavior.” Unitarian Universalists have been at the forefront

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Thoughts from our Ministerial Intern

By , April 28, 2023
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As we near the end of the church year, many Unitarian Universalists across the country (and in the Philippines!) are making preparations for General Assembly. One of the most important lessons I learned about congregational polity in seminary is that it was designed to involve congregations working together in a covenantal relationship (much as we

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Thoughts from our Ministerial Intern

By , March 24, 2023
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A couple of weeks ago, I preached about the more disturbing aspects of Unitarian and Universalist involvement with progressive causes in the early 1900s, including sex education and the birth control movement. However, although our motives were complex and bear examination, it is also true that even at that time, Unitarians and Universalists were committed

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Thoughts from our Ministerial Intern

By , February 25, 2023
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Rev. Clyde wrote about covenant in last month’s newsletter, and now it’s my turn! One reason we’re focusing on covenant this year is the recently-released report of the Article II Commission, which is taking a look at our Principles and Purposes to help us think about the denominational covenant we all share. The other is

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Update from our Ministerial Intern

By , December 30, 2022
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As we enter this new year, I’d like to take a little time to consider our spiritual journeys together. When people encounter the phrase “religious education,” they often automatically assume we are talking about Sunday School classes for children. And although this is an important part of our mission, religious education encompasses so much more.

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Update from our Ministerial Intern

By , November 3, 2022
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I am so pleased to be starting my third month with you all at First Parish! As part of every UUA internship, the Ministerial Intern is advised by an Intern Committee, and I’m happy to announce that after meeting with several of you, we now have an official committee put together. I look forward to

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