Chapter Membership:

There are no dues to the PCD Chapter at this time, but we expect all participants to be dues-paying and current members of LREDA Continental. 

 Our chapter members include directors and coordinators of Religious Education, Religious Exploration, Family Ministry, etc., as well as parish ministers who carry similar portfolios. We encourage congregations to provide professional expense funds.

Chapter Participants and Monthly Meetings:

 The chapter hosts monthly chapter meetings on Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM Pacific Time; ending with time in breakout rooms for more personal check-ins.

Any professional serving in Religious Education is welcome to our monthly chapter meetings, which have been held on Zoom for several years. We check in on our ministries, celebrate successes, exchange ideas, collaborate on shared programs, and provide support to one another during these challenging times to serve congregations.

We invite UUA Pacific Western Region staff with RE expertise or portfolios to join us as well as UUA Faith Development Staff and faculty from Starr King School for the Ministry. Current LREDA members who are between ministries or in retirement are welcome to these collegial gatherings. Volunteer leaders in RE programs where there are no paid staff leading RE are also welcome, but we ask you to join LREDA and contact the PC Chapter President for an invitation to the meeting.

We reserve up to 30 minutes at the end of each meeting to provide more personal check-in opportunities through Zoom breakout rooms. 

We hold an annual business meeting at the June Zoom meeting

President: Rev. Catherine (Cat) Boyle,  Assistant Minister for Religious Education at the UU Church of Palo Alto

Contact the president about attendance at (and agenda items for) chapter meetings, as well as interest in agenda items for the annual meeting. Email Rev. Cat

Secretary: Era Capone (she/her/they) Santa Rosa

Contact the secretary to update your contact information in our membership spreadsheet and Google Groups list and to find contact information for colleagues. Email Era

Treasurer: vacant through June 2024

We use the services of LREDA's Executive Director for financial reports, deposits of income, and the payment of expenses.

Good Offices: Vacant through June 2024

While we currently have no person in this role, it is not required for a member to make use of Good Offices collegial support only from their local chapter. Any LREDA member may contact the LREDA Good Officers

Chapter Programs for Professional Development:

Pot of Gold: Before 2019, our chapter organized a biennial Pot of Gold Conference for RE professionals and RE volunteers in PCD congregations, usually held on a Saturday in October at a church in the district. Pot of Gold featured a noted theme speaker and series of workshops on various models for spiritual growth, community building, volunteer support and recruitment, UU heritage and values, and social action. It was designed both for the inspiration of lay and professional RE leaders and volunteers (current or prospective), the exchange of practical tools and ideas, and building connections among congregations.

Chapter Retreats: In past years we have organized overnight retreats for RE professionals from our chapter, often held in January, often at St. Dorothy's Rest in Sonoma County. These have drawn a dozen or fewer colleagues who found renewal and inspiration in the collegial time in a beautiful setting.

Continuing Education: We may as a chapter discern a need and wish for specific professional development or skill-building programs for us as RE leaders, rather than a large conference to promote broadly to congregations. Online platforms make this feasible. We may brainstorm these ideas at chapter meetings and come up with work groups to put a program together. However, the same technology has made available numerous continuing education and collegial opportunities from LREDA Continental and/or the Unitarian Universalist Association, as well as other organizations. We highlight and promote these opportunities within the chapter.