Exploring UU and Our Congregation
Soul Matters
Transgender Inclusion Course: January & February
CUC Inclusion Forums: alternative families, dis/abilities, class:
February, March,April
Widening the Circle of Concern: March & April
Exploring Unitarian and Universalist and Our Congregation
Curious to know more about Unitarian Universalism and what our congregation at First Unitarian is up to in Victoria?
NEXT MEETING: SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 12:30 – 2:00 pm.
(In-person or Zoom will be announced as we approach the date of the meeting.)
For newcomers, searchers and anyone wanting to learn more, the purpose of these online gatherings are two-fold: sharing information about events and activities within our community so that you can discern and decide how to get involved, and to introduce you to some of the history, stories, and theology of Unitarian Universalism so that you have a sense of what is unique about our spiritual community and ways we may be similar to other congregations and communities.
This is also a time to connect with others who are new to exploring this community as well as connecting with Rev. Shana and some members of the congregation. We will outline the pathway to becoming a member or friend of the congregation.
Please contact Reverend Shana Lynngood at rev.shana@victoriaunitarian.ca or 250-891-6331 with your questions and wonderings.
Soul Matters
Zoom Coordinators: Anne Vaasjo and Mary Burcher
Last Tuesday of the month – 6:30 – 8:30 pm Group is full. Stay tuned for more meetings.
Soul Matters is a spiritual self-exploration series.
Questions? Email your phone # to Anne: annevaasjo70@gmail.com or Mary: mary.burcher@gmail.com
It is offered on a 1st come, 1st served basis.
Transgender Inclusion in Congregations Course
Jan. & Feb., 2022
It’s back! In case you didn’t get a chance to take this course last spring or last fall, Rev. Melora is facilitating one more group this January and February.
This is an online course, designed by a UU organization. Our congregants discuss the material together in small groups. The course is geared toward people from generally LGBTQ-welcoming congregations or faith groups who want to deepen their understanding of gender and transgender identities and are invested in creating truly trans-affirming faith communities. It is designed for people of all genders and has an innovative intersectional perspective. (what is intersectional? Click here for great short video)
The Discussion Groups (to discuss the online material)
Time: Tuesday 6:30-8:30 pm, online (Zoom)
- January 25
- February 8
- February 22
Sign up by adding your name to this google sign-up sheet, or email rev.melora@gmail.com with subject heading “transgender inclusion” or text/call 250-891-6330
The Online Material
Time: Whenever works for you!
There are six sessions, which we are combining into 3 sets (we’ll discuss 2 sessions at each of our 3 group discussions). Each session includes a 45- to 55-minute online video lecture by instructors Mykal and Alex, reflection questions, resources to take it deeper, and a short informal quiz.
- Sessions 1 and 2 are designed to ground you in this work, theologically, spiritually, and historically, and help you explore why we are called as people of faith to dismantle gender-based oppression—as well as exploring how each and every one of us are impacted by it and practices that can help us stay present.
- Sessions 3 and 4 explore gender diversity and the lived experiences of trans people—including the ways that race, class, and other factors influence those experiences—along with trans spirituality.
- Sessions 5 and 6 are all about culture and how to transform it. Expanding the circle of inclusion within a congregation or faith group requires understanding the unique culture of that group, along with how that culture works to include or exclude.
At the end of this course we will have a number of practices, frameworks, and tools that to help create an action plan for being radically welcoming to trans/non-binary people in our congregation.
Cost: No cost to you. The cost for the course has been covered by the First Unitarian Church of Victoria.
Want to know more? Check out this video about the course.
Questions, contact Rev. Melora rev.melora@gmail.com , text/call 250-891-6330
Upcoming CUC Inclusivity Forums:
Inclusivity Forums:
Alternative relationships, Dis/abilities, Class
(CUC = Canadian Unitarian Council, our national organization of Unitarian Universalists)
We started this congregational year in Fall 2021 focused on dismantling racism within Unitarian Universalism and were thrilled to have over a hundred people attend each of the four CUC forums! The New Year 2022 will see three additional Forums which we anticipate will be attended with much enthusiasm as congregations work to dismantle barriers to full inclusion for all. Please register early so we can properly prepare for these important events.
All members and friends of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria are invited to attend these national forums for Canadian Unitarian Universalists.
Materials for each forum will be shared in advance. At each forum, we’ll discuss how UU communities can become more inclusive. The CUC’s Responsibility Covenant will be used to promote safety for all in attendance.
Welcoming those in Alternative Relationships and Families
Wednesday Feb 2, 4-6 pm 
This forum will focus on the experiences of UU’s in alternative relationships and family structures within UU groups/congregations. This includes, but it not limited to, ethnically non-monogamous relationships, polyamorous families/relationships, families where parents are no longer romantic partners but continue to co-parent and have family together, platonic families, and those who ‘do’ relationships and family outside of society’s norms. A caucus group will be available for those in alternative relationships/families should they prefer to discuss together.
NO REGISTRATION FEE. Please Register Early: https://bit.ly/RCFGSession1
Welcoming People of all Dis/abilities
Wednesday Mar 2, 4-6pm PST
This forum will focus on the experiences of UU’s with various dis/abilities within UU groups/congregations. This includes, but is not limited to various physical, mental, and emotional dis/abilities. A caucus group will be available for those with different dis/abilities, should they prefer to discuss together.
NO REGISTRATION FEE. Please Register Early: https://bit.ly/RCFGSession2
Welcoming People from all Socio-Economic Classes
Wednesday April 6, 4-6pm PST
This forum will focus on people’s experiences of classism in UU groups/congregations and how our organizational cultures can shift to be more aware of how we privilege those in upper classes over those in lower classes. A caucus group will be available for those who feel they experience classism should they prefer to discuss together.
NO REGISTRATION FEE. Please Register Early: https://bit.ly/RCFGSession3
For each of these forums we are working with people with lived experience to inform what happens. We invite you to reach out to us to share ideas, review what is being planned and/or share your ideas about how UU communities can become more inclusive.
You can reach us at: erin@cuc.ca and amber@cuc.ca
Widening the Circle of Concern
There will be four dates, with two 90-minutes sessions on each date, please plan to attend all dates and sessions.
- Session I: 9:30am to 11am
- Session II: 11:45am to 1:15pm