Lifespan Learning and Mentoring

I am very pleased to be serving as the new LREDA Vice President! As a Canadian LREDA Board member, several relational questions have come to my attention with regard to our continental professional association and I hope to work with LREDA Board and my Canadian colleagues to help address these. One area of possible confusion that I hope to address is between CUC’s Lifespan Learning Mentoring Program opportunity versus UUA’s R.E. Credentialing Mentor Program.

This past year has been one in which LREDA carefully developed the Mentor Program for those going into the Unitarian Universalist Association's R.E. Credentialing Program. Unfortunately because of the terms of the UUA and Canadian Unitarian Council agreement, the UUA-based R.E. Credentialing Program does not include Canadian religious educators at the present time. Once we determine what type of processes and structures are needed here in Canada, we can determine how to develop and support a Canadian-based credentialing program for religious educators. However this does not preclude Canadian religious educators from following the path of leadership development and keeping track of the courses and Renaissance trainings taken, Leadership School and RE camps attended, for future leadership credentialing down the road.

In my June 2003 "Sylvia Speaking" article, I wrote of establishing a mentoring program for religious educators in Canada to offer support, connection and networking to those new in their roles and I welcomed your input. This mentoring opportunity we are developing does not currently address the new LREDA connection to the UUA’s R.E. Credentialing and its associated mentoring process. We plan to present this new CUC mentoring program to you at the CUC Regional Fall Gatherings and in the next congregational mailing. Audrey Brooks from the Unitarian Church of Edmonton and Audrey O’Callaghan from the Ottawa UU Fellowship have agreed to work with me, acting as the liaisons to get this program underway, connecting and supporting the matches!

Although much has been put in place this first year to provide support and professional development opportunities for religious educators in Canada, time, geography and financial realities all play a part in balance of what we can offer. As do you. So please share your ideas and hopes with me! Conversations addressing a myriad of lifespan learning issues continue between and with staff, Advisory Groups and our CUC Lifespan Learning Service Consultants.

I look forward to conversations with Canadian religious educators and others interested in helping to empower LREDA toward being fully supportive to all religious educators, continent-wide. We are at the cusp of a wonderful new era of partnership. The good will and shared respect inherent in our professional organization will serve us all well as we move forward, together.