Pacific Central Chapter
The PCD Chapter includes congregations and communities of the Pacific Central District (central and northern California plus Honolulu and Reno).
Contact us at pacificcentral@lreda.org
Chapter Membership
PC Chapter dues are $25 p.a and you can pay using any of these methods:
Pay PC Chapter Dues using Aplos
Pay PC Chapter Dues at the same time as renewing your LREDA Continental Membership
Pay PC Chapter Dues using PayPal
You can also pay dues using:
Check - Make check payable to LREDA, put your name and PC Chapter in the memo line and mail it to LREDA, 284 Hartford Ave #1002, Bellingham, MA 02019
Venmo - Use @LREDA-org. Look for the LREDA flame to ensure you have the correct link. Write the member's name and PC Chapter in the note section.
If you need an invoice, email Juliet at finance@lreda.org. Receipts will be sent soon after payment is received.
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.
Donate to the PCD Chapter
donate to PCD using a card or ach
If you'd like to donate by check, mail it to: Liberal Religious Educators Association, 284 Hartford Ave, #1002, Bellingham, MA, 02019. Please make the check out to LREDA and write the name of the Religious Educator and PCD in the memo section
Chapter Expenses
All expenses must be pre-approved. Use this FORM to claim Chapter expenses for reimbursement. Once completed email it to the Chapter President for approval.
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
PCD Chapter leadership
Joint Leaders: Ariel Smith-Iyer, Tanya Webster, & Colleen Hamilton
Treasurer: Erin Bertsch. We use the services of Continental LREDA 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.