RE Mission Statement
We believe that children have a spiritual dimension to their lives. Our programs are designed to encourage and nurture the unfolding of this spiritual life in a manner consistent with a liberal religious outlook.
Youth Version of our Unitarian Universalist Principles
We believe:
- that each and every person is important
- that all people should be treated fairly
- that our churches are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on learning together
- that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life
- that all should have a vote about the things that concern them
- in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world
- in caring for our planet earth
~ from Beginning Unitarian Universalism
by Helena Chapin and Mary Anne Moore
General Information
The Durham UU Fellowship places a high priority on offering a quality program of religious exploration. We believe that the vitality of our Fellowship depends on offering a program that nurtures, challenges, and supports its youth along their own spiritual path.
Our youth program, known as the "Upstairs Fellowship," includes groups of all ages; this year we have 28 young people. The youth usually begin their Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the adult service and leave for their own programs following a "Moments for Young People," and continue until 11:15 a.m. We also provide nurturing child care for infants and toddlers.
In addition to our regularly scheduled programs, there are also opportunities for our young people to interact with the broader Unitarian Universalist community. The Northern New England District schedules both Junior Youth and Senior Youth conferences ("Cons") throughout the year. Young people may also work at a soup kitchen or participate in other social action projects. Older youth may participate in a Coming of Age program. There are also continental conventions and the annual General Assembly (nationwide conference of all congregations associated with the UUA) which welcome young people.
Youth Groups
The youth groups and the curricula they are using in 2008-2009 are shown below.
Preschoolers
Curriculum: We Are Many, We Are One
From the Introduction: "We Are Many, We Are One is a year-long religious program for preschool children. It offers young children the opportunity to learn about their religious community and tradition, as well as the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness. The four units in this program encourage children to use their minds bodies,, and emotions to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem within their Unitarian Universalist world."
Primary Group
Curriculum: Moral Tales
From the Introduction: "Every day our children go forth into a complex world where they are often faced with difficult decisions and situations. Moral Tales attempts to provide children with the spiritual and ethical tools they will need to make choices and take actions reflective of their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values.... [S]tories such as the ones woven throughout Moral Tales can activate and inform children's learning about how to make moral choices."
Elementary Group
Curriculum: Spirit of Adventure
From the Introduction: "Religious education has been defined by fine motor activities and table crafts, intimate personal sharing in a sharing circle, and with non-competitive exploration. I'd like to add different kinds of learning, the learning from physical movement and the learning from challenge and adventure." Themes include sports, medicine, food, winter holidays, science, building, exploring, and the Web of life.
Youth Group
Curriculum: Neighboring Faiths
This program explores world religions through visits to other faith communities and by inviting representatives of other faiths to our Fellowship. Youth couple these activities with an examination of the history and development of different faith traditions and reflect on their own faith development.
Youth Group/Evening Program
Curriculum: Popcorn Theology
This program explores issues of theology and ethics through popular films. It uses the visual arts to provide learning opportunities to examine issues of theological and ethical importance to our world.
Child Care is Provided for Infants and Toddlers.
Religious Exploration Staff
Along with the teachers of the various groups, the activities of our youth program are directed by a Religious Exploration Committee and a Director of Religious Education (DRE). Our DRE, Thomas Pistole, is in his 18th year in this position and has considerable training as well as hands-on RE experience both within and without the Fellowship. To learn more, check out About our DRE and read the Letter from the DRE.