In this episode, we discuss money related to community-based ministries, the assets managed by UUs, and the beliefs and systems surrounding it.

Our guests include:

• Liz James from Mirth and Dignity

• Reverends Anne Barker and Linda Thompson, CUC's Congregational Life Team

• Kayoki Whiteduck and Lynn Kofmel-Preston from Ajaski Project (Ottawa First Unitarian Fellowship)

• Yvette Salinas (Executive Director) and Joanna Barrington (Camp Director), Unicamp, Ontario

• Karen Dunk Green, Lay Chaplain, Toronto

• Rev Wendy Luella Perkins, Founder of Soulful Singing

  Questions for further discussion:

  1. What beliefs do you have about money? Where do these beliefs originate from? Are they true? How do you know?

  2. In what ways do your beliefs about money influence how you approach financial sustainability within your UU community?

  3. Reverend Linda Thomson observed that some UU communities are approaching outreach as a recruitment project to find more people to make financial donations. She suggested this comes from a place of fear and vulnerability. In what ways, if any, is this showing up in your UU community?

  4. Choose one limiting belief you have about money. If you were to change or release it, what impact could it have?

  5. Liz James spoke about how Mirth and Dignity and the Hysterical Society limit the amount of money people can donate to limit the amount of privilege and influence people get to have on the work they do. This limits financial bullying. What thoughts and feelings come up for you when you hear this strategy?

  6. In what ways, if any, does financial bullying happen within your UU community or initiative? What strategies could you use to address this?

  7. What thoughts and feelings arise when you think of money as energy?

  8. In what ways could UU positively impact "the system" by embracing our place within it more fully and consciously?

     Notes and Research Links

     • ⁠Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed⁠ - book mentioned by Erin

     • ⁠The System⁠- Wikipedia

     • ⁠The System⁠ - Oxford Dictionary

     • ⁠Ajashki Project ⁠ at Ottawa First Unitarian Fellowship

     • ⁠Unitarian Shelter⁠- Founded by Nanaimo Unitarian Fellowship; now run by Nanaimo Family Life Association

     • ⁠Lay Chaplaincy⁠- Canadian Unitarian Council

     • ⁠Soulful Singing⁠ - Rev. Wendy Luella Perkin's online singing ministry

     Note 1: ODSP, mentioned by Wendy Luell,a means Ontario Disability Support Program

     Note 2: APC mentioned by Liz James refers to ⁠the Annual Program Contribution