What is the MDD LREDA Chapter?
The MDD Chapter of LREDA is our district’s support for those who serve our congregations as religious educators. We are affiliated with the continental organization of LREDA.
Mission (revised March 2012)
Seeking to provide a guiding light for faith formation in our changing culture, MDD Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) will intentionally:
- Be a learning community for religious professionals
- Support each other personally, professionally and spiritually
- Encourage authentic leadership with the goal of sustaining our work and empowering our members to be agents of change in our movement
Who can join?
Any member of continental LREDA*, with which we are affiliated, living within the MDD District. You can join online here.
When do we meet?
The MDD Chapter holds two general membership meetings each year.
- We gather as a chapter during the Continental LREDA Fall Conference in November
- We meet in person at our Spring Retreat in early March
- We host a monthly online Zoom forum called the Religious Educators Support Group (RPSG), which convenes on the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 am and the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. All times are Mountain Time zone. Join us to explore challenges and discuss best practices in religious education. Join us.
- Other meetings occur throughout the year as needed.
Join us on Facebook!
We have a Facebook group for support and information sharing. Come join the conversation!
What does the MDD LREDA Chapter offer you?
Being a Liberal Religious Educator is a unique role, with an incredibly wide variety of tasks, challenges and joys. Becoming a member gives you:
- Collegial networking and support
- Sharing of resources, inspiration, encouragement, ideas
- Planning for future meetings, retreats and furthering education and leadership opportunities
- Our Spring retreat focuses on the above as well as time and space for personal renewal and worship together
We also have LREDA Members who serve as Good Officers to support you when professional issues arise. While you may choose to contact any good officer listed on the Continental LREDA website, the Good Officer representing our District is DeAnna Hoyle. Her email is: deannaldh@gmail.com. For more information about the Good Officers program, click here.
Members of the Mountain Desert District Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association (MDD LREDA) may request funds for professional development, seed money for programs and events that support ministry to children family & youth, and other professional or congregational support. The MDD LREDA officers will evaluate each request. Click here to apply.
How Do I Join?
Annual dues are $25, with $5 going to our Caring Fund for our membership. Our online membership form for both new and renewing members can be found here.
Current Officers
Past Chair – Mia Noren, Director of Religious Education, First Unitarian Church, Albuquerque, NM dre@uuabq.org
Acting Chair – Kitty Kaler/Kalebarn, PWR Chaplain to Youth, and Youth Coordinator at Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Lafayette, CO and UU Church of Boulder, Boulder, CO kitty@bvuuf.org
Chair Elect – Kitty Kaler/Kalebarn, PWR Chaplain to Youth, and Youth Coordinator at Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Lafayette, CO and UU Church of Boulder, Boulder, CO kitty@bvuuf.org
Treasurer – Alana Rodriguez, Youth Programs Coordinator, First Unitarian Church, Albuquerque, NM youth@uuabq.org
Secretary – Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education, First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT firstchurchamanda@gmail.com
*Membership dues in continental LREDA are $193.00. ($55.00 for student/new member.) LREDA offers a wide range of services to all members including an annual conference, code of professional practice, good officers, best practices in Lifespan Faith Development and much more.