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Even though I haven’t met any of you (except Joyce), I’m quite excited to join you as your interim Director of Religious Education starting July 15. I know staff transitions can be quite challenging for everyone and I hope this short introduction will be the first step in knowing more about me. I was a member of the UU Fellowship of Ames, in Ames, Iowa for fifteen years (1992-2007), with eight of those years as the DRE. I served on several committees within the congregation as well, such as adult RE, caring committee, women’s spirituality group and a few others. While a DRE I expanded the religious education program by creating and leading a summer camp, more structured summer RE classes, a more in-depth Coming of Age program, two mission trips, and Boston heritage trips. I also served as a representative of our church on a faith-based, community-organizing group. I became a credentialed religious educator in 2003 and am currently a mentor in the credentialing program. I loved that faith community but left in 2007 to take the Northern New England District’s program consultant position. I’ve been living in Concord, NH, where the district office is located. Working as a program consultant includes providing workshops for congregations (and at the UUA General Assembly) on a variety of topics, working with individual congregations and DREs, creating resources, and offering general counseling on congregational life. It has been a rich and rewarding job, but requires much travel, which has been a trial for me. Here’s a quick synopsis of my faith journey. My early years were spent in Oklahoma as a Southern Baptist until about age 17 when I went through a few years of agnosticism. I have many fond memories of my former church—the singing, the fellowship, the sense of the holy, youth retreats. Fortunately, I later learned about Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Sufism all of which fill my heart and spirit. In the late 1970s, a few others and I started a yoga ashram, essentially a spiritual community in upstate Wisconsin where I met my husband, Peter (sadly now ex-husband, but still close friend). I only stayed with that community for 2 ½ years but it was a most joyful (and challenging) time. Peter and I have two sons who are now 23 and 26. I was first introduced to UUism in W. Lafayette, IN where Peter worked as a professor. Our neighbor was the DRE at the local, small UU church. I ‘tried’ it out a few times, but did participate too much. When we moved to Ames, IA, I knew I wanted a spiritual home for my sons so I joined the UU Fellowship. Unitarian Universalism offered me the space to include the best of my Christian experience (Universalism’s focus on love), mystical humanism, and the wisdom of Vedanta (quite similar to Transcendentalism). To further my sons’ experience of UUs in community, we attended the Western UU Life Festival (WUULF), which meets at Ghost Ranch, NM for about six years in a row. As I’m sure you all know, Ghost Ranch is not so far from Los Alamos. On our free time we became more familiar with the area and visited Los Alamos and Bandelier a few times, so I know your town a little bit (as a tourist). I love the Southwest and am so happy to have the opportunity to work with you and to be in such a beautiful area. When I’m not talking about religious education, congregational life or UUism, I find much enjoyment from hobbies such as gardening, reading, contra dancing and international folk dancing, hiking, going on retreats, and just being with good friends. I look forward to meeting you and the children and youth, and in helping you navigate this important transition to continued growth and health. Best regards and in faith, Benette Sherman |
Hello Unitarian Church of Los Alamos
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