Pacific Western Region
February 2026 |
Content
News: Pacific Western Region
Regional Assembly 2026
Regional Assembly 2026 Program Proposal Invitation Letter
News: Unitarian Universalist Association
UUA Congregational Certification
The Media Scares Me!
Benefits Tune-Up Workbook
Sustainable Staffing Strategizers Wave Cohort
Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary
March is Small Congregation Month
Congregational Leaders Conversation
Side with Love
Sparks RE and Music Leadership
Winter Institute 2026 - Last Call for Registration
Summer Institute 2026
Congregation Announcement
2026 Pacific Southwest Assembly, April 24-26, 2026
Important Resources
PWR Chalice Lighters
Non-Fellowshipped Ministers Gathering
UUA Job Board / UUA Job and Careers
Congregational Incident Form
Community Resilience Hub
Disaster Relief Fund
UU Mental Health Network
Publications
January Publications |
Pacific Western Region Board
Co-Presidents, Bob Miess and Libby Fitzgerald
Secretary, David Sheh
At-Large, Russ Menk, Ramon Urbano
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Pacific Western Region Staff
PWR Lead
Rev. Sunshine J. Wolfe
PWR Program Staff
Rev. Summer Albayati
Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh
Rev. Tania Y Márquez
Mx. Sam K. Pearl
PWR Administrator and Bookkeeper
Hara Madera
Melanie Buck
Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Staff
Mylo Way |
Pacific Western Region Links
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News: Pacific Western Region |
Pacific Western - Regional Assembly 2026 |
Regional Assembly Details
Location: UU Society of Sacramento, CA or Online!
The event will be multi-platform.
Dates: April 10-12, 2026
Theme: Rising Resilient |
Registration will open soon. |
Regional Assembly 2026
Program Proposal Invitation Letter |
Dear UU friends,
Our Pacific Western Region is gathering, both online and in-person in Sacramento, for a time of interconnection, worship, learning, and fun: our bi-annual Regional Assembly, April 10-12. We are looking for program leaders! Apply online using our program proposal form by February 6, 2026 at 11:45pm PT.
We have a wonderful keynote in store from a truly fantastic human being (name will be announced soon!) and an opportunity for participants to play the brand-new multigenerational role-playing game Pathways to Deeper Joy together. The rest of the programming… that’s what you make it. What practices, wisdom, knowledge do you have to share with Unitarian Universalists of the western US on how to live into 2026 with beauty and life-affirming power? Propose something here! We expect adults and youth to participate in our programs, so you can propose something for either or both age groups. (There will also be a kids’ program led by professionals.)
Our RA theme is Rising Resilient:
In times like these, what does it mean to be a spiritually
resilient Unitarian Universalist?
Times of rising authoritarianism and dehumanization call us to lean into our
UU Values more than ever: not just to protect those targeted, but also to
protect our ability to stay grounded, interconnected, and spiritually alive.
We hope you will mark your calendar to attend, either in Sacramento or from the comfort of your own home, and that when the registration form goes up, you’ll register to join us. Questions? Contact regional administrator Hara Madera at pwr@uua.org.
With love and appreciation,
Your Regional Assembly Program Circle Antoinette Scully Hollamon (Los Angeles, CA), Marena McGregor (Walnut Creek, CA), Scott Youmans (Longmont, CO), and Sarah Gibb Millspaugh (Pacific Western Regional Staff) |
News: Unitarian Universalist Association |
UUA Congregational Certification |
Let's Stay Connected!
It’s that time of year again. Certification this year runs from January 5, 2026 through February 2, 2026.
You have likely received an email from the UUA IT team asking your congregation to certify for this year with a direct link to your congregation’s account. If you have not, it may be because your congregational leadership information is not up to date with the UUA, or that you have not provided them with an email address. Please make sure your congregation takes care of this. You can find details on the process in the emails from our IT team and on the UUA webpage about Certification.
Do note, this is the same location you can update your congregational leadership and if you haven’t done that yet for this church year, please do so! Questions? Please reach out to data services at dataservices@uua.org and they will help you. |
February 5th at 8am PT
Part 2 of the UUA Communications Foundational Webinar Series
Does the idea of talking to reporters fill you with dread? What’s the difference between Instagram and TikTok, anyway? In the midst of social instability and other challenges, are you wondering how you and your congregation’s public presentation matters? The UUA’s Communications Staff Group is presenting a Communications Foundational Webinar Series to help your congregation build your communications skills and capacity, share your stories, and manage crises. This series is designed to help Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and communities promote UU values, highlight your mission and work to audiences inside and outside of Unitarian Universalism, and cultivate relationships with local media. Register today. |
Benefits Tune-Up Workbook |
The Benefits Tune-up Workbook, updated annually by UUA Church Staff Finances, helps congregational leaders understand UU benefit plan rules – necessary documents, eligibility criteria, enrollment windows, and more. We’ve just published our 9th edition! Ensure plan compliance by having good protocol in place for benefits administration.
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Sustainable Staffing Strategizers Wave Cohort |
Are you eager to pursue creative, values-based approaches to aligning your missional priorities and staffing with your financial resources? We’ll discuss staffing trends, models, and challenges; explore leadership frameworks and emerging approaches; envision small-bet experiments; and more. Light assignments between sessions will help you apply your learnings and share your imaginings. By the end of our time together, you should have greater clarity about possible directions – and thought partners from within and beyond your congregation. Multiple leaders from a single congregation are welcome to apply!
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Building Beloved Community
Beyond the Binary |
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Save the date for April 18, 2026! Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary
An upcoming online event including a keynote presentation given by a transgender/gender nonconforming person, workshops from and for the trans community only, as well as additional workshops for cisgender people who are ready to learn more about how to be an ally. This event creates a space and time where transgender people, allies, advocates, and accomplices can bravely (and with more safety than usual) explore, learn and grow, bear witness, and be witnessed. Attendee registration details coming soon.
Introducing the Keynote Speaker - Logan Grendal. Bio coming soon! Follow Logan on Instagram @focusoninfinity
Interested in being a host site for this event? Sign up on the interest form for more information. Signing up on this form is neither a commitment to host nor approval to host, but an expression of interest in hosting. We will forward your information to your regional staff, and they will reach out to you with next steps. |
March is Small Congregation Month |
The UUA’s Congregational Life Small Congregations Team is hosting a month of learning for small congregations. This year’s theme is Small Congregations: We’re Doing the Work. Four webinars over 4 weeks on these topics:
- Creativity in Small Congregation RE, March 3rd
- Mobilizing for Climate Justice, March 12th
- Container for Justice, March 18th
- Holding the Sacred, with the Congregational Leaders Conversation, March 24th
Webinar dates are March 3rd, 12th, 18th at 8 pm and the 24th at 7:30 pm ET and will last 75-90 minutes. The webinars will be recorded and available to everyone who registers. Registration is on a sliding scale with a maximum cost of $20. Registration will open in early February. |
Congregational Leaders Conversation |
Tuesday, February 24, 7:30-9pm ET
Restorative Justice Practices in UU Congregations
Our guest, Aisha Hauser, will outline the basic tenets of restorative and transformative justice and invite us into conversation about the ways we already affirm many of these practices in our spaces. Together, we will explore how these principles might guide us, as congregational leaders, in practicing accountability, repairing harm, and deepening safety within our communities. What might justice look like within communities like ours, that seek to be places that nurture the spirit and honor the inherent worth and dignity of each person?
Aisha Hauser (she/her) is one half the Lead Ministry Team of the Church of the Larger Fellowship and an accomplished religious educator, facilitator, author, curriculum developer, and anti-racism advocate. Register today. |
Upcoming Gatherings
30 Days of Love 2026
Love At The Center: Reimagining the World As It Could Be.
At a time when fear, violence, and extraction dominate our politics and our planet, we practice another way. We believe love is not fragile; it is fierce. It grounds our organizing, fuels our imagination, and sustains our communities. Over five weeks, we will move through a journey from imagination to action, rooting our freedom dreams in faith and bringing them to life in our world. Each week, we will have a written reflection from Side With Love staff; a conversation with a UU theologian; a multigenerational family activity; reflection questions for journaling; a meditative body practice; and a coloring sheet connected to the weekly theme. Sign up to receive an email and/or text when each week’s content is live. |
Sparks RE and Music Leadership |
The Spark RE and Music Leadership Professional Development Programs provide for Unitarian Universalist Religious Professionals learning communities where they can easily access applicable skills and tools for religious leadership. Courses are also open to interested lay leaders. Check out the lists of classes, these are great resources! |
Winter Institute 2026 - Last Call for Registration |
In these difficult times, we are reminded how sacred it is to be in community, raising our voices in song, sharing meals together, and enjoying togetherness. The WI Planning committee is delighted to invite you to join us in-person for Winter Institute at Salt Fork! But this is our last call for registration! The deadline of Feb 6th is fast approaching, and we have not yet achieved our “break even” point of participation! If you plan to join us for a fabulous week of cozy community at Winter Institute at Salt Fork State Park Lodge, register NOW! You may still benefit from the group rate for your room, as they are available, though the guaranteed availability date has passed. First make your hotel reservations at Salt Fork at 740-435-9000. Please tell them you would like to book a room under the UU Winter Institute 2026 block. After making your reservation, register for WI STAT! |
The Summer Institute Planning Committee is pleased to announce that the 2026 Theme speaker will be Rev. Susan Ritchie, speaking on Co-Creating Hope: The Art and Beauty of Resilience. Join us at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH, July 5-11, 2026. Job applications are now open and morning seminars have been posted. Registration will open in March.
Visit the website of the camps in our region to learn more about their programs:
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News: Youth and Young Adults |
There are no Youth and Young Adults announcement this month. |
Congregational Announcement |
Important Note: If your congregation would like to share an event in the PWR Newsletter, please email pwr@uua.org with the following: event poster (if available), brief summary of the event, and any relevant links. Please note that events listed in this section are sponsored by local congregations and have not been reviewed or endorsed by the UUA or the Pacific Western Region (PWR). |
2026 Pacific Southwest Assembly
Striving for Justice Now |
April 24 – 26, 2026
Pacific Unitarian (Universalist) Church
Rancho Palos Verde, CA 90275 |
The 4th annual Pacific Southwest Assembly is focusing on gathering Unitarian
Universalists and other empathetic people to learn directly from organizations and individuals who are on the front line of combating federal immigration policies.
From the air we breathe to the ethical climates we cultivate, this assembly will explore what we need to do to sustain our ongoing work for justice. Sixty-five years ago, most of our movement’s efforts were directed toward changing laws; today,
work increasingly requires transforming culture, reshaping the moral atmosphere
in which our shared life unfolds. Come join us and learn how we all can take an active role in changing the current climate through Unitarian Universalist
Social Justice work.
Over the weekend, the Assembly will host keynote speakers, workshops, music and
activities that will focus on empowering each of us to stand tall in this tumultuous time.
Formerly known as the Pacific Southwest Service Area Assembly and made up of the churches of the former PSWD, our annual assembly brings together UU's and
affiliates from the 50 churches located in the Pacific Southwest. Visit our
website, pswassembly.org to learn more about it.
SAVE THE DATE! Come join us April 24 – 26, 2026 at Pacific Unitarian (Universalist) Church in Rancho Palos Verde and plan to be a part of this historic and timely event. |
Chalice Lighters is a program to help fund the growth of the member congregations and communities of the Region.The program provides grants to communities to help them cross a major threshold towards growth. For more information, click here to visit the website. To contact them directly, please email pwrchalicelighters@uua.org. |
Non-Fellowshipped Ministers Gathering |
Ministers who are not fellowshipped with the UUA and are serving UU congregations are invited to gather monthly with the MidAmerica's Regional Lead. We will share information, experiences, and resources with one another and explore questions concerning the UUA and Unitarian Universalism. Register now. Meets are second Tuesday of the month beginning September 9th. Details at the UUA website. |
UU Job Board / UUA Job and Careers |
Congregations are hiring, check out the UU Job Board to see what is available.
The UUA is hiring for several positions. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings webpage. |
Congregational Incident Form |
The simple Congregational Incident Form provides a way for congregations to inform the UUA of a threat or disruptive incident that comes from outside the congregation itself, helping us track trends and create resources.
All forms come to Safe Congregation Program email, safecongregations@uua.org. Please let us know if you have any questions. |
If your congregation is struggling with how to respond in this moment, please check out the UUA's Resilience Hub. This is a location where we are gathering resources to help congregations build strong, connected, and resilient communities. |
The UUA has a Disaster Relief Fund for those who want to make a donation to help congregations who have faced losses due to tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires and more. Please donate if you can. Learn more about the work of the Disaster Relief Fund. We are Better Together. |
The UU Mental Health Network, is driven by a single goal; to empower the Beloved Community in honoring each individual 's unique mental health journey towards wellness..
We envision a world where the Beloved Community: is a place where all members feel welcomed, understood, and held in love; engage in respectful curiosity to understand emotional distress; welcome open, authentic, and fearless sharing about mental health; and passionately commits to mental health justice. For more information, click here. |
Pacific Western Region of the UUA Newsletter |
This email was sent to congregational leaders, committee chairs and staff.
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Pacific Western Region - UUA
P.O Box 567
Brighton, CO 80601
United States |
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