To treasure the mystery and wonder of the world;
To learn together, teachers and students, by talking about what is important;
To support and respect each other as we work to understand important ideas;
To explore and appreciate the ways we are alike and the ways we are different;
To learn to take care of the earth, which is home to all of us;
And to share rituals together which celebrate these things that are important to us.
Religious Education/Exploration
Welcome to Religious Exploration for children and youth at the Boise
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. We are proud to offer a
comprehensive liberal religious exploration for children and youth in the
Treasure Valley. We are always happy to have visitors join us on Sunday
mornings and welcome you and your children to our community of spiritual
seekers.
We offer nursery care and Religious Exploration (RE) for preschool and
elementary aged children at both the 9:30 and 11:15 services. Junior
high and senior high groups meet at 11:15. All children and youth,
except for nursery aged children, begin each Sunday with their families
in the service before leaving for their classes.
Our RE classes are taught, or guided, by many wonderful volunteers.
Curriculum, written for and by Unitarian Universalists, is selected for
each classroom to provide age appropriate religious exploration. Refer
to the Children's Religious Exploration Prospectus for specifics on this
year's curricula and additional information about Children's Religious
Exploration.
We ask that families register their children for RE following three
visits. Registration forms are available on our website and from the
Information Center in the north vestibule. Registering allows the
Director of Religious Exploration and teaching guides or advisors to
get to know your children. We also will add you to our mail and email
lists so that you will be notified about special events at BUUF and in
your children's classes. Lastly, registration is an important element
of our Safe Congregation Policy.
Children's Religious Exploration at the Boise Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship is a cooperative effort. We expect that an adult family
member of children and youth participating in RE will serve as a
classroom assistant on a rotating basis. These important individuals
are required by our Safe Congregation Policy and vital for successful
classroom experiences. Assistants do not teach lessons but support the
planned activities. It is a great way to learn about Unitarian
Universalism and meet members of our congregation.
Children enjoy religious exploration most if they have the opportunity to
make friends and know what's going on. For that reason, regular
attendance is important. Please plan to bring your children often. We'd
love to see you every Sunday.
If you would like to discuss Children's RE further, please contact our
Director of Religious Exploration, Emmie Schlobohm, at 658-1710, or
.
We look forward to a great year in Children's Religious Exploration.
Religious Exploration Philosophy Statement
Our Religious Exploration Program for Children and youth is A welcoming, safe community that fosters life-long religious/spiritual
growth and social consciousness.
Our Unitarian Universalist Principles
(Children's version)
We believe:
That each and every person is important
That all people should be treated fairly and kindly
That we should accept one another and keep on learning together
That each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life
That all persons 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, the home we share with all living things
"As we enter the twenty-first century, I envision the goals of religious
exploration being to create and maintain a human environment and atmosphere where
people of all ages can find and create a just community, grow and develop skills
and the confidence to live their lives wholly, find and give comfort and solace,
and celebrate life."
Ginger Luke, in the essay from Essex
Conversations, "The Children's Fire Is the Community Fire," captures the spirit
of our program. As a Committee we seek to flesh-out this vision in many tangible ways.
Our responsibilities include assisting our classroom Guides and parents to
collaborate for the benefit of our youth, sponsoring many
community-building events throughout the year, creating a vibrant Summer
Religious Exploration experience, and supporting our staff as a sounding
board for decision-making. Since we cannot do all of this alone, we
welcome your comments, concerns, questions and even membership on the
committee itself. Please contact an RE staff member or the committee
chair. for further information. The committee meets on the second
Thursday of each month, 7pm at BUUF. Please contact an RE staff member or the
committee chair for further information.
Safe Congregations Policy
No one ever wants to think that child abuse, be it sexual,
emotional or physical could ever occur in our community. However, in
this day and age, it is important to take preventative steps to insure
the well being of our children long before we have any inkling of a
problem. That is why we have implemented a "Safe Congregations"
policy at BUUF.
In May 2004, the governing board of the BUUF unanimously adopted a
safe congregations policy. Among other things, the policy gives the
director of religious exploration (DRE) and the RE committee a back bone
for screening and training volunteers (both older youth and adult) who
serve as RE guides and nursery and childcare providers. It also
requires that we assemble a group of members and friends to serve on a
safe congregations panel (a group who will assist us with procedures
in the event that something unfortunate occurs) and requires that
families register their children in the RE program in a timely
manner.