Programs for Individuals
Current Programs For Individuals
Online Love at the Center: BIPOC Religious Professional Cohort
Be one of the first to join our Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants Cohorts.
BIPOC Religious Professionals:
Eleven 2-hour sessions starting at
9am PT/10MT/11CT/12ET
Starting January (dates to come)
First and third Wednesdays
(Exception: Meet 2nd and fourth in January)
Fees:
$600 with a sliding scale of $400 or $500 by emailing director@uuwellspring.org.
Spiritual Direction
There are several options for spiritual companionship, which is a highly recommended component of all UU Wellspring programs, including spiritual friendships outside of UU Wellspring. For trained spiritual directors, there is a session fee that can usually be submitted as professional expenses. Start your search for a Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director here.
Book List for Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants:
- Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson. Skinner House Books. (2022)*
- Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books (2018)*
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, (2024)*
- Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. Knopf. (2022)**
*Available from the UUA Inspirit Bookstore, *online booksellers, or ** public libraries.
UU Wellspring inc is offering reduced fees for the BIPOC Cohort. To enroll for less than $400, please enroll and choose “pay by check,” and complete this form.
Online Love at the Center: Religious Professionals Cohort
This program is full and already started. Please consider the Friday everyone cohort (there are several religious professionals in this cohort already) or one of the other cohorts that begin in October 2024.
Religious Professionals:
August 14, 2024 to January 15, 2025
2 hour sessions starting at
12:30PT/1:30MT/2:30CT/3:30 ET
Second and Fourth Wednesdays
(Exception: Skip 4th Wed in Dec)
Fees:
$600 with a sliding scale of $400 or $500 by emailing director@uuwellspring.org.
Spiritual Direction
There are several options for spiritual companionship, which is a highly recommended component of all UU Wellspring programs, including spiritual friendships outside of UU Wellspring. For trained spiritual directors, there is a session fee that can usually be submitted as professional expenses. Start your search for a Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director here.
Book List for Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants:
-
- Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson. Skinner House Books. (2022)*
- Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books (2018)*
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, (2024)*
- Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. Knopf. (2022)**
- Optional: UU Wellspring Love at the Center Reflection Journal.
-
*Available from the UUA Inspirit Bookstore, *online booksellers, or ** public libraries.
Online Love at the Center: Clergy Cohorts
Be one of the first to join our Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants Cohorts.
Fees:
$600 with a sliding scale of $400 or $500 by emailing director@uuwellspring.org.
Spiritual Direction
There are several options for spiritual companionship, which is a highly recommended component of all UU Wellspring programs, including spiritual friendships outside of UU Wellspring. For trained spiritual directors, there is a session fee that can usually be submitted as professional expenses. Start your search for a Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director here.
Book List for Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants:
-
- Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson. Skinner House Bopks. (2022)*
- Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books (2018)*
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, (2024)*
- Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. Knopf. (2022)**
-
*Available from the UUA Inspirit Bookstore, *online booksellers, or ** public libraries.
Online Love at the Center: Everyone Cohorts
Be one of the first to join our Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants Cohorts.
- Congregational Members or Friend (Everyone Cohort)
Eleven 2-hour sessions starting at
9am PT/10MT/11CT/12ET
Starting Nov 1, 2024
First and third Fridays
Be one of the first to join our Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants Cohorts.
Fees:
$600 with a sliding scale of $400 or $500 by emailing director@uuwellspring.org.
Spiritual Direction
There are several options for spiritual companionship, which is a highly recommended component of all UU Wellspring programs, including spiritual friendships outside of UU Wellspring. For trained spiritual directors, there is a session fee that can usually be submitted as professional expenses. Start your search for a Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director here.
Book List for Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants:
-
- Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson. Skinner House Books. (2022)*
- Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books (2018)*
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, (2024)*
- Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. Knopf. (2022)**
- Optional: UU Wellspring Love at the Center Reflection Journal.
-
*Available from the UUA Inspirit Bookstore, *online booksellers, or ** public libraries.
Online Love at the Center: Seminarian Cohorts
1. Seminarians-Wednesdays:
Mostly First and third Wednesdays
2. Seminarians-Thursdays:
Eleven 2-hour sessions starting at
4pm PT/5pm MT/6pm CT/7pm ET
Starting January 2-May 6 2025
First, Third and Fifth Thursdays
Fees:
$50 reduced fee for seminarians in these groups only. Subsidized by MFN.
Spiritual Direction
There are several options for spiritual companionship, which is a highly recommended component of all UU Wellspring programs, including spiritual friendships outside of UU Wellspring. For trained spiritual directors, there is a session fee that can usually be submitted as professional expenses. Start your search for a Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director here.
Book List for Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants:
-
- Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson. Skinner House Books. (2022)*
- Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books (2018)*
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, (2024)*
- Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. Knopf. (2022)**
- Optional: UU Wellspring Love at the Center Reflection Journal.
-
*Available from the UUA Inspirit Bookstore, *online booksellers, or ** public libraries.
More information on all UU Wellspring programs can be found on our Programs page and Home page. We generally offer Sources, and rotate other programs as well.
UU Wellspring Individual Program Overview
The UU Wellspring program for individual interest takes the same UU Wellspring experience for congregations and delivers it to small groups of individuals in a live online format. The individual program allows UUs who cannot join a congregation or who would like to spiritually deepen within a special cohort (such as religious leadership, seminarians, members of a specific geographical region, etc.) to do so.
During UU Wellspring for Individuals:
- All participants create sacred space as an online group, beginning with a 2.5 hour mandatory retreat.
- Group members then meet online in 2-hour sessions twice a month for 10 months.
- Each two-hour session includes opportunities to reflect on short readings, video clips, and images and poetry.
- Participants are guided to explore daily spiritual practices and meet with a spiritual companion outside of the sessions.
- Each session also includes reflecting on how we want to transform ourselves and our world.
Who Should Take UU Wellspring for Individuals?
UU Wellspring Individuals gather online to participate in the UU Wellspring program. Sometimes specific cohorts choose to take UU Wellspring together. For example, a group of Canadian Religious Professionals, UU Seminarians, and specific staff groups. Facilitators are experienced, paid, UU Wellspring religious professionals and each year we offer specific cohorts online.
If you took Sources in your congregation, you are welcome to join an advanced program as an individual.
Clergy groups are practicing, community or retired clergy who are in a covenental group (UUMA/Community Ministers Association/Retired Ministers Association).
Religious Professional Groups include ministers, religious educators, music directors, seminarians, interns, membership professionals, and administrators.
Everyone online cohorts include anyone with at least 6 months to a year of UU experience or exploration who would like to join.
Groups can also be customized to a particular geographic region or role with someone in the cohort to support the recruitment. Contact director@uuwellspring.org to discuss.
What Is Required for the Individual Interest Program?
- We use the Zoom online platform, which is free to participants and can be downloaded at zoom.com. You do not need to purchase a Zoom plan to participate.
- There is a sliding scale of $400-600 for the year.
- The cost of a spiritual companion has a wide range and scholarships are available for religious professionals.
Who Joins UU Wellspring for Individuals?
Religious Progressionals
Religious professionals find it helpful to work with professionals who practice ministry in different roles. Some religious professionals want to participate before bringing it to their own congregations.
Unique Cohorts
Groups of people who would like to take UU Wellspring together can organize a cohort led by an experienced, paid facilitator. If you have a facilitator, you can organize and apply as a congregational group.
UU Members & Friends
Lay Members who are unable to attend in their congregational programs can choose from various online programs. Some UUs may also want to participate before bringing UU Wellspring to their own congregations.
Individual Interest Program FAQ
1. How do I register for a program as an individual?
Follow the prompts on the enrollment form below, using the drop-down menus to choose 2023 Individual Programs and then your preferred program. Then choose “Make selection” to see the program you have chosen and click details for all of the dates and times, book lists, and an overview.
Enroll in an online cohort by choosing “Individual”
and follow the prompts
Contact director@uuwellspring.org with questions. Our fall classes usually fill, so early registration is important.
3. What do I need to participate in the online programs run my UU Wellspring?
Headphones, a microphone and a place where you won’t be distrubed.
Access to a stable internet connection and Zoom.
A Journal (online or handwritten). If you are interested, we have a paperback journal for Sources available at Amazon.
Most of the books for the first year are available in local libraries and often on colleagues’ or your own bookshelf. They are all available at the UUA Inspirit Bookstore or online at your favorite online bookseller.
5. What is the cost?
For individuals (not congregations) there is a sliding scale of $400-$600 for the year per individual participant for year long programs. Shorter programs range from $100-150 per person with a sliding scale for Young Adult programs as low as $25.
There are usually have 1-4 books for each program, some of which are available lin local libraries.
A Spiritual Director or Companion is strongly encouraged. You can engage a paid and certified spiritual director or a spiritual friend to serve as your companion.
Religious Professionals may find their professional expenses cover both the registration and spiritual direction sessions.
2. When are the Sessions held?
4. What if I can’t attend every session?
Everyone must attend the retreat. No one is admitted after the first retreat session because the bonds of trust have already been established.
Almost everyone misses one or two sessions, but if you are like most participants, you will find yourself prioritizing attendance to get the most out of this precious year together.
If you are unable to attend regularly, you will need to stop and take the program at another time. Since we cannot fill your seat, no refunds are given after the retreat and 50% refund is available only within 30 days before the retreat start in order to allow us to try to complete the group before it begins.
6. Are all programs for individuals online?
Yes. We currently only offer live online programs for individuals, which are led by trained UU Wellspring facilitators. You are encouraged to contact director@uuwellspring.org to discuss bringing a program to your congregation. You do not need to take UU Wellspring before you facilitate it in your congregation.Note that pricing for congregations is based on your membership size.
Testimonials for the UU Wellspring Individual Cohorts
“Getting to share this journey with other UU professionals was a real joy and a blessing– something I have not experienced so deeply in other places. I would love the opportunity to continue journeying with this same group next year. I feel more grounded and centered in my work.”
“I feel more grounded and centered in my work. Wellspring has strengthened my commitment to my calling. I feel more solid in my personal theology and more comfortable sharing that with congregants.”
“Through the readings and discussions I can be with my own thoughts, truly listen to others without worrying about what is happening or going to happen next. It is quite luxurious to have a time already set aside that I have committed to study, think, listen, speak ….a time just for me.”
“The culture of our group was to have seemingly long periods of silence in between each speaker. I believe in space between speakers to digest what the last speaker said and gather thoughts before going on to the next speaker. It was a practice in patience for me.”
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