An Invitation to Members of the UUSCM Counselors Affinity Group

 We are gathered as a group of community ministers; lay and ordained. One thing that we have in common, particularly as counselors and chaplains, is the frequent sense of isolation. We acknowledge and respect that each of us has a full plate of nurturing others.

 We envision the possibility of a process in which members of the counselors' affinity group could participate in a listserv to discuss issues of mutual interest. This could be:

• Specific discussions that people could follow or participate
  in. For instance, at GA this year there will be an SCM workshop on ethics.  Would it be helpful to discuss ethical issues that arise in your ministry or in your area of specialization?
  
  
• We could create a resource list that people could refer to with specific issues or interests. For example, would it be helpful if each person in this group could describe her or his ministry so that others in the group will have some idea of whom to contact to discuss issues of particular or general concern?
  
  
• We could create a place for people to share information;
  Do you have a spiritual practice that contributes to your ability to be   present with others? Have you, in a potentially isolated profession, found a way to connect to the "larger world”?

• Can you offer to share other ways that we could support or contribute to each other and our respective ministries?

We need first to ascertain who we are and what would be helpful for this
 group. Thus:

 (1) Please, would you identify your ministries?

 (2) Are you willing to share your knowledge and experience with other members of this group?

(3) In what ways could an SCM listserv for counselors and chaplains help you?

(4) Do you prefer separate listservs, one for chaplains and another for other counselors?
 
 (5) Are you interested in one of these types of exchange?

Thank you for your time and attention,

Lee Cudhea-Pierce, mamalee@rcn.com

Rev. Tom Korson, tkindenver@comcast.net