Ballou Channing District

Ballou Channing District is made up of 45 congregations in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, including the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands. The district is named after Hosea Ballou who is sometimes called "the father of American Universalism" and William Ellery Channing, a transcendalist who inspired Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

[ District Dues  |  Grants  |  Board of Directors  |  Bylaws & Annual Meeting Docs  |  2016 District Annual Meeting ]

BCD Congregations

 

District Dues 

Ballou Channing District dues are calculated at the rate of $19 per reported congregational member for the fiscal year which runs July 1 to June 30. This rate will remain the same for FY16 which runs from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016. Checks can be made payable to "Ballou Channing District" and mailed to: 182 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

Visit this link for news on the UUA Annual Program Fund (APF) rates for 2015-2016. Did you know that your congregation's contribution to the UUA's Annual Program Fund (APF) results in a grant back to the District?  Read more about this district grant at: http://www.uua.org/giving/apf/49455.shtml

 

District Grants 

The Ballou Channing District offers four grants annually, in addition to Chalice Lighters opportunities. The grants are listed below; all are to be used for development and extension of Unitarian Universalist purposes and principles. Opportunities for development and extension are to be considered by the UUA and BCD in the broadest possible way. Click here for the BCD grant guidelines and application form (annual deadline is June 1). See also the evaluation worksheet used by the board.

  • Sandwich Trust Funds Grant
  • Olney Street Congregation (Unitarian) Fund 
  • Woonsocket Fund 
  • Rev. Bill Zelazny Collaborative Grant 

The Chalice Lighters program raises money for grants to help congregations develop and implement plans to promote growing and retaining members. Projects can include supporting professional ministerial or religious education staffing, renovation or expansion of facilities, or funding of special programs for start-up and membership growth activities. Click here for a program description and grant application. Funds for these grants are raised by donations from individuals in our district. These special contributors are called Chalice Lighters. Chalice Lighters pledge to give at least $10 as many as three times a year, when a “Call” goes out for a specific project. Each Chalice Lighter receives a direct communication asking for his or her pledged contribution when a “Call” is made. Apply to be a Chalice Lighter.

 

Board of Directors 

  • President, marylu [dot] love [at] comcast [dot] net (Mary Lu Love) (2016), Unity Church, North Easton, MA
  • Vice President, Rev. Sarah Person (2016), First UU Society, Middleboro, MA
  • Treasurer, maryalicesmith4 [at] gmail [dot] com (Mary Alice Smith) (2016), Channing Memorial Church, Newport, RI
  • Secretary, ralph [dot] e [dot] brown [at] gmail [dot] com (Ralph Brown) (2016), Old Ship Church, Hingham, MA
  • Charlie Donnelly (2017), UU Congregation of South County, Peacedale, RI
  • mkm67 [at] cox [dot] net (Merritt Meyer) (2018), First Unitarian Church in Providence, RI
  • Rev. Paul Sprecher (2017), First Parish of Bridgewater, MA
  • Kate Sullivan (2018), First Parish UU Church of Kingston, MA
  • Dawn Walnut (2016), First Parish, Brewster, MA

Nominating Committee

 

Bylaws & Annual Meeting Documents