I just returned home from an exciting week at the 2010 UMJC Conference held this year in beautiful Seattle, WA.
I arrived last Monday (July 26th) for the UMJC Delegate meetings held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some great discussions and details came out of these meetings, including delegate affirmation of my new position with the UMJC as the Young Adult Liaison - working with all programming aimed at the next generation, and recruiting young people for congregational leadership.
Since the conference was held in Seattle, there were a number of "Seattle-esque" influences on the theme and details. For example, many of the musicians featured were from the Northwest, much of the music was "un-plugged," and the level of formality was very casual, with many people showing up to the evening services in shorts.
The classes this year were also very original and creative. Many of them were panel type classes, or team taught.
The Shabbat service was led by Seattle congregation, Beit HaShofar, and was traditional - with a NW twist! The Siddurim for the service were donated by FFOZ, and contained just the Shabbat morning section of a Siddur they have been working on for some time.
On Shabbos afternoon I led a really great Torah study that was very interactive and inspiring. I love both teaching and learning, and environments like this study allow me to not only facilitate discussion of the text(s) but also hear other great insights from fellow colleagues and attendees.
My Personal Experience
For me personally, the UMJC conference was a definite success for a number of reasons:
1) Connections and Friendships
In addition to catching-up with long time friends, during this particular conference I was able to connect with some really amazing people who I either did not previously know, or who I only knew in passing. I was also able to reconnect with some friends I have not seen in several years.
2) Professionally
Two great things happened personally for me at the conference, my full s'micha - rabbinic ordination (previously I was licensed and installed as a congregational rabbi, but this was my full ordination which opens up even more doors). And as I mentioned earlier, I was also confirmed by the delegates in my new part-time position with the UMJC.
My s'micha has been a process that began in 1997, and which has been a long journey. So to receive my full s'micha was (and is) very exciting. My parents, grandmother, and a number of the people who have stood with me since the beginning of this journey were able to be there in support.
3) Kehilah 2020 Project (K20)
This year at the delegate meetings, the K20 Committee (under the new guidance of committee chair, Rabbi Tony Eaton) was unveiled and affirmed. The K20 Project is a response to the dire need to raise up new leaders.
K20 is a comprehensive ten-year plan to establish, strengthen, and multiply congregations that welcome Messiah home in the midst of the Jewish community. K20 focuses on identifying, recruiting, and helping to equip leaders, and placing them in new or renewed congregations that will serve the Messianic Jewish community of the future. I'll be working closely with this project in my position with the UMJC and am very excited about its potential.
4) Union of Messianic Believers (UMB)
During the conference, I attended a small planning meeting to reorganize and relaunch the UMB. The Union of Messianic Believers is the individual membership arm of the UMJC. Although it has existed for some time, and has done some great things, the UMB is in a re-organization stage and plans to relaunch a new strategy, website, etc. This will expand the work of the UMJC to reach not only individuals, but reach out to congregations and ministries which may not necessarily fall-into the label "Messianic Jewish," but who wish to still connect to the larger Messianic Jewish movement.
At this meeting a new executive committee was formed with the previous President (Rabbi Dr. John Fischer) and Vice-President (Dr. H. Bruce Stokes). I was named one of the new members to the Executive Committee, along with outgoing UMJC Twenties Chair, Julie D. We are excited about the exciting developments within the UMB and opportunities on the horizon. So stay tuned - I'll be giving an update soon.
Conclusion
The UMJC is an organization that is moving forward. It is harnessing its strengths to move forward, and learning from the past. I am honored to be a part of an organization that is leading the way in many respects within the Messianic Jewish Movement. For example, the UMJC is leading the way in raising up young leaders, empowering young people in leadership, and preparing for the future of our congregations.
You have definitely not heard the last from the UMJC ... See you at next year's conference!
You'll have to blog more about what the UMB is to become, purpose and raison d'etre and all that. I'm curious.
I'm glad to hear such encouraging words from the conference and grateful to have you as one of our Union's newest Rabbis
Yashar Koach Rabbi Brumbach!
p.s. How's the spud :-)?
I definitely want to hear more about the K20 efforts (any projects planned in NYC?) and the UMB. Looking forward to seeing how thing develop.
And mazel tov on the s'micha! Yasher koach, indeed!!
Ben-
LOL ... Thanks so much! It is pretty exciting and such an honor to join such a great group of esteemed colleagues.
And yes ... "the spud" is doing just fine. He will earn a coveted spot on one of my book shelves. ;)
Hi Laura,
Thanks! Yes, there are indeed exciting developments in the K20 program and the UMB. I'll keep ya posted!
Joshua:
Mazal tov on your smicha. Great to have you as a colleague. Enjoyed our time together at the summer class in midrash.
See you at Hashivenu and then at MJRC.
Derek Leman
Thanks Derek,
I really enjoyed out time together in LA as well. Looking forward to seeing you again soon ... and looking forward to your new book as well!
-Joshua
Congrats on your S'micha! I wish we could have been up there to see it all. Love the K20 direction as I remember reading that source report with Dr. Rudolph in our Chavurah with urgency.
Take care!
jc
Jon,
Thanks, Bro! I hope all is well.