the interdependent web

Symbolism, ritual, and presidential politics

2009-07-13T15:56:00.002-04:00

Things on the Internet never die

LinguistFriend, posting at "The Chaliceblog" in response to UUA President William G. Sinkford's Fall 2008 UU World column, "Learning from the Interfaith World," takes issue with what he sees as a suggestion that UUs need to become comfortable saying the Lord's Prayer.

[I]t strikes me as illegitimate to adopt the forms of a worship in which one does not believe, outside of cases of compulsion or some extreme pastoral situations. Where a worship form takes place with which one cannot honestly agree, an alternative is simply to be silent and wait for something in which one can more comfortably share. To adopt such forms insincerely is no compliment to those who do believe in that worship, and it is easily imaginable that such quasi-worship could backfire in interaction with other religious groups. (July 8)

Reaction to General Assembly continues

The Rev. Thom Belote continues to add reflections to his report on General Assembly; he is currently up to June 24 ("RevThom," July 2).

The Rev. Dan Harper deconstructs the UUA's new public witness campaign, "Standing on the Side of Love," and invites others to join in ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," July 6).

UUA presidential politics

LT, the minister who writes "thelivelytradition," complains that the presidential campaign was too nice (July 8).

The Rev. Victoria Weinstein leads off a lively discussion of UU culture, growth prospects, and priorities:

Unitarian Universalism is the local congregation. It is not its president. Let us look to the strength, goodness and integrity of our own houses. There’s work enough to do there. ("Peacebang," July 7)

And the Rev. Scott Wells launches a lively (and multi-blog) discussion of the laying-on-of-hands that concluded the installation of the Rev. Peter Morales as the next president of the UUA during the closing ceremony at General Assembly. Wells complains that the symbolic laying on of hands belongs to the ordination of a minister, not the installation of a president. "Using a ceremony that necessarily ties the presidency of the UUA with the ordained ministry frames who can be president, apart from our own established rules. It is thus an abuse of our polity, and should be abandoned" ("Boy in the Bands," July 7).

At "PeaceBang," Weinstein argued, "We cannot just perform rituals ’cause we like them or they feel cool. We are responsible to tradition, to meaning and to integrity" (July 8). The Rev. Kit Ketcham, meanwhile, finds laying on of hands appropriate:

It surprises me that there's some resistance to the ritual of the laying on of hands, as done for our new UUA president, the Rev. Peter Morales, as he took office recently. Here's what Wikipedia has to say, and it's pretty clear that the ritual is not only for ordination but also to bless and to confer authority. Boy, if there's anything the UUA prez needs, it's blessing and authority! And he might need a bit of that healing property too at some point. ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," July 8)

Jess Cullinan takes exception to those taking exception:

It is notable that the most vocal critics weren’t there, and that watching the video doesn’t even begin to convey what really happened in that room. . . .

Leading our Association of Congregations is ministry, plain and simple. It’s a different incarnation than ordained ministry in the congregation, but it is ministry. And I for one would hope that the individuals who seek that office of President of the UUA are indeed called to serve our movement prayerfully, authentically, and with a deep sense of responsibility not just to the administration but also to the vision and mission of Unitarian Universalism. ("Jess's Journal," July 8)

Kim Hampton, however, was present for Morales's installation but was uncomfortable with the symbolism:

If you look at our closest religious cousins (at least polity-wise), the Disciples [of Christ] and the [United Church of Christ], you will notice that they have a position called something like “General Minister AND President.” We, my friends, do NOT have that. We have a President. By that very word, it means that the position is PRIMARILY administrative, NOT pastoral. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that being President cannot be a ministry. It can be. But, it is ADMINISTRATIVE. The twain do not meet, at least in our associational structure. ("East of Midnight," July 8)

In response to all these blog posts and comments, Steve Caldwell quotes the UU Ministers Association's "Code of Professional Practice"—"I will stand in a supportive relation to my colleagues and keep for them an open mind and heart . . . . I will not speak scornfully or in derogation of any colleague in public. In any private conversation critical of a colleague, I will speak responsibly and temperately"—and asks "if a public blog conversation about these issues is appropriate" ("Liberal Faith Development," July 10).

Moving ahead

Weinstein continues themes raised in her earlier blog posts and reflects on the responsibility of ministers to help lay speakers giving sermons to reach beyond political passion:

Again, our lack of theological education and reflection is the culprit. It’s very likely that no one has helped these lay people connect our Unitarian and Universalist theological tradition to their convictions, except in the most generic way. “Please give a talk about why you care so much about Issue X” is a good beginning. But it is only a beginning. “How does this connect with our Unitarian Universalist principles?” might come next, or “What makes this a religious commitment for you?” ("Peacebang," July 10)

Meanwhile, Hampton worries about incorporating Quaker-style silence into the worship service she is leading ("East of Midnight," July 11).

OWL and 'O'

Courtney from "Feministing" (a non-UU blog) posts about the article on Our Whole Lives that appeared in O Magazine, and her commenters make the UUs above look pretty tame (July 8).

Non-blog interdependent web

The Rev. Scott Wells at "Boy in the Bands" suggests following the Unitarian Universalists in Hong Kong on Twitter.

David Pyle of "Celestial Lands" alerts UUs to the new CLF Unitarian Universalist Military Ministries presence on Facebook.

And in a move to make it easier on your memory, you can now find UU World on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/uuworld.

Election assessements and other General Assembly reactions

2009-07-06T16:10:00.002-04:00

Come together...

After the Rev. Peter Morales was elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association on June 27, UU bloggers began chiming in. The Rev. Dan Harper was pleasantly surprised by Morales's victory ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," June 27). The Rev. Kit Ketcham wrote, "I was a Hallman supporter yesterday; I'm a Morales supporter today" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," June 28).

Matt Alspaugh, who volunteered with the Morales campaign, described the campaign's "overarching culture of permission and experimentation" ("Slowing Down," June 29).

The Rev. James Ford, who supported the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman's candidacy for president as well as the proposed revision to Article II, felt despondent after both lost. "Of course, over the years, I've won sometimes and I've lost sometimes. And, honey, whatever they say, winning is better" ("Monkey Mind," June 30).

On the night of the election, Kari Kopnick, a religious educator who did not endorse either candidate, was dismayed by the "rift" between supporters of each side. "I want us to wrap our arms about one another and say 'we begin again in love, we begin again in love'" ("Chalice Spark," June 27).

Harper, who was also one of the UUA's official GA bloggers, wrote at his personal blog about rumors circulating about Moderator Gini Courter's absence from a post-election celebration ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," June 28). Courter explained her absence as a scheduling error ("Just Gini," June 29); UU World's General Assembly blog reported on her public apology during the next day's plenary session (June 30). Trustee Linda Laskowski wrote, "[I]t never occurred to me that [Courter's] absence would be any kind of statement. . . . Why would we think otherwise? Are we so starved for drama that we make it up?" ("UUA View from Berkeley," June 30).

...or not

Suzie, writing at the feminist blog "Echidne of the Snakes," thinks sexism determined the outcome of the UUA presidential race and says that she is "experiencing post-traumatic stress over the election of the Rev. Peter Morales as the eighth president" (June 28). Chalicechick offers a "sour grapes" post-mortem, asking whether "the level of civility hurt the Hallman campaign" ("The Chaliceblog," June 28).

No new 'Principles and Purposes'

Ogre, the seminarian-blogger at "Sparks in the Dark," was surprised that the proposed revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws (the "Principles and Purposes") generated so much opposition that it was narrowly voted down. He thought they should have been revised just to avoid creedalism (June 27). Another seminarian, Earthbound Spirit, was also disappointed that the revision failed and posted the statement she planned to offer in support of the proposed Article II ("Earthbound Spirit," July 1).

Pagan news blogger Jason Pitzl-Waters was glad to see the Article II revision fail because he and other UU pagans felt that earth-centered spirituality would be relegated to a "footnote" in the new text. He wrote, "[F]uture proposed revisions, and other decisions by the UUA BOD [sic], shouldn’t continue the trend of making Pagans feel unwelcome" ("The Wild Hunt," June 29).

The General Assembly of the future?

The Rev. Tony Lorenzen took notes on a workshop by the Board of Trustees' "Fifth Principle Task Force," which will be presenting a proposal to radically change General Assembly at next year's GA. He liked what he heard ("Sunflower Chalice," June 28). Sean, a delegate from Church of the Larger Fellowship, also endorsed the task force's recommendations ("CLF Delegates' Notes," June 29).

Lorenzen also took notes on Moderator Gini Courter's remarks on good governance ("Sunflower Chalice," June 29).

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt was discouraged by the way the General Assembly behaves like "self-appointed justice monitors of the world" ("One More Step," June 30).

Can Unitarian Universalism go multicultural?

The Rev. Anthony David writes the must-read post about General Assembly, pulling together observations from several speakers on the challenges of creating a truly multicultural Unitarian Universalism. Pathways Church, the congregation David helped found near Dallas, drew from the worship styles of contemporary evangelical and non-denominational churches, he writes, but people who were already UUs resisted and criticized the approach.

I can’t tell you how many times I was “pecked to death” by people who came to us from other Unitarian Universalist congregations—people whose sense of what is proper for UU culture was mortally offended by what they were experiencing in our pews. They smelled white trash, and they sneered. ("Thousand Voices," June 29)

The Rev. Tony Lorenzen (who succeeded David at Pathways) responded by inviting other UU innovators to help plan a summit about "what's NEXT" for Unitarian Universalism ("Sunflower Chalice," June 30).

African UUs, the Peacemaking vote, and board tension?

The Rev. Erik Cherry, the UUA's director of international resources, posted video from the presentations made by three African UU leaders at GA, the Rev. Mark Kiyimba of Uganda, the Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana of Burundi, and Olufemi Matimoju of Nigeria ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," July 2; see UU World's coverage of Unitarian Universalism's explosive growth in Kenya in the Summer 2009 issue).

Jess Cullinan wouldn't have missed the plenary debate about the "Peacemaking" Statement of Conscience, which the General Assembly voted to refer back to the Commission on Social Witness for another year of revision:

But . . . while the Plenary session debated the merits and implications of the language of that statement about Peacemaking, I was across the street at the Marriott Hotel, attending a commissioning ceremony for a dear friend leaving one of our Unitarian Universalist seminaries to enter the Navy. ("Jess's Journal," July 5)

Meanwhile, Army chaplain candidate David Pyle has put together a photographic tour of monuments to UU servicemembers buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a project he described on his blog (Flickr; "Celestial Lands," July 4), while the Rev. Tony Lorenzen helped officiate at a memorial service for a UU Army colonel on Independence Day ("Sunflower Chalice," July 4).

Trustee Linda Laskowski responded to UU World's coverage of the first Board of Trustees meeting after GA, which, we reported at our General Assembly blog, began somewhat awkwardly (see here, here, and here, June 29). She adds some observations about the importance of collaboration between the board and the administration in the context of some historic tensions between the UUA president and board ("UUA View from Berkeley," June 30).

The interdependent web at General Assembly

2009-06-26T16:57:00.000-04:00

GA for those who don't go

Just because some bloggers can't go to Salt Lake City doesn't mean they aren't part of the Interdependent Web at General Assembly—and of course they vastly outnumber those who do! The Rev. Cynthia Landrum writes:

I'm sad that I can't be at General Assembly this year. I miss seeing my colleagues from other districts. I feel more out of touch with the latest ground-breaking events of our association and the newest books or creative thoughts. Every year I've missed I've planned to watch videos or live feeds of it, but I rarely do. Perhaps this year will be the first. They're certainly making virtual attendance at GA more possible. Hopefully soon we'll be able to vote from afar on more than just the president. ("Rev. Cyn," June 23)

GA is not just GA

Easily the most prolific blogger at GA so far is Kari Kopnick at "Chalice Spark." She is actively blogging GA, starting with pre-GA events and with a focus on LREDA, the professional organization for religious educators:

Quick, think of the longest, most boring meeting you've ever sat through. Now, double the length, but turn it around into a deeply meaningful, hilarious and wildly productive work session.

That's what today's LREDA Board meeting was like. Long. Deep, and a lot of fun. (June 22)

Spanish-language hymns and 'polyvocal dialogue'

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt was glad to hear about a new Spanish-language hymnal supplement: "This is a desperately needed resource in my Los Angeles congregation, and in our movement as a whole" ("One More Step," June 24).

Meanwhile, Paul Oakley reflects on a "polyvocal dialog" on the hymn "We'll Build a Land" during worship:

If every single hymn becomes part of some dialogic struggle, can we ever do anything without holding a series of workshops on it or, worse, killing it dead on the spot by positioning and explanation of every move we make rather than actually doing worship? And yet... dialog is certainly necessary. ("Inner Light, Radiant Life," June 25)

More perspectives

The Rev. Anthony Lorenzen is attending the Governance track of UU University ("Sunflower Chalice," June 26).

GA speaker Kate Clinton is featured on "Beacon Broadside" (June 26).

The UUA is using Twitter to write 140-character micro-reports on GA, and so are others.

UU World staff are posting photos to our Flickr stream.

And, of course, we also have our GA blog, written by UU World staff, and the UUA has a GA blog written by other UUA staff and volunteers.

Watching Iran, Father's Day, GA, and more

2009-06-22T11:38:00.002-04:00

Iran's 'Green Revolution'

Several UU bloggers—the Rev. Victoria Weinstein ("PeaceBang"), Chalicechick ("The Chaliceblog"), the Rev. James Ford ("Monkey Mind"), and Bill Baar ("Pfarrer Streccius")—want to know why UUA President William G. Sinkford and the UUA's Washington Office haven't released any statements in support of the Iranian democratic reform movement, especially in light of Sinkford's controversial meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last fall. Meanwhile, Unitalian suggests that UUs express solidarity with the Bahai'i, a persecuted religious minority in Iran (June 21). And uuworld.org publishes a personal meditation by the Rev. Parisa Parsa, a UU minister who was born in Iran (June 22).

Pollster David W. Moore explains why we shouldn't trust a controversial pre-election poll in Iran that predicted Ahmadinejad would win ("Beacon Broadside," June 19). Military chaplain-in-training David Pyle comments on Iran and American exceptionalism ("Celestial Lands," June 21). The Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of a book about the liberalism of America's founding fathers, says that the Iranian protests have made him think about George Washington's legacy ("Revolutionary Spirits," June 21).

Joel Monka is impressed by how peaceful the Iranian protesters have been: "the property damage and blood in the streets of Tehran so far is less than you'd expect in an American city that just won an NBA championship" ("CUUMBAYA," June 20). The Rev. Tony Lorenzen wonders if Americans are just too comfortable to take to the streets to demand better health coverage ("Sunflower Chalice," June 22). Strange Attractor isn't sure how enthusiastically she should support the Iranian reformers: "These are not radicals or feminists in spite of Mousavi's impressive wife" (June 18).

Father's Day reflections

For Father's Day, Jeremey Adam Smith, author of the Beacon Press book The Daddy Shift, offers a guide to children's books featuring fathers as co-parents or primary caregivers ("Beacon Broadside," June 18). Jim Magaw writes, "My faith as a father is not a reflection of my parenting skills but is a reflection of my commitment to something outside myself" ("Word, Music and Meaning," June 19). The Rev. Victoria Weinstein, whose father died 26 years ago when she was in high school, writes:

Right now I just feel like I would literally give an arm to pick up the phone and hear my dad’s voice, have a conversation with him and meet him somewhere for a hug. Just to smell his coat lapels. To see his hands and feet. To know his face so well, still, that I wouldn’t even need to look closely at it. To walk on the beach with him and see his thinning hair get ruffled in the wind and to talk about all the things we used to talk about — mainly, about what kind of person I was going to be, what he saw in me and for me. He would have so much to say by now. We would just fall into step beside each other as we always did, and he would tell me how his perspective had changed as one of the ancestors. He would make everything clear for me. ("PeaceBang," June 21)

"Beacon Broadside" also publishes a moving personal essay about life-threatening pregnancies and the Buddhist teaching that life is suffering by Jeff Wilson, a Unitarian Universalist professor of religion and East Asian studies and occasional contributor to UU World (June 16). Wilson's article is adapted from an essay in a new Beacon Press anthology of writings for the web magazine Killing the Buddha.

As General Assembly approaches

Kim Hampton is wary of the UUA Fifth Principle Task Force's proposal to hold General Assemblies less often: "And as someone who doesn’t live on the east coast (where the majority of UUs of color are), it gets very lonely (and tiring) being one of maybe a couple of persons of color in the room. . . . The only time that there is a critical mass of people of color is at GA" ("East of Midnight," June 17).

Patrick Murfin offers "a guide for the unsuspecting UU delegate in an election year" ("Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout," June 17). Worship is the best part of General Assembly, writes Kari Kopnick ("Chalice Spark," June 19). UU World is blogging General Assembly news and business ("General Assembly Blog"). UUA.org's coverage will include reports, blog posts, and streaming and archived video.

The Rev. Dan Harper is en route to Salt Lake City (by train!) for the UUA General Assembly, where he will be a volunteer with the UUA's web coverage team. On his personal blog he asks:

Will you be going to General Assembly this year? or do you have better ways to spend your hard-earned time and money than by going to some denominational meeting? Will you be following the online coverage of General Assembly? or will you be watching the Red Sox instead? And finally, do you believe General Assembly is worth the thousands of dollars the denomination spends on it each year? Discuss freely. ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," June 20)

Elsewhere this week

The Rev. James Ford buys a clergy shirt for the Pride parade ("Monkey Mind," June 17). The Rev. Victoria Weinstein returns from a long sabbatical in southern and eastern Europe and writes: "I see myself more clearly than [ever] as a participant in a middle class, desire/get/[consumer]-oriented, entitled, depressed and quite impoverished culture" ("PeaceBang," June 17). Plaidshoes explains why she calls her blog "Everyday Unitarian" rather than "Everyday Unitarian Universalist" (June 15).

Lizard Eater grew up UU, and so, she says, "I have a foot in each camp of the theist/humanist wings of our religion" ("The Journey," June 17). The Rev. Dan Harper proposes that the primary thing that has kept Unitarian Universalist congregations in business over the last forty years is their religious education programs for children ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," June 18).

Paul Oakley's new UU fellowship is working toward recognition as a GLBT "Welcoming Congregation," but is looking for resources to help them learn about transgender issues especially ("Inner Light, Radiant Life," June 18).

Pagan blogger Jason Pitzl-Waters writes about the neo-Nazi use of the Celtic cross as a racist symbol ("The Wild Hunt," June 15).

Jane Fonda, Obama's Sunday school, and Flower Communion

2009-06-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

UU influences on Jane Fonda and Barack Obama?

The actress and political activist Jane Fonda, whose spiritual odyssey generated considerable commentary when she embraced evangelical Christianity in 2001, writes about her faith as a "work in progress" and credits the Rev. Forrest Church, a Unitarian Universalist minister, for the observation that "God is not God's name" ("Jane Fonda," June 10).

The conservative "American Thinker" blog tars President Barack Obama's support for U.S. veterans by describing the Unitarian Universalist church in Honolulu, where Obama attended Sunday school in the early '70s, as a sanctuary for military deserters (June 14).

Meanwhile, UU military chaplain-in-training David Pyle explains why he is reluctant to support congregational outreach to military veterans: "[M]any of our congregations are not ready to receive these veterans in the way they need to be received by a faith community" ("Celestial Lands," June 14).

Affirmation and judgment, Flower Communion, ministerial culture

In a long post about the UUA Principle that affirms and promotes "acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations," the Rev. Fred L. Hammond writes that this means "I cannot judge your experiences as false. I cannot joke about people reading 'Conversations with God' or 'The Secret' or 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead' or 'The Course in Miracles' or even 'The King James Bible red letter edition'" ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," June 12).

Elizabeth ponders how she could embrace a form of Christianity within the context of her Unitarian Universalism ("Elizabeth's Little Blog," June 13).

The UUA is collecting stories about how Unitarian Universalism has blessed people's lives (UUA.org, June 8).

Paul Oakley's four-year-old UU congregation holds its first Flower Communion, prompting thoughts about how UUs "do" ritual ("Inner Light, Radiant Light," June 9). The Rev. Andrew James Brown tries to avoid sentimentality in the Flower Communion at his congregation in Cambridge, England ("CAUTE," June 7).

Seminarian Erik Resley responds to the Rev. Kenneth Collier's UU World essay about integrating the ego and the spirit by observing, "We must also strive for connection with the more-than-human" ("Embodied Fragments," June 8).

The Rev. Tony Lorenzen examines UU "ministerial culture," and observes that the UUA provides very little guidance for would-be ministers. "People need pastoral care on this journey, but we as a religious association don’t provide it. Instead we have a bureaucratic process" ("Sunflower Chalice," June 12).

UUA presidential election commentary

The website of DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) posts four questions the organization posed to the two UUA presidential candidates and publishes the responses they received (June 5).

The Real Anonymous explains why she wishes the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt were running for the UUA presidency ("It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere," June 12).

The Rev. Thomas Perchlik, responding to comments in several articles in the the Summer UU World, writes: "[E]ven if a candidate for the UUA Presidency tells us 'We are the religion for our time,' the fact is that most of us do not think we are a religion, but either a smorgasboard of religions, or something that enhances the flavor of religion cooked up somewhere else" (June 8).

UU responses to political violence

Sara Robinson, who has been writing about the apparently politically motivated murders of a Kansas abortion doctor and a black security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, posts a letter to "Conservatives" that asks, "Are you deliberately trying to start a civil war?" ("Orcinus," June 11, 12).

Pondering UU reactions to right-wing violence, the Rev. Victoria Weinstein voices skepticism about the potential of reason to overcome hate: "I don’t believe—have never believed—that what will heal the world of hateful fundamentalisms is rationalism, but humility and reverence" ("PeaceBang," June 11).

The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer urges liberals to reach out to fearful and apocalyptically minded conservatives. "There is no way to tell how many degrees of separation there are between us in our liberal cocoons and them in their right-wing ones, but to have any hope at all of reaching the next potential shooter before he (or she) shoots, we have to move toward them with courage, love, patience, and hope" ("A Larger Faith," June 13).

Bill Baar, meanwhile, is keeping an eye on the tumult in Iran following the contested election for president ("Pfarrer Streccius").

Hunger strike, abortion rights, saving the world, and loving God?

2009-06-07T20:06:00.000-04:00

It was a lively week in the UU blogosphere. Some highlights:

Bolivian hunger strike, water in the desert, marriage in N.H.

Olga Flores, a UU leader and human rights activist in Bolivia, is one month into a hunger strike protesting government disappearances in her country. "UU Without Borders," the blog of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, posts an update from Flores and a letter from the Rev. Brian Kiely, president of the ICUU, extending his support (June 4; Spanish-language news coverage is here).

A volunteer with a humanitarian relief group sponsored by the UU Church of Tucson, Ariz., that provides water to undocumented migrants crossing the desert was convicted of littering June 3 ("No More Deaths!" June 4). The Rev. Chip Roush comments wryly, "Helping to save people, and cleaning up other peoples' trash...they must be stopped!" ("The Yes Church," June 5).

When the governor of New Hampshire signed same-sex marriage into law June 3, the Rev. Ricky Hoyt wrote, "I'm glad that our culture has evolved to the point where same-sex marriage in New Hampshire is so boring that it can be reported in a short article on page 14 [of the Los Angeles Times], but until the laws change to reflect the culture's growing acceptance—in 44 states and nationwide, we can't go to sleep on this subject yet" ("One More Step," June 4). Media critic Dan Kennedy observes that 4.9 percent of the U.S. population live in the six states that have legalized same-sex marriage. If New York and California follow suit, however, 21.7 percent of the country will live in pro-gay marriage states ("Media Nation," June 4).

Dr. George Tiller's murder and abortion rights

UUA President William G. Sinkford condemned the murder of Dr. George Tiller, who was one of only a handful of late-term abortion providers in the United States ("UUA.org," June 1). Tiller was shot to death while ushering at his Lutheran church. Orelia Busch from the UUA's Advocacy and Witness staff offers a prayer for Tiller ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," June 1).

The Rev. Sam Trumbore writes, "I wish we could hear all the stories that Dr. Tiller heard because I think it would soften the hearts of those who protest at his doorstep" (June 2). (The online magazine Double X has been collecting stories of women who had late-term abortions.) Bill Baar objects to Trumbore's statement, "Life often doesn’t go as planned and pregnancies are the result," and writes: "There is a huge moral difference between a late term abortion to save a mother's life, and a late term abortion to resolve what Rev Trumbore calls those events in life that don't quite go as planned" ("Pfarrer Streccius," June 3).

Carole Joffe, author of Beacon Press's upcoming Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, writes: "In the abstract, late term abortions are understandably distasteful to many. When considered in the context of real women's lives, however, these procedures are essential" ("Beacon Broadside," June 4).

Ogre condemns Tiller's murderer: "If there's any justice for Tiller, it will be that people like Randall Terry and Bill O'Reilly have lives where they need someone like Tiller, and don't have him" ("Sparks in the Dark," June 1).

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum, who supports a woman's right to abortion, writes, "Part of me really does understand, I confess, the mindset that leads to things like the murder of Dr. Tiller this weekend" ("Rev. Cyn," June 2).

Army chaplain candidate David Pyle sees the shooters who killed Dr. Tiller and Pvt. William Long, an Army recruit who died in an attack on an Arkansas military recruiting station, as fundamentalists. "I don’t think the stated causes of these individuals are the real motivation for their action, just as I do not believe that the claimed religious views of most fundamentalists have anything to do with why they are fundamentalist" ("Celestial Lands," June 1). He also offers a definition of the fundamentalist mindset (June 3).

Jason Pitzl-Waters hosts a conversation about pagan views of abortion and women's reproductive choices ("The Wild Hunt," June 2).

Presidential endorsements and saving the world

Joel Monka was provoked by UUA trustee Linda Laskowski's endorsement of the Rev. Peter Morales for UUA president last week, and explains how her endorsement clarified why he's supporting the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman: "Religion isn't about changing the world; it's about changing the man in the mirror—if you can save him, the world will follow" ("CUUMBAYA," June 3). He follows up with a post on the failure of UU churches to address personal as well as social sin (June 3).

Seminary graduate Elizabeth, who is not endorsing a candidate, responds to Monka. She takes issue with Peter Morales's statement: "The old religions lead to tribalism, violence, suspicion, hatred, and oppression. We need a religion that transcends divisions, religion that unites enemies, religion that points to a new future that includes everyone." Elizabeth writes:

I often feel so frustrated at the sense that we (Unitarian Universalists) somehow have what the world needs—like, somehow Christianity or Islam or Buddhism isn’t cutting it. For me, it is that Unitarian Universalism is where I need to be. And I welcome others in joining me and my fellow Unitarian Universalists in the journey to try to do the hard work of love and justice. This is where I am, but it isn’t because other religions somehow aren’t good enough. ("Elizabeth's Little Blog," June 3)

Meanwhile, the Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons endorses Peter Morales ("RadicalHapa.com Liberation and Mutuality," June 5). Lizard Eater endorsed Morales last week, but adds a story about the conversation she had with the candidate when they realized that each has a child who was diagnosed with cancer ("The Journey," June 4).

The Real Anonymous, however, writes that "neither one of [the candidates] sounds like they have a driving passion to be President," and so opts not to endorse either one ("It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere," June 5).

UUA trustee Linda Laskowski looks at the Board of Trustees' legal right to fire the UUA president—a topic that has come up in some discussions of the board's shift to Policy Governance—but she observes, "The thought that we would ever get to that point is inconceivable to me" ("UUA View from Berkeley," June 4).

Circus worship, surprised by 'The Shack,' and loving God?

The Rev. Victoria Weinstein posts a letter from a former UU who gave up after their congregation's Sunday services "had degenerated into a carnival-like atmosphere with antics such as guess the minister’s weight, someone turning cartwheels on the stage, and songs from the Rocky Horror Picture Show." The letter-writer continues:

Every week there [were] skits with people dressed in silly hats or animal costumes. One Sunday morning they had a belly dancer on stage. During one service members were invited to come up on stage and show off their tattoos. On a couple of Sundays, the minister tossed a beach ball into the audience and invited parishoners to bat it around during the service.

In response, other commenters discuss the merits of different styles of UU worship ("PeaceBang," June 5).

Lizard Eater launched a rich conversation by asking:

[H]ow would your church respond if someone said, "I love God"? Would they recoil? Giggle? Direct the person to the closest Unity or UCC church?

I thought about the phrase in terms of my own life. Would I personally say "I love God"? ("The Journey," June 1)

She follows up with a second question: "If you love God...would you admit it?" (June 1)

Terri notices that people in her congregation are slowing down as the church year comes to an end. She comments on the spiritual growth that small, lay-led services can still provide during the summer months: "It only takes a few gathered together to create a church—a place of personal salvation, a balm for the weariness of the soul—but it takes those few to be fully present" ("UU Intersections," June 2).

Diggitt, in a comment at "CUUMBAYA," responds to UU World's cover story on Unitarian Universalists in Africa:

Here is a group that almost denies the existence of homosexuality although it lives with AIDS on a daily basis, and which embraces polygamy. Yet we are considering an outreach to it because of its acceptance of the message of Universalism. I predict this will be a thorn in our side; the African Anglican communion has brought little joy to American Episcopalians or to Canterbury, for that matter. (June 3)

OD/HR Min, whose blog examines the process of UU ministerial formation, offers three recommendations for performance-based ministerial examinations ("Calling Ministers," June 3).

Religious education director Kari Kopnick reminisces about going to her first UUA General Assembly and LREDA Professional Days shortly after taking the job. "I swear I would have sat myself right down and cried big crocodile tears of surrender if not for my first General Assembly" ("Chalice Spark," June 3).

Elsewhere: Rebecca Hecking mourns the death of environmental spirituality author Thomas Berry ("The Sustainable Soul," June 4). Lizard Eater is surprised by her reaction to the best-selling religious novel, The Shack ("The Journey," June 3). The Rev. Matt Tittle is writing every day for 60 days about "a moment of grace that I experienced the previous day" ("Keep the Faith," June 1). And furniture-maker Doug Stowe announces that one of his tables has been purchased by the Historic Arkansas Museum for its permanent collection ("Wisdom of the Hands," June 4).

Anti-choice terrorism, Unitarianism's first black minister, more

2009-06-01T11:46:00.002-04:00

Doctor's murder, Prop 8 upheld, and White House visit

The Rev. Christine Robinson reacts to news of the murder May 31 of Dr. George Tiller, one of only three doctors in the U.S. who performed late-term abortions:

Most of these abortions are abortions of wanted, loved, even named babies, and they are caused by tragic circumstances. Nobody talks about them, few people defend them, fewer find a calling to provide them. When they happen they are tragedies, and the only good thing one can say about them is that because of late-term abortions, even greater tragedies are averted. ("iMinister," May 31)

Sara Robinson writes about Tiller's murder:

Tiller was one of just three doctors in the entire US who performed late-term abortions. Now, there are just two. Which means that 36 years of anti-choice terrorism is now just two assassinations away from completely ending late-term abortion in America. Violence has won out -- over the will of the people, over the courts, over the horrific logic of medical necessity. ("Orcinus," May 31)

The Rev. Lindi Ramsden, director of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, California, writes about her disappointment with the Supreme Court decision that upheld Proposition 8, which brought a halt to same-sex marriage in the state ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," May 27). MassMarrier thinks it's time to reform many states' ballot initiative process, which he calls the "flamethrower of populism" ("Marry in Massachusetts," May 27).

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt, a UU minister in California who actively opposed Proposition 8, is glad the state Supreme Court didn't undo his marriage, but thinks the court made the correct legal decision: "It's not the court's job to change our culture; that's our job" ("One More Step," May 27). Joel Monka writes, "The only moral and ethical way to deal with this setback is to learn an important lesson from it: the Prop 8 supporters simply worked harder" ("CUUMBAYA," May 26).

Meanwhile, members of the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy and Witness met with the White House Office of Public Engagement for the first time on May 27. Adam Gerhardstein writes about the conversation he and the Rev. Meg Riley had with associate director Paul Monteiro. "We began," Gerhardstein writes, "by clearly communicating our movement’s commitment to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights" ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," May 28).

Parker's destructive legacy, Jackson's untold story, and more

Seminarian Lizard Eater endorses the Rev. Peter Morales for president of the UUA ("The Journey," May 26). The Rev. Kit Ketcham endorses the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," May 27). The Rev. Timothy Jensen also endorses Hallman ("The Eclectic Cleric," May 27).

The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer writes about trying to find an interim ministry position ("A Larger Faith," May 28). UUEnforcer, meanwhile, has been assembling a list of newly announced ministerial settlements ("The UU Enforcer").

The Rev. Timothy Jensen muses on the 19th-century Unitarian minister and abolitionist Theodore Parker's "destructive legacy" ("The Eclectic Cleric," May 28).

Fausto is also thinking about history. He writes about lists of famous Unitarians and Universalists:

They remind us of how influential past UUs once were in society at large, and they kinda sorta suggest that either we still could be, or at least still have the moral rectitude to deserve to be, today. . . . But a disturbing quality I find in UU hagiography is that it often revises the portraits of our saints to more closely resemble who we would have liked them to be than who they actually were. ("The Socinian," June 1)

And the Rev. Dan Harper has been researching the story of the Rev. William Jackson, who was the first African American minister to proclaim himself a Unitarian, in 1860. A series of posts digs into local archives to reveal more about Jackson and about his interactions with antebellum Unitarians ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," May 22, 26, 28, 31).

NM_Creatrix says Laura Pedersen's essay in the Summer UU World "expresses my feelings exactly" ("NM Creatrix," May 25).

Sci-fi without science, religion without orthodoxy, and bloggers at GA

2009-05-24T22:50:00.004-04:00

The Rev. Timothy Jensen writes about visiting a parishioner in jail ("One Day Isle," May 18).

Pagan blogger and journalist Jason Pitzl-Waters defends Wicca's honor from a New York Times op-ed ("The Wild Hunt," May 19).

Logan Geen writes that each of us is a little bit orthodox, a little bit heretical ("The New Unitarian Universalist," May 19). The Rev. James Ford takes up a similar topic in a post about what defines a Buddhist ("Monkey Mind," May 19).

LaVerne Coan writes that, "deep in my gut, I see myself as a Christian," even though she disagrees with things that many people see as defining Christianity. She offers some Unitarian Universalist definitions of Christian belief instead ("Lifting the Spirit," May 22).

The Rev. Thomas Perchlik complains that there's not much science in the science-fiction blockbuster Star Trek: The Future Begins:

Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists have long valued integrity between science and religion. We have long insisted that supernatural ideas be taken with a grain of agnosticism and that science is of great value. Many of UUs have loved Star Trek shows because they blended science and religion in fun ways . . . Now a movie is made with no science at all. And we wonder why Kansas schools and others are trying to present religious ideas like Creationism (AKA “intelligent design”) as if they were good science! (May 20)

Steve Caldwell, meanwhile, challenges an unnamed UU theologian who had suggested that modern science is a form of faith ("Liberal Faith Development," May 23).

Rebecca Hecking marks Endangered Species Day and Memorial Day: "I cannot help but wonder how different things would be if we remembered the passing into extinction of so many fellow earth creatures with the same fervor that we remember our military" ("The Sustainable Soul," May 21).

Ginger Root celebrates her congregation's first Coming of Age program ("Carrots and Ginger," May 21).

Kari Kopnick is dismayed to learn that UU World will no longer be including the children's insert uu&me! ("Chalice Spark," May 21; see "From the Editor," UU World Summer 2009). Kopnick also writes about the demands of her job as a religious education director:

I have a job that is like a little glass of water. Have you ever accidentally spilled a small glass of water on the kitchen table? Isn't it amazing how that little bit of water SPREADS out so far and wide? Being a Religious Educator is like that. It could fit in a tidy small jelly jar, but if it spills out---whhhoooo boy, holy take-over-your-life Batman! ("Chalice Spark," May 23)

The Rev. Daniel O'Connell describes how his congregation is casting its 12 votes in the UUA presidential election next month ("UUA Politics," May 22). The Laurel Hallman campaign, meanwhile, has set up a blog, although its contents are also published on the campaign's main website. (See UUA.org/elections for information about both candidates and voting guidelines for congregations.)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham comments about the draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking that the UUA General Assembly will consider in June: "We tend to disapprove of most war, but to proclaim ourselves a pacifist denomination would be a departure from what I think of as our primary mission, that of unity within diversity" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," May 23).

Joel Monka is organizing UU bloggers who will be attending the UUA General Assembly in Salt Lake City in June ("CUUMBAYA," May 21).

Dan McKanan, Harvard Divinity School's first Ralph Waldo Emerson Unitarian Universalist Association Senior Lecturer in Divinity, delivered his first public lecture, "Unless a Seed Falls: Cultivating Liberal Institutions," on May 7. Watch the lecture here. Read an interview with McKanan.

Trust, liberal giving, and famous (Universalist!) photographer

2009-05-18T15:55:00.007-04:00

Presidential endorsements and thoughts on governance

Tom Loughrey, the trustee from the UUA's Pacific Southwest District, endorses the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman for UUA president (May 14). Linda Laskowski, the trustee from the Pacific Central District, endorses the Rev. Peter Morales ("UUA View from Berkeley," May 15). The Rev. Daniel Harper, however, won't support either one ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," May 13). Learn more about the candidates at the UUA's 2009 Elections page and keep up with election-related conversation at the Election-L email list.

UUA Moderator Gini Courter posts a slideshow presentation on UU governance ("Just Gini," May 16).

UUA trustee Linda Laskowski responds to the Rev. Fred Hammond's charge, mentioned here last week, that the Board of Trustees' new "Global End" statement violates congregational polity ("UUA View from Berkeley," May 12).

The Rev. Scott Wells writes about the history and limitations of the idea of the "geographic parish"—that is, "that a church’s membership, leadership and scope of ministry is tied to a particular area." It's time, he says, for the UUA to recognize a broader definition of the church ("Boy in the Bands," May 17).

Trust, church disputes, why liberals give less, and more

When the Rev. Kit Ketcham's optometrist told her she needed emergency surgery on her retina the next day, "I had no choice but to trust and obey, if I wanted to save my vision. And when we are in that position, big important questions come up: does anyone care what's happening to me? can I really ask for help? if I ask, will anyone be willing to help? who will do what I can't do? will people resent my neediness? will I ever be the same again, able to help myself?" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," May 16).

Seminarian Erik Resly briefly describes ten different depictions of Jesus from the New Testament. "When people tell me that they don't believe in Jesus," he writes, "I ask: which one? SImilarly, when people insist that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, I find myself wondering: which version?" ("Embodied Fragments," May 12).

The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer writes about the prevalence of ongoing disagreements within UU congregations, and links the phenomenon to the unusually high percentage of "intuitive" Myers-Briggs types among UUs ("A Larger Faith," May 11).

The Rev. Daniel Harper has been blogging about artists who have been members of his UU congregation in New Bedford, Mass., including the landscape photographer Charles Bierstadt (1819-1903) and the sculptor James C. Toatley (1941-1986) ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," May 14 and 17).

Joel Monka thinks Robert Brooks, the author of a book that found that liberals donate less to charity than conservatives, should not have been so suprised by his findings. After all, Monka argues, liberals and conservatives hold different notions of altruism: Liberals believe in "philanthropy by proxy" while conservatives believe in "personal giving" ("CUUMBAYA," May 12).

The Rev. Colin Bossen is leading a "Building Your Own Theology" class in his congregation. He posts his response to one assignment, his own list of ten ethical commandments ("The Latest Form of Infidelity," May 15).

UU World online columnist Doug Muder discusses his latest article, "Graduation Day," with readers at his blog ("Free and Responsible Search," May 11).

Blogging friends and enemies

Blogging friends Every 7th Day of "Auspicious Jots" and Lizard Eater of "The Journey," who have never met in person but who believe they are twins separated at birth, are vacationing together this week (May 11, May 12).

The Rev. Timothy Jensen urges his fellow UU bloggers to boycott Robin Edgar, a frequent commenter on UU blogs and a blogger who has been protesting the UU Church of Montreal for more than ten years and who has personally targeted Jensen and other UU clergy. "Stop linking to his site, publishing his comments, and allowing him to gain greater exposure for his slander and abuse than he can gather on his own!" Jensen writes ("The Eclectic Cleric," May 12; Montreal Mirror, June 4, 1998).

Transcendentalism in the way, presbyterianism in the 'Ends'

2009-05-11T15:55:00.000-04:00

Highlights from around the UU blogosphere recently:

Church as fencing coach, Transcendentalism as obstacle, and more

Lizard Eater draws on her experience on a college fencing team to explain why she goes to church:

Monday through Saturday, I go out into the world, trying out the things I learned and practiced at church. Sunday, I go back into my church, my salle, to talk about what worked, what didn't. I have wise people around me to (in a more gentle way than my fencing coach) remind that if something isn't working, maybe I should stop doing it. ("The Journey," May 10)

Chalicechick, meanwhile, is trying to decide how to respond to decisions made by her congregation's leaders that she disagrees with. "My inclination is to accept that even when I'm right, I don't necessarily win, go back to church and suck it up. . . But I'm having a really hard time doing that" ("The Chaliceblog," May 10).

The Rev. Colin Bossen examines similarities between Unitarian Universalism and the "emergent" movement in Christianity ("The Latest Form of Infidelity," May 6).

Seminarian Erik Resly wonders if the Transcendentalists' legacy makes Unitarian Universalism a hard sell to many people of color ("Embodied Fragments," May 10).

R. Elena Tabachnick is missing the monastery and describes the difficulty of living a monastic life on one's own ("Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague," May 10).

The Rev. Timothy Jensen knows exactly how many sermons he has preached in his career: 653 ("One Day Isle," May 9).

Rick Heller points to a study that shows that participation in religious communities makes people nicer, and wonders whether his fellow humanists and atheists have enough "emotional intelligence" to form viable communities ("Transparent Eye," May 9).

Andrew at "Irresistable (Dis)Grace" explains that, as an atheist, he finds Unitarian Universalism unappealing because it's "too relaxed" (May 3). He also has several very interesting comments about the social and religious needs of atheists.

In a long reflection on the UUA's Seven Principles, the Rev. James Ford says the First and Seventh Principles—"the inherent dignity and worth of each person" and "the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part"—represent a new worldview:

It isn't traditional Western religion. And it isn't Advaita Vedanta, Taoism or Buddhism. But rather a new vision of what is that, if its adherents are careful and wise, can be enriched, and corrected, and made ever deeper and truer by reference to the older traditions. ("Monkey Mind," May 6)

The Unitarian Universalist LiveJournal community "Chalice Circle" is discussing the proposed revision to the UUA's Principles and Purposes (May 6; see also UU World's coverage of the proposal, Jan. 12, 2009).

LaVerne Coan describes a ceremony for renewing baptismal vows at the UU Christian Fellowship's Revival conference in Tulsa in March:

Rev. Kathleen Rolenz taught us that Luther urged Christians to practice daily renewal of the baptismal covenant by placing a hand on the head each morning and saying, "I am a baptized person, and today I will live out my baptism." While Rev. Rolenz held the bowl of water, we each rose, dipped a hand in and touched our foreheads, repeating that promise silently or aloud. I have participated in numerous baptismal ceremonies, many in which the congregation is asked to responsively recite the renewal of baptismal vows, but I have never felt the rush of the Spirit as I did by the simple act of wetting my fingers in the cool water, pressing that water to the skin of my forehead and making a quiet, yet public declaration. ("Lifting the Spirit," May 8)

Gay marriage in Mexico, UUA board's presbyterianism, and chalice projection

Goodwolve writes about dealing with depression in her family: "I wish I could have a booth somewhere to share this with people — a megaphone yelling 'if you have a loved one who is depressed or mentally ill you are not alone!'" ("MoxieLife," May 10).

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum writes about her participation in a Human Rights Campaign lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., where she urged Michigan's Congressional delegation to support the Matthew Shepard Act ("Rev. Cyn," May 6).

The Rev. Fred Hammond raises concerns about the UUA Board of Trustees' newly adopted "Ends Statement," which is part of the board's move toward Policy Governance:

[The statement adopted at the board's April meeting] is a directive to the member congregations and the subset ends that follow contain possible criteria for enforcing that directive. If we had a presbyterian form of polity then the directive would also be appropriate but we do not have a presbyterian polity, not yet anyway, and therefore in order for the second wording to succeed it would require that each and every congregation in the association to buy into / or covenant with this end statement as their own in order for it to be implemented and aspired to by the congregations. ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," May 6)

UUA trustee Linda Laskowski writes about conversations at the UUA Board's April meeting about challenges facing the UU ministry, and reports on new grants for the two UU seminaries ("UUA View from Berkeley," May 7).

The Rev. Eric Cherry reports on a bilingual same-sex marriage ceremony performed by a UU minister during a sabbatical visit to Mexico City ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," May 8).

Stentor Danielson stumbles across a chalice-shaped map projection. "[H]ow many other religions have their own projection?" he asks ("Debitage," May 5).

Niche products, calls to action, and deleting blog entries

2009-05-04T08:20:00.006-04:00

A sampling from around the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere this week:

Joel Monka compares Unitarian Universalism to Oldsmobile and Pontiac as serving a niche market:

What does this have to do with UU? Unitarian Universalism is a niche religion, as Unitarianism and Universalism before them had been. At some levels, UUs understand this; there are many jokes- composed by UUs- to demonstrate how different we are. But many UUs don't seem to understand another facet of niche products- that they are a fixed percentage of the market, neither growing nor falling without some unusual circumstance at work. ("CUUMBAYA," April 30)

Erik Resley responds to Doug Muder's book essay from our Spring issue, "Holding the Center," by pointing beyond belief and tolerance: "life will call us back with the simple demand: now act." ("Embodied Fragments," April 28)

Two more bloggers make presidential endorsements: Patrick Murfin endorses Peter Morales ("'Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout'," April 28), while Ellis revives from dormancy to endorse Laurel Hallman ("Post Office Mission," April 28). Meanwhile, Peter Bowden notices that election-related posts at UUPlanet.tv don't get much traffic ("uuplanet.tv," April 29).

Stephanie Anagnoson finds that her neighbors think other factors are more important than denomination in choosing a church ("Surviving the Workday," April 28).

Orelia Busch posts about the 2009 Transgender Religious Summit on the UUA's Advocacy and Witness staff blog ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," April 28) On the same blog, Alex Winnett posts about the possibility of a truth and reconciliation commission for U.S.-sponsored torture, wondering, “Can we reconcile torture?” ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," April 30)

The Rev. Stephen Lingwood is "working on our new website at church, and writing a bit about Unitarianism. This involves striking a balance between my understanding of Unitarianism, my congregation's, and my national community's understanding." ("Reignite," April 29)

David Pyle ponders the Myth of Objectivity: "I believe that this is impossible, and that what the historian is called to do instead is to recognize and be open about their bias, and share the story of history as their individual encounter with the events and interpretations of the past." ("Celestial Lands," May 1)

And in a meta-blogging post, the Rev. James Ishmael Ford deletes a blog entry.

Keep up with even more UU blogs via UUpdates.net or DiscoverUU.com.

Eating local, freaking out singing hymns, and more

2009-04-27T13:15:00.001-04:00

A sampling from around the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere this week:

Plaidshoes has been trying to buy local, seasonal produce as much as possible. "I noticed that the cantaloupe is from Guatemala, the berries from Mexico and the tomatoes from Canada (!). I just couldn't buy them. I compromised and broadened my scope to the U.S., but came away with just apples" ("Everyday Unitarian," April 23).

Naked Theologian offers an analogy from a 14th-century scholar: "Just like viscous honey needs a honeycomb, spirituality needs theology" ("The Naked Theologian," April 20).

Strange Attractor writes, "I enjoy some of the other services and activities at our local fellowship, but sitting in a pew on a Sunday morning singing hymns just freaks me out" (April 22).

Logan Geen reflects on several challenges to the doctrine of universal salvation ("The New Unitarian Universalist," April 22).

In a post critical of a recent letter by UUA presidential candidate the Rev. Peter Morales, Chalicechick and her readers have been trying to decide how to interpret the membership figures reported in this year's UUA congregational certification process ("The Chaliceblog," April 23).

The Rev. Daniel Harper describes an academic article about various funding models for nonprofit organizations. The article labels the model used by most congregations as the "member motivator" model ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," April 23).

Jason Pitzl-Waters comments on the fate of Pagan websites hosted at Yahoo!'s Geocities free webhosting service, which will be phased out later this year ("The Wild Hunt," April 24).

Keep up with even more UU blogs via UUpdates.net or DiscoverUU.com.

Clergy sexual misconduct, preservation dollars, and Susan Boyle

2009-04-20T11:39:00.004-04:00

Questions for UUA presidential candidates

In March, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville sent a letter to both UUA presidential candidates asking how they would provide leadership in responding to clergy sexual abuse. The congregation has published its letter and the responses it received from the Rev. Peter Morales and the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman on its blog ("FUUN Blog," April 18). The church's letter links to a UUA report on clergy sexual misconduct published in 2001.

Joel Monka wants to know why the Friday, April 17, telephone forum with the presidential candidates was scheduled during the workday. "Do you assume that everyone interested in, let alone voting in this election is retired, or has an employer willing to let them place an hour-long long distance phone call on company time?" ("CUUMBAYA," April 15).

Vote to send preservation dollars to UU sites

Two Unitarian Universalist churches in Massachusetts are among 25 nominees for $1 million in preservation grants from the American Express Partners in Preservation program: the "Old Ship Meeting House" of the First Parish in Hingham (the only early Puritan meeting house still standing and the oldest wooden religious structure in use in the United States) and the United First Parish Church in Quincy (the "Church of the Presidents" where U.S. presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams are entombed). Vote for your favorites once daily through May 17.

Other UU-related sites include the Perkins School for the Blind (see UU World, Jan./Feb. 2005), Mount Auburn Cemetery (see UU World, Spring 2007), and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House (see UU World, Summer 2007).

Hands off firearms, goddess beads, Susan Boyle, and more

Cindy, a director of religious education in Massachusetts, writes a must-read post on being a religious professional in difficult economic times ("Happy Cindy Changes the World," April 15).

Seminarian and military chaplain-in-training David Pyle writes, "I made the commitment and I keep the commitment to not own, handle, or touch firearms because I am deeply afraid of what I might do with them. My commitment is not about making a stand for peace, but about trying to keep my soul" ("Celestial Lands," April 19).

When seminarian Jeff Liebman ended up in the emergency room last week, he composed an atheist's prayer ("uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium," April 16). Later in the week, he also offered an atheist's definition of "sacrament" (April 20).

"One of the reasons I became a Sunday School teacher (besides the money, of course) was it makes me a better Unitarian," writes Bob Francis. How? "[I]t actually forces me to learn more about my religion and religion in general." He describes preparing to teach a lesson on atonement and reconciliation ("The Bob Files," April 20).

The Rev. Andrew James Brown describes how he was conscripted into carrying a cross at the conclusion of an ecumenical Good Friday service in Cambridge, England ("CAUTE," April 19).

Strange Attractor wants to make some goddess-themed prayer beads, and wonders if others use prayer beads ("Strange Attractor," April 19).

The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt writes a letter to Susan Boyle, whose unexpectedly compelling performance on a British talent show became an international sensation last week: "I have been listening to you all day long; I have played that clip for everyone I know, and you have been in my prayers today, in gratitude that you have never given up the dream of standing in the light" ("Rev Rose," April 16).

The Rev. James Ford is trying to remind himself that he is wrong to believe that people who oppose gay marriage and other BGLT rights are "filled with hate" ("Monkey Mind," April 16).

Sharon Wells wants to begin observing a more intentional sabbath ("The View from Raindrop Ridge," April 18).

Kari Kopnick writes about the sense of perspective that comes with age:

This is one of those weeks that, in my 20s, I would have assumed was the absolute end of the world. Armageddon, and the end of days for sure. In my 30s, I would have panicked and believed heart and soul that things could just never be the same and that all good and sun and hope was gone from the planet. I this like being 41 thing. At 40 you can start to see the mudslides and avalanches of crazy things happening all over your life's landscape and think, "oh, there goes the mud again, guess we'll be digging out." ("Chalice Spark," April 16)

Cindy responds with a post explaining the difference between being calm and being a "non-anxious presence" ("Happy Cindy Changes the World," April 18).

Kelly KH says her 13-year-old daughter's interest in Buddhism isn't being addressed in the children's religious education program, and has asked if one of her congregation's three adult "Buddhism Soul Matters" groups might be willing to take a young teen member ("Seeking Divinity," April 18).

The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer posts the testimony she prepared to deliver about UU support for same-sex marriage for the New Hampshire Senate ("A Larger Faith," April 15).

The UUA's international resources office has begun publishing a monthly "e-devotional" called "Sharing Global Faith" (although the website is titled "Gathering Global U/U Voices"). Click here to visit the publication's website, or sign up for its email newsletter.

The Rev. Stephen Lingwood is blogging the annual General Assembly of the British Unitarians: Day One, Day Two ("Reignite," April 13, 18).

Clergy as fixers, UU as 'flavor enhancer,' thoughts on Holy Week

2009-04-13T11:15:00.001-04:00

Ministers aren't 'fixers'

The Rev. Victoria Weinstein is inspired by an interview with Thomas More, who says, "In many different traditions the spiritual leader is not really called to fix the world." She writes:

I never came into ministry thinking it was my job to “fix” anything. In fact, I find that concept offensive. And it is for this reason that I feel profoundly uncomfortable in many UU collegial gatherings, surrounded by well-intentioned men and women who seem to feel or believe that their/our job is to impose “our” version of righteousness onto the world. I feel alien in these gatherings because I believe that God is the Fixer and that our work is to discern God’s will both for ourselves and for our larger communities, and to do it in the spirit of healing, love and reconciliation—not Fixing. ("PeaceBang," April 9)

Presidential endorsements

The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt announces her endorsement of the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman for UUA president ("Rev Rose," April 10). Lizard Eater publicizes the Rev. John Crestwell's decision to switch his endorsement from Laurel Hallman to the Rev. Peter Morales ("The Journey," April 10).

Meanwhile, on Peter Morales's campaign blog, the candidate responded to a question about the perennial tension between humanists and theists in the UUA. Joel Monka found his response unsatisfying ("CUUMBAYA," April 9).

Celebrating gay marriage victories in Iowa, Vermont, and D.C.

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt celebrated the supreme court ruling in Iowa and the legislative vote in Vermont that legalized same-sex marriage in those states: "No it isn't just west and east coast liberals—it's Iowa, too. No it isn't just 'activist judges'—it's state legislatures, too, elected by vote of the people" ("One More Step," April 7).

Erik Resley writes, "Love is in the air, and justice in its wake" ("Embodied Fragments," April 7). Kari Kopnik, whose family celebrates Loving Day on June 12 to mark the end of anti-miscegenation laws, writes, "I hope that very soon we can add another day to our holidays" ("Chalice Spark," April 7).

Unitarian Universalism: Main course, or seasoning?

Pagan UU Joel Monka responds to Doug Muder's uuworld.org column, "A Religion for Hard Times?," and says:

My spiritual life has been greatly enhanced by my UU experiences . . . But despite having been an enthusiastic UU for more than a dozen years, I'm afraid that UU itself is still like monosodium glutamate in my life—a flavor enhancer for what I already had, rather than a stand-alone religion in its own right. ("CUUMBAYA," April 8)

In reply, commenter Ogre, who grew up UU, writes:

One of the incredible strengths and joys it offers is one that's too easily dismissed, I think, and one that's pretty close to unique:

When we change our views, our minds, our beliefs, we are not faced with the requirement to abandon one of the things most important to human beings—the community we are part of—or to deny our inner truth and play hypocrite.

UU reflections on Passover and Holy Week

Harrumpher describes the long and lively Passover seder at his UU church, where he discovered the "brotherhood of the broken bone" ("Harrumph!" April 5).

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt describes attending an Episcopal church's Maundy Thursday service (April 10).

Earthbound Spirit posts a prayer she delivered at an ecumenical Good Friday service ("Earthbound Spirit," April 8). Logan Geen writes that Christianity is "haunted by Good Friday" ("The New Unitarian Universalist," April 10).

The Rev. Fred Hammond reflects on the crucifixion of Jesus, but writes, "The gift that God bestowed to the earth then was not the death and resurrection of Jesus but rather the life of one who so embodies the principles which we hold dear" ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," April 10).

Although Fausto doubts that Jesus's corpse was revived, he nevertheless affirms that "the Body of Christ rose again, and remains alive eternally" ("The Socinian," April 9).

Sharon says that, for her, Easter celebrates "a faith in Nature and the seasons and that this amazing Universe will always surprise me with beauty and awesomeness and creativity and newness" ("The View from Raindrop Ridge," April 6).

Smijer at "Tête-à-Tête-Tête" and Stentor Danielson at "Debitage" both express frustration with the orthodox doctrine of substitutionary atonement, the notion that Jesus died to pay for the sins of the rest of us (April 10).

Jeff Liebman describes his approach to Easter and Passover as an atheist: "The atheist can know epiphany without a risen Christ and can appreciate the man Jesus and his message. The atheist can know the triumphal redemption of Passover beyond the temple rules and the bound of any one folklore. Easter and Passover represent the celebration of renewal, a feeling we all can marvel in and share" ("UUJeff's Muse Kennel and Pizzatorium," April 10).

Miscellany

Lizard Eater describes how her congregation got rid of age divisions in its religious education program ("The Journey," April 6).

Plaidshoes puts in a good word for "the art of pledging" ("Everyday Unitarian," April 10).

David Pyle says many people are confused by his belief that "I have a deep and abiding personal relationship with a God that is incapable of knowing that I even exist" ("Celestial Lands," April 3).

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum looks at some of the growth challenges her small congregation faces ("Rev. Cyn," April 9).

The British Unitarians have published a new hymnal, writes the Rev. Eric Cherry, the UUA's director of international resources ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," April 8).

The Rev. Meg Riley, the UUA's director of advocacy and witness, writes: "[F]inally, a trend emerges which I am solidly part of.
Populist Rage" ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," April 8).

Praising fools, licking cockroaches, and browsing UU photos

2009-04-03T15:58:00.002-04:00

It's been a quiet week here in Lake UU-Blogosphere. Some highlights:

UU World columnist Doug Muder invites readers to discuss his latest column, "A Religion for Hard Times," at his blog ("Free and Responsible Search," April 1).

The Rev. W. Frederick Wooden celebrates April Fools Day by observing, "Feeling foolish and stupid are sure signs you are learning something because, as Epictetus observed long ago, 'It is impossible to teach a man something he already knows'" ("Aside from the Obvious," April 1).

The Rev. Christine Robinson offers four suggestions for helping UU congregations become more multicultural ("iMinister," March 31).

The Rev. Thom Belote explains how he happened to lick a cockroach while telling a children's story to his congregation ("RevThom," March 30).

The Rev. Dan Harper announces that a member of his congregation, poet Everett Hoagland, will be inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," March 30). UU World featured a selection of poems from Hoagland's book . . . Here. . .: New and Selected Poems in July/August 2004.

Happy Cindy, who picked up her hobby of listening to a police scanner from her father and grandfather, notices that she has stopped tuning in. The culprit? Facebook ("Happy Cindy Changes the World," April 3).

Check out the photo-sharing site Flickr for fascinating images of Unitarian Universalist churches and other glimpses of UU life.

Songs for sorrow, Facebook etiquette, and Joseph Campbell's influence

2009-03-30T11:26:00.001-04:00

Songs for sorrow

Several UU bloggers discuss music and sadness this week. The Rev. Dan Harper asks what music people prefer listening to in times of profound sadness ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," March 27).

Lizard Eater recounts several experiences with music during her daughter's cancer. She writes, "I love music . . . But I haven’t figured out a way to listen to it during seriously sad times. Music renders me too vulnerable. And during those seriously sad times, the last thing I need is more vulnerability" ("The Journey," March 28).

The Rev. Kit Ketcham says she recalls Baptist hymns from her childhood. "UU hymns tend to be more helpful in giving me hope and direction, rather than expressing my sorrow," she writes ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," March 28).

Church for hard times

The Rev. Sean Dennison says that the economic recession is a good time to get more involved in a liberal church. "If we all made a commitment to get more involved, give what we can, and come together to get all of us through this, we might just find that our congregations grow and are revitalized because we dared to respond to the needs of our time." He suggests several things congregations might try ("Ministrare," March 26).

In his uuworld.org column this week, Doug Muder asks whether Unitarian Universalism is a religion for hard times.

The Rev. Marilyn Sewell responds on her blog to an anonymous letter she received from a woman crying for help (March 26).

Joseph Campbell's legacy for Unitarian Universalism

The Rev. James Ishmael Ford discusses the historical shifts back and forth between rationalism and mysticism, and suggests that "the emergence of the new spirituality within Unitarian Universalism can be marked at 1988 when Bill Moyers interviewed Joseph Campbell for a six part series on PBS. This series was called the Power of Myth" ("Monkey Mind," March 26).

But the Rev. Tim Jensen describes his academic engagement with Campbell during his seminary years in the late 1970s:

[E]ven then—a decade before the Moyers interviews—some of us had already picked up on the idea of Unitarian Universalism as a "reasonable mysticism"—a faith tradition which had grounded itself in science, "natural theology" and the other intellectual tools of the Enlightenment, but was still open to non-rational . . . ways of knowing, and had a rich heritage of intuitive, "mystical" knowledge as well, "peak experiences" . . . which could be described phenomenologically, and even recreated with some reliability through the use of certain kinds of time-tested techniques and practices. ("The Eclectic Cleric," March 26)

Facebook etiquette

Chalicechick, who is a youth group advisor in her church, is looking for input on an Internet policy for religious educators, and poses some questions about how youth group advisors can or should engage youth on Facebook ("The Chaliceblog," March 22).

Lizard Eater, a seminarian, explores the complicated topic of ministerial boundaries on Facebook, and generates lots of comments in response ("The Journey," March 23).

Another seminarian, David Pyle, writes about the "pastoral implications of technology." He says, "I did not consciously begin thinking about consequences and implications until the technology of Facebook ran smack into the 'good boundaries' understandings at the end of an internship." He offers a list of best practices he has come up with ("Celestial Lands," March 28).

UUA election notes

The Rev. Peter Morales, one of two candidates for the UUA presidency, has set up a news blog (with RSS feed) for his campaign. The Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman's campaign website already has its own RSS feed, but doesn't have a separate blog.

The Rev. Chip Roush describes how his congregation is getting acquainted with the two candidates for the UUA presidency ("The Yes Church," March 27).

For more information on the June 2009 election of a new UUA president, see UUA.org's Elections pages.

Elsewhere on the Web

Lizard Eater describes and shares pictures of her portable "prayer box" ("The Journey," March 26). Logan Geen is thinking about how Universalists deal with evil ("The New Unitarian Universalist," March 22). And UUA Trustee Tom Loughrey, who represents the Pacific Southwest District, posts his annual report (March 27).

'Not my people,' recession blues, and loving the unlikable

2009-03-23T10:15:00.002-04:00

Is it classism that divides us?

Chalicechick launches a lively new round of discussion about classism and Unitarian Universalism:

This is one thing I don't get about the whole "class within UUism" debate. People draw those "white collar vs. blue collar" lines with such enthusiasm, but as far as I can tell, a lot of the problems are the same or similar when we actually start talking to each other. Especially in this economic climate. ("The Chaliceblog," March 20)

David Throop follows up with a post about the "tribes of interest and identity" that help people feel at home:

Plenty of white collar workers visit us and turn away thinking "Nope, not my people" and some blue collar workers feel right at home from day one. . .

To break through this growth barrier, a church must become a community of communities. If I have 10 peers in the church — folks who I look at and say "Yeah, they're like me," then I can still feel at home, even if the class markers of the larger congregation still seem kind of weird to me. ("UU Covenant Groups, Lay Preaching & Evangelizing," March 20)

Recession blues

The Rev. Cynthia Cain writes that the congregation she serves has "adopted a draconian budget full of reductions" ("Isten Aldjon, Y'all," March 22).

The Rev. Daniel O'Connell says his congregation is halfway to its pledge goal. He reflects on the slow response: "We like church, but we are uneasy with the thought of paying for it" ("Rev. Daniel's Blog," March 22).

Hippie pagans, the Annoyer, good guilt, and 'mixed food identity'

The Rev. Dorothy Emerson liked Joanna Fontaine Crawford's uuworld.org article about the International UU Women's Convocation, but, she writes, "I must say I feel misunderstood and rejected by her labeling of the opening ceremony as 'hippie pagan'" ("California Girl in Massachusetts," March 19).

David Pyle was an Army veteran when the United States invaded Iraq six years ago last week. When the war broke out, he writes, "My growing Unitarian Universalist faith had brought me to a commitment never to personally carry a weapon again, and yet seeing those young men and women going into harm’s way, I felt that somehow I was supposed to be there with them." He goes on to describe how he embarked on the path toward becoming a UU Army chaplain. ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," March 19).

The Rev. Kit Ketcham tells a story from earlier in her ministry about "the Annoyer," a dedicated member of the congregation that drove everyone else a bit crazy. She recounts her responses when several people asked, "How do I love so and so when I don't even like him/her?" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," March 19).

NakedTheologian reflects on the upsides of guilt ("The Naked Theologian," March 15).

Sara Robinson says the debate over whether Lyme disease could have played a role in a Baptist church shooting in Maryville, Ill., "is the public version of a medical furor that's been raging more privately for over 20 years, with a million or two patients caught in between." She is one of them. ("Orcinus," March 14)

Lizard Eater wants to know what you want in a UUA president ("The Journey," March 20).

The Rev. Victoria Weinstein is on sabbatical from the congregation she serves as minister, and says she is focused on "doing things that make me feel particularly alive and inspired" ("PeaceBang," March 16).

Alex Winnett of the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy sees the 18th-century Unitarian minister and scientist Joseph Priestley as a kindred spirit ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," March 16).

Jeff W. passes along an announcement of a conference for UU scholars, "The Future of Unitarian Universalist Scholarship," October 17-18 in Cambridge and Boston, Mass. ("Transient and Permanent," March 17).

The Rev. James Ishmael Ford shares "The Divine Liturgy of Jesus, Child of Mary and Joseph: A Celebration fo Communion for Unitarian Universalists," which his congregation will use on Maundy Thursday (the traditional observance of Jesus's "last supper") ("Monkey Mind," March 18).

Kari Kopnick is a vegetarian mom "in a house full of men who like their meat and potatoes. . . We're a mixed race family and a mixed food identity family!" ("Chalice Spark," March 18).

Against 'progress,' classism, and high-pitched hymns

2009-03-16T10:39:00.005-04:00

Progressive or liberal, and other reflections on UU identity

Jason Pitzl-Waters examines the newly released American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), which shows the biggest growth in the number of nonreligious Americans. (Unitarian Universalists are clumped with "New Religious Movements, which have grown from 1,770,000 U.S. adherents in 2001 to 2,804,000 adherents today.) Pitzl-Waters compares the new ARIS numbers to the results of the Pew Forum U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released early last year, and looks at how Pagans and Unitarian Universalists fare in each ("The Wild Hunt," March 9; see also "Three in a Thousand Identify as Unitarians," UU World, Summer 2008). A follow-up post rounds up religious commentary about the new ARIS numbers (March 10).

David Pyle kicks off a lively discussion with a series of posts on political labels. He is proud to be a religious and political liberal, he writes, but bristles when people treat "liberalism" and "progressivism" as the same thing ("Celestial Lands," March 2). He follows up with another post that argues that "Progress is a fickle, trickster God" (March 5).

Joel Monka wants to know if Unitarian Universalism has a mission ("CUUMBAYA," March 2).

Lizard Eater wonders what a group dedicated to dismantling classism in the UUA would look like, and wonders why such a group doesn't already exist ("The Journey," March 5). In a followup post, she wonders if we could learn to sacrifice our reverence for higher education (March 10).

David Throop comes across a fascinating academic paper that compares Southern Baptist and Unitarian Universalist sermons to test a theory about "moral foundations." ("UU Covenant Groups, Lay Preaching & Evangelizing," March 14).

We're not all sopranos, and more on congregational life

The Rev. Dan Harper suggests that the hymns in Singing the Living Tradition are pitched too high for most people ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," March 1).

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum writes about the challenges of congregational growth in her small church ("Rev. Cyn," March 5). Chalicechick thinks we may be beating up on ourselves unjustifiably for our low visitor retention rates ("The Chaliceblog," March 9).

The Rev. Kit Ketcham reflects on the value a religious education director brings to a congregation ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," March 3).

Jeff W. puts together a list of a dozen good books of Unitarian, Universalist, and UU history that a congregation could buy for its library for less than $200 ("Transient and Permanent," March 11).

Dead of late winter, praying for Utah, and praising Facebook

The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison posts the prayer he delivered before the Utah State Senate ("Ministrare," March 4).

R. Elena Tabachnick writes about late winter:

In winter everything sleeps under cover – so quiet and clean, so empty. I love the sharp, black calligraphy of plant stems rearing above the snow: asters, milkweed, or regal prairie dock. But with March, the sordid dead come out. Cold rain runs uncaring through rotted leaves, sodden sticks and matted grass. Any lingering snow turns gritty dark from the decay heaved to its surface. It might as well be road debris.

Birds swing joyously by, but who else could believe this is the path to life? ("Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague," March 10)

The Rev. Christine Robinson says she has heard from all sorts of people about her UU World essay, "Imagineers of Soul" ("iMinister," March 6).

The Rev. Victoria Weinstein comes to Facebook's defense ("PeaceBang," March 10).

The Rev. Stephen Lingwood comments on upcoming business before the British General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches ("Reignite," March 4).

Ministerial 'callings,' blogs as spiritual practice, and Hot Stove '09

The Rev. Dan Hotchkiss, a UU minister and consultant with the Alban Institute, writes about ministry in hard economic times ("Alban Weekly," March 2).

Jeff W. provokes a conversation about the meaning of people feeling "called" to the ministry in Unitarian Universalism ("Transient and Permanent," March 2). Lizard Eater describes her calling to the ministry: "For me, my call was a burning bush, Road to Damascus moment, that was then corroborated for me through a series of blatant coincidences that left me tilting my head up to the sky and hollering, 'Okay, I GET IT already!!!!'” ("The Journey," March 2). The Rev. Matt Tittle says that after he experienced his call to ministry, "which was a 2 x 4 in the form of my father's death, I realized that there had been clues all through my life that I never had eyes to see or ears to hear" ("Keep the Faith," March 12).

The Rev. Fred Hammond, meanwhile, explains the difference between "hiring a minister" and "calling a minister" ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," March 3).

The Rev. Kit Ketcham reports that UU ministers have been discussing blogging on their email list, and describes what she likes about it ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," March 6). Lizard Eater says blogging has fed her spiritually and kept her connected to her religion through her daughter's struggle with cancer ("The Journey," March 6).

The Rev. Christine Robinson shares anecdotes from the March 7 memorial service for the Rev. Webster Kitchell in Santa Fe ("iMinister," March 7).

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Jensen, who has been diagnosed with cancer, posts the letter he sent to his congregation letting them know that he will step down from his pulpit ("One Day Isle," March 10).

UU Enforcer launches his annual "Hot Stove" list of newly announced ministerial settlements ("The UU Enforcer," March 10).

Lent for UUs, minister canned for basketball (long ago), and more

2009-03-02T14:43:00.000-05:00

Lent: Take it or leave it

The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison describes how he came to appreciate Ash Wednesday and Lent:

A few years ago, I learned a valuable lesson about ministry. We’d spent several months focusing on “positive” topics: joy, love, hope . . . It went well.

But then we decided to spend a month, as a congregation, focusing on “brokenness.” It was amazing–awesome, deep, vulnerable and a catalyst for so much conversation and later, action.

It made me realize that there is a reason days like Ash Wednesday came into being. ("Ministrare," February 25)

Logan Geen thinks making a commitment to do something rather than give something up is the best way to observe Lent ("The New Unitarian Universalist," February 25).

The Rev. Kit Ketcham, however, doesn't "do Lent" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," February 25). And the Rev. Cynthia Landrum says she is mystified by Lent and Ash Wednesday, which "is so much more foreign than a Passover seder" ("Rev. Cyn," February 26).

Presidential picks, historical curiosities, and more

UU bloggers are starting to pick candidates for the next UUA president. Chalicechick picks the Rev. Laurel Hallman ("The Chaliceblog," February 26). The Rev. Dan Harper prefers the Rev. Peter Morales ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," February 28). Click here for candidate profiles from UU World and links to the candidates' websites.

Meanwhile, Jeff W. hosts a conversation about whether the UUA president could be a layperson ("Transient and Permanent," March 1).

Lizard Eater thinks that Christine Robinson's UU World article "Imagineers of the Soul" is "Slamming Hands on the Steering Wheel good" ("The Journey," February 23). As a lay leader at her "dwindling small church," she is also intrigued by the model of large churches that plant satellite congregations ("The Journey," March 1; see uuworld.org, July 21, 2008).

The Rev. Dan Harper discovers that one of his Unitarian ministerial predecessors in New Bedford, Mass., was ousted for promoting basketball in 1922 ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," February 26). The Rev. Colin Bossen, meanwhile, stumbles across a reference to a 1964 FBI investigation of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland because the minister had circulated a petition calling for the abolition of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee ("The Latest Form of Infidelity," February 25).

The Rev. Andy Burnette is thinking about the implications of UU historian Conrad Wright's observation that "individualism thrives as one moves from a steady state into a period of growth; and that it becomes dysfunctional as limits to growth come into play" ("Just Wondering," February 23).

Ogre quotes an extended passage from a speech by the Rev. David Bumbaugh that argues that "our diversity rests in a powerfully homogeneous core of shared beliefs and attitudes" ("Sparks in the Dark," February 28).

Kari Kopnick wishes she were at the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women (like Lizard Eater), but finds plenty to celebrate in her local congregation ("Chalice Spark," March 1).

After badly breaking his leg in a fall, Harrumpher can't get around very easily. But his church came to him: He says 16 members came to his house for a canvass dinner ("Harrumph!" March 1).

The Rev. Matt Tittle, who blogs at the Houston Chronicle's "Houston Belief" site, writes about how he felt "called" to the ministry—even though he doesn't believe in a personal God—provoking a fascinating dialogue with conservative Christians ("Keep the Faith," February 26).

Civil rights tour, agnostic superiority complex, and more

2009-02-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

The Spring issue of UU World is now in the mail and online. Here's the print edition's "Blog Roundup." And now, without further ado, here is this week's Interdependent Web roundup:

Blogging a civil rights tour

UUA Moderator Gini Courter launches a blog, "Just Gini," and provides daily updates from the Living Legacy Pilgrimage, a Unitarian Universalist tour of civil rights history.

The Rev. Fred Hammond, who met with the civil rights tour as it came through his town, reflects on the traumatic experiences of UU fellowships in the South during the civil rights era ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," February 17).

Jim Key, president of the UUA's Thomas Jefferson District, is also blogging about the civil rights tour ("UUFBlog").

Agnostic superiority complex; no longer at 'Mark of the Beast'; etc.

Goodwolve is in the midst of examining her own belief system, and confronts the fact that "I am condescending towards those that believe in God . . . This is particularly embarrassing because I am a Unitarian Universalist and we believe in the inherent dignity of all people and respect the path of each member to find their own meaning on this earth. So, I mouth those words, but really I think I am better then you" ("MoxieLife," February 18 and 19).

Joel Monka responds to Goodwolve's posts by describing how he stopped questioning "the intelligence or motives of liberals" ("CUUMBAYA," February 20).

The Rev. Dr. Forrest Church reflects on the saving power of love at Beacon Press's blog, "Beacon Broadside":

Are you guilty of love or not guilty? That is life's ultimate question. Again and again over the course of a lifetime we are brought before the Tribunal of Love, where the innocent are damned and the guilty are saved. (February 17)

The Church of the Larger Fellowship has launched a new website for Unitarian Universalists serving in the military ("Church of the Larger Fellowship Unitarian Universalist Military Ministry").

Jeff W. launches a conversation about guidelines that urge ministers to keep their distance from congregations they no longer serve ("Transient and Permanent," February 18).

The Naked Theologian, a UU minister working on a Ph.D. in theology, looks at several names for God ("The Naked Theologian," February 19).

Medusa celebrates the publication of an updated edition of the UU feminist theology curriculum, "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" ("Medusa Coils," February 17).

The UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy gets in on the Facebook meme, "25 Things About Me," among which is this update about their new mailing address:

The Washington Office is located at 666 11th St. Sadly, the new building owners have decided to change our address to 1100 G Street, so we’ll no longer have the “Mark of the Beast” as a conversation piece. ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," February 17)

LiveJournaler Rosary (aka "Trar") says that Doug Muder's Fall 2007 UU World article about liberal religion and the working class was one the few things in the magazine "that didn't make my eyes glaze over." She observes that many congregations are inaccessible to people without cars: "Personally, the two years I was in AmeriCorps I attempted to go to church every Sunday. One thing I noticed is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get to most UU congregations by public transportation" ("Chalice Circle," February 16).

The Rev. Stephen Lingwood, a British Unitarian minister, says "we are in period of crisis for the trained Ministry in the Unitarian community in the UK," and offers a number of proposals ("Reignite," February 14).

Stentor Danielson examines the philosophical question, "Is veganism an act or an omission?" ("Debitage," February 16).

Steve Caldwell is surprised to learn that a few members of his congregation reject evolution. He responds, "I know that we are a non-creedal faith tradition - but seriously?" ("Liberal Faith Development," February 15).

Kristin Robertson suggests five ways that forgiveness is good for you ("The Everyday Mystic," February 19).

The Rev. Christine Robinson laments the death of her colleague, the Rev. Webster Kitchell, February 9 ("iMinister," February 19). Kitchell was the author of several popular UU books about "God's Dog." The Rev. James Ford also eulogizes Kitchell ("Monkey Mind," February 20).

Lizard Eater, who has been chronicling her young daughter's fight with kidney cancer, reports that "Little Warrior" is cancer-free ("The Journey," February 19).

Linda Laskowski offers some data from the Bay Area regional marketing campaign back in 2007 ("UUA View from Berkeley," February 22).

Kari Kopnick is trying to think of movies that her entire family—two teens, a 12-year-old, and parents with diverse tastes—can enjoy together ("Chalice Spark," February 17).

Killer's antiliberal manifesto, texting in church, UU indulgences

2009-02-13T15:04:00.000-05:00

Reading a killer's anti-liberal manifesto

Several bloggers reacted to the February 9 guilty pleas of Jim David Adkisson, who murdered two and injured six others in a shotgun attack on the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville last July, and to the release of the manifesto Adkisson wrote prior to the shooting.

Sara Robinson reads Adkisson's manifesto and concludes that "right-wing eliminationism" drove Adkisson to kill two Unitarian Universalists during a worship service. She draws three conclusions for liberals from his manifesto: "One: we are no longer safe, not even in our own houses of worship . . . Two: A significant part of this country's media infrastructure is thoroughly devoted to inciting people to commit horrific acts of violence against us . . . Three: The right wing has, as usual, grossly underestimated our courage and our commitment" ("Orcinus," February 10).

Tyler writes that conservative media are ignoring Adkisson's act of terrorism because he is not a Muslim and because he parroted their own antiliberal rhetoric ("UU Because of UUs—UUbuntu," February 11).

Ogre compares right-wing talk radio to the genocide-inciting broadcasts in Rwanda in 1994: "Radio Rwanda called for people to go and kill the cockroaches--and Tutus were massacred. Adkisson's been listening to American Hate Radio--and what he heard is what he wrote, that liberals are a pest like termites, and should be killed" ("Sparks in the Dark," February 10).

Texting in church, UU indulgences, and more

The Rev. Christine Robinson thinks the Ministerial Fellowship Committee should pay less attention to "ministerial authority" in its evaluation of would-be ministers: "[W]hile ministerial authority is a good and important thing, no ministerial authority is better...far better... than fake ministerial authority" ("iMinister," February 8). Seminarian Kelly KH responds by describing her experience as an assistant at a friend's home birth ("Seeking Divinity," February 8).

Kim Wilson, a former member of the board of the UU Christian Fellowship, responds to UUA Moderator Gini Courter's letter last week about the UUA board's policy changes concerning independent affiliate organizations: "The Board is surprised that some former IAs felt devalued and unappreciated when they were summarily dismissed and other ones not. No Shit Sherlock!!!!!" ("East of Midnight," February 8).

Gypsy Rose Gee asks the UUs at LiveJournal what they think of an anonymous congregation's proposed behavioral covenant ("Chalice Circle," February 9).

The Rev. Phil Lund, who works for the UUA's Prairie Star District, posts a recording of an online workshop for UU congregations about welcoming and integrating new members. The workshop was offered by Justin Schroeder of Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, Minn. ("Phil's Little Blog on the Prairie," February 7).

LiveJournaler morningdove3202 doesn't like seeing people texting in church ("Chalice Circle," February 11). Ogre, however, defends pew texters ("Sparks in the Dark," February 11).

Longtime UU blogger Chalicechick says she may shutter "The Chaliceblog" (February 9).

The UUA's Advocacy and Witness staff group is posting first-person reflections about same-sex marriage for Freedom to Marry Week ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," February 6-14). The Rev. James Ford shares the remarks he delivered at a Rhode Island marriage equality rally ("Monkey Mind," February 12).

The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell responds to news that the Roman Catholic Church is promoting indulgences again: "[P]ersonal sins, which seem to be the focus of confession and indulgences, pale in the face of systemic sins, like war, hunger, and the lack of health care . . . Just think about the systemic sins of the bankers and investment firms! How many prayers or piltrimages would it take to wipe out these sins?" (February 11) Joel Monka, meanwhile, is offering UU indulgences ("CUUMBAYA," February 12).

Dismayed that the Obama administration isn't rejecting the notion of holding "enemy combatants" indefinitely, smijer says, "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss" ("Tête-à-Tête-Tête," February 12).

And Shelby Meyerhoff wonders what Anne Hutchinson, who was banished from Massachusetts in the 17th century by two Puritan congregations that later became Unitarian churches, has to say to Unitarian Universalists today ("Looking for Faith," February 13).

Courter on independent affiliates; dating rules for ministers

2009-02-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

This week, we're trying to be more concise here at "The Interdependent Web." Wish us luck! Here's what's hot on the UU blogosphere:

UUA Moderator Gini Courter explains the Board of Trustees' policy changes regarding "independent affiliate organizations" in a letter published on trustee Linda Laskowski's blog ("UUA View from Berkeley," February 2). For background, see UU World's coverage of the policy changes: "Board applies new rules to independent affiliates" (May 7, 2007); "UUA board discusses controversial new criteria" (June 29, 2007); "Independent groups adapt to loss of affiliate status" (October 5, 2007); "UUA board votes to end independent affiliate status" (February 2, 2009).

Patrick Murfin takes Abraham Lincoln's "religious temperature" and reviews the president's connections to Unitarians and Universalists ("Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout," February 5).

The Rev. Chip Roush remarks, "The flaming chalice is not an ashtray" ("the yes church," February 6).

Chalicechick wants to know, "So what are the rules on clergy dating?" ("The Chaliceblog," February 3).

Kat Liu asks: Is Unitarian Universalism a "prophetic church"? ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," February 6).

Kim writes a series of posts on "New Testament People in an Old Testament World," asking, first, "What are we telling people who are living in an Old Testament world?" then, "Can there be such a thing as UU liberation theology?" and, finally, "Where are the store-front UU churches?" ("East of Midnight," February 2, 5, 6)

Ogre wonders whether Unitarian Universalism is an ethnic church ("Sparks in the Dark," February 3).

I ask how the recession is playing out in UU organizations ("Philocrites," February 3). The Rev. Cynthia Landrum offers a local report from Michigan ("Rev Cyn," February 4).

Chutney explains that Evangelicals' beliefs about the Bible are unbiblical ("Making Chutney,"). David Pyle writes about "the problem with being lambs" ("Celestial Lands," February 5).

The Rev. James Ford, a UU minister and Zen teacher, explains how one becomes a Zen teacher ("Monkey Mind," February 4). He also ponders the lack of African Americans in American Zen sanghas ("Monkey Mind," February 1).

Smijer is inspired by two UU minister-bloggers to write a post about belief and spiritual spam ("Tête-à-Tête-Tête," February 5; see also "The Deep End" by the Rev. Thomas Perchlik and "Spiritual Spam" by the Rev. Michael Tino, February 4).

And the Rev. Sarah Lammert reports on the Excellence in Ministry Summit for the website of the UU Ministers Association (uuma.org).

Finally, the UUA now has a podcast. (Search for "Unitarian Universalist Association" in the iTunes store, or subscribe to podcast's feed.)

Going deep with Buffy, board news, inauguration memories

2009-02-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

Board sends new Principles and Purposes to General Assembly

On January 18, the UUA Board of Trustees approved asking the General Assembly to vote on revised Principles and Purposes developed by the Commission on Appraisal. UUA trustee Tom Loughrey reported that the board changed the sentence in the Commission's draft about cultural misappropriation that had drawn blog ire; Loughrey also provided a list of other board decisions. (January 21)

UUA trustee Linda Laskowski called the Commission on Appraisal's report about their revision process "one of the best reports I have seen." She also explained that the board did not endorse the new text: "Other than putting this on the agenda, the Board has taken no official position on it, and will participate, as you will, in a two year process to discern if this is what we should do as an Association." ("UUA View from Berkeley," January 29)

Here's the final text of the proposed revision. (UU World's coverage of the January 2009 board meeting is here: "UUA Board Votes to End Independent Affiliate Status," February 2.)

Steve Caldwell was the first to publish the full text of the Commission's proposal, incorporating the board's new language ("Liberal Faith Development," January 22). Commenter Ogre called the new text "significantly improved."

The Rev. James Ford, who had said earlier that he would vote against the Commission on Appraisal's earlier drafts, will vote for the version that will go to the General Assembly ("Monkey Mind, January 29).

Others were less impressed. Chalicechick disliked that the new text replaced "affirm and promote" with "honor and uphold" ("The Chaliceblog," January 28). Jeff Liebmann objected to the word "reverence," which has been added to the Seventh Principle ("uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium," January 27).

At "Philocrites," I compare the new text's Purposes to the current UUA Purposes, and compare both to other mission statements developed by the UUA administration and board (January 28).

In other board news, UUA trustee Linda Laskowski also commented on the board's decision to stop granting independent affiliate status to UU organizations. (Organizations will be urged to establish partnerships with the UUA staff instead.) She also published the "ends" adopted by the Board of Trustees last October as the board moves toward policy-based governance. ("UUA View from Berkeley," January 22 and 24; for background on the board's governance shift, see "UUA Board Moves Toward New Governance Model", uuworld.org 4.28.06.)

Inauguration memories

The Rev. Kit Ketcham confessed before the inauguration began: "I wish I could . . . set aside my fears for [Barack Obama] and his family and join in the spectacular celebrations of his inauguration as our 44th President. . . I am expecting—and wishing I weren't—to be disappointed by those who refuse to be reunited" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," January 20). The Rev. Cynthia P. Cain didn't cry while watching Inauguration Day events—until Beyonce sang as President Obama and Mrs. Obama danced at an inaugural ball. ("Isten Aldjon," January 23). The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt called Inauguration Day "THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" ("Rev Rose," January 20).

UUA President William G. Sinkford had a ticket to the inauguration, but couldn't get in. He commented to UUA.org about President Obama's inauguration: "We are now in a conversation about how to bring people together, not about what keeps us apart, and it is dramatic, and powerful, change that we need to pay attention to" (UUA.org, January 22).

As a "religious atheist," Jeff Liebman was delighted by Obama's mention of "nonbelievers" in his inaugural address: "When I heard this word, my heart leaped in my chest. For the first time in my recollection, an elected official welcomed me to the table of religious Americans" ("uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium," January 20).

The Rev. James Ford published a poem, "Yo Yo Ma at the Inauguration," by the Rev. Lynn Ungar ("Monkey Mind," January 22).

Finally, UU bloggers had excoriated the inaugural planning committee for choosing the Rev. Rick Warren to give the invocation. So how did the two prayers at the inauguration—by Warren and the Rev. Joseph Lowery—go over? The Rev. Scott Wells called them "flabby and anachronistic respectively" ("Boy in the Bands," January 21). The Rev. Dan Harper called Warren's invocation "PrayerLite" ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," January 20). The Rev. Ricky Hoyt said "Warren's prayer was generic and unimpressive," but "Lowery was great" ("One More Step," January 20). But the Eclectic Cleric, commenting at "PeaceBang," defended Warren: "he really didn’t say anything that I couldn’t imagine myself saying as well" (January 20).

Going deep with Buffy, questioning congregational polity, and more

The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison, minister of the South Valley UU Society in Salt Lake City, posted the remarks he gave at a gay rights march to Utah's Capitol on January 24 ("ministrare," January 24).

Lizard Eater wrote: "[W]hen does the Universe smack me upside the head? Generally, when I'm listening to something ... um ... pop. Shallow. Frothy, even"—such as a musical episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." ("The Journey," January 23).

The Rev. Peter Morales, who is a candidate for the UUA presidency, responded to the Commission on Social Witness's draft Statement of Conscience on peacemaking in a letter to Bill Baar ("Pfarrer Streccius," January 23).

The Rev. Christine Robinson offered three ideas for how the UUA could provide richer theological education opportunities for laypeople ("iMinister," January 19). Meanwhile, Stephanie Anagnoson suggested that "theological education" is not the same thing as "going deeper" ("Surviving the Workday," January 26).

David G. Markham isn't sure congregational polity is such a good idea ("UU A Way of Life," January 29).

Doug Muder liked learning the terms "dignitarianism" and "rankism" from UU World's article, "Be a Dignitarian." "I have to admit that at first glance [the article] seems a little abstract and thin, and that I get an instinctive that-would-be-nice-but reaction. But I'll bet abolitionism and feminism sounded that way at the beginning too." ("Free and Responsible," January 27.)

Stephanie Anagnoson passed along tips from a newspaper article about how churches can help dring the recession ("Surviving the Workday," January 19).

What helps UUs go deeper?, scaring parents, defining 'sin,' and more

2009-01-19T11:44:00.000-05:00

Going deeper

In his latest uuworld.org column "That Elusive More," Doug Muder invited readers to describe "what has helped you go deeper into Unitarian Universalism, what hasn’t helped, or what you still feel the need for." He's taking responses at his own blog, "Free and Responsible Search," but a UUA committee that will be approving grants to help congregations and other UU organizations sponsor lay theological education opportunities has also set up a blog, "Lay UU Theology," to solicit input. Several other UU bloggers have chimed in, too.

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt writes: "My glib answer is that what we don't need is 'theological education.' What we need is spiritual experience" ("One More Step," January 14)

Rick Heller suggests thinking about philosophy rather than theology. "[I]t seems to me that first thing to focus on is two mysteries, the mystery of existence and the mystery of consciousness" ("Transparent Eye," January 14)

Kari Kopnick wants to know how to help people who grew up UU deepen their faith ("Chalice Spark," January 15).

David G. Markham comes up with 19 existential questions he thinks any religion should address, and adds: "A good theology, more than anything else, is useful. It helps us lead our lives in the most fulfilling and satisfying ways possible" ("UU A Way of Life," January 15).

Stephanie Anagnoson adapts some of Markham's questions into "theological questions at work" for her "Surviving the Workday" blog (January 16).

Other responses from the Rev. Christine Robinson ("iMinister"), the Rev. Dan Harper ("Yet Anoether Unitarian Universalist"), Jeff Liebman ("uujeff's muse kennel and pizzatorium").

Encouraging words for new parents

Lisa Belkin, the New York Times parenting blogger, writes about the frightening advice many people seem to give expectant parents — and cites the Rev. Meg Barnhouse's uuworld.org column "Letter to a New Parent" as a hopeful alternative ("Motherlode," January 13).

Why people go to church

Plaidshoes is the membership coordinator at her congregation, and has noticed something while greeting visitors recently:

I am not sure if it has to do with the season, but I have had a lot more people with tears. Mostly they are tears of relief. Relief to have found a place that they can be exactly who they are and be not only accepted, but loved. Tears in finding a supportive community. It has made me realize how powerful an open and welcoming religion can be; how important it is that we make sure that Unitarian Universalism remains a vital and engaging religion. ("Plaidshoes," January 13)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham admires the courage of a longtime member of her congregation who is uprooting herself and moving to be near a family member. "I'm reminded of ancestors who bet everything they had on a homestead in Wyoming or Oregon, packed their belongings, and left the old place in Missouri or Ohio to start a new life," Ketcham writes. "One thing she feels she can count on is the UU congregation in her new locale. . . . I hope her new church home welcomes her wholeheartedly" ("Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show," January 13)

Various and sundry

Peter Bowden discovers an article called "How to Convert to Unitarian Universalism" at wikiHow ("uuplanet.tv," January 18).

Lizard Eater suggests two things not to say to someone going through a catastrophe ("The Journey," January 16).

Chalicechick is thinking about different definitions of "sin" ("The Chaliceblog," January 17).

PolityWonk muses on the place of covenants and contracts in our religious tradition. She recalls listening to the Rev. Paul L'Herrou preach on the theme many years ago: "Covenants, he said, are sacred and fundamental -- but it is written, transparent contracts that spell out what we must contribute and what we can expect in return. Here is where relationships stand or fall as they travel through real time" ("PolityWonk," January 13).

The Rev. Phil Lund has some advice for managing your congregation's electronic communications ("Phil's Little Blog on the Prairie," January 13).

The Rev. Fred Hammond discusses the difference between "essential faith" and "discretionary faith" ("A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South," January 13).

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt has joined a "faith club," a discussion group formed by people from an interfaith organization he's part of ("One More Step," January 13).

The Rev. Scott Wells isn't sure that earning a M.Div. is really necessary preparation for the ministry ("Boy in the Bands," January 13).

Jeff W. is curious about the UU congregations that still have deacons ("Transient and Permanent," January 14).

The UUA has launched a Facebook page promoting its advocacy and witness initiatives (January 14).

The UUA's International Office announces two scholarships: UU seminarians can apply for funding to visit the Tsubaki Grand Shrine, a 2,000-year-old Shinto shrine in Japan with a long relationship with the UUA. Ministers can apply for a sabbatical residency with the Unitarian Universalists in the Philippines. ("Inspired Faith, Effective Action," January 13)

Unhappy with the new Principles and Purposes

2009-01-12T15:23:00.001-05:00

Objections to the proposed Principles and Purposes

Several UU bloggers commented on the second draft of a new UUA Principles and Purposes statement, which the Commission on Appraisal is presenting to the Board of Trustees at its January 14-19 meeting. (If the board approves the draft, it will go before the General Assembly for the first of two annual votes in June 2009. The Commission's draft is here; UU World background is here; the Commission's full report to the board is here.)

The Rev. Thomas Perchlik is interested in the new Sources section that replaces the current Six Sources, but writes:

I really miss the dynamic theological language of the older statement including: the entire “transcending mystery and wonder” section, the entire “words and deeds” section, the phrase “heed the guidance of reason and the results of science,” the phrase “idolatries of the mind and spirit,” as well as “to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” I would have liked new poetry. (January 8)

At "Monkey Mind," the Rev. James Ishmael Ford urges the Board of Trustees to delete new language about cultural misappropriation from the Commission's proposal before presenting it to the General Assembly. "I am profoundly concerned," he writes, "that this term is too vague to be used in either our bylaws or in any enforceable code of conduct without creating at the very least the substantial potential to do more harm than good" (January 12).

LT, a "Monkey Mind" reader, quips: "You could substitute the whole [Sources section] by saying 'UUism is the heir to all the religions of the world, but only in a good way, and not in a bad way'" (January 7).

The Rev. Cynthia Landrum at "Rev. Cyn" dislikes the change to the Seventh Principle, which replaces "respect for the interdependent web of all existence" with "reverence for the interdependent web of all existence." Furthermore, she sees a dangerous mix in the new document's clauses about cultural misappropriation and seeking forgiveness for broken relationships:

We've brought theology into the principles, covenanted to uphold them, and then imposed a punishment/correction for those who fail to live up to the principles? And this isn't a creedal religion? (January 10)

Assorted thoughts on ministry

The Rev. Christine Robinson reflects that "one thing that has allowed me to stay in ministry and stay in ministry in one place is a high degree of personal tolerance for bumbling" ("iMinister," January 7).

The Rev. Thom Belote publishes an essay about the practice of lighting candles of joy and concern in UU worship services ("RevThom," January 10). He plans to modify the practice in his congregation.

The Rev. Sam Trumbore invited a committee at his church to offer detailed critiques of one of his sermons—and writes that he felt "more than a little shredded by the experience" when he read their comments. Nevertheless, he plans to do it again (January 8).

The Rev. Stephen Lingwood is filling out a profile on a dating website and finds himself wondering how to describe what a professional minister does, without using the word "church" or "minister" ("Reignite," January 7).

The Rev. Colin Bossen sets up a page to index the works of the Rev. Dr. Thandeka, a UU theologian ("The Latest Form of Infidelity," January 8).

Elsewhere this week

The Rev. Dan Harper calls attention to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that "2006 saw the largest number of babies being born since 1961." Harper sees five implications for liberal churches ("Yet Another Unitarian Universalist," January 9).

Joel Monka at "CUUMBAYA" offers six pieces of advice for how theists and atheists can share Unitarian Universalism (January 5).

At "Philocrites," I update my annotated guide to Unitarian Universalist blogs, which now has 185 entries (January 6).

And an Evangelical seminarian writes: "I think we evangelicals do ourselves a disservice by not copy-catting our Unitarian friends," at least when it comes to Sunday school visits to other faith communities ("Viveza," January 12).