Celebrating California marriages, ministerial retreats, and more

Celebrating California marriages

As California began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on June 17, 2008, Unitarian Universalist bloggers spoke out in support of marriage equality and expressed concern for the challenges still facing same-sex couples.

Writing pseudonymously at "Sparks in the Dark," Ogre describes his participation in a San Diego demonstration to support couples receiving their marriage licenses:

The older ladies who arrived with two daughters (soon followed by granddaughters... one with her young son), who were initially put off. They saw us, didn't read the signs or shirts.. and thought we were protesters there to harass them. They told us that their daughters planned to sort of push through and protect them. You can imagine the rollercoaster of emotions for all of us when they realized we were there to support them and celebrate with them--tears in both their eyes, one daughter's, and both of the UU ministers with us, of relief and joy. They were so happy when they came out of the building. (June 17, 2008)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham on "Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show" criticizes opponents of marriage equality:

To say no to joy for another person, even joy that has been proven in the long hard years of a relationship, is incomprehensible to me. To me it suggests a joylessness on the part of those who say that no and even try to enforce it by laws that regulate against joy for others. I'm talking real joy, not sexual pleasure, but the joy that comes from being together as a partnership, facing life's challenges, raising children, being a family. That's real joy. It's wrong to deny anyone that hardwon joy, especially after they have proved themselves over the long haul. (June 18, 2008)

The Rev. Matt Tittle at "Keep the Faith" discusses the challenges facing male same-sex couples who are parents or want to become parents:

Tomorrow, California will begin issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Those couples at least won't have to explain to their children why they aren't married. Progress is slow, but love will prevail. Love is patient... Today, as we honor our fathers, let us remember also those who are fathers against all odds. (June 18, 2008)

Aaron Sawyer, at his DiscoverUU Blog, worries about a ballot initiative in November that could overturn same-sex marriage in California:

Let’s try to remain a healing voice in the chaos- a resounding affirmation that the majority are over these old ignorances. And let's extend it beyond race, toward the recognition that everyone has the right to coexist in peace and love. (June 16, 2008)

Second acts

Following up on PeaceBang's earlier post on resentment towards affluent people (mentioned in last week's "The Interdependent Web"), the Rev. Parisa Parsa of "Pastor Prayers" reflects:

When we unhook the conversation about wealth from judgments about personal value, we can have a different conversation about justice. To those who have much and measure their worth in that wealth, whether it's the worth of their work or the worth of their person or both, any statement that the wealth must be given away will feel like it is stripping them of their value. Until we create a conversation about the theological truth of abundance, and start to spread the gospel of "enough," it will always feel like redistributing wealth is stripping some people of worth and dignity when in fact the opposite is true. (June 12, 2008)

Chip Roush at "the yes church" provides an update to the discussion in late May about proposed curriculum changes at Meadville Lombard, the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago (June 11, 2008).

Ministerial retreats

At "ministrare," the Rev. Sean Parker Dennison frets about an upcoming ministers' retreat and reflects on the dynamics among ministerial colleagues:

There’s another thing, at least in my tradition: the sad reality of retreats turning into times to complain about how hard ministry is, whose calendar is most overbooked, whose congregation is most stingy, whose building is falling apart fastest, who has heard the rudest comment after a sermon, etc… (Oh heck, I'm not supposed to let you all know that we do this…oops…bag open, cat long gone.) It's not that we don't like you or that we are small-hearted or mean-spirited. It's that we're tired. Exhausted. Rung out. Drained. When we get together, we have permission to let it out. (June 12, 2008)

Online resources

Jeff at "Transient and Permanent" points to "Creating Congregational Histories," a new online resource from the UU Historical Society. And the Rev. Scott Wells at "Boy in the Bands" recommends the Unitarian Universalist Association's "Selected Resources for Congregational Elected Leaders."