Courter on independent affiliates; dating rules for ministers

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

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).