Unitarian Universalists in the Media

A frequently updated guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other sources around the web.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Earth Day coverage, a minister's book, and more

by Sonja L. Cohen

UUs embrace environmental causes
Though not all of these stories directly mentioned Earth Day, UU churches received a marked increase in environment-related press over the recent Earth Day weekend.

The Green Sanctuary Committee of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, N.J., is focusing on energy conservation. (New Brunswick Home News Tribune - New Brunswick, NJ 4.22.08)

The Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists of Williamsburg, Va., help build a green biofuel plant. (William and Mary News - Williamsburg, VA 4.22.08)

The UU Church of Sarasota, Fla., hosted an Earth Day public forum and service. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL 4.19.08)

Members of the UU Fellowship of Columbia, S.C., held a "bike-in" to encourage people to walk or bicycle to church if they are able. (The State - Columbia, SC 4.19.08)

Annapolis-area churches, including the local UU church, are becoming more environmentally active. (Annapolis Capital - Annapolis, MD 4.19.08)

North Carolina churches, such as the UU Fellowship of Wilmington, are supporting environmental causes and activism in many different ways. (StarNewsOnline.com - Wilmington, NC 4.21.08)

Reviewers praise minister's book on Founding Fathers
A review of the Rev. Gary Kowalski's recent book Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers on page 33 of the May/June Utne Reader, not yet online, says: "Who knew that George Washington avoided references to God or Jesus? Or that Thomas Jefferson edited the miracles out of his version of the New Testament? In Revolutionary Spirits, author Gary Kowalski, a Unitarian minister, captures the quirky personalities and nontraditional religious views of these freethinking liberals."

The book also received a lot of positive press back in February. Seven Days said Kowalski's "crisp tour through this feisty period of American history charmingly distills the founders' vigor and vitality" (2.20.08). A review in the Rutland Herald/Times Argus included an interview with Kowalski and made comparisons with today's political climate (2.17.08). The book was also reviewed on North Country Public Radio (2.19.08) and Kowalski was interviewed on Vermont Public Radio (2.18.08).

See also:
Religious liberalism of America's 'founding fathers' (UU World - Spring 2008)

Revolutionary Spirits, by Gary Kowalski (San Francisco Humanities Review)

Revolutionary religion revealed (Burlington Free Press - 4.25.08)

Book paints complex picture of Founding Fathers' faith (USA Today - 2.12.08)

Also in the media:

Unity Unitarian Church in Islington joins Newington Green Unitarian Church, a 300-year-old church in north London, in refusing to conduct weddings until same-sex couples receive equal marriage rights in the United Kingdom. (Islington Gazette - London, England, UK 4.17.08)

The Rev. Clifford Reed, minister of the Unitarian Meeting House in Ipswich, England, is calling for a ban on Sunday-morning football (soccer) games, which he says are noisy and disruptive to churchgoers. (Times Online - UK 4.22.08)

First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, Mass., celebrates its roots and the congregation's 300th anniversary with a Walden-inspired lecture open to the community. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 4.19.08)

The UU Society of Fairhaven, Mass., plans a peace walk in response to recent local violence. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 4.18.08)

Dan Mac Alpine, a UU and senior editor of the Beverly Citizen, reflects on attending his first Seder. (Wicked Local Topsfield - Beverly, MA 4.21.08)

Debbie Boen of the UU Fellowship in Clarksville, Tenn., talks about wisdom gleaned from frequent church visitor J.J. Kent, a Lakota-Sioux Indian. (Clarksville Online - Clarksville, TN 4.18.08)

And in pop culture news, apparently a recent episode of the ABC TV show Desperate Housewives included a scene where Bree suggested Lynette go to a UU church (because we're open to asking questions).

posted by Sonja L. Cohen at 3:32 PM

Archives