Unitarian Universalists in the Media
A frequently updated guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other sources around the web.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Weekend roundup of Knoxville church shooting coverage
by Christopher L. Walton
UU World's ongoing coverage of the shotgun attack on the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville continued Friday with an interview with John Bohstedt, one of the TVUUC members who subdued the shooter (Jane Greer - 8.1.08). Our weekly roundup of blog commentary about Unitarian Universalism, "The Interdependent Web," focused on bloggers' reactions to the shooting. "Unitarian Universalists in the Media" took a break from Knoxville coverage yesterday to round up other UU-related news from the week, but provided daily updates on news about the shootings on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
A special page at UUA.org rounds up all Knoxville coverage from the UUA and UU World at www.uua.org/news/knoxville. Moderator Gini Courter calls on all Unitarian Universalists "to engage in a simple yet radical act of solidarity this Sunday: attend services at a Unitarian Universalist congregation." Former UUA President John Buehrens, who began his ministry at the Knoxville church, will preach at TVUUC's rededication service Sunday, August 3. (The service will be streamed live on the WBIR website.)
Coverage of the tragic shooting and its aftermath continues in Knoxville and around the country.
Local coverage:
- Today's public and private grief, healing: Memorial service for Greg McKendry (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.2.08)
- Muslim community opens arms to church; former TVUUC minister Lynn Strauss calls victims 'martyrs' (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.2.08)
- Local churches ponder safety issues following Sunday's sanctuary shooting (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.2.08)
- Steps to healing: Shooting victim Linda Chavez talks for first time since shooting (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.2.08)
- Shooting raises question: Is it safe to be a liberal? (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.2.08; includes links to commentary, blog posts, and YouTube videos)
- First responders to shooting recall helping victims (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.1.08; earlier version)
- 'Good people' praised by subduer of shooter (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.1.08)
- Church member talks about tackling and tying up shooter (WBIR - 8.1.08; with video)
- TVUUC observances proposed by county commissioner (Knoxville News Sentinel - 8.1.08)
- Attacked Knoxville church begins healing, won't stop services (WVLT - 8.1.08)
- Church plans to reclaim their sanctuary after shooting (WBIR - 8.1.08)
- More TVUUC shooting victims released from hospital (WBIR - 8.1.08)
Coverage elsewhere:
- Unitarians keep the faith after attack in church (Washington Post - Washington DC, 8.2.08)
- Tucson mom saved self, 2 kids in Tenn. church shooting (Tucson Citizen - Tucson AZ, 8.1.08)
- Local Unitarian Universalists react to Tennessee church shootings (Weekly Challenger - Tampa Bay FL, 8.2.08)
- Churches consider security issues (Patriot-News - Harrisburg PA, 8.1.08)
- Cleveland-area churches wrestle with issues of security (Plain Dealer - Cleveland OH, 8.2.08)
- Shooting at liberal church prompts reaction locally (Dallas Voice - Dallas TX, 7.31.08)
Commentary:
- The dangers of being religious and liberal (St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg FL, 8.3.08)
- A consequence of liberal bashing (syndicated columnist: Detroit Free Press - Detroit MI, 8.2.08)
Friday, August 01, 2008
Another church protests torture, an urban congregation moves, and more
by Rosalie Davis
Ohio congregation joins protest against torture
The Maumee Valley UU Congregation of Bowling Green, Ohio, has endorsed a national campaign against torture and displayed a "Torture is a Moral Issue" banner on its grounds. (Toledo Blade - Toledo, OH 7.26.08)
First Unitarian Church moves out of downtown Toledo
Like other main line urban congregations across the country, the First Unitarian Church of Toledo cited rising costs and declining membership among the reasons for moving out of the Old West End, an historic neighborhood. Their smaller but more modern new sanctuary in South Toledo, is air-conditioned, accessible to the disabled, and has a lawn to mow. (Toledo Blade - Toledo, OH 7.27.08)
Architect receives UUA service award
Columnist notes that architect Eric Kluz received an award for volunteer service for his contributions to green architecture from the UUA at General Assembly in June. Kluz is a longtime member of First Parish UU Church in Cohasset, Mass. (Scituate Mariner - MA 7.31.08)
Conejo Valley's unique property
The Conejo Valley UU Fellowship's new buildings in Newbury Park, Calif., include energy-saving features, minimalist finishes, and innovative financing. (Ventura County Star - Camarillo, CA 7.29.08)
Other congregations in the news
Visitors from Swedish city voted "The Greenest" in Europe by the BBC visit new LEED-certified building of the UU Congregation of Duluth, Minn.
(BusinessNorth.com - Duluth, MN 7.26.08)
Liberals who began UU Church of Boulder, Colo., 125 years ago included Joseph Sewall, the first president of the Univ. of Colorado.
(Daily Camera - Boulder, CO 7.25.08)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Knoxville church shooting coverage continues
by Christopher L. Walton
With no new information about the criminal investigation into the Sunday, July 27, shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, the media focus on survivors, speculate on Jim David Adkisson's motives, and ask how other churches plan to respond. TVUUC has announced, meanwhile, that the sanctuary where two people were fatally injured last weekend will be rededicated in a 10 a.m. worship service this Sunday, August 3. As we reported yesterday, the City of Knoxville arranged for thorough cleaning of the sanctuary after the shootings.
Local coverage:
- Pastor of Knoxville Metropolitan Community Church wants to see letter (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.31.08; earlier version 7.30.08)
- Raising doubts: Retired professor reflects on response (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.31.08; earlier version 7.30.08)
- Shooting victim reflects on church rampage (Associated Press - 7.30.08)
- Family first: Victim of shooting strove to protect his wife and grandchildren (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.31.08; related video)
- Guitar case recently bought (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.31.08; earlier version 7.30.08)
- Guitar shop owner: Adkisson 'nice' customer (WBIR - 7.30.08)
Coverage elsewhere:
- Profile of a Massachusetts minister who traveled to Knoxville as part of the UU Trauma Response ministry team: Pastor touched by compassion of Knoxville (Worcester Telegram & Gazette - Worcester MA, 7.31.08)
- Churches trying to cope and find ways to prevent violence (San Mateo County Times - San Mateo CA, 7.31.08)
- Do churches need heightened security? (WSFA - Montgomery AL, 7.31.08)
- Local church reassessing security after shooting (KSFX/OzarksFirst.com - Springfield MO 7.30.08)
- Hate speech on display: Lesson we must learn (editorial, Anniston Star - Anniston AL, 7.31.08)
- The liberals made him do it (column, Miami Herald - Miami FL, 7.29.08)
- Anything but straight: Messages that lead to murder (column, Falls Church News-Press - Falls Church VA, 7.31.08)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Third day of Knoxville shooting coverage
by Christopher L. Walton
UU World continues its coverage of the shootings at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville Sunday, July 27, with a report on a candlelight vigil the next day, where UUA President William G. Sinkford and members of the UU Trauma Response Ministry joined local clergy and an interfaith crowd to remember the victims and look forward in hope: Knoxville stands with grieving UUs after shooting (Jane Greer, 7.30.08).
Our guide to local coverage of the shootings began Monday with a roundup of the first day's stories, and continued Tuesday with even more local stories. Today's roundup includes coverage of UU responses elsewhere.
Local coverage:
- Denomination's president sees acceptance rising (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Many denominations, one prayer (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.30.08)
- Faith communities respond, near and far (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.30.08)
- Attacked church focuses on healing children (Associated Press - 7.30.08)
- Was church shooting a gay-hate crime? (Out & About - Nashville TN, 7.30.08)
- Relief fund set up for Knoxville churches affected by shooting (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Church shooting gives victim pause on death penalty (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.30.08)
- Victim Joe Barnhardt talks about church shooting (WBIR - 7.30.08; with video interview)
- Victim describes shooting, didn't realize he was shot in eye (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.30.08)
- Unitarians are rattled by attack on church (Boston Globe - 7.30.08)
- Unitarians struggle with church shooting (United Press International - 7.30.08)
- Unitarian Universalist shootings raise fears here (Journal-Sentinel - Milwaukee WI, 7.29.08)
- Minister mourns victims of shooting (The Gazette - Montgomery County MD, 7.30.08)
- Church shooting casts pall over Tennessee woman's visit to Vancouver (Columbian - Vancouver WA, 7.30.08)
- Witness screamed 'Why?' in gunman's face (CNN - 7.30.08)
- Tennessee church attack spotlights scapegoat mentality (Christian Science Monitor - Boston, 7.30.08)
- Tenn. tragedy highlights dangers of intolerance (Editorial: Citizen-Times - Asheville NC, 7.30.08)
- Tragedy touches all of us, no matter our politics (Column: The Plain Dealer - Cleveland OH, 7.30.08)
- Bainbridge vigil: 'We pray that the compassion here will spread into the world' (Bainbridge Islander/Kitsap Sun - Bremerton WA 7.29.08)
- Violence leads some to revamp plans, others praying more (Star Press - Muncie, Ind., 7.29.08)
- Shooting raises church security questions (Free Lance-Star - Fredericksburg VA, 7.30.08)
- Shooting suspect hated liberals (USA Today - 7.29.08)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Second day of Knoxville shooting coverage
by Christopher L. Walton
UU World is tracking the ongoing news coverage of the deadly shootings this past Sunday at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. Yesterday's post included the first 24 hours of news coverage; the second 24 hours of coverage appears below.
UU World's first news story was published Monday evening: Two Unitarian Universalists killed in church shooting (Donald E. Skinner, 7.28.08). UUA.org coverage continues here. The UUA and the Thomas Jefferson District announced earlier today that they are setting up a Knoxville relief fund. The UUA has also launched a blog to collect condolences and statements of support.
Community vigil and interfaith responses:
- Church shooting service: ‘comfort in the power of love’ (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Faith communities offer help (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Monday vigil unites mourners of all faiths (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Recording of Monday evening's vigil (MP3, Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Vigil offers community hope moving forward (WBIR - 7.29.08; with video and photos)
- Denomination's president sees acceptance rising from tragedy (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- What Unitarian Universalists stand for (WBIR - 7.29.08; with video)
- Most of seven survivors not church members (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Family of three church shooting victims issues statement (WBIR - 7.29.08)
- Church shooting victims' conditions upgraded (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Linda Kraeger: Shooting victim remembered as scholar, 'giving,' 'loving' (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.28.08)
- Suspect's note cites 'liberal movement' for church attack (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Ex-wife of church shooting suspect is former member (WATE - 7.29.08)
- Takedown of alleged shooter recounted (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.29.08)
- Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.28.08)
- Search warrant: Adkisson admits church shooting, motives (WBIR - 7.28.08)
- Police investigate church shooting as a hate crime (WBIR - 7.28.08; with video)
- Accused church shooter threatened to kill wife, himself (Knoxville News Sentinel - 7.28.08)
- Witnesses describe Knoxville church shooting horror (MSNBC - 7.28.08)










