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Saturday, August 02, 2008

Weekend roundup of Knoxville church shooting coverage

posted 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:
Coverage elsewhere:
Commentary:

posted by Christopher L. Walton at 9:45 PM

Friday, August 01, 2008

Another church protests torture, an urban congregation moves, and more

posted 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)

posted by Rosalie Davis at 12:17 PM

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Knoxville church shooting coverage continues

posted 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:

Coverage elsewhere:

posted by Christopher L. Walton at 2:46 PM

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Third day of Knoxville shooting coverage

posted 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:Coverage elsewhere:

posted by Christopher L. Walton at 4:59 PM

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Second day of Knoxville shooting coverage

posted 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:
Explaining Unitarian Universalism:
The victims:
Criminal investigation:
The Knoxville News Sentinel has set up a special section for its Knoxville Church Shooting coverage.

posted by Christopher L. Walton at 3:27 PM