Knoxville shooter to plead guilty, money woes close church, and more
Knoxville shooter to plead guilty
[Update 2.9.09:] The Knoxville News Sentinel reported February 4 that Jim David Adkisson will plead guilty to all charges in the July 27, 2008, shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. Members of the church tackled Adkisson and held him for police after he opened fire on the congregation during a children's play. Two people died in the shooting and six others were injured. (Knoxville News Sentinel, 2.4.09; AP/New York Times 2.4.09)
The two Unitarian Universalist congregations in Knoxville honored the memories of Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger, who died in the attack, with events Sunday, February 8. TVUUC dedicated rooms to their memory as part of the congregation's sixtieth anniversary celebrations. UUA President William G. Sinkford preached at TVUUC and spoke later in the day at a lecture series in Kraeger's honor at the Westside UU Church, where Kraeger was a member. (2.9.09; video coverage from WBIR and WVLT 2.9.09)
See also "Tragedy of church shootings left sisters to grieve" (Knoxville News Sentinel, 2.9.09).
In related news, Tammy Sommers, who was critically wounded during the shooting, recently talked about the experience and about her recovery. (WBIR-TV - Knoxville, TN 2.1.09)
Read more about the Knoxville shootings. (uuworld.org)
Poor economy closes Oregon church for one month
A $185,000 deficit at the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Ore., is leading that church to close for the month of July. First Unitarian, one of the largest UU churches in the country, normally remains open in the summer. (kgw.com - Portland, OR 2.3.09)
See also: First Unitarian Church will close (OregonLive.com - 2.3.09)
OWL sexuality education earns praise
A Boston Globe Magazine cover story titled "Isn't it Time Sex-Ed Grew Up?" features two photos of the OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education class at the Bedford church, as well as quotes from a participant. (Boston Globe Magazine - 2.1.09)
New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth" segment looks at sex-ed for a new millennium and includes an interview with Judith Frediani, director of Lifespan Faith Development at the UUA and the project director OWL. You can listen to the 11-minute segment with Windows Media or as an MP3. (NHPR - 2.2.09)
Also in the media:
The UU Congregation of Whidbey Island, Wash., is offering free wedding ceremonies—including use of its new church and the help of its minister the Rev. Kit Ketcham—to local gay and lesbian couples. (South Whidbey Record - Whidbey Island, WA 1.31.09)
The Chicago Tribune profiles the Rev. Gary James of the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Ill. (Chicago Tribune - 2.29.09)
Matt Pizzuti, who runs the middle and high school youth programs at Colorado's Boulder Valley UU Fellowship, explains why you don't have to be a Christian to observe Lent. (Examiner.com - 2.3.09)
UU minister the Rev. Lauralyn Bellamy is featured as a weight-loss success story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. (Atlanta Journal Constitution - 2.4.09)
Pagans observed Imbolc, which marks a return of light and the end of winter, at the Neshoba UU Church in Cordova, Tenn. (Memphis Commercial Appeal - Memphis, TN 2.2.09)
Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.
[Update 2.9.09:] The Knoxville News Sentinel reported February 4 that Jim David Adkisson will plead guilty to all charges in the July 27, 2008, shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. Members of the church tackled Adkisson and held him for police after he opened fire on the congregation during a children's play. Two people died in the shooting and six others were injured. (Knoxville News Sentinel, 2.4.09; AP/New York Times 2.4.09)
The two Unitarian Universalist congregations in Knoxville honored the memories of Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger, who died in the attack, with events Sunday, February 8. TVUUC dedicated rooms to their memory as part of the congregation's sixtieth anniversary celebrations. UUA President William G. Sinkford preached at TVUUC and spoke later in the day at a lecture series in Kraeger's honor at the Westside UU Church, where Kraeger was a member. (2.9.09; video coverage from WBIR and WVLT 2.9.09)
See also "Tragedy of church shootings left sisters to grieve" (Knoxville News Sentinel, 2.9.09).
In related news, Tammy Sommers, who was critically wounded during the shooting, recently talked about the experience and about her recovery. (WBIR-TV - Knoxville, TN 2.1.09)
Read more about the Knoxville shootings. (uuworld.org)
Poor economy closes Oregon church for one month
A $185,000 deficit at the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Ore., is leading that church to close for the month of July. First Unitarian, one of the largest UU churches in the country, normally remains open in the summer. (kgw.com - Portland, OR 2.3.09)
See also: First Unitarian Church will close (OregonLive.com - 2.3.09)
OWL sexuality education earns praise
A Boston Globe Magazine cover story titled "Isn't it Time Sex-Ed Grew Up?" features two photos of the OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education class at the Bedford church, as well as quotes from a participant. (Boston Globe Magazine - 2.1.09)
New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth" segment looks at sex-ed for a new millennium and includes an interview with Judith Frediani, director of Lifespan Faith Development at the UUA and the project director OWL. You can listen to the 11-minute segment with Windows Media or as an MP3. (NHPR - 2.2.09)
Also in the media:
The UU Congregation of Whidbey Island, Wash., is offering free wedding ceremonies—including use of its new church and the help of its minister the Rev. Kit Ketcham—to local gay and lesbian couples. (South Whidbey Record - Whidbey Island, WA 1.31.09)
The Chicago Tribune profiles the Rev. Gary James of the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Ill. (Chicago Tribune - 2.29.09)
Matt Pizzuti, who runs the middle and high school youth programs at Colorado's Boulder Valley UU Fellowship, explains why you don't have to be a Christian to observe Lent. (Examiner.com - 2.3.09)
UU minister the Rev. Lauralyn Bellamy is featured as a weight-loss success story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. (Atlanta Journal Constitution - 2.4.09)
Pagans observed Imbolc, which marks a return of light and the end of winter, at the Neshoba UU Church in Cordova, Tenn. (Memphis Commercial Appeal - Memphis, TN 2.2.09)
Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.
posted by Sonja L. Cohen at
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