Forrest Church dies, New York church vandalized, and more

Forrest Church dies of cancer

A prominent Unitarian Universalist and the author or editor of more than two dozen books, the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church died from esophageal cancer Thursday at the age of 61. (Idaho Press-Tribune - ID 9.25.09)

Here's another version of the story, which includes quotes from a longtime family friend. (Idaho Statesman - ID 9.25.09)

His obituary appeared in the Sunday New York Times. (online 9.25.09)

The UUA published an In Memoriam page for Church. His congregation, All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, has set up a page for remembrances.

New York church vandalized, robbed

The First Universalist Church in Brooklyn Heights was robbed and vandalized overnight on September 13. Thieves scrawled racist, homophobic, anti-Arab, and anti-Semitic epithets on the walls of the 170-year-old church. (The Brooklyn Paper - NY 9.23.09)

Here's another version of the story, which includes a video. (WABC-TV - Ny 9.22.09)

Eco-faith movement spreads in California

Solar panels were installed on the roof of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Santa Barbara church, the most recent step in a growing eco-faith movement in the city. "It is really exciting how things that just start as reflective conversation at church on Sunday morning can ultimately start a much bigger transformation that goes far beyhond us," said the Rev. Aaron McEmrys, the minister of UU Santa Barbara. (The Daily Sound - CA 9.22.09)

Clothes swap organized for struggling residents

To help struggling residents, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah, hosted the Northern Utah Clothes Swap, in which people could trade old, ragged clothes for slightly used ones. (Standard-Examiner - UT 9.21.09)

Also in the media:

On Sunday, September 27, approximately 200 Iraqi refugees who settled in Iowa will gather at the Unitarian Church in Des Moines to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid. (Des Moines Register - Iowa 9.25.09)

The Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist fellowship of Manitowoc, Wisc., moved into a new four-story building last week. (Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter - WI 9.18.09)

The Rev. Becky Gunn of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, Maine, argues that marriage is a sacred institution based on love, not on gender, and that God doesn't deny love. (Bangor Daily News - ME 9.19.09)

The Follen Community Church in Lexington, Mass., built in 1839 and home to a Unitarian Universalist congregation, underwent a major renovation for the first time in 170 years this summer. (Lexington Minuteman - MA 9.24.09)

The First Unitarian Church of Cleveland in Shaker Heights, Ohio, recently recommitted to providing more money and time to its adopted school, John W. Raper School. (The Plain Dealer - Ohio 9.23.09)