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Friday, November 13, 2009

Churches embrace change, Al Gore speaks at UU church, and more

posted by Eric Fershtman

Churches making changes
To encourage diversity in its congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, Md., called the Rev. John T. Crestwell Jr., an African American UU minister, as associate minister. (The Capital - MD 11.6.09)

The Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks, the new minister at the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, N.J., plans to grow her congregation from 180 members to 300 within the next five years. (Courier News - 11.8.09)

First Parish in Concord, Mass., is putting the final touches on a $4.2 million renovation project that added 2,250 square feet of usable space to the church. (The Concord Journal – MA 11.12.09)

Magazine mentions
An article in The Christian Century mentions Bruce Sheiman, a UU and author of An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity Is Better Off with Religion Than Without It. The article also mentions Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard, and contributor to The New Humanism magazine. (The Christian Century - 11.17.09)

See Also: Religion and science can be partners (uuworld.org)

An essay in Dwell Magazine highlights the many UU churches that are housed in buildings designed by major modern architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Paul Rudolph, and Edward Durell Stone. (Dwell Magazine - 11.09)

Also in the media:
Al Gore gave a speech at the First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist church November 7 to promote his new book, Our Choice. (CNET News - 11.8.09)

The Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalist Fellowship organized a demonstration Tuesday to protest the execution of John Allen Muhammed. (WHSV - VA 11.10.09)

Nick Welsh rants about the power Unitarian politicians have held in Santa Barbara, Calif., for years. (Santa Barbara Independent - CA 11.12.09)

Culpepper Garden, a retirement facility in Arlington, Va., presented the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington with an "Elder Service Award," celebrating the organizations' longtime relationship. (Sun Gazette - DC 11.11.09)

Amended 11.16.09