Young UU wins GLAAD award, and other UUs in the media

GLAAD honors 10-year-old UU

Will Phillips, whose family attends the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville, Ark., accepted an award at the 21st Annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards in New York on March 13. Phillips was in the media quite a bit last fall after he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in his fifth-grade classroom because the Pledge says ‘liberty and justice for all’ but gay and lesbian citizens don't have equal rights. Watch a video of his speech on YouTube. (YouTube - 3.15.10)

See also:

Will Phillips Shines at GLAAD Media Awards (The Advocate - 3.15.10)

Ten-year-old refuses to stand for Pledge of Allegiance (uuworld.org - 11.23.09 )

An abortion doctor speaks out, Interfaith Action Day, and more

In a guest column, the Rev. Roger Butts, minister of the High Plains Church, Unitarian Universalist in Colorado Springs, Colo., responds to a "diatribe against atheists and the causes they organize around." (Colorado Springs Gazette - 3.13.10)

In response to the killing of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller last year, Curtis Boyd, a doctor and Unitarian, has announced that he will now perform third-trimester abortions. (Los Angeles Times - 3.16.10)

Male Call, a column which answers reader questions about dating, relationships, etc., responds to a man who wonders what he can do to make his girlfriend's mother like him more, by asking: "Are you a drug dealer? A Unitarian? Or wait, maybe recently out of prison for drug dealing?" Sorry, did UUs just get compared to drug dealers? (San Jose Mercury News - 3.18.10)

The Rev. Carol McKinley, coordinator of Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice, writes about Interfaith Action Day and the belief that "as people of faith and as citizens, our responsibility is to take our traditions’ teachings out of our places of worship and make those values real in the world." (TheNewsTribune.com - 3.13.10)

The Rev. Duane Fickeisen, co-minister of the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley in Boiling Springs, Pa., writes about the privileges and challenges of creating meaning from death. (Carlisle Sentinel - 3.11.10)

Herb Silverman, founder and president of the Secular Coalition for America and a member of the Unitarian Church of Charleston, S.C., answers the question "What should pastors do if they no longer hold the defining beliefs of their denomination?" (Washington Post - 3.10)

The Marblehead Reporter interviews Bill Smalley, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, Mass., about flooding at the church following a major storm that left many people in the area with waterlogged homes. (Marblehead Reporter - 3.15.10)

The insurance policy for the Park Lane Unitarian Chapel in Ashton-in-Makerfield, England, has jumped from £100 to £1,000 after repeated incidents of speeding cars crashing into a wall around its property. (Halesowen News - 3.14.10)

The Rev. Robert Hughes, consulting minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Md., is interviewed in an article about the increase in abuse of senior citizens and offers some helpful advice. (WTOP - 3.14.10)

A crowd of about 50 people attended a workshop on “Raising chickens for eggs and meat in your backyard,” which was put on by the Green Sanctuary Project of the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, Mass. (Littleton Independent - 3.11.10)

The Rev. Timothy Temerson is installed as the new pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fairlawn, Ohio. (Akron Beacon Journal - 3.12.10)

UU family harnesses grief to effect change, and other UUs in the media

Victim's family works to protect others

The family of 13-year-old Esme Kenney, who was killed in March 2009, has been working to get laws put into place that would help protect others from violent offenders. Though the family's religious affiliation is not stated in this article, previous articles have mentioned that Kenney was a children's choir member at St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. (WCPO - 3.10.10)

See also: Esme Kenney's Mother Testifies In Kirkland Trial (wcpo.com - 3.9.10)

Unitarian twist in television show

It's always interesting when UU characters and subjects show up on Prime Time TV, such as in this week's episode of the FOX series "House." (If you haven't watched the episode yet, this'll be a SPOILER.) In a subplot of the episode "Private Lives" (season 6, episode 13), Dr. House is trying to hide the fact that he's reading a book of sermons written by a Unitarian minister. Intrigued, his team sets out to find out why, and it is eventually revealed that the Unitarian minister is House's biological father. You can watch the episode on Hulu.

Minister reflections, a paper airplane contest, and more

In honor of International Women's Day, the Rev. Tess Baumberger, minister of the Unity Church of North Easton, Mass., writes about Margaret Fuller and several other historic UUs who worked for women's rights. (Taunton Daily Gazette - 3.5.10)

The Rev. Becky Gunn, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, Maine, writes about the importance of acting on our beliefs in our daily lives. (Bangor Daily News - 3.6.10)

The Rev. Steve Aschmann, minister of the UU Congregation of Erie, Pa., reflects on Unitarian Universalism and religious tolerance. (GoErie.com - 3.6.10)

The Rev. Tom Rhodes, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, N.C., jumped into a local debate from his pulpit Sunday when he spoke against a Wake County school board resolution that may end a policy of busing students to schools outside of their communities to create socioeconomic diversity. (MyNC.com - 3.7.10)

Terrance Health and Rick Imirowicz, who were married by the Rev. Robert Hardies at All Souls Unitarian Church on March 9, the first day same-sex couples were allowed to legally wed in Washington, D.C., discuss the new law and its impact on the GLBT community. (Washington Post - 3.10.10)

The Bradenton Times interviews the Rev. Bonnie Devlin, minister of the Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bradenton, Fla. (The Bradenton Times - 3.7.10)

The Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pa., donated more than $1,500 to Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children, a child welfare organization. (Philadelphia Bulletin - 3.5.10)

The SouthWest Unitarian Universalist Church in Berea, Ohio, recently purchased its first permanent home and is preparing to embark on a $150,000-renovation of the building. (Plain Dealer - 3.10.10)

The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Marietta, Ga., held its 16th annual Great Paper Airplane Contest at which it collected canned food donations for a local food pantry. (Parkersburg News - 3.8.10)

Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., celebrated its 100th anniversary. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 3.8.10)

The Rev. Timothy Temerson will be installed as the 20th settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, Ohio, this weekend. (Suburbanite - 3.6.10)

Pluto discoverer featured on NOVA, and other UUs in the media

NOVA explores Pluto and the UU who discovered it

The PBS series NOVA focuses on Pluto—discovered in 1930 by Unitarian Clyde Tombaugh—and the continuing debate over its loss of planetary status. You can watch the entire program, "The Pluto Files," online. Part four includes a visit to Tombaugh's hometown, an interview with his family, and a stop to see the Tombaugh stained-glass window at the UU Church of Las Cruces, N. Mex., a church he and his wife helped found. For a good chuckle, don't miss the slideshow of angry post-demotion letters from Pluto-supporting third graders. (PBS.org - Feb. 2010, UU World - Fall 2005)

See also:
My Dad Discovered Pluto (PBS.org - Feb. 2010)
He found a planet and founded a church (UU World - Fall 2005)
UU astronomer's ashes en route to Pluto (uuworld.org - 10.6.06)

Same-sex marriage in D.C., Haiti fundraising, and more

The Rev. Robert Hardies, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C., says he has been inundated with calls from same-sex couples looking to wed now that same-sex marriage is legal in the nation's capital. (10connects.com - 3.3.10)

A February 10 pro-marriage equality column by the Rev. Cynthia Landrum, minister of the Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty in Clarklake, Mich., has continued to generate debate in the Jackson Citizen Patriot. (The Jackson Citizen Patriot - 2.10.10, 3.1.10)

The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, N.Y., donated $4,000 for Haiti relief during a special Sunday morning collection and is making the cause an ongoing campaign for the rest of the church year. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 3.4.10)

The Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Mission Viejo, Calif., held a Haiti relief fundraiser featuring live music and belly dancing, which raised $1,234. (OCRegister - 2.26.10)

A recent report from the Religious Institute, a multifaith organization promoting sexuality education led by the Rev. Debra W. Haffner, a community minister with the Unitarian Church in Westport, Conn., continues to draw attention for urging faith leaders to better meet the sexuality needs of congregants by 2020. (WomensRadio - Feb. 2010)

The Rev. Jeff Briere, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., comments on the Religious Institute report and on a statement by the UUA that it will start requiring ministerial candidates to show competency in sexuality issues before they can be ordained. (Chattanooga Times Free Press - 2.27.10)

A group of about 100 people met in Uganda, at an event organized by the Rev. Mark Kiyimba of the Ugandan Unitarian Universalist Church, to speak out against a proposed anti-homosexuality bill. (GlobalPost - 2.26.10)

See also: Ugandan UUs oppose anti-homosexuality bill (2.22.10)

Nancy Vedder-Shults, a member of First Unitarian Society in Madison, Wisc., shares her thoughts on proposed language changes in the UUA's Principles and Purposes, specifically the environmentally focused Seventh Principle. (Tikkun - 3.3.10)

The Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church in S.C. was awarded $28,000 in matching funds to help the congregation hire its first minister. (Aiken Standard - 2.28.10)

One woman's fall into homelessness, and other UUs in the media

Morales discusses priorities on West Coast visit

The North County Times interviewed UUA President Peter Morales as he stopped in California during a tour of West Coast churches. (North County Times - 2.26.10)

Homelessness frustrating for woman, those trying to help

The Tulsa World profiles Joey Baker, who has been living in her car with her pets since she lost her home last June. Baker often drops by All Souls UU Church, which her family has attended for years, but the Rev. Marlin Lavanhar expresses frustration over not knowing how best to help her. (Tulsa World - 2.21.10)

UU ministers on miracles, love, equality, community

The Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, Worship and Music Resources director for the Unitarian Universalist Association, writes in the Washington Post that we have stopped noticing miracles: "Maybe we need a walking-on-water, parting-the-seas kind of miracle to catch our attentions today, yet aren't we surrounded by miracles enough?" (Washington Post - 2.10)

The Rev. Tess Baumberger, minister at the Unity Church of North Easton, Mass., explores the question: "What would it feel like if I began to source my life and my work in love, rather than in the frantic need to do, to impress, and to achieve?” (Norton Mirror - 2.19.10)

The Rev. Andrew Pakula, minister of the Newington Green and Islington Unitarians in England and a member of the national Executive Committee of the Unitarians of Great Britain, writes in defense of civil partnerships. (The Guardian - 2.23.10)

The Rev. Daniel Budd, minister of the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, Ohio, writes of his city: "In order to create a sustainable culture in and for our city and its metropolitan area, we must value one of the most important resources we have. We must value one another." (Plain Dealer - 2.20.10)

Burned church rebuilt, knitting ministry, and more

The new sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern, N.Y., whose previous building was destroyed by a fire in September 2006, is almost complete. (Times Herald-Record - 2.22.10) See also: Fire destroys Rock Tavern UU church (uuworld.org - 9.15.06)

Massachusetts minister the Rev. Judy Campbell started a knitting ministry--the Martha's Vineyard Knitting for Charity group--which meets weekly to create hats, mittens, and other projects for the needy. (Martha's Vineyard Times - 2.25.10)

George Beykovsky, a 78-year-old Holocaust survivor who now calls the Evergreen Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Marysville, Wash., his "second home," shares the story of how his family fled Europe to escape the Nazis. (HeraldNet - 2.21.10)

Once a month the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Youngstown, Ohio, hosts a coffee social that supports GLBT teens and young adults and their families. (TheJambar.com - 2.23.10)

Police have asked the public for help finding a man they believe stole a purse from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bangor, Maine. Video is 02:43. (WCSH-TV - 2.19.10) See also: Bangor Police Ask Assistance in Catching Purse Snatcher (WABI - 2.19.10)

A group celebrated the dedication of a new roof-mounted solar power system at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim, Calif. (OC Weekly - 2.19.10)

The Interfaith Dialogue on Earth Care brought together a large group of educators, community members, and spiritual leaders, including the Rev. Peter Connolly, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green, Ky. (Bowling Green Daily News - 2.20.10)