uuworld.org : unitarian universalists in the media

Slave-owning ancestors, gay rights, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Minister explores ancestors' slave trade involvement
While researching his family's history, the Rev. David Pettee, director of Ministerial Credentialing at the Unitarian Universalist Association, discovered that his ancestors had been slaveholders and traders. In an effort to come to terms with this information, Pettee has traveled to Africa, spoken to descendants of the slaves his family owned, and done a lot of reflection. Friday, May 16 he was interviewed on WBUR's On Point Radio. You can listen to the segment online. (WBUR.org - 5.16.08)

Pettee has also written several essays on his experience:

Claiming Our History, Warts and All (UUA.org - 5.10.07)

The Ties that Bind: A Deeper Exploration of My Family’s History with the Slave Trade (UUA.org - 11.20.07)

California rules in favor of marriage equality
A statement from UUA president the Rev. William Sinkford appeared in a compilation of reactions to California's recent ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, May 15 that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. (The Bay Area Reporter – CA 5.15.08)

Read President William G. Sinkford’s statement. (UUA.org - 5.15.08)

UUA pushes Verizon to adopt nondescrimination policy
The UUA, which owns 1,300 shares of Verizon common stock, has been pushing the company to add a gender identity clause to its nondiscrimination policy. (Artvoice - Buffalo, NY)

The proposal to amend Verizon's equal employment policy to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity was voted down May 1, but backers, including the UUA's treasurer and vice president of finance Tim Brennan, said they were encouraged by the support they got and plan to continue pushing the matter. (Bay Area Reporter - 5.8.08)

Also in the media:

A statue of the Rev. Thomas Starr King, the Unitarian minister credited with keeping California in the Union during the Civil War, is being replaced in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection. (Washington Times - 5.15.08)

UU congregations join other New York churches to raise relief funds for Burma (Myanmar). (Newsday - Long Island, NY 5.10.08)

The UU Congregation of Danbury, Ct., is voting at its annual meeting on whether to join the New Sanctuary Movement. (Danbury News Times – Danbury, CT 5.11.08)

Prairie Circle UU Congregation in Grayslake, Ill., was recognized by the UUA as a member church. (Waukegan News Sun - Waukegan, IL 5.9.08)

In honor of its 300th anniversary, First Unitarian Church in Bedford, Mass., will offer tours of its historic church and grounds. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 5.10.08)

The UU Church of Hagerstown, Md., opens its labyrinth to the public each month. (WHAG - Hagerstown, MD 5.11.08)

Children at the Cape Area Family Resource Center afterschool program will plant and care for a garden prepared by members of the UU Fellowship of Cape Girardeau and the Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative. (Southeast Missourian - Cape Girardeau, MO 5.12.08)

Florida UUs in the news, Ric Masten dies, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Florida UUs in the news
The 2008 UUA General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is less than two months away, and stories about UU activities and faith are beginning to pop up in Florida's media coverage.

The Rev. Susanne Nazian, consulting minister for the UU Congregation of Venice, Fla., answers a Q&A about UU beliefs and work. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL 5.3.08)

An article on Tallahassee.com looks at national and local efforts to get the word out about Unitarian Universalism through advertising campaigns. (Tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL 5.2.08)

A group of more than 20 Florida spiritual groups and churches, including Manatee UU Fellowship in Bradenton and Interweave Sarasota, hosted an interfaith worship service as part of Sarasota's Gay Pride Week. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL 5.3.08)

Ric Masten remembered

The Rev. Ric Masten, a poet, artist, and UU community minister whose song "Let It Be a Dance" is well-known in UU congregations, died of prostate cancer May 9. (The Herald - Monterey County, CA 5.11.08)

UU World profiled Masten a few years ago: See Dancing through Life" (November/December 2004).

Also in the media:

The UUA, which owns 1,300 shares of Verizon common stock, is pushing the company to add a gender identity clause to its nondiscrimination policy. (Artvoice - Buffalo, NY)

Kate Burns (a UU) and Sheila Schroeder were convicted of trespassing for staging a sit-in at the Denver county clerk's office when they were refused a marriage license. (Rocky Mountain News - Denver, CO 5.7.08)

The UU Congregation of the Lowcountry in Bluffton, S.C., hosted a dinner and fundraiser for Upendo Village, a nonprofit that helps people with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. (Hilton Head Island Packet - Hilton Head Island, SC 5.3.08)

Rethink, a group of middle school students from New Orleans, will speak at an annual UU youth conference in Massachusetts. (Duxbury Reporter - MA 5.8.08)

The Rev. Roy Phillips, who led Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, Minn., for nearly three decades, died April 24 at age 66. (Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN 5.3.08)

The Rev. Beverly Boke, minister of the UU Church in Newport News, Va., writes about what UUs believe. (Daily Press - Newport News, VA 5.3.08)

The Live Oak UU Congregation in Goleta, Calif., broke ground on a new sanctuary. (The Santa Barbara Independent - Santa Barbara, CA 5.4.08)

Updated 5.12.08. Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.

Q&A with a Kennedy speechwriter, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Kennedy speechwriter, UU publishes new book
The New York Times interviewed Ted Sorensen, a speechwriter for John F. Kennedy, Unitarian, and author of the forthcoming memoir, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History. (New York Times - 4.27.08)

Also in the media:

Grist Magazine publishes a speech delivered by UU Ken Ward on Earth Day at the UU First Church in Jamaica Plain, Mass., about the importance of caring for the planet. (Grist Magazine - Seattle, WA 4.29.08)

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Dr. Mohamad Tajuddin says mosque designers could learn a lot from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, such as the Meeting House he created for the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisc. (Malaysia Star - Malaysia 4.27.08)

See also: Frank Lloyd Wright's Unitarian Universalist churches (UU World - May/June 2005)

The Rev. Barb Greve, a transgender UU minister, leads the annual service on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their experiences at the UU Church of Newburyport, Mass. (The Daily News of Newburyport - Newburyport, MA 4.25.08)

Twelve same-sex couples renewed their vows at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, N.Y. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester, NY 4.27.08)

The North Shore Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth, which is hosted by the First Universalist Church of Salem, Mass., holds its first fundraising event to help the group offer more comprehensive services to its youth membership. (New England Blade - Boston, MA 4.24.08)

The Rev. Leaf Seligman, minister of the First Parish UU Church of Fitchburg, Mass., writes about how multifaith programs and work can strengthen a congregation. (Fitchburg Pride - MA 4.25.08)

Harvard Law School Professor and famed author, Randall Kennedy, paid tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by reading his “I Have a Dream” speech at the annual Music Sunday of the First Parish UU in Bedford, Mass. (Bedford Minuteman - Concord, MA 4.26.08)

Earth Day coverage, a minister's book, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:32:00 +0000

UUs embrace environmental causes
Though not all of these stories directly mentioned Earth Day, UU churches received a marked increase in environment-related press over the recent Earth Day weekend.

The Green Sanctuary Committee of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, N.J., is focusing on energy conservation. (New Brunswick Home News Tribune - New Brunswick, NJ 4.22.08)

The Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists of Williamsburg, Va., help build a green biofuel plant. (William and Mary News - Williamsburg, VA 4.22.08)

The UU Church of Sarasota, Fla., hosted an Earth Day public forum and service. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL 4.19.08)

Members of the UU Fellowship of Columbia, S.C., held a "bike-in" to encourage people to walk or bicycle to church if they are able. (The State - Columbia, SC 4.19.08)

Annapolis-area churches, including the local UU church, are becoming more environmentally active. (Annapolis Capital - Annapolis, MD 4.19.08)

North Carolina churches, such as the UU Fellowship of Wilmington, are supporting environmental causes and activism in many different ways. (StarNewsOnline.com - Wilmington, NC 4.21.08)

Reviewers praise minister's book on Founding Fathers
A review of the Rev. Gary Kowalski's recent book Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers on page 33 of the May/June Utne Reader, not yet online, says: "Who knew that George Washington avoided references to God or Jesus? Or that Thomas Jefferson edited the miracles out of his version of the New Testament? In Revolutionary Spirits, author Gary Kowalski, a Unitarian minister, captures the quirky personalities and nontraditional religious views of these freethinking liberals."

The book also received a lot of positive press back in February. Seven Days said Kowalski's "crisp tour through this feisty period of American history charmingly distills the founders' vigor and vitality" (2.20.08). A review in the Rutland Herald/Times Argus included an interview with Kowalski and made comparisons with today's political climate (2.17.08). The book was also reviewed on North Country Public Radio (2.19.08) and Kowalski was interviewed on Vermont Public Radio (2.18.08).

See also:
Religious liberalism of America's 'founding fathers' (UU World - Spring 2008)

Revolutionary Spirits, by Gary Kowalski (San Francisco Humanities Review)

Revolutionary religion revealed (Burlington Free Press - 4.25.08)

Book paints complex picture of Founding Fathers' faith (USA Today - 2.12.08)

Also in the media:

Unity Unitarian Church in Islington joins Newington Green Unitarian Church, a 300-year-old church in north London, in refusing to conduct weddings until same-sex couples receive equal marriage rights in the United Kingdom. (Islington Gazette - London, England, UK 4.17.08)

The Rev. Clifford Reed, minister of the Unitarian Meeting House in Ipswich, England, is calling for a ban on Sunday-morning football (soccer) games, which he says are noisy and disruptive to churchgoers. (Times Online - UK 4.22.08)

First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, Mass., celebrates its roots and the congregation's 300th anniversary with a Walden-inspired lecture open to the community. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 4.19.08)

The UU Society of Fairhaven, Mass., plans a peace walk in response to recent local violence. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 4.18.08)

Dan Mac Alpine, a UU and senior editor of the Beverly Citizen, reflects on attending his first Seder. (Wicked Local Topsfield - Beverly, MA 4.21.08)

Debbie Boen of the UU Fellowship in Clarksville, Tenn., talks about wisdom gleaned from frequent church visitor J.J. Kent, a Lakota-Sioux Indian. (Clarksville Online - Clarksville, TN 4.18.08)

And in pop culture news, apparently a recent episode of the ABC TV show Desperate Housewives included a scene where Bree suggested Lynette go to a UU church (because we're open to asking questions).

God, race, politics, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:47:00 +0000

UUA president on God, race, and more
UUA president the Rev. William G. Sinkford was interviewed at length in the St. Petersburg Times by Bill Maxwell, a Times columnist and fellow UU. The interview was featured on the front page of the Perspectives section and appears in a longer form on the paper's website. (St. Petersburg Times - FL 4.11.08)

Praise for new Forrest Church book
The New York Review of Books praises the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church's book So Help Me God: The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle over Church and State in the May 1 issue (subscription req'd). "Church has certainly written an illuminating and entertaining work of history, and the best account of the first five presidents and their relation to religion that we have," writes Gordon S. Wood. (New York Review of Books - 5.1.08)

See also: "America's Founding Faiths" by Forrest Church (UU World - Winter 2007)

Also in the media:

Steve Shives follows up a previous article on the popularity of homeschooling among fundamentalist Christians with this article about liberal homeschoolers, including Unitarian Universalists. (American Chronicle - Beverly Hills, CA 4.11.08)

The UU Society of Iowa City, Iowa, is helping to arrange a play focusing on the life and trials of Clarence Darrow as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of their building. (Iowa City Press Citizen - Iowa City, IA 4.10.08)

The Chalice UU Congregation in Escondido, Calif., and the Palomar UU Fellowship in Vista are helping to support a new LGBTQ Pride Center at Cal State San Marcos. (North County Times - Escondido, CA 4.12.08)

Eighth-graders at the First Unitarian Society of Newton, Mass., raised about $1,800 to buy meals for a homeless shelter in Boston during a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. (Newton TAB - Needham, MA 4.15.08)

Community members prepare to celebrate the planet at EarthFest, a day of free activities, many of which are sponsored by the UU Congregation of Northern Chautauqua, N.Y., which founded the festival in part to mark the church's 25th anniversary. (Jamestown Post Journal - Jamestown, NY 4.17.08)

Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.

Marriage equality, interest in atheism, and other news

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:12:00 +0000

UK Unitarian church bans weddings
To protest the unfair religious marriage rights of same-sex couples in the United Kingdom, the Newington Green Unitarian Church, a 300-year-old church in north London, announced that it will continue to do blessings but will no longer conduct full weddings. The congregation's unanimous decision, the first of its kind in Great Britain, came after the British Unitarian national conference called for the Civil Partnership Act to be changed to allow religious content in civil partnership registrations. (BBC News - UK 4.8.08)

See also: The Church Where You Can't Marry (Camden New Journal - London, UK 4.4.08)

A place for the nonbelievers
Despite the results of the recent Pew Forum Religious Landscape Survey, which showed that the vast majority of Americans believe in a god, the number of books and general interest in atheism and secular humanism appears to have grown over the last few years. (Evansville Courier & Press - Evansville, IN 4.5.08)

Dave Dierdorff, board chair of the Juneau, Alaska, UU Fellowship writes about why atheists do belong in church. (Juneau Empire - Juneau, AK 4.9.08)

Also in the media:

The Cape Cod Times takes a look at church signs (also known as wayside pulpits), the idea for which was first brought to North America by the Rev. Henry Hallam Saunderson, a Unitarian minister. (Cape Cod Times - Hyannis, MA 4.7.08)

The Oneonta Community Health Center, a free health-care clinic that started as a social outreach project of the UU Society of Oneonta, N.Y., has found a site and set an opening date. (Oneonta Daily Star - Oneonta, NY 4.7.08)

The Rev. Sylvia Falconer, minister emerita of the Greeley, Colo., UU church writes about the importance of recognizing the meaning and purpose of our religious rituals and symbols. (Greeley Tribune - Greeley, CO 4.5.08)

The UU Church of Tampa, Fla., hosted Gayla 2008, sponsored by the GLBT UU group Interweave in celebration of diversity and equality. (Tampa Tribune - Tampa, FL 4.5.08)

Local potters contributed more than 250 bowls to the First UU Church of Parkersburg, W.Va.'s annual Empty Bowls event, which raises money for programs that help end hunger. (Parkersburg News - Parkersburg, WV 4.7.08)

The Rev. David Blanchard, minister at the UU Church of Utica, N.Y., opines on the topic of "color blindness." (Utica Observer Dispatch - Utica, NY 4.4.08)

As husband and wife "evolutionary evangelists" the Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow travel the country speaking, media coverage of their unique message continues. (Gresham Outlook - Gresham, OR 4.4.08)

See also: Welcome to the Ecozoic Era (UU World - Spring 2006)

Literary UUs, a Gulf Coast reminder, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:55:00 +0000

UUs on the bookshelf
The Christian Century gave the Rev. Kate Braestrup's best-selling memoir, Here If You Need Me, a positive review in its March 25 issue, now available online. (The Christian Century - 3.25.08)

Mingling Souls upon Paper: An Eighteenth-Century Love Story, a new book by Bonnie Hurd Smith, explores the romance between feminist and writer Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820) and her second husband, Universalist preacher John Murray (1741-1815). (Gloucester Daily Times - MA 4.2.08)

FEMA trailer is reminder of work still to do
A FEMA trailer, identical to the ones people displaced by Hurricane Katrina live in, stopped by the Unitarian Church of Westport, Ct., as part of a UUSC campaign to raise awareness about the Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act. (Wilton Villager - CT 4.4.08)

Also in the media:

The UU Congregation of Danbury, Ct., is preparing to vote on whether it should join the New Sanctuary Movement, meaning it would provide help and potentially offer sanctuary to illegal immigrants. (Danbury News Times - Danbury, CT 3.30.08)

See also:
County Fair: Universal Love (fairfieldweekly.com - Norwalk, CT 4.3.08)

New immigrant sanctuary movement calls for 'prophetic hospitality' (uuworld.org - 5.25.07)

A small group of community members in Winters, Calif., marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion with a protest as well as a vigil at the nearby Sacramento UU Society. (Sacramento Bee - CA 3.30.08)

The Witness the Cost of War memorial at the UU Church in Rutland, Vt., remembers U.S. troops killed in Iraq with a small gold star; the number of stars recently hit 4,000. (Rutland Herald - Rutland, VT 3.28.08)

Lynne Readett joined the fewer than 60 active Unitarian ministers in the UK after her ordination at the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. (Wigan Today - Wigan, England, UK 4.1.08)

Several clergy members in Maryland, including some UU ministers, say they won't sign marriage licenses until same-sex marriage is made legal in their state. (Baltimore Sun - 3.31.08)

A four-person panel of religious leaders at a “Homosexuality and Religion” discussion, including UU minister Carolyn Brown, said that God doesn't condemn homosexuality or other alternative lifestyles. (University of Evansville Crescent online - Indiana 3.28.08)

The UU Fellowship of Fayetteville, Ark., a Welcoming Congregation, gets a brief mention in this article about a city's quarterly Diversity Weekend. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette - AR 3.30.08)

"Evolutionary evangelist" husband and wife team the Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow continues to get press. (Inside Bay Area - Oakland, CA 3.29.08)

See also: Welcome to the Ecozoic Era (UU World - Spring 2006)

Radio program explores new humanism, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:32:00 +0000

Exploring humanism
This week's episode of "Speaking of Faith," a religion program broadcast by American Public Media, looks at the tradition of humanism in the segment "Exploring a New Humanism." Listen to the program, watch video, and read related material at the show's website, speakingoffaith.publicradio.org. (Speaking of Faith - 3.27.08)

Read more about "new humanism": Does humanism need to be new? (uuworld.org - 6.4.07)

Also in the media:

A Canadian family that has traveled approximately 10,000 miles without using fossil fuels stopped in at the UU Fellowship of Gainesville, Fla. (High Springs Heralds - High Springs, FL 3.27.08)

In honor of Women's History Month, New West pays tribute to suffragette the Rev. Olympia Brown, a Universalist and America's first ordained female minister. (New West - Missoula, MT 3.26.08)

UUA President William G. Sinkford shares some insights on being the first African American head of a predominantly white denomination. (The Daily Voice - New York, NY 3.21.08)

The Wednesday Journal writes about one of the most famous Unitarians, Ralph Waldo Emerson.(Wednesday Journal - Oak Park, IL 3.25.07)

A crowd gathered at the Dublin Unitarian Church for an annual service remembering those who died as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. (RTE.ie - Ireland 3.21.08)

Members of the UU Church of Marblehead, Mass., mark the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq with a demonstration calling for an end to the violence. (Marblehead Reporter - Marblehead, MA 3.24.08)

The UU Church of Glens Falls, N.Y., celebrated Palm Sunday by focusing on our connection to the environment. (Glens Falls Post-Star - Glens Falls, NY 3.23.08)

Husband and wife team the Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow travel across America to preach the gospel of evolution. (Contra Costa Times - Walnut Creek, CA 3.24.08)

See also: Welcome to the Ecozoic Era (UU World - Spring 2006)

The Missourian profiles John Clark, an activist and member of the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship. (Columbia Missourian - Columbia, MO 3.23.08)

UUs mark Iraq War anniversary, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:07:00 +0000

UUs mark anniversary of war in Iraq
Unitarian Universalists marked the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq with protests, vigils, singing, and more.

More than 500 people gathered at the First UU Society of San Francisco for a peace vigil and march. (San Francisco Chronicle - CA 3.17.08)

A war protest in Hartford, Ct., ended with the arrest of five people, including the Rev. Kathleen McTigue, minister of the Unitarian Society of New Haven, Ct. (Hartford Courant - CT 3.19.08)

About 200 people gathered at the UU Society of Sacramento, Calif., for a candlelight vigil protesting the Iraq War. (News10.net - Sacramento, CA 3.19.08)

See also: Sacramento anti-war protesters hold candlelight vigil (Sacramento Bee - CA 3.20.08)

The First UU Church of Niagara in Niagara Falls, N.Y., protested the war with a silent vigil. (Buffalo News - NY 3.20.08)

Members of the Champlain Valley UU Society in Middlebury, Vt., sing for peace. (Middlebury Campus - Middlebury, VT 3.20.08)

A new peace pole at the Prescott UU Fellowship in Prescott, Az., installed around the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War, is a reminder of the congregation's commitment to peace. (Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, AZ 3.16.08)

Fidelity urged to divest genocide-linked investments
The Boston Globe reported on the shareholder vote on Fidelity mutual funds led by Investors Against Genocide, and notes that the UUA is one of the organizations supporting these efforts. (Boston Globe - 3.20.08)

See also: UUA pressures Fidelity over Sudanese investments (uuworld.org - 5.18.07)

Also in the media:

Camp Quixote, a tent camp for the homeless, prepares to return to the Olympia, Wash., UU Congregation. (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 3.14.08)

See also: Washington church hosts tent city (uuworld.org - 2.23.07)

The New Republic reviews a new biography of Margaret Fuller, the early
19th-century feminist and Transcendentalist, in the March 26 issue,
available online to subscribers only. ("A Noble Career," Christine Stansell, The New Republic 3.26.08)

The book is Margaret Fuller: An American Romantic Life Volume II: The Public Years by Charles Capper (Oxford Univ Press).

The Christian Century gives the Rev. Kate Braestrup's memoir, Here If You Need Me, a positive review in its March 25 issue (not yet available online). (The Christian Century - 3.25.08)

The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer, minister of the UU Church of Manchester, N.H., reflects on the various ways we experience Easter. (NewHampshire.com - Manchester, NH 3.19.08)

The Santa Barbara Independent gives a basic overview of the UU faith. (The Santa Barbara Independent - Santa Barbara, CA 3.16.08)

The Wenatchee World offers a list of five things you should know about Unitarian Universalism. (The Wenatchee World Online - Wenatchee, WA 3.14.08)

More churches are embracing eco-friendly practices and technology. (Greater Milwaukee Today - WI 3.13.08)

Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.

'Militant Unitarians,' Tampa Bay advertising, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Beliefnet editor on America's founders
Beliefnet editor-in-chief Steven Waldman talks about his new book Founding Faith over the course of several posts, including one in which he characterizes America's founders as "militant Unitarians." (TPM Cafe - 3.12.08)

Tampa Bay ad campaign reports success
An advertising campaign by the UUs of the Tampa Bay Area in Florida has caught the media's eye. The campaign, which began in February and ends in April, has included billboards, postcards, radio and TV spots, and ads in various publications, and according to Tampa Bay-area ministers, the effort to get the word out has been successful. (St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, FL 3.8.08)

See also:
UU ads to appear in bowl game programs (uuworld.org - 12.21.07)

UUA launches national ad campaign in 'Time' (uuworld.org - 9.28.07)

Reports on UUA Marketing Outreach Campaigns (UUA.org - 9.25.07)

Also in the media:

A crowd filled the First Unitarian Society in Newton, Mass., for the annual coffee house, hosted by youth and benefiting the Chawama Family Home for AIDS in Lusaka, Zambia. (Newton TAB - Needham, MA 3.11.08)

The Sun Journal profiles Phil House, a former organist for the First Universalist Church of Auburn, Maine and a talented piano player who works with developmentally challenged people. (SunJournal.com - Lewiston, ME 3.11.08)

UUs joined in the fourth annual five-mile WinterWalk from Sherborn to Holliston, Mass., to help the homeless. (Wicked Local Sherborn - Needham, MA 3.11.08)

After two years of planning, campaigning, and construction, the new eco-friendly building of the First UU Church in Wichita, Kans., is finally complete. (Kansas.com - KS 3.10.08)

After ten years of meeting in other people's buildings, the UU Fellowship of Rocky Mount, N.C., finally gets a home of its own. (Rocky Mount Telegram - Rocky Mount, NC 3.8.08)

The UU Congregation of the Lowcountry in Bluffton, S.C., hosted a kirtan—a traditional participatory music exercise— as a way to bring the community together. (Hilton Head Island Packet - Hilton Head Island, SC 3.8.08)

Faith Club, an interfaith group in San Pedro, Calif., meets to break down stereotypes and better understand other religions. (Daily Breeze - Torrance, CA 3.9.08)

Dealing with slavery, dissolutionment, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:35:00 +0000

Minister reflects on the real story of America
The Rev. David Pettee, director of ministerial credentialing at the UUA, talks about discovering that his ancestors were involved in the slave trade, and what he has done to come to terms with that knowledge. (Newton TAB - Needham, MA 3.4.08)

Finding the faith, leaving the faith
Unitarian Universalism gets some positive attention in this article about a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which found that nearly half of American adults have left the faith tradition of their upbringing. (MetroWest Daily News - Framingham, MA 3.1.08)

Unitarian Universalism gets somewhat less favorable attention in this student's personal reflection on her spiritual journey away from the UU faith and toward Judaism. (North by Northwestern - Evanston, IL 3.4.08)

Book examines faith of Founding Fathers
The Rev. Gary Kowalski, senior minister of the First UU Society of Burlington, Vt., talks about his new book, Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers. (BurlingtonFreePress.com - Burlington, VT 3.3.08)

See also: Religious liberalism of America's 'founding fathers' (UU World - Spring 2008)

Also in the media:

The Rev. Suzanne Paul, minister of New Hope UU Congregation in Lyon Township, Mich., reflects on the positive messages in Sesame Street and the Muppets. (South Lyon Herald - MI 2.28.08)

The Rev. Wade T. Wheelock, co-pastor of the Canton, N.Y., UU Church speaks out in defense of a GLBT film festival poster that was removed from the public bulletin board in the local Department of Social Services building. (Watertown Daily Times - Watertown, NY 3.4.08)

The Dignity Players, part of the "Arts in the Woods" program at the UU Church of Annapolis, Md., presents an adaptation of Jean Anouilh's 1943 update of Antigone, written during the Nazi occupation of France. (Baltimore Sun - 3.5.08)

Read more about the Dignity Players: Racism subject of church group's play (uuworld.org - 8.3.07)

The First UU Society of Albany, N.Y., held a public forum on immigration issues. (Albany Times Union - Albany, NY 3.3.08)

More than 100 people gathered at the UU Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., to hear music and stories of a drum's seven-year tour. (Chattanooga Times Free Press - Chattanooga, TN 3.2.08)

The Third Unitarian Church of Chicago, Ill., hosted a winter farmer's market and brunch. (Austin Weekly News - Oak Park, IL 3.5.08)

The Olympia Brown UU Church in Racine, Wisc., is sponsoring a series of panel discussions to promote "agreeable disagreement and honorable argument" in the community. (Journal Times - Racine, WI 2.29.08)

Blue Hills UU Fellowship in Rice Lake, Wisc., is helping the community transition from using disposable shopping bags to reusable Ecosilk Bags. (Rice Lake Chronotype - Rice Lake, WI)

First Church Unitarian in Littleton, Mass., held a musical soiree to celebrate its new Steinway Model O grand piano. (Littleton Independent - Littleton, MA 3.5.08)

A Unitarian leader's passing, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Death of a Unitarian leader
The UUA International Office reports on the death of the General Secretary of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India, Bah Brington Mylliemngap, who passed away on February 26 at age 72. Among the letters read at the church service was one from UUA President William G. Sinkford, which is included in the notice. (UUA - 2.29.08)

Also in the media:

To help cut down on waste from plastic shopping bags, the Underwood Unitarian Women's Alliance held a sew-in to make cloth bags. (Fergus Falls Daily Journal - Fergus Falls, MN 2.23.08)

The youth group of the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, Mass., plans a second work trip to help rebuilding efforts in the post-Katrina Gulf Coast area. (Littleton Independent - Concord, MA 2.21.08)

The Owen Sound Sun Times takes a look back at Unitarian Sarah Fuller Flower Adams, who is best remembered for writing the famous hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee." (Owen Sound Sun Times - Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada 2.23.08)

The Rev. Leaf Seligman, minister of the First Parish in Fitchburg, N.J., writes about theology and politics. (Fitchburg pride - NJ 2.22.08)

UUs such as the Rev. Lindi Ramsden are quoted in this article, which is part of a series on amicus briefs filed by hundreds of religious organizations, professional associations, and others in support of same-sex marriage. (Bay Area Reporter - San Francisco, CA 2.21.08)

The First UU Church in Marietta, W.V., hosted its 14th annual Paper Airplane Contest. (Parkersburg News - Parkersburg, WV 2.25.08)

Husband and wife team the Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow preach the gospel of evolution. (San Diego Union Tribune - 2.23.08)

See also:
Welcome to the Ecozoic Era (UU World - Spring 2006)

Author explores Founding Fathers' faith, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Minister's new book explores Founding Fathers' spirituality
The Rev. Gary Kowalski, senior minister of the First UU Society in Burlington, Vt., has written a new book, Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers, which looks at the spirituality of America's early politicians and argues that they were neither evangelicals nor secularists. (USA Today - 2.12.08)

Kowalski spoke about the spiritual lives of the Founding Fathers in a President's Day interview with Steve Zind on Vermont Public Radio. (VPR - 2.18.08)

The book was reviewed at Blog Critics magazine on January 24. (Blog Critics - 1.24.08)

Also in the media:

Newly ordained minister and fifth-generation African American UU the Rev. Lauren Smith talks briefly about her religious heritage. (The Boston - Bay State Banner - Boston, MA 2.14.08)

Philip F. Gura, author of the new book American Transcendentalism, talks about the history of Transcendentalism and its Unitarian roots. (News & Observer - Raleigh, NC 2.15.08)

The co-ministers of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY., show their support for marriage equality by refusing to sign marriage licenses until same-sex couples can wed. (13WHAM-TV - Rochester, NY 2.14.08)

A growing number of liberal churches are teaching sex ed classes to their youth, including the popular Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education curriculum developed by the UUA and the United Church of Christ. (AZ Central.com - AZ 2.20.08)

A father and son prepare to make their second trip to Louisiana with a group from the First Unitarian Church in Worcester, Mass., to help with post-Katrina rebuilding efforts. (Wicked Local Lancaster - Clinton, MA 2.13.08)

Unitarian Universalism and the First UU Congregation of Terre Haute, Ind., get a brief mention at the end of this article on students exploring Buddhism. (Indiana Statesman - IN 2.18.08)

Pete Seeger's group sings, Mary Oliver's record-breaking show, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Group sings help people connect
The New York Times looks at the phenomenon of group sings, in which people gather together to sing familiar songs, an activity long championed by UU Pete Seeger. Seeger says in the article: "No one can prove a damn thing, but I think that singing together gives people some kind of a holy feeling. And it can happen whether they’re atheists, or whoever." (New York Times - 2.10.08)

Mary Oliver show sells out in record time
A scheduled Seattle appearance by Beacon Press author and poet Mary Oliver became the fastest ticket sellout in the 20-year history of Seattle Arts & Lectures and prompted a ticket frenzy on Craigslist.org. (Seattle PI - WA 2.4.08)

Also in the media:
The First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist, celebrates 25 years of service by their minister the Rev. Terry Burke. (Jamaica Plain Gazette - Jamaica Plain, MA 2.7.08)

Representatives from the Independent Christian Church, Universalist in Gloucester, Mass., and the First Parish Church Congregational in Manchester, N.H., are quoted in a story about a Gloucester synagogue that was destroyed in a fire. (Boston Globe - 2.10.08)

An article in the Daily Northwestern focuses on the inclusivity and political activism of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, Ill. (Daily Northwestern - Evanston, IL 2.12.08)

Patti Anne Logan, a board member at the All Souls UU Community in Lacey, Wash., writes about the universal desire for freedom. (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 2.9.08)

The Rev. Johanna Nichols, minister of the Champlain Valley UU Society in Middlebury, Vt., gave testimony in support of same-sex marriage to the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection. (Rutland Herald - Rutland, VT 2.13.08)

First Unitarian Church in Hobart, Ind., joins groups around the world in celebrating Darwin Day. (Munster Times - Munster, IN 2.8.08)

The Independent profiles Jaki Jackson, a member of the UU Congregation of the South Fork who just wrote and illustrated a children's book, Groundhog Day: A Mid-Winter Tale. (Hamptons Independent - East Hampton, NY 2.13.08)

The Olympia UU Congregation in Washington is collecting used movies and other donations for a sale to support Out of the Woods, an emergency shelter for homeless families. (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 2.12.08)

The First Parish Congregational Church in Yarmouth, Maine, is working to raise $1.6 million to renovate and expand its historic 1860s church. (MaineToday.com - Portland, ME 2.8.08)

Groundhog Day, the Founding Fathers, Stephen Colbert, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Roots and inspiration on Groundhog Day
Holly Ulbrich, author of The Fellowship Movement, writes about the origin of Groundhog Day and about the lesson of transformation that can be found in the 1993 Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. (Anderson Independent Mail - Anderson, SC 2.1.08)

The Covenant of UU Pagans in Frederick, Md., celebrated the earth-centered roots of Groundhog Day. (Frederick News Post - Frederick, MD 2.3.08)

Forrest Church discusses new book
The Rev. Forrest Church, minister of public theology at Manhattan’s All Souls Unitarian Church, discusses his new book, So Help Me God: The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle Over Church and State. (The Santa Barbara Independent - Santa Barbara, CA 2.5.08)

See also: America's founding faiths (UU World - Winter 2007)

Defining 'Unitarian'
Wikiality.com, a Wikipedia spoof written and moderated by fans of the popular Comedy Central show The Colbert Report hosted by Stephen Colbert, presents a tongue-in-cheek definition of Unitarianism from the "ultra conservative" point of view.

Also in the media:

Holston Valley UU Church in Gray, Tenn., prepares to celebrate Evolution Day. (Johnson City Press - TN 2.2.08)

The UU Congregation of Montclair, N.J., celebrated Evolution Weekend early. (Montclair Times - Montclair, NJ 2.6.07)

A high school publication profiles the UU Church of Palo Alto, Calif. (Paly Voice - Palo Alto, CA 12.19.07)

The Rev. Charles J. Stephens, minister of the UU Church at Washington Crossing in Titusville, N.J., explores the idea that what touches one affects us all. (phillyBurbs.com - Philadelphia, PA 2.1.08)

Lisa Fritsche, director of religious education at the UU Church of Columbia, Mo., qualified to appear on the TV quiz show Jeopardy! (Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, MO 1.31.08)

See also: Final Jeopardy! signals end for local contestant (Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, MO 2.4.08)

A UU minister, an Islamic scholar, and a Baptist professor of the New Testament debate the essence of Jesus. (Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, MO 2.3.08)

The UU Church of Annapolis, Md., will host its seventh annual Wintertime Red Cross Blood Drive. (WBAL - Baltimore, MD 2.5.08)

Religious communities focus on environmental issues. (The Southern - Carbondale, IL 2.1.08)

A stone commemorating the burning of two English heretics has been returned to the Unitarian church where it was created. (Halifax Evening Courier - UK 2.7.08)

Churches get involved with the community, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:39:00 +0000

An editorial in The Olympian applauds the success of Camp Quixote, a tent camp for the homeless that has found a home at various locations, including the local UU church: "A great deal of credit for the ensuing success of Camp Quixote goes to the members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. As officers were preparing to move in to break up the camp and make arrests if necessary, the folks at the west side church volunteered to host the tent city." (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 12.28.07)

See also: Washington church hosts tent city (uuworld.org - 2.23.07)

The UU Church of Davis, Calif., a certified green sanctuary, will host a film festival of movies about environmental issues. (The California Aggie Online - Davis, CA 1.25.08)

The Rev. Kathleen Hepler, soon to be installed as the pastor of First Parish UU in Framingham, Mass., hopes to help the town focus on immigration issues. (MetroWest Daily News - Framingham, MA 1.26.08)

Children at the First Unitarian Church in Toledo, Ohio, help the hungry. (Toledo Blade - Toledo, OH 1.26.08)

UUs join the hundreds of people at a rally in support of Oregon's domestic partnership law. (PSU Daily Vanguard - Portland, OR 1.31.08)

The Rev. Kate Walker, minister of the UU Church in Meadville, writes about why people do—or don't—go to church. (GoErie.com - Erie, PA 1.26.08)

The Sierra Foothills UU Church in Auburn, Calif., honored the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and Peewee Reese at a community event. (Auburn Journal - Auburn, CA 1.26.08)

Big changes are ahead for the UU Church of Eugene, Ore., as it approaches its centennial. (The Register-Guard - Eugene, OR 1.27.08)

Rochester, N.Y., locals talk about their religions. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester, NY 1.29.08)

A North Carolina interfaith group focuses on peace and justice. (Greenville Daily Reflector - Greenville, NC 1.29.08)

UUs remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:28:00 +0000

UUs pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A concert at the Sierra Foothills UU Church in Aurburn, Calif., celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr.—and the special relationship between two churches. (Auburn Journal - Auburn, CA 1.25.08)

The Rev. Carolyn Brown, interim minister at the UU Church of Evansville, Ky., is interviewed in an article about how Martin Luther King Jr. inspired religious leaders of different faiths. (Henderson Gleaner - Henderson, KY 1.19.08)

The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition, a group started nine years ago by the First Church UU of Leominster, Mass., in partnership with local public schools, presented the 9th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. (Leominster Champion - MA 1.25.08)

A group in Bellville, Ohio, chose to focus on Martin Luther King Jr.'s antiwar stance this MLK Day, gathering for a candlelight vigil followed by a program on King's philosophy at All Souls UU Church. (Mansfield News Journal - Mansfield, OH 1.22.08)

Also in the media:

A Winter 2007 UU World essay excerpted from the Rev. Kate Braestrup's bestselling memoir Here If You Need Me gets noticed in Utne Reader's "Spirituality" blog. (Utne.com - 1.22.08)

Read the essay: One thing I'm sure of (UU World - Winter 2007)

Read more about Braestrup: Chaplain in the wilderness (UU World - May/June 2005)

The UU Fellowship of Stanislaus County, Calif., hosted an annual Mardi Gras celebration to benefit their building fund. (Modesto Bee - Modesto, CA 1.23.08)

The Auburn, Ala., UU Fellowship hosted a hunger banquet to demonstrate the difference in world poverty levels. (WTVM - Columbus, GA 1.23.08)

The First Unitarian Church of Victoria, B.C., awarded its Unsung Heroes Award, which was created to honor people who exhibit equity and compassion in dealing with others. (Times Colonist - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 1.21.08)

Minister profiles, the gospel of evolution, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:07:00 +0000

The lives of ministers
Several stories in the media this week looked at the lives of UU ministers beyond the church setting.

The Martha's Vineyard Gazette profiles the Rev. Judith Campbell who recently retired from her position as minister of the UU Society of Martha's Vineyard to pursue writing and other interests. (Martha's Vineyard Gazette - Edgartown, MA 1.11.08)

The Austin-American Statesmen explores how the Rev. Eliza Galaher, minister of the Wildflower Church in South Austin, Texas, finds inspiration in her many tattoos. (Austin American-Statesman - Austin, TX 1.15.08)

The Indianapolis Star looks to UU minister the Rev. Jim Shumacker, now a career coach, for five tips about career change. (Indianapolis Star - 1.16.08)

Spreading the gospel of evolution
For more than five years now, husband and wife team the Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow have traveled across America to share the gospel of evolution, which sees evolutionary science and God as compatible ideas.(Austin American-Statesman - Austin, TX 1.12.08)

See also:
Ex-pastor driven to tout evolution (Dallas Morning News - Dallas, TX 1.17.08)

Welcome to the Ecozoic Era (UU World - Spring 2006)

Also in the media:

The Rev. Fred Rabidoux joined fellow animal rights activists for a vigil at the San Francisco Zoo urging zoos not to keep large animals. (Fog City Journal - San Francisco, CA 1.4.08)

Hurt feelings prompted harsh words after three Christian churches snubbed a Women's World Day of Prayer event being hosted at the Padiham Nazareth Unitarian Chapel in England. (Burnley Citizen - UK 1.16.08)

Dangerously old sanctuary windows at the historic UU Society of Rockport, Mass., will be replaced thanks to the town's Community Preservation Fund. (Gloucester Daily Times - MA 1.14.08)

More than 100 people gathered to celebrate Twelfth Night at the First UU Society of Marietta, Ohio. (Marietta Times - Marietta, OH 1.12.08)

Wayne F. Smith, human rights advocate and civil liberties program manager for the UU Service Committee, will speak at the annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast at Kennebunk, Maine's First Parish UU Church. (Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth, NH 1.10.07)

The First Unitarian Church of New Bedford, Mass., prepares to celebrate its 300th anniversary. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 1.12.08)

Politics and religion, an award-winning minister, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Faith and politics
The Rev. Forrest Church, a minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City and author of So Help Me God: The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle over Church and State, asks: "Is it appropriate to elect a minister of the gospel as president of the United States?" (beliefnet.com)

Citing the Rev. Forrest Church's book, So Help Me God, Albert Southwick argues that contrary to modern religious rhetoric, the Founding Fathers were not Bible thumpers.(Worcester Telegram - Worcester, MA 1.6.08)

The Rev. Mark Worth of the UU Church of Castine, Maine, spoke to his congregation about the issue of religion and the presidential elections, focusing on the religious beliefs of candidates. (WCSH-TV - Portland, ME 1.6.08)

UU minister wins PETA award
The Rev. Susan Manker-Seale of the UU Congregation of Northwest Tucson, Az., was recently named the "most progressive religious leader" in PETA's fifth annual Proggy Awards for her work "encouraging sustainable living by promoting carpooling, using solar energy, recycling, water conservation, and organic and vegan cooking classes." (Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, AZ 1.5.08)

See also: PETA's 5th Annual Proggy Awards (PETA.org)

Survivor contestant helps fund church
Seven years after she failed to win on the reality TV show Survivor, Sonja Christopher's $2,500 consolation winnings are helping to build the Mt. Diablo, Calif., UU Church's new Fellowship Hall. (San Jose Mercury News - CA 1.9.08 registration required)

Civil unions, football promotions, seasonal observations, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:07:00 +0000

New Year brings legal civil unions to New Hampshire
As the clock struck midnight and 2007 rolled over into 2008, about 40 same-sex couples gathered outside of the New Hampshire State House to be married in the state's first legal civil unions. More couples planned to have their civil union ceremonies at a New Year's Day celebration at the South Church UU Congregation in Portsmouth. (Boston Globe - 12.31.07)

See also:
Gay NH couples celebrate, gain status in civil unions (Boston Globe - 1.2.07)

Presiding over history (Concord Monitor - Concord, NH 12.31.07)

Couples are ready: Civil-union countdown is on (Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth, NH 12.28.07)

NH leads in adding same-sex couples (Foster's Daily Democrat - Dover, NH 12.30.07)

UUA advertising to include football programs
The Chicago Tribune reports on the UUA's recent advertising and outreach efforts, including an ad scheduled to appear in programs at 13 college football bowl games. (Chicago Tribune - 12.28.07)

See also: Unitarians tackle bowl games (Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth, TX 12.29.07)

UU seasonal observations
Members of the UU Fellowship of Waynesboro, Va., celebrated Christmas with a participatory service of shared song, stories, and reflections on the meaning of the season. (Staunton News Leader - Staunton, VA 12.24.07)

The Portsmouth Herald News examines the history of Christmas in Maine, the people's early reluctance to celebrate the holiday, and the local Unitarian church's part in making it a common practice. (Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth, NH 12.27.07)

Iowa religious leaders, including the Rev. Eva Cameron of the UU Society of Black Hawk County in Cedar Falls, answer the question: What would Jesus want for his birthday this year? (Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - Waterloo, IA 12.25.07)

As part of its ongoing work to promote environmentally friendly practices, the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis chose to light its Christmas tree this year with energy-efficient LED Christmas lights. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO 12.20.07)

Three sisters at the UU Congregation of Green Valley, Az., bring some Christmas cheer to local senior citizens and form the basis of a new children's choir. (Green Valley News - Green Valley, AZ 12.23.07)

The UU Fellowship of Fredericksburg, Va., lit up the darkness with a winter solstice celebration featuring lots of candles. (The Free Lance-Star - Fredericksburg, VA 12.22.07)

The solstice service at the UU Congregation of the Shoals in Florence, Ala., focused on the winter season rather than the holiday's pagan roots. (Times Daily - Florence, AL 12.20.07)

Also in the media:

Actress Katherine Heigl was married in what media outlets are calling a "Unitarian Christian" ceremony officiated by UU minister the Rev. Tom Goldsmith. (San Francisco Chronicle - 12.27.07)

See also: Katherine Heigl Commits to 'Crapshoot' (eFluxMedia - 12.24.07)

More than a year after the UU church in Rock Tavern, N.Y., was destroyed in a fire, the congregation is still working toward rebuilding. (Times Herald-Record - Middletown, NY 12.28.07)

See also: Fire destroys Rock Tavern UU church (uuworld.org - 9.15.06)

Camp Quixote, a homeless tent city that at one point made its home at the Olympia, Wash., UU Congregation, is moving again. (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 12.30.07)

See also: Washington church hosts tent city (uuworld.org - 2.23.07)

The Rev. Nan White led members of the UU Fellowship of Beaufort, S.C., in an annual service to remember South Carolinians who died in Iraq during the year. (Beaufort Gazette - Beaufort, SC 1.2.08)

The Rev. Naomi King, minister of the River of Grass UU Congregation in Plantation, Fla., is overseeing a series of sermons and free activities focused on the idea of creating peace at home and worldwide. (MiamiHerald.com - Miami, FL 12.30.07)

The Rev. Gary Kowalski of the First UU Society in Burlington, Vt., is interviewed in this story about people who believe in angels. (BurlingtonFreePress.com - Burlington,VT 12.25.07)

The UU Society of Fairhaven, Mass., has formed the Green Sanctuary Vision Committee to oversee environmental changes at the church. (SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA 12.22.07)

A new window at the UU Church of Savannah, Ga., tells the story of a church and a religion. (Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA 12.23.07)

UUs come up a couple of times in this article about how Democratic candidates are
talking about religion more. (Concord Monitor - Concord, NH 12.31.07)

Happy New Year!

Church tragedies, banned Christmas trees, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:18:00 +0000

Church mourns members killed in murder/suicide
Members of the UUs of Clearwater, Fla., mourned the loss of five of their own, the victims of a murder/suicide. On December 14, member Oliver Bernsdorff apparently killed his ex-wife, Jennifer Davis, her partner, Andrea Pisanello, and his two children, Olivia and Magnus. He later shot himself. (Tampa Tribune - Tampa, FL 12.16.07)

See also: Shooter warned people he would kill his family (Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg, FL 12.14.07)

Members of burned temple find refuge at UU church
Members of the Temple Ahavat Achim, whose building burned down last weekend, have found a temporary home at the Independent Christian Church, UU in Gloucester, Mass. The fire started in an adjacent apartment building, which was also destroyed, killing one resident. (Boston Globe - 12.16.07)

See also:
Temple finds temporary home in historic church (Gloucester Daily Times - MA 12.15.07)

Lost temple remembered (Boston Herald - 12.16.07)

Temple destroyed but congregation's 'heart is untouched' (Gloucester Daily Times - MA 12.17.07)

Members of burned temple put community first (Boston Globe - 12.20.07)

Fire department says church's live Christmas trees must go
Members of South Church UU in Portsmouth, N.H., were dismayed when the local fire department told them two Christmas trees in their sanctuary violated fire codes and needed to be removed. The article includes a new hymn to the tune of Comfort and Joy (in the sidebar) by the Rev. Roberta Finkelstein and "her elves" with lyrics such as: "We've had two trees since who knows when / And no one's raised a brow. / What's caused our friends the fire men / To up and have a cow?" (Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth, NH 12.18.07)

Also in the media:

The Rev. Hank Peirce, minister of the UU Church of Medford, Mass., has challenged his congregants to cut their holiday gift budget in half from last year's and give the difference to charity. (Wickedlocal.com - Medford, MA 12.18.07)

The South Valley Unitarian church is hosting a homeless family as part of Salt Lake City's Family Promise church shelter program. (Deseret News - Salt Lake City, UT 12.20.07)

An article about innovative faith-based sex-ed programs compares the Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality education program, produced by the UUA and the United Church of Christ, with the Catholic-based abstinence curriculum A Promise to Keep. (Indianapolis Star - 12.16.07)

The UUA will be closed next week, but the UUs in the Media blog will return Thursday, January 3. Happy holidays!

90-pound football stars, climate-change churches, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:49:00 +0000

Peewee football champs have UU connection
A children's football team sponsored by the Beacon House neighborhood organization in Washington, D.C., won the national championship in the 90-pound Peewee Division in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando December 8. Beacon House was founded in 1991 by a Unitarian Universalist minister to support at-risk youth and families of the Edgewood Terrace community in Washington. (Washington Post, 12/9/07)

Oregon churches' changing relationship with the earth
Oregonians of all faiths, including Unitarian Universalism, are joining the fight against global warming and changing the way they think about the planet. (The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland, OR 12.9.07)

Christian-based churches are responding to climate change by getting involved in environmentalism. (Clackamas Review - Portland, OR 12.11.07)

Also in the media:
The UU Fellowship of the Peninsula in Newport News, Va., has formed the Peninsula Peace Project to promote peacemaking. (Daily Press - Newport News, VA 12.10.07)

The Rev. Alan C. Taylor, minister of Unity Temple UU Congregation in Oak Park, Ill., writes about the importance of religious freedom. (Wednesday Journal - Oak Park, IL 12.11.07)

The Parish House of the First Unitarian Church in Providence, R.I., hosted the 20th annual Write-a-thon of Amnesty International, which helps call attention to the repression of the Burmese people. (Providence Journal - Providence, RI 12.10.07)

The Rev. Forrest Church, minister of All Souls Church in Manhattan and author of So Help Me God is quoted in a story about Republican candidate Mitt Romney's faith. (Deseret News - Salt Lake City, UT 12.8.07)

The Rev. Arthur Vaeni, minister of the Olympia, Wash., UU Congregation writes about the importance of health care for all. (The Olympian - Olympia, WA 12.8.07)

Voters concerned about electronic balloting gathered at the UU Fellowship of Clarksville, Tenn., for a screening of the film UnCounted and talk lead by the film's producer. (Clarksville Online - Clarksville, TN 12.8.07)

The UU Church of Savannah, Ga., hosted a celebration of December music from the traditions of Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the Bahá'í Faith. (Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA 12.6.07)

AIDS relief plan, New Hampshire civil unions, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:50:00 +0000

Sinkford: 'Not a moment to lose' on AIDS relief
The Congressional Quarterly writes about Congress's plan to reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and what direction advocates and experts are recommending it should take. UUA President William G. Sinkford (sadly misspelled "Sinkord") is quoted at the end of the story: “We must work together to stop the spread of HIV. Right now. Today. There is not a minute to lose.” (Congressional Quarterly - 11.29.07)

Also: All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Okla., hosts a Community World AIDS Day Service. (Tulsa World - Tulsa, OK 12.1.07)

Civil unions legal in New Hampshire
Starting December 10, same-sex couples across New Hampshire were able to obtain civil union licenses, which go into effect New Year's Day. The UU Church of Portsmouth, N.H., plans to celebrate with a party featuring live bands, speakers, and a potluck. (Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth, NH 11.29.07)

Also in the media:

Unitarian Universalist Holley Hewitt Ulbrich provides an excellent—and thorough—answer to the questions Do UUs celebrate Christmas? and Why? (Anderson Independent Mail - Anderson, SC 11.30.07)

Cedars UU Church in Bainbridge Island, Wash., produces the Alternative Gift Project catalog, an annual 44-page guide to Western Washington charities. (Peninsula Daily - Port Angeles, WA 12.6.07)

The UU Church in Reston, Va., hosts its annual Alternative Gift Market. (Reston Connection - VA 11.29.07)

Airestotle, a machine designed to measure particulate matter, was purchased by the Clean Air Board, a nonprofit group formed by the UUs of the Cumberland Valley in Boiling Springs, Pa., and a group of physicians who were concerned about local air quality. (The Patriot-News - PennLive.com - Harrisburg, PA 12.2.07)

The Progressive Radically Inclusive Student Ministry at Colorado University is a mix of Unitarian Universalism and Christianity and aims to give students a comfortable community in which to explore religious ideas. (University of Colorado The Campus Press - Boulder, CO 12.5.07)

The First Universalist Church in Rockland, Maine, helps create a community-supported fisheries program. (knox.VillageSoup.com - Rockland, ME 12.4.07)

The Fergus Falls Daily Journal takes a look at the history of the Unitarian Church of Underwood, Minn., which dates back to the 1880s. (Fergus Falls Daily Journal - Fergus Falls, MN 11.30.07)

The Independent Mail reviews Holley Ulbrich's new book about the history of Unitarian Universalism, The Fellowship Movement. (Anderson Independent Mail - Anderson, SC 11.30.07)

In his 20 years of ministry, the Rev. Brian Kiely has learned how to push the "spiritual envelope." (Edmonton Journal - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 11.30.07)

Church arson, a UU's Carnegie Hall debut, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:15:00 +0000

Arson at California church
Officials are investigating a case of arson at the Throop UU Church in Pasadena, Calif., where a fire was intentionally set in the altar area. (Whittier Daily News - Whittier, CA)

Noted UU musician plays Carnegie Hall
UU musician and choral director Nick Page makes his debut at New York City's Carnegie Hall. Page is currently director of the Mystic Chorale of Boston. (Boston Globe - 11.22.07)

Minister installed via telephone
A large crowd gathered at the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the installation of a new minister, the Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill—who did his part of the ceremony via cell phone. (New York Daily News - New York, NY 11.27.07)

See also: "Brooklyn Minister Sworn In Via Cell Phone" (Switched - New York, NY 11.20.07)

Also in the media:
Boy Scouts on a tour of churches hear the perspective of an atheist student minister at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, PA 11.24.07)

Churches in Corvallis, Ore., protest the School of the Americas. (Corvallis Gazette Times - Corvallis, OR 11.19.07)

The Sierra Foothills UU Church in Aurburn, Calif., hosts a fair trade holiday sale. (Auburn Journal - Auburn, CA 11.25.07)

Elea Mihou, who once considered UU ministry, has become the youngest person and the first woman to become executive director of the Western New York Peace Center. (Buffalo News - NY, 11.20.07)

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, N.J., will hold a series of events to observe World AIDS Day. (Bridgewater Courier News - NJ)

May Memorial UU Society in Syracuse, N.Y., honors Samuel Calthrop—a 19th-century minister and chess champion who served as pastor of the church for 43 years—with a new annual event: the Samuel Calthrop Memorial Chess Championship. (The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com - Syracuse, NY 11.24.07)

Internationally recognized resource depletion theorist Richard Heinberg addressed a group at the UU Church of Davis, Calif., on how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. (The California Aggie Online - Davis, CA)

Books blurbed and blockaded

noreply@blogger.com (Sonja L. Cohen) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:36:00 +0000

New book explores American Transcendentalism
UU scholar Philip Gura's new book, American Transcendentalism: A History, gets a favorable review from the New York Sun, which pays attention to the Unitarian roots and context of the Transcendentalist movement. (New York Sun - 11/14/07)

The Boston Globe talks to author Philip F. Gura about his new book, American Transcendentalism: A History, which features many famous historical Unitarians. (Boston Globe - 11.17.07)

Israeli customs holds Beacon Press book
A Beacon Press book, Philip Winslow's Victory For Us Is to See you Suffer: In the West Bank With the Palestinians and the Israelis, was supposed to launch in Jerusalem at the end of September, but was confiscated as "incitement." Following weeks of protest from the publisher and diplomatic intervention, it was announced on November 8 in a report from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the books were scheduled to be released, but a statement from Beacon Press notes that as of November 13 the books were still undelivered. (JTA.org - 11.8.07)

Read more about the book. (Beacon Press)

Also in the media:

Anthony Padgett, a British performance artist and Unitarian, is suing the Tate Galleries, claiming “institutional discrimination” on religious grounds. (Times Online - UK 11.16.07)

After several years of interim ministers, the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, N.Y., welcomes a new permanent minister, the Rev. David Grimm. (Ithaca Journal - Ithaca, NY 11.9.07)

UUA President William G. Sinkford joined members of the UU Church of Lafayette, Ind., to dedicate their recently completed new church. (Journal and Courier - Lafayette, IN 11.17.07)

Minnesota Women's Press has a Q&A with a member of the St. Paul, Minn., Unity Church Unitarian's Mother/Daughter Book Group. (Minnesota Women's Press - St. Paul, MN 11.14.07)

The North County Times looks at how different people say blessings and give thanks. (North County Times - Escondido, CA 11.15.07)

The UU Congregation in Milford, N.H., joins six other area churches in a rally to step up the fight against global warming. (Cabinet.com - Milford, NH 11.9.07)

Interim ministers help congregations through transitional periods. (WCCO - Minneapolis, MN 11.12.07)

Chris Walton contributed to this week's blog.