Summer 2017

FEATURES

Thoreau, the original none
Henry David Thoreau wanted nothing to do with the Unitarian church that baptized him, but Unitarian Universalism has embraced his revolutionary ecological, conscientious, and spiritually open approach.
by Richard Higgins

The presidency of the Rev. Peter Morales, 2009–2017

Refugees at home
Peter and Phyllis Morales have quietly shared their home with a Mayan human rights activist and his family since 2014.
by Elaine McArdle

Innovation time
President Morales moved the UUA’s headquarters, encouraged innovators, and made immigration justice his priority. His abrupt resignation opens a painful and possibly hopeful new chapter in our conversation about racism.
by Christopher L. Walton

Morales resigns amid outcry over hiring practices
Critics see white supremacy at work in hiring of senior staff. Board appoints three interim co-presidents.
by Elaine McArdle

DEPARTMENTS

Disruption
A disruption sometimes feels like a breakthrough, a new way. Other times, it feels like a break, a betrayal.
by Christopher L. Walton in From the editor

Making this a time of opportunity
We are committed to making this a time of opportunity and not merely a troubled time to be survived. 
by Sofía Betancourt, William G. Sinkford, and Leon Spencer in From the president

Learning from New Orleans (PDF)
Four-page insert adapted from Tapestry of Faith lifespan faith development programs.
by the UUA Faith Development Office in Families Weave a Tapestry of Faith

LIFE

She came of age in an American internment camp
Rose Tanaka graduated high school at Manzanar, the infamous American internment camp for people of Japanese descent.
by Kenny Wiley

Coresist: Creating a symbol of our times
Abigail Clauhs designed an interreligious Coresist image, inspired by the popular Coexist stickers.
by Sonja L. Cohen

An angel in Brooklyn
Louis C. Tiffany’s 1915 mosaic The Angel of Light watches over a Brooklyn Unitarian Universalist congregation.
by Sonja L. Cohen in Spiritual Landmarks

Kindness over niceness
Valuing being kind and prophetic over ‘being nice’ would help Unitarian Universalists speak more powerfully to the present times.
by Kimberley Debus

Resistance by the ‘Rules’
Congregations can—and should—hold their elected officials accountable.
by Janet Hayes

March Madness: Lighting the Chalice again extinguishes all challengers
‘Spirit of Life’ is runner-up once again.
by Kenny Wiley

SPIRIT

Flowers on the altar
Arranging flowers is a form of moving meditation.
by Debra Burrell

The essence of spiritual activism
Hope and compassion can be a critical part of political and spiritual resistance for Unitarian Universalists.
by Christine Organ

Creations: UU trees
Creating art as a form of meditation.
by Dawn Wicklow and members of the Boone UU Fellowship

IDEAS

Reframing the health care conversation​
The dangerous myth that poor people need less.
by Doug Muder

Looking back: ACLU’s Roger Nash Baldwin
Unitarian co-founder of the ACLU helped to define and defend civil liberties.
by Kris Willcox

Q&A: ‘Leaving no one out’
A conversation with the Rev. Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, executive director of the ACLU of Colorado.
by Alexandra Varney McDonald

‘Walden’: A kinder, gentler video game
‘Walden, a game’ brings Thoreau’s simplicity to a tech savvy audience.
by Ellen T. Brenner

Blog roundup
by Heather Christensen

Traffic report
Top ten stories on uuworld.org, January 2, 2017–April 2, 2017 

NEWS

The print edition contains abridged versions of stories that first appeared on uuworld.org

UUA president steps down amid outcry over hiring practices
Board calls for inquiry into bias in hiring, appoints interim team; widespread support for examination of white supremacy within UUA.
by Elaine McArdle in Hiring practices

UU minister, six others jailed for blocking ICE van
Unitarian Universalist minister, six others jailed overnight for blocking vehicle.
by Elaine McArdle

Women’s march helps build the resistance
Unitarian Universalists join millions to march on Washington and in other U.S. cities
by Elaine McArdle

Texas UU coalition fights hostile bills
240 Unitarian Universalists lobby legislators on reproductive justice, immigrant and refugee justice, and economic justice issues.
by Elaine McArdle

New Orleans will infuse 2017 General Assembly
UUA’s annual convention will embrace city’s culture and learn from its challenges.
by Elaine McArdle

Congregational news: Tulsa church will move downtown
Sacramento UUs parter with refugee group; two congregations endorse carbon fee and dividend program.
by Kenny Wiley

Board examines process behind $5.3M commitment
UUA Board of Trustees reaffirms commitment to Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism, acknowledges concerns with process.
by Elaine McArdle

The newest board members
Richard Jacke, Sarah Dan Jones, and Elandria Williams joined the UUA Board of Trustees in June 2016.
by Elaine McArdle

Roundup: UUs in the media 
Selections from UU World’s weekly guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other media sources.
by Rachel Walden

Obituaries
Abridged for print from the full obituaries published by the UU Ministers Association.

UUA elections

UUA presidential election to use ranked voting
Delegates’ second-choice pick may be the deciding factor.
by Elaine McArdle in #UUAVote2017

UUA presidential candidate statements:
Susan Frederick-Gray
Alison Miller
Jeanne Pupke

How do congregations select their delegates?
Technology allows congregational delegates to participate and vote even if they cannot travel to New Orleans.
by Michael Hart in #UUAVote2017

ONLINE EXTRAS

UU World Digital
Subscribe to the digital replica edition, optimized for tablets, laptops, and desktops.
by Qmags

Audio recordings
Audio recordings of selected UU World stories.
by Don Hymel