The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - August, 2004

Church Work Parties Begin August 21

Opportunities abound for each of us to contribute love and labor to enhance and maintain our church campus and facilities. Please help as we begin our monthly church work parties from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday, August 21. You’ll be able to select a job that matches your skills and interests.

Weekday sexton Kevin Roller, Sunday sexton Jose Ruvalcaba, or a member of the Administration Committee or one of its ad hoc committees will meet you at Forbes Hall and assist you in selecting a task and someone to work with you if the task requires more than one person. Tools and materials to complete tasks will also be provided.

If you can’t make it on August 21, come another month. We’ll hold these parties every month on the third Saturday. You are invited to make a difference in our buildings and grounds.

Here are some of many tasks: check pews and cushions for needed repairs; wash windows; clean closets and take unneeded items to Goodwill or the Salvation Army; install doorbells; wash window blinds; hang, repair, and paint doors; wash, replaster, and paint walls; weed flower beds and trim plants; wash the courtyard; install locks; replace missing window panes and install window openers; measure cabinets so that your administrator can order new counter tops; install shelves and paint or varnish; spruce up the children’s play yard; make curtains for the house at 1248 18th Street.

If you know of a need that isn’t listed, call the office. We’ll add the task to our list and provide tools and materials. And if you don’t think you have a relevant skill or interest, stop by anyway. You may find that cheering the workers or lending a hand is more helpful and important than you thought.

Come early to assure that you get the job you want. When you arrive, there will be a continental breakfast, and when you finish working, there will be a light lunch. On August 21 the church will provide these meals. On subsequent Saturdays, we will be asking for volunteers to set up and prepare the meals. These volunteers may submit expenses to the office and be reimbursed.

As you can see, the opportunities are limitless. See you on Saturday, August 21.

—Marie Kashmer-Stiebing, Church Administrator

From Our Affiliate Minister: "The Quest for Truth"

Our church covenant reads, in part, that our community is committed to a “quest for truth.” Two films I have seen this summer, “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Control Room,” offer highly contrasting approaches to this quest. The first film is far more well known and seemingly more relevant to our country as we prepare for presidential elections in the fall. The second is equally deserving of our attention, and may in fact be more useful in helping us to discern truth.

Both are documentaries, but the differences are so great that it makes no sense to group them in the same genre. Maybe “Fahrenheit 9/11” should be called a “docu-polemic,” “agit-prop,” or even “public service announcement,” depending on your politics. The film speaks the “truth” as seen through the eyes of Michael Moore, and whether or not you subscribe to his point of view, the film carries an emotional, even visceral, impact.

“Control Room” is far subtler. It portrays Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel, as it reported on the first months of the armed conflict in Iraq. For those who have regarded Al-Jazeera with some skepticism, if not outright disdain, the movie shatters that image. Instead, it contains thoughtful, articulate and even funny comments from producers, translators and other personnel. We appreciate the difficulty of their task: to deliver news to viewers unaccustomed to programming that is tainted neither by the dominance of western media and culture nor by the sometimes delusional pronouncements made by public representatives of governments in the Arab world. (I have in mind here the minister of public affairs in Iraq who continued to describe the “victory” of the Iraqi army as USled forces inexorably made their way into Baghdad.)

“Control Room” includes two important elements. First, we see a sympathetic portrayal of a Marine captain who was a press liaison. He is shown not as a mouthpiece for the American propaganda machine but as a human being engaged in his own sort of quest for truth, trying to reconcile military press conferences with the reaction of Muslims throughout the Middle East. Second, we see the senior producer berate a subordinate for bringing in an “analyst” who could not offer a “balanced” interpretation of those who differ, an interpretation that took into account both the supporters and opponents of the war.

In the end, we seek an equally elusive “balance” in our religious quest for truth — one that combines the passion of personal belief and commitment with the ability to account for and recognize the humanity of those who differ.

—Silvio Nardoni

Reflections on General Assembly

General Assembly is an annual June event of the Unitarian Universalist Association. This year, GA was held in Long Beach, and 47 people from our church attended. Some of their impressions follow.

OPENING CEREMONY

Pat Parkerton: GA felt like a migration of energy fueled by music — ballads from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, banner processional from our own Jai Salsa (Scott Rowe and Louis Durra), hymns sung with thousands.

Rob Briner: As a not-so-young new UU and first time GA attendee, I was expecting the opening ceremony march of congregation banners to be a little hokey. But shortly after the banners started marching by and they kept coming and coming — and the design of each was uniquely representative of hundreds of fellow congregations — I realized that this denomination is truly widespread and deeply rooted.

PLENARY SESSIONS

Daniel Teplitz: GA was a great experience, especially when I spoke in front of all the delegates on behalf of YRUU during a plenary session. Bonnie Brae: Every plenary is special with Gini Courter as moderator, but Saturday was extra special when the Rev. G. Weldon Geddy, Director of the Interfaith Alliance (a coalition of people of faith organized to counter the religious right), gave a rousing speech urging us to register voters.

Carol Agate: It was exciting to have the resolution I introduced voted on by the delegates. It was passed overwhelmingly, and should ensure that future meetings and reports of the UUA are open to the public.

WORKSHOPS

Pat Parkerton: The energy created by GA carried me through the beauty and horror of “Rosewood,” a movie written by Greg Poirer.

Carol Kerr: The forum for board presidents was an interesting opportunity for more than 300 board presidents to begin interacting with each other. I think there will be exciting developments from the UUA as the association fosters the development of individual churches by creating further networking opportunities.

Liza Cranis: I got to see State Senator Sheila Kuehl (her name should be Sheila Cool).

Diana Spears: I was proud to have my boss, Sheila Kuehl, see and be seen by UUs. I liked Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now,” Robert Reich on “Liberals Winning the Battle for America,” and speakers on the international criminal court and “The Interdependent Web and Responsible Consumption.”

Dorothy Steinicke: I was thrilled to be able to attend several workshops offered by the 7th Principle Project, a group that is working to integrate reverence for the natural world into UU worship and practice. I came away with lots of materials that I hope will enrich my capacities as an RE teacher.

VOLUNTEERING

Judith Meyer: “The best thing about GA was to see so many people from our church there — ushering at the plenary, joining in youth caucus, serving at the information tables, directing the children’s programs, even giving workshops. I was so proud of our involvement and of how much we have to give to our larger community.

Kris Langabeer: I was honored to be selected for the local committee in the position of children’s programs coordinator. Since last fall I have been working with the GA professional staff and volunteer committee. Their support, patience, calmness, skills, and humbleness I cannot praise enough.

Pam Teplitz: I volunteered to work in the local social action project booth, which was a wonderful, fulfilling experience. It was gratifying to see the generosity of the people attending GA. Our booth collected almost $6,000 in donations over the five days. With the Sunday Service collection and a large donation from the Long Beach church, we raised $70,000 as seed money for a homeless shelter and services center in Long Beach.

Joyce Holmen: It was my privilege to volunteer with the team covering GA to post online many event reports, photos, and video. It’s a way of broadening accessibility to UUism, to the denomination, and to many organizations and leaders. Visit www.uua.org, and click on the link for complete coverage of GA.

IMPRESSIONS

Kris Langabeer: While many other denominational conventions have been fraught with divisive arguments over whether to marry or ordain lesbians or gay men, our denomination put up a large banner above the entryway to the Long Beach Convention Center stating “Civil Marriage is a Civil Right.” I am so proud to be a UU.

Karen Patch: I was struck by the excitement of it all. I always saw us as a small voice in the world, but now I see that together we might be able to bend the universe toward justice.

Liza Cranis: It was so great to meet UUs from all over the country. That interaction reinforced the reason I joined this church in the first place: UUs are fun people. Overall, it was an outstanding experience. Here’s to Fort Worth in 2005.

Patrick Barbush: The cost to attend GA is about $2000, if you fly in for the event, and you need three days off work — at least. That eliminates poor people. I found the atmosphere, in that concrete cavern, efficient and sterile. I was immersed in a sea of thousands of people who said and meant nothing to me. I was lonely. I went to visit my lady friend to connect with someone, and I brought her to GA on Saturday. My friend is black, and she asked me if I registered at the table to welcome “people of color” – as we are all that – and why we separate (but are equal). I attended plenary and many other interesting sessions. I attended a covenant group where I contacted some people and enjoyed the human interaction. I left GA on Monday with an empty feeling and not the warm fuzzies of a community that says, “Love is the doctrine of this church.” I wish we could sleep in tents, sit around campfires, and experience one another.

Kathy Cook: It was moving to sing our favorite hymns with 4500 other UUs during the worship services. I learned about the UUA and was able to ask questions of many groups in the exhibit hall. I heard the Rev. William Sinkford, UUA president, talk about his goal to increase our visibility as the “Uncommon Denomination.” It was exciting to find out that there are so many churches all over the country who have people with similar, yet diverse, beliefs.

Bay Grabowski: My first GA was intellectually liberating.

Max Joffe Johnson: Being at GA brought home for me the fact that we really are a part of a growing, vibrant, progressive religious tradition that has genuine potential for transforming the world.

Covenant Groups Facilitators Begin Training This Month

The Small Group Ministry program is being developed to give members and friends of UUCCSM an opportunity to explore their spirituality in a safe space, to know others at a deeper level, and to enjoy the give-and-take of ministering to one another’s needs.

We focus on process. A covenant group helps to bind us together and stretch us personally. Each group creates and carries out a service project for church or community. Emphasis is on improving how we work together, practicing with discipline the respect each of us deserves.We know that covenant groups lead to a stronger you and in turn to a stronger UU community.

To explore the subject further, visit our comprehensive website: http://www.smallgroupministry.net. We are passionate about this program and know you will welcome its opportunities.

Training of our eager facilitators, led by Jean Allgeyer and the Rev. Judith Meyer, is set for August and September. A logo is being created by member Carol Ring, with input from the team.

A weekend workshop in September or October will provide an opportunity for you to participate in a sampler or “taster” group. Leave your name at the Sunday covenant group information table for notification about the taster groups and about the initial covenant groups to be launched in November.

—Carol-jean Teuffel

Banners and Other Important Things in Life

Since proposing a banner be placed on the church, I’ve watched the issue expand to more than a single- issue banner. The discussion has become one of church policy, democratic process, and the meaning of life. I would like to share thoughts and opinions on several discussions that have attracted my consideration.

Spirituality

Some have told me that the church shouldn’t be promoting a political point of view in such an immediately public way, and that to do so takes away from the sense of this being a spiritual and reverent place.

The chalice for me is a heart-touching symbol of the courage of Unitarians to place their personal world in jeopardy of governmental and social annihilation in order to help unknown others escape from unjust and inhuman persecution. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to put myself at risk, as our predecessors did, in order to live what I believe. In a small way a banner becomes a chalice lighting. It nourishes my sense of spirituality. As banal as posters and banners might be, they enhance my sense of these grounds as a spiritual place where beauty of thought and action reach up to express spirituality with grace and comfort.

The democratic process

I’ve heard: “Our leadership wants this, but the congregation doesn’t”; “If I give my true opinion, people will think poorly of me”; “They are trying to sneak this through without really involving and informing the membership”; “There was no openness in discussing this banner thing.”

Interweave and the Welcoming Congregation program have enjoyed resolutions in 2003 (100% vote) establishing our church as a Welcoming Congregation and in 2004 (100% vote) supporting the concept of marriage equality.

The banner issue is not about homosexuality, heterosexuality, prejudice, or bigotry. The banner issue is about placing or not placing a banner on the church property to visibly and publicly express a duly constituted Resolution or Statement of Conscience.

We are in a democratic process. It is working. The process requires that each of us express our opinions with the willingness to expose that opinion to critical analysis by our peers. In the discomfort of that exposure we confirm or mediate our opinion. In the struggle of difference we offer our community and ourselves the opportunity for personal and community growth.

The outcome of our vote on the banner is not as important as our utilization of our democratic process. In the end, some of you will see a banner and think, “I still don’t believe in that.” Some of you will see the absence of a banner and think, “I still don’t see why we couldn’t put up a simple banner.” This end is as it should be, but don’t let the end arrive without giving voice and vote to the issue. Bad action is too often reached because of good people who don’t participate. Regardless of the outcome, let this instance of a democratic process be one in which all voices are expressed and heard. Let it be a process after which we might say, “Remember that thing about the banner? That was one great example of how we work.”

Fear

We may have a banner stolen or defaced; we may have damage to our church and property; we may even have threat to our persons.We cannot protect ourselves from violence of action or words toward our acts of principle by choosing to be invisible without taking a greater risk of losing those principles ourselves.

It is our response and attitude toward fear and violence that is important.

I ask myself, what do we teach the children? Do we teach them that we become too vulnerable if we are visible? Do we teach them that violence against us must be acknowledged as a possibility? Do we teach them that choices have both positive and negative consequences? Most important, we need to be aware that we teach them by word and by action. I hope that we teach them that to have fear is not a fault, and that to make our best choices in the face of fear is what courage is about. I hope that we teach them that not all decisions are easy and that not all results give us what we want; we pursue our principles not because of the results, but because they are our principles.

A vote

As I look to this time on how to vote on the banner issue, I struggle with the inconsequentiality of a banner. It is minuscule relative to world peace, global warming, economic justice, equal rights. So I’m moved, as I often am, to reading our seven principles.

In viewing our principles as a guide, I can find little that supports a “no” vote. I do find much support for a “yes” vote for a piece of plastic sheet with words on it that will expose us to admiration and possible acrimony from a larger society. But coming to that opinion and expressing it to you is what our UU community is about.

I hope that each of us may find peacefulness in living our personal relationship with our principles . . . sharing that relationship with others . . . and living the respect for the process that lets us agree and disagree.

—Ron Crane

The Other Side of the Banners

Inormally wouldn’t present my personal opinion on the hanging of issue banners as an item in the newsletter. As a board member, I feel my job is to serve the congregation’s will, not argue the rightness of mine. But the newsletter published two cogent articles in favor of such banners, and the opposition needs to be represented. This is especially true when opposing the banner feels so politically incorrect. With the broad push for acceptance that surrounds us, individuals who oppose having issue banners hung from our church may be reluctant to speak out for fear of appearing selfish or trivial. I believe it’s important that someone from the church leadership speak in opposition to reassure members with similar views that voicing their opinions is okay.

There are valid reasons for being opposed to the banner, including, “I don’t know why. I just don’t want one.” Believing in the inherent worth of every individual means respecting the legitimacy of what they feel. There’s no right or wrong about it. There’s no need to justify it, nor basis for refuting it. The truth is right there: it’s what that individual feels.

Some of you in support of banners at the church may find your own understanding of this if you ask yourselves why you don’t have banners on your homes, or bumper stickers on your cars. What makes slogans hanging from your eaves or stuck to your bumpers unacceptable to you? Similar reasons might apply here.

I don’t have a car, so bumper stickers are moot. But being clear why I don’t hang a banner from my roof seems like a good place to start. There are a wealth of worthy causes. Why doesn’t the outside of my home reflect my support for them?

The best answer I can give so far is that my home is my sanctuary. My personal priority is psychological and spiritual growth, and I work hard at it. I have to confront fears, resistances, and blind spots to do it, and to do that, I have to be focused and I have to feel safe. To push the edges of the envelope, I have to let myself be vulnerable, and I can’t be if I don’t feel secure in a peaceful environment. To challenge myself, I have to feel protected from outside challenges.

My personal growth is a very private and personal experience for me. I need to feel inconspicuous to practice it. By making a statement to the world from my home, I’d be inviting rebuttal to my threshold. I don’t want that intrusion and I don’t want to have to be on guard for it. I’d rather fight the fight in an arena of my choosing at a time of my choosing.

The church is my spiritual sanctuary, and, as at home, I need to feel safe and protected to grow. At the church I want to be free to be in my own space, dealing with my own stuff without fear of trespass. I don’t want to put up a target that invites challenge. I know that what I’m saying is as much symbolic as literal, but posting a banner would affect my sense of comfort and protection, my sense of emotional security and intimacy with the church. It would detract from the supportive spiritual nurturing I feel here, the very resource that led me to join.

Social action is a cornerstone of UU principles, but so is personal growth. I’m proud of the advocacy of principles, and the action to support them, that our church projects. But I also want to feel protected in its sanctuary. The benefit I seek from our church puts me at odds with the posting of issue-banners on its walls.

Whichever way you feel, come to the August 1 meeting and make your statement with your vote.

—Peter Van Den Beemt

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