The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - June, 2008

Interim Minister Hired

The board has approved hiring the Rev. Roberta Haskin as our interim minister beginning September 1. She was one of five candidates considered by the Interim Task Force, that recommended her with great enthusiasm. Roberta is currently completing her fifth interim ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, AZ, and will be our interim minister for at least one year, with an option to continue for a second year. Roberta has also served as an interim minister at the UU Congregation of Las Vegas, NV; the First Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; the Evergreen UU Fellowship in Marysville,WA; and the James Reeb UU Congregation in Madison, WI. Prior to being certified as an interim minister by the UUA, she was a transitional minister at the Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship in Bloomington, MN.

Roberta has also served as a hospital chaplain, director of religious education, and public school teacher. She and her husband of 38 years, Dennis, have four adult children, ages 26 to 32. Roberta earned a Masters of Divinity degree at United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio; and a Bachelor of Arts degree at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin; and studied for a year in Switzerland.

Roberta is looking forward to meeting and working with as many members of our congregation as possible, with the goal of helping us prepare for a new settled minister in the fall of 2010. Information about her is available in the church office or at her website, robertahaskin.com

— Rob Briner

We Celebrate, but the Struggle for Marriage Equality Goes On

As you read this, the momentous news that the California Supreme Court legalized civil marriages between same-sex couples is two weeks old. However, I’m writing this not long after anxiously skimming the slow-loading, 172-page pdf of the decision online — finally finding these words on Page 12: “Accordingly, we conclude that to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional,” and thinking, Does this mean what I think it means?

Soon after, e-mails from the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Equality California, Human Rights Campaign, ACLU, and even our long-distance phone company, Credo, confirmed my hopeful reading. Stunning news that has made me a bit teary-eyed!

So, I hereby announce the engagement of Debbie J. Menzies and Kris A. Langabeer! Yes, amazingly, Debbie has agreed to marry me — again! This will be our third wedding — the first was at our church June 6, 1998, and the second was in San Francisco February 18, 2004. The first was never legally recognized, and the second was only briefly recognized. As Debbie just said to me this morning, “The third’s a charm!” And, no, we haven’t set a date, yet.

However, the wedding will occur before November 4 of this year because it appears that on that date, an initiative outlawing same-sex marriages through a constitutional amendment will be on the California ballot, and if it passes, today’s Supreme Court decision would be overruled. Which would bring tears of another sort. Talk about a schizophrenic time. As the subject heading in today’s e-mail from the Human Rights Campaign said: “Victory in California with a big fight ahead.”

This initiative will require much effort and millions of dollars to defeat. Some are calling the campaign to fight this amendment “The single most important battle we have ever seen in the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender (BGLT) rights movement.”

The UU California Legislative Ministry (uulmca.org) has been instrumental in today’s court ruling through its filing of an interfaith amicus brief (with help from our own Affiliate Minister, the Rev. Silvio Nardoni) and in the “Decline to Sign” campaign, which was an effort to encourage people across the state to not sign the petition placing the anti-marriage initiative on the November ballot. The UULM is now gearing up to fight the November initiative and will be calling for our help.

You can help make Debbie’s and my third marriage, and the upcoming marriages of countless other couples, a charm. Let’s stand on the side of love and gently convince Californians that the freedom to marry is fundamental to the pursuit of happiness, that today’s decision has brought our nation closer to fully realizing our American ideal of equality and justice for all, and that this decision will strengthen families — it most definitely is a “family values” decision. For more information, visit Equality California (eqca.org) or Let California Ring (letcaliforniaring.org)

— Kris Langabeer

How Will You Spend Your Economic Stimilus Check?

Most of us will be getting economic stimulus checks this year. The uncertain economy and writers’ strike and all have affected our church's budget for the next fiscal year. Increasing gas costs have raised airfares, which is impacting our YRUU fundraising efforts for the youths’ trip to Boston this summer.

A friend from this congregation has tithed the entire amount of the stimulus check to the church. When I heard this, I was in awe of my friend's generous and selfless nature. Like many of us, I have been anxiously counting my pennies this year. But I was inspired to tithe 10% of my economic stimulus check windfall to the church and 10% to the YRUU Boston trip expenses.

At the May 18, 2008 annual meeting, I challenged other members of this congregation to tithe some of their economic stimulus checks to the church or to a special church fund of their choosing. Some people have already received their stimulus checks. Some people will not receive their checks until later on in the year (especially if they have filed for extensions). I'm sure that the church will welcome contributions throughout the year. If you want to help out with the YRUU trip expenses, though, time is of the essence. You can find out the amount of your forthcoming stimulus check online by using the calculator at irs.gov/app/espc.

I've been inspired by the leadership and generosity of many members of this community. In making my modest tithe, I hope to acknowledge the gifts and examples of my various mentors and role models. Would you care to join me in this tithing challenge?

— Katie Malich

Ode to Judith

Oh, Judith, you, our RE shining star, are such an inspiration.
We hold you beloved
As you have held us through these past 15 years.
Our RE program has grown rich
Supported and guided by your gentle hands
From the youngest babes to our teens moving to adulthood
We appreciate you and your support.

As a proponent of our youth, Judith,
You have found many ways to help kids shine.
From lighting the chalice Sunday morning, or
Being part of the service
Delivering pulpit messages,
To listening to stories and being sung out with
“Go Now In Peace.”
You have played a huge role in the development of our youth programs
And made our youth a well-loved integral part of
Our UU community.

Oh Judith, you have opened your heart
As well as your home,
Embracing our youth in a multitude of ways:
Hosting our Coming of Agers for pizza and reading their Credos;
Supporting funding for a wonderful preschool teacher,
Giving a warm consistency for those who need it so;
Then taking our YRUU teens on a UU history tour of Boston,
Sharing your perspective on a subject and city you know so well;
Visiting many classes and speaking about your life experiences —
By describing your spiritual journey you have helped
Usher many of our youth toward their own spiritual quest.

From the start, Judith,
You have been an advocate of the OWL program:
Helping to identify those perfect facilitators,
Requesting support from the board,
Enabling our church to have all five vital levels of OWL —
A feat that only a few church communities accomplish.
During these nine years, hundreds of lives have been touched and
Shaped by you through this important curriculum.

Oh Judith, your grace, intelligence, and thoughtful ways
Shine as you have shared yourself with us.
We are all so grateful for your support and guidance. Thank you!
“We will always hold you dear.”

— Margot Page

Wally Boag Caught in Spotlight

Long-time church member and entertainer Wally Boag dances with our recent guest solo artist, Steve Zee.Wally’s early career was as a dancer on stage and screen. Wally Boag’s stage credits included numerous comic roles. Here he entertains with balloons and patter.

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