The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - March, 2008

Church Name Change Proposal Tabled

Carol Agate formally introduced the proposal to drop “church” from our name last July; 25 letters to the editor were published in the newsletter through January 2008; and at the Town Hall meeting held on January 20 approximately 80 members were present and 32 spoke publicly. At that point 50 members were on record as being either for, against, or neutral, with the majority being against any name change. Also, about the same number expressed a strong attachment to the word “church” as voiced a strong desire to drop the word.

Since an organizational name change is a bylaws amendment that requires two-thirds approval by the voting membership at a congregational meeting, it became apparent at the January 20 Town Hall that approval of a name change was sufficiently unlikely as to make further consideration pointless.

At its February 12 meeting, the board accepted the ad hoc Name Change Committee’s recommendation to table the issue, removing this proposal from further board or general membership consideration. The ad hoc committee, composed of Rob Briner, chair, Ren Renshaw, board liaison, Carol-jean Teuffel, Carol Agate and Warren Mathews, agreed unanimously on this recommendation.

Thanks to everyone who wrote or spoke thoughtfully, intelligently, and with respect for others. This has been a terrific discussion benefitting our community.

— Rob Briner

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, After hearing the discussion about changing our church name on January 20, I realized that I am still free to call my “church” by any name I want. From now on I will tell my friends and family that I belong to the UU Congregation in Santa Monica or that I am going to an activity with the Unitarian Universalists ( Thanks, Katie) of Santa Monica. Oh joy, oh rapture, I’m free.

— Sandra Trutt

M & L Events and Programs

The Membership and Leadership Committee is proud to sponsor these events and programs:

Friendship Dinners — a series of hosted potlucks in an adult or family format where members, friends or visitors to our church can get to know each other and our community. Please contact: Marjorie Annapav or Farrokh Allen.

Courtyard Connections — our friendly socials after each service are coming back on Sunday, March 16. Join us for an organic continental breakfast after the 9 a.m. service, hosted by the Green Committee. Then after the 11 a.m. service, Chef Julie Nyquist and her band of happy volunteers will host a lunch. ALL are welcome. No signups are necessary; just pick up your ticket at the check-in table the morning of the event. If you are visiting us on that day, please come as our guest.

New Brochures — two new brochures, Getting Involved and Welcome to the Santa Monica Church, are available at the Greeter table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour. Where other informational brochures focus on the broader Unitarian Universalist church, these are all about us locally — who we are, what we do, and how we share our values through action within the community. Please stop by and pick up your copy and take a minute to chat with us about the many different ways you can become involved and connected through our church programs.

New Member Reception — our hosted wine and hors d’oeuvres membership reception will be on Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. If you are an existing member who wants to be part of welcoming our newest members, please RSVP to Marsha Smith and she will let you know what is needed. Good music, food, and fun await you, and it is a wonderful way to get to know each other better and let our newest members know how much it means to us to have them join our community.

Visitor Name Tags — tired of filling out a name tag every Sunday? We have created name tags for our continuing visitors and they will be at the Greeter table out front starting in March. If you leave your name tag in the basket at the coffee bar, it will be waiting for you at the Greeter table on your return each Sunday. If you are a continuing visitor and your name tag is not there, please let the Greeters know that you would like a permanent name tag and it will be waiting for you the next week when you arrive. And a gentle reminder to our members: it is a very welcoming gesture to wear your name tag.

Introducing Michael Gober Sunday Sexton

You see Michael around every other Sunday—the cool clothes, the dreadlocks. He’s setting up tables and chairs, opening rooms, making sure everything is ready for church services and meetings. His work is an essential part of our Sunday.

You feel the quietness that surrounds him. There seems to be a shyness. But you also feel his head may be somewhere else, like maybe into his music, hearing rhymes, making beats. Music is his love, and he is a DJ, spending a lot of time with music to make it happen.

When you engage Michael in a discussion about his favorite jazz musicians, or art films, you will feel, just below the surface, the energy that’s driving him. Talk to him about his vinyl jazz collection, Coltrane and Davis, the jazz band Stark Reality, or review films like “Clockwork Orange,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Sin City,” or “City of God,” and you feel one creative mind exploring the creative minds of others.

You can also talk with Michael about the creative energy he finds in our church, the music programs and the art wall and the UU mural in our classroom. Or talk about the energy he finds in Los Angeles and that “slower cities break me down.” Say hello to Michael. Welcome him to our church and when you have time, talk with him about the creative energy that flows through our city.

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