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Recent PSWD Leadership School attendees included Sandra Trutt (near center of photo). |
March, 2008
On Saturday, April 12, the Southern California branch of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is holding a forum at Throop Memorial Church, 300 S. Los Robles Ave., in Pasadena. Issues include globalization, immigration, and poverty.
The keynote speaker is Steve Spanier, Executive Director of ReclaimDemocracy.org. Other speakers include Anabella Trujillo, daughter of Yolanda Morales, whose talk “Living in Sanctuary,” will be followed by Lucia Munoz, Organizer of Southern California UUSC, speaking on “The New Sanctuary Movement,” and Rochelle McAdam who will speak on “Bonding Out.” Afternoon action workshops will be with Steve Spanier, Bonding Out representatives, and New Sanctuary Representatives.
The conference will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with registration at 9:30 a.m. The suggested donation of $20 paid with pre-registration (or $25 at the door) includes a vegetarian lunch for the first 200 registrants. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
New UU Music Concert
Dana Decker, Director of Contemporary Music at the Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society (“The Onion”), has been hard at work creating some new and exciting music for Unitarian Universalists. Dana is the leader of the church’s very successful Soulful Sunday services. On March 16 you are in for a different treat.
Dana is presenting an entire concert comprised of his original music, backed by some of the best musicians in Los Angeles. His music brings his own love for contemporary secular music to the UU faith with songs written in the pop, rock, funk vernacular. It will be a wonderful afternoon of inspirational music and a time for singing, dancing, and joining together in our liberal religious faith. This is a great opportunity to experience the future of contemporary Unitarian Universalist music.
Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m. Sepulveda UU Society (the Onion) 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA, www.valleyonion.org General admission $15; seniors 62+ and students $10; children 12 and under free
Feburary, 2008
UU seminary studies available for the laity
Starr King School for the Ministry is offering online courses for lay leaders and staff of congregations. Two courses are scheduled for the second half of the spring semester, for seven weeks from March 31 to May 19. The tuition is $220 each, with a 10 percent discount if five people register from our church. The course descriptions are:
Polity, Governance and Structure: Unitarian Universalist congregations are grounded in polity — their authority rests in the congregation itself, rather than in an outside entity. This course will describe organizational structures common to congregations of various sizes, relate governance practices to structure, staffing, and size, and provide models and tools related to congregational polity and authority. Students will compare and contrast four structural models: policy governance (described by John Carver), independent, interdependent/collaborative, and team. Each model will be considered in terms of lines of authority, staffing practices, and leadership.
Conflict Management for Lay Leaders: This course will provide methodologies for assessing, analyzing, and managing issues related to each of five levels and three types of conflict. Emphasis will be on procedure- and resource-based conflicts. Students will examine their own conflict management style preferences, analyze case studies, and utilize systems thinking to develop plans for managing conflict effectively.
For more information, go to sksm.edu and click on the “Seminary for the Laity” link. The registration deadline for these classes is March 1. If you are interested, contact Carol Agate.
Join a Women's Spiritual Musical Retreat
Acclaimed “Spirit of Life” composer, feminist, activist, and poet Carolyn McDade will lead a women’s retreat February 22 and 23 for singers and non-singers. Celebrating our ninth year of gathering in the L.A. area to sing our vision of a transformed world, a circle of women from various faith traditions meets Friday evening and all day Saturday. It’s more about the community, heart, and spirit than about proper singing of notes printed on paper. We join in the circle to create a holy space, “… to let story and song move you deeper into yourself.” Carolyn’s new CD focuses on the Earth Charter and is available from carolynmcdademusic.com. The retreat is created by an ad hoc group and will meet at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. Registration, limited to 40, is $70 plus hotel accommodations. For further information see the recent UU World feature article, http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/35893.shtml, or contact Joyce Holmen.
Asian/Pacific Islander UUs Offer Weekend Community-Building Retreat
From February 15 at 6 p.m. to February 17 at 6 p.m., UUs of Asian/Pacific Islander (API) ancestry and their families are invited to a Community-Building Weekend in Pasadena. It is hosted by Throop Church and sponsored by the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus of DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries). The weekend will include seminars, caucusing, worship, games, and field trips to Los Angeles area ethnic enclaves and museums. There will be concurrent programs for children and API allies. For registration/hotel and scholarship information, contact Vivien Hao at conference@apiuu.org or (323) 893-4743. Check out the latest news at www.apiuu.org
January, 2008
UUA General Assembly is Coming
Ft. Lauderdale in June is not quite as delightful as Portland in June, but this year that’s where the UUA General Assembly is, so that should make it delightful. We had a lot of people attending GA last year in Oregon; I hope we can do the same in Florida.
Before GA there is a program called “UU University.” This year the focus is on learning strategies and skills for leading theologically diverse congregations and how congregations can have a positive impact on a theologically diverse world.
Get more information on General Assembly at uua.org/events/uuuniversity
— Carol Agate, Association/District Representative
Enjoy a UU Vacation
Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?
The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. For 28 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.
You can also become a host and be listed in the directory. Contact us at info@uurehome.com and we will gladly send you information about listing your accommodations.
Host listings on the UU’re Home website are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. The paper edition is published every year in April (and has some listings different from those on the we bsite). For a copy of the 2008 directory and a year’s access to the website listings, please click on “become a member” to pay by credit card or send a check for $25 and your e-mail address to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806.
December, 2007
23rd Latin American Encuentro -- Immigrants: The Call for Justice
The 23rd Latin America Encuentro, sponsored by the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) Southern California Unit, addressed the question: how can the UU community respond to the threatening situation confronted by immigrants, who have been subject to raids at their homes and workplaces, detentions, and deportation, in many cases resulting in separation from their children and other members of their families? Moises Escalante, of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, described the immigrant experience and pointed out the contributions of immigrants, including the fact that undocumented immigrants contribute an estimated $7 billion to Social Security and $1.5 billion to Medicare annually.
In the keynote address, the Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, executive director of CLUE (Clergy and Laity Concerned for Economic Justice) stressed the importance of making immigrants visible and giving them a voice, and described the trajectory of four undocumented immigrants who have sought sanctuary through the New Sanctuary Movement. There are now 37 cities that have sanctuary churches, and there are five in Southern California. At least two of them have been targeted by demonstrations by Minutemen and other right wing groups. (Further information on the New Sanctuary Movement can be found at www.newsanctuarymovement.org)
Peter Schey, attorney and president/executive director of Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, discussed the need for a comprehensive immigration reform that would, among other provisions, provide opportunities for undocumented immigrants with a clean record to legalize their status, and create a system for a rational distribution of visas that meet labor needs in the U.S. Several immigrant rights, labor, and community groups met in January 2007 and drew up a proposal, the Unity Blueprint for Immigration Reform, available at www.unityblueprint.org, identifying the issues that should be included in such a reform.
Conditions in the San Pedro detention center, one of the centers where immigrants rounded up by immigration authorities are held pending deportation, were described by Dominique Quevedo, an attorney. As she pointed out, many immigrants have been forcibly separated from their families through roundups at their homes or workplaces. Those whose hearings are pending are entitled to be bonded out; the Immigration Task Force of the Southern California UUSC is trying to raise funds for bond money. (A few days after the Encuentro, the San Pedro center was shut down without warning to detainee families or their lawyers, and detainees moved to other detention centers as far away as Texas. According to authorities, the measure is a temporary one for preventive maintenance and the center will be reopened in four to six weeks.)
The Encuentro, which took place on October 13, also included workshops indicating how people can become involved in different initiatives on behalf of immigrants.
— Nora Hamilton
September, 2007
Why don't we grow? We're so welcoming!
A Workshop on Growth for UU congregations
in the LA/Valley Cluster
Saturday morning, September 29 (9:30 to 12:30)
UU Church of Studio City,
12355 Moorpark Street
Coffee, tea, juice and an assortment of tasty breakfast items will be served!
The Rev. Peter Morales, senior minister of one of our fastest growing UU congregations, will be the keynote speaker at a presentation and workshop on the theme “Why don't we grow? We're so welcoming!” Peter Morales is perhaps best known for his succinct distillation of the key to membership growth:
“Repel fewer visitors.”
See for yourself what his congregation has accomplished at www.jeffersonunitarian.org
Congregational leaders and members of the Membership Committees from UU congregations in the LA/Valley cluster are especially invited, although all who are interested in exploring deeply the impediments we place in the way of congregational growth, and how we can overcome them, are cordially invited.
The meeting will focus not only on suggestions for individual congregational growth, but also on how neighboring churches in the cluster can help each other strengthen their congregations by working together. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to share what has worked for them and to learn the same from other congregations. Come and obtain a sense of how much vitality and diversity new members can bring to a congregation. Learn of the joy which new members feel in having found a safe, truly welcoming church where they may enhance their spiritual journeys. Hear of the deep satisfaction that Membership Committee volunteers can experience.
We all have warmed ourselves at fires we did not kindle and we have drunk from wells we did not dig. Join fellow UUs in learning how to kindle fires and dig wells so that others can receive what we ourselves have been given.
June, 2007
General Assembly in Portland, OR
The UU's General Assembly will take place in Portland, Oregon, this year
from June 20-24. Details of the program, events, housing, volunteer opportunities,
etc., are available at http://www.uua.org/ga/index.html.
April, 2007
Experience the Wider World of Unitarian Universalism
The annual district assembly of the Pacific SouthWest District of the UUA will be meeting from mid-afternoon of April 27 to the morning of April 29 in Riverside. All are welcome to attend, but if you are a member of the church you may also be a delegate.
The meeting includes an opening celebration and keynote speaker Friday evening, an annual meeting, workshops, and a banquet on Saturday. On Sunday morning there is a breakfast and worship service. For details on the program and a description of all 24 workshops, go to pswduua.org.
The registration fee of $126 includes three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Registration for Saturday only is $71. Youth registration is $76.
The keynote speaker is William J. Doherty, Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. An active member of the First Universalist Church, he has practiced as a psychologist for over 25 years. Dr. Doherty is a dynamic speaker to lay and professional audiences and is frequently interviewed by print, radio, and TV media on family rituals. Among his books for parents is “Putting Family First,” in which he discusses how today’s families suffer from time famine, scheduled hyperactivity, and parental anxiety about how to combine love and limits.
The Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside is celebrating 125 years as a congregation. Tours of their historic church, downtown Riverside, and the Mission Inn will be offered before and after the Assembly.
If you would like to be a delegate, contact Carol Agate.
GA to Be Held in Portland...and in Our Sanctuary
General Assembly (GA) will be in Portland, OR, this year from June 20 through June 24. This annual gathering of UUs is where the business of the UUA is done. There are countless workshops to choose from and chances to worship with thousands of other UUs. It is an exciting and moving experience.
Have questions? Check out http://www.uua.org/ga website for official information or ask those of us who have been before! We’d love to hear from you if you are going too and/or if you have any questions. Registration rates go up May 1 and housing can be tricky, so don’t delay. Just talk to Carol Agate, Jacki Paddock, Amelia Harati, or Karen Patch to learn more.
If you cannot make it to GA, you can still be part of the process. This year there will be a new open meeting process called Open Space Technology, which will be used to plan the future of our congregation. We will have a meeting of our members who are interested in discussing the GA topics. These topics will include the current Study/Action issue of Peacemaking, a final vote for the Statement of Conscience/ Moral Values in a Pluralistic Society, plus the Open Space topic and what work we have done in the areas of Anti-Oppression and Anti-Racism. This meeting will help our delegates know where we in Santa Monica stand. More information will follow.
— Karen Patch
District Assembly Registration Underway
District Assembly registration brochures are available now at http://www.pswduua.org/pages/district-assembly.php and some printed copies are available in the church office. It is important to get your registration in before April 2 when the price goes up! Registration forms must be mailed to the PSWD Office, 2052 Norma St., Oxnard, CA 93036
This year’s District Assembly will be held in Riverside, California, on April 27-29.
DA offers a great program for families. There is programming for children of all ages and this year’s keynote speaker, Dr. William Doherty, is Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. According to Dr. Doherty, many of today's families suffer from time famine, scheduled hyperactivity, and parental anxiety about how to combine love and limits. "We have lost control of our time, and our family activities such as dinner, weekend outings, and vacations have suffered. Many of us have also lost confidence in our own leadership with our children, treating them as entitled consumers of parental services who must be catered to." Doherty focuses attention on what is happening in the frenetic, anxious culture of parenting. He encourages families to consider how "we can reclaim family time, revive family relationships, regain leadership as parents, and take back our kids."
In addition to hearing Dr. Doherty’s dynamic perspective on family issues, adults and youth have the opportunity to be part of the UUA Consultation on Youth Ministry to help expand PSWD Youth Ministry programs. This series of exciting conversations will review data from the UUA national survey, go in depth on issues on spiritual needs of youth, needs of junior high youth, congregational involvement, racial and sexual identity of youth and provide tools for creating exciting intergenerational worship services.
Other exciting aspects of DA are the opportunities it provides for celebration, fellowship and networking for young adults, Christian UUs, Board members, lay leaders, Green activists, other social justice activists, conservative UUs, poets—in other words, everyone!
So take a mini-vacation in April. Activities begin with the banner parade on Friday evening and end with worship on Sunday. If you’ve never been to a District Assembly, gather in Riverside to see what you’ve been missing!
Abrahamic Faiths Peacemeking Initiative to Convene April 1
“War and its impact on U.S.-Muslim relations” will be opened by Ali Mazurui, Albert Schweitzer professor of Humanities at Bingham University, New York. Discussion will follow with Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Rev. George Regas, Dr. Maher Hathout, and Connie Rice, Esq. The program will be moderated by Edina Lekovic, at the Islamic Center of Southern California, 434 S. Vermont Ave. on April 1, with registration and reception at 7 p.m. and the program starting at 7:30.
Scholarship Supports Study for Unitarian Universalist Ministry
Do you know an outstanding UU lay leader who has started on her or his path toward ministry? This year’s scholarship of $11,000 will support one individual through the first year of seminary.
This scholarship is given by public recommendation. This is your chance to give back to an individual who has been an outstanding lay leader in your congregation. Those who wish to submit a nomination should write a letter of recommendation showing a connection between the individual’s ministry and her or his life goals along with examples of strong leadership skills.
Send recommendation letters to: The Rev. Chuck and Nancy Thomas Scholarship, Attn: Chris May, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 or to cmay@uua.org; or fax to (617) 742-2875. Recommendations must be received by April 15.
For more information about this scholarship contact The Rev. David Pettee at (617) 948-6403 or through Chris May at cmay@uua.org.
December, 2006
New address for PSWD
The Pacific Southwest District has a new office:
PSWD
2052 Norma St
Oxnard, CA 93036-2711
(805) 485-1780
November, 2006
Join us for the First Regional Unitarian-Universalist Service at the Arlington West Memorial in Santa Monica, Sunday, November 12th, Veterans Day Weekend, 4:00 PM. On the beach just north of the Santa Monica Pier.
Choirs ~ READINGS/REFLECTIONS ~ Intertribal Drum.
For information about the service, contact Rev. Judith Meyer or Rev. Anne Felton Hines. For directions and parking, ask your Social Justice/Faith-in-Action Chair. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SEATING – COME EARLY TO ACCESS MOST CONVIENIENT PARKING. For information about the memorial, visit: arlingtonwestsantamonica.org
Unitarian's Ninth Planet Demoted
It’s been a disappointing year for fans of Pluto, which was officially demoted to a dwarf planet. The decision was perhaps more disappointing for UUs who knew that Clyde Tombaugh, the man who discovered Pluto in 1930, was a Unitarian. The Pluto demotion has sparked debate and outrage, both feigned and sincere, across the internet, including the comment pointed out by UUA Public Information Assistant Erika Nonken on MSNBC’s Cosmic Log, which read: “Pluto, which people question whether it is a planet, was discovered by a Unitarian, which people question whether it is a religion.” (Newsweek 9/4/06)
— Carol Agate
October, 2006
Come to the 22nd Annual Latin American Encuentro sponsored by UUSC. This year’s event will feature Professor Raul Molina of New York University and of the Guatemalan Network for Peace and Development speaking on Immigration and Globalization. Blase Bonpane will speak on democracy in Latin America . Blase Bonpane was called “the most underrated humanist of the past decade” by the Los Angeles Weekly, and has campaigned tirelessly to end unjust US intervention in Latin America . Nora Preciado of the ACLU on Women and Immigration, and radio station KPFK’s Carlos Escorcia will be speaking on the situation in Nicaragua . The Encuentro will be held at the UU Church of Long Beach, 5450 Atherton Street , in Long Beach on Saturday, October 14 from 10 am to 4 pm.
September, 2006
Special Election in September to Choose PSWD Trustee
In September, congregations of the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) will vote for the new trustee to serve on the UUA board. We will have a congregational meeting to cast our votes, and I am trying to arrange a forum at our church for available candidates to speak. I will also be obtaining handouts stating their positions. Another option for meeting the candidates is to attend a district-sponsored forum on August 24 at 7 p.m. at the Studio City UU Church.
The candidates who have filed to run for the Trustee position are John Blue, Neighborhood Church, Pasadena; Nancy Edmundson, Unitarian Society, Santa Barbara; Tom Loughrey, Orange Coast UU Church, Costa Mesa; and JoAnne Smith, Valley UU Church, Chandler.
The best way for you to find out their opinions now is to subscribe to PSWD-L. (Go uua.org, click on “Programs & Services,” select “Communication Forums,” select “E-mail lists” in left column, click on “Click here for an alphabetical listing of all UUA Sponsored Lists,” scroll down to and select “PSWD-L.”) If you have a question to submit to the candidates, e-mail it to gilajones at sbcglobal. net. She will pass the questions along to the candidates and they’ll be given about a week to submit their answers. The answers will be put into a single e-mail and sent simultaneously to the list. If you don’t have e-mail or don’t want to subscribe, give me your question. I’ll send it in and give you the answers.
— Carol Agate
Embracing Our Theological Diversity
The Pacific Southwest District Leadership Resources Team is happy to announce an exciting workshop to be offered at three locations across the District. As a way of furthering the conversation around our diverse membership we will host a workshop titled “Embracing Our Theological Diversity” with the Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, Interim Minister Summit UU Fellowship and member of the UUA Commission on Appraisal as our Keynote Speaker. Besides the keynote talk there will be opportunity for participants to interact.
The workshop will run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The workshop closest to our congregation will be held at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 30. Registration material has been sent to each congregation and will be available on our website at pswd.uua.org. There will be no charge for individuals to attend but we will be asking each congregation sending people to contribute $25 for the costs. If you have any questions contact pswd@aol.com.
September 30, 2006 - Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
October 7, 2006 - Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito, Solana Beach, California
October 14, 2006 - Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Chandler, Arizona
August, 2006
Jewish Writers are Needed
The UUA has recently published a book entitled “Christian Voices in Unitarian Universalism” by Kathleen Rolenz. There are no books about Jewish voices in Unitarian Universalism. A Jewish UU writer has decided to remedy that situation.
She is looking for people who self-identify as Jews to contribute their personal stories to this book. Who is a Jew? It is more complicated in Judaism than in many other traditions, since it is not only a faith but also a “people.” Judaism has a distinct history and culture outside of its theology, which has continued to evolve and thrive parallel to Christianity. Like UUism, it is not based on belief. For purposes of this book, the definition is: You are Jewish if you identify as a Jew. And if you do, the editor would like to hear your story.
Among her suggestions to get you thinking are your family’s religious identity, how you came to identify as a UU, whether you identify with other religions as well, whether and how your connection to Judaism shows up in the UU community, what affiliation you now have in the Jewish community, how your connection to Judaism has enriched your life as a UU, have you had identity conflicts along the way, how do the language (words like church and salvation) and culture of liberal Protestantism used by the UUA affect you, have you experienced anti-Judaism in the UU community or anti-UUism in the Jewish community?
If you think you might be interested in submitting an essay of about 1000 to 2000 words, contact Carol Agate for the details about how and where to submit it. Help to remind Unitarian Universalists of the extent to which Judaism is a part of their religious tradition.
PSWIRL Camp Wkeek Offers a Series on Intertwining of Three Western Religions
The UU-oriented nonprofit Pacific SouthWest Institute of Religious Liberals welcomes you to their annual adult event at beautiful Camp de Benneville Pines in Angelus Oaks. Relax, swim, or take part in a wide variety of workshops and activities — it’s up to you.The 2006 PSWIRL Week is Sunday, August 20, through Friday, August 25.
The theme speaker, Rev. Jon Dobrer, will give a series of talks about “Islam, Judaism, and Christianity Intertwined: What Does It Mean For You?” Jon is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fullerton, as well as teacher at the University of Judaism and a syndicated columnist. He studied at USC, the University of Vienna, and Starr King School for the Ministry and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia. Jon tells how Judaism birthed Christianity through the midwife of Hellenic cults and how both combined in forming Islam. Our religious DNA continues to exchange and enrich these traditions for us to this day.
Camp de Benneville Pines is owned and operated by the Unitarian Universalist Pacific Southwest District. It is at 6800 feet altitude in the San Bernardino National Forest among towering pines, oaks, and cedars, with a creek nearby and Jenks Lake within walking distance. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool and a large hot tub. A field trip to Big Bear Lake Solar Observatory will be offered.
In 2006, per person costs will range from $325 to $440 depending on the type of accommodation you select, and include all meals and workshops for the week. Please ask about scholarships. The rich program (including a list of workshops and their facilitators) is available at pswirl.org with an associated registration form.
Information about Camp de Benneville Pines is available at debenneville.org. For registration information, contact Registrar Marcia Taylor, and for program information contact Richard Boothe, or write to Come2PSWIRL@yahoo.com.
PSWIRL Week at Camp de Benneville Pines
The UU-oriented nonprofit Pacific Southwest Institute of Religious Liberals welcomes you to its annual adult week at Camp de Benneville Pines. Relax, swim, or take part in a wide variety of workshops and activities from Sunday, August 20, through Friday, August 25.
The rich program (including a list of workshops and their facilitators) is available at pswirl.org with an associated registration form.
USAS Victory: A Model for the Church
The United Students Against Sweatshops, a countrywide university student organization, has just won an impressive victory at the University of California, along with several other campuses. What they are trying to accomplish could be a model for us in terms of how a relatively small, but determined group, can actually make a difference in increasing social justice.
The USAS campaign focuses on the fact that the global production of garments (as well as many other consumer products) is mainly occurring in sweatshops around the world. These factories typically employ young women, often teenagers, for long hours under coercive conditions and for very low pay. The system depends on secrecy (no one knows where the factories are located) and mobility (if “labor trouble” arises in a factory, or wages go up in a country, production can easily be moved, resulting in a “race to the bottom”). The beneficiaries of this system are U.S. and European manufacturers and retailers (like Nike, the Gap, and Wal-Mart), who make high profits from the labor of the world’s cheapest and most oppressed workers.
USAS leaders realized that students have some leverage over this issue. U.S. universities “produce” the apparel that bears their logos and is sold in their bookstores, as well as campus uniforms of various kinds. Manufacturers acquire licenses from the universities to produce these goods. USAS decided that they could pressure university administrators to make sure their licensees did not produce campus-wear in sweatshops.
The process of eliminating sweatshops from university-related production started with campus demonstrations that culminated in universities agreeing to develop Codes of Conduct for their licensees. These specified such things as: publicizing lists of factories where goods are produced (transparency), and setting standards regarding child labor, hours of work, pay, the right to form independent unions, etc. The next step was to create an organization, the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) to ensure that the Codes were being enforced. Several successful worker organizing drives were conducted in global factories as a result.
Now the limitations of this model have been revealed. Licensees still shifted orders away from factories where unions were established or wages were increasing. So now USAS has developed a “Designated Supplier Program” which ties the universities to a limited number of factories which have an independent union and that pay a “living wage.” After major campus disruption by students, UC and others have finally agreed to this program.
What is important about this endeavor is that it is not only symbolic: it actually changes an institution of global capitalism. If successful, it may create and sustain a set of global factories that have escaped the “race to the bottom,” proving that it can be done. The challenge for the church is to find areas where we have real leverage to make a change in institutions. Do such options exist for us? And do we have the political will to pressure these changes into existence?
— Edna Bonacich
June, 2006
See Alaska from the Perspective of Alaskan UUs
Five Alaskan UU fellowships invite other UUs to their eco-cultural programs in June, July, and August. It’s an opportunity to experience the real Alaska, staying in the homes of members of congregations in Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka.
Visitors will see wildlife in their natural habitats — humpback and killer whales, sea lions, seals and sea otters, bears, wolves, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, eagles, murres, auklets, puffins, and other birds in some of North America’s most beautiful scenery. Four National Parks are on the itinerary: Denali, Kenai Fjords, Skagway, and Sitka. Native American and Eskimo art, dancing, and storytelling are featured in “living museums,” and there is an optional trip to Barrow, the northernmost Inupiat village on the continent.
For a complete description including the cost of each trip, go to wuurld.org.
If You Will Be Heading East Here's How to See Chicago
The congregation of Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist invites you to join us for a weekend getaway to the city of Chicago, June 2 to 4.
For the two nights of your stay you’ll be hosted in the northwest suburbs by members of Countryside’s friendly and welcoming congregation. Your weekend includes hearty dinners with entertainment, breakfast at your host’s home, and a full-day visit to the city.
The highlight of the weekend is the city’s celebrated architecture. Countryside has arranged for guests to enjoy two of the best architecture tours the city has to offer. See the soaring towers of the downtown area, acclaimed landmarks, and the new Millenium Park, which features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists, and designers. After a busy Saturday in the city, you’ll appreciate the peaceful setting of Countryside’s award-winning building and prairie garden.
For details on this unique opportunity, e-mail ccuu@ccuu.org.
May, 2006
The UUSC Human Rights Forum to Meet in Costa Mesa May 6
On Saturday, May 6, the Orange Coast UU Church will host a Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) forum on “Human Rights Today: Labor Rights, Water Rights, and Civil Liberties.” Speakers will be:
Steve Rohde, attorney, past president ACLU: “Human Rights and Presidential Powers”
Richard Gillock,Orange County ACLU, Coyotl Tezcalipoca,Tonantzin Collective: “Labor Policies and Immigration”
Panel on Water Justice: Bill Lakin, Board Member, UUSC, Southern California Unit; Chris Hill, civil engineer; Dorothy Green,Water Impact Network
Round Table on Women’s Issues: Lucia Munoz, MIA (Mujeres Iniciando); Pat McCully, Circulo de Amigas
The Orange Coast UU Church is located at 1259 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa. The conference runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Attendance is $25 at the door, students $10, which includes lunch.
April, 2006
First Church LGBT Service
Sunday, April 30, 11:00 a.m.
UUSM Interweave members and others are invited to First Church of Los Angeles, 2936 W. 8th St., on Sunday, April 30th at 11:00am for a service featuring guest speaker, Jonathan Boland, Field Organizer, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on "The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person - In Practice." Find out the latest news on the California Campaign Equality for All, the state-wide religious voting initiative, and volunteer opportunties for involvement. Mr. Boland will also share some personal reflections on his motivation and experiences as an activist/organizer, and discuss other Queer/LGBT issues affecting our lives as we live our faith. Following the service, Interweave will meet in the Starr King room to discuss upcoming campaign involvement for LGBT legislation. Potluck refreshments.
Our District Includes Las Vegas; We are Meeting There This Year
The District Assembly of the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) will be at the Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Las Vegas the weekend of April 28 to 30. Join us under the canopy of lights that covers Fremont Street and enjoy a wonderful opportunity to gather with other UUs from across the district.
Our opening celebration will feature a banner parade. Charlie Clements of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee will be our keynote speaker.
On Saturday we will worship together and gather for 24 workshops. The afternoon will include the annual meetings of the PSWD and Camp de Benneville Pines, and a banquet in the evening.
Further information is at http://pswd.uua.org. This year the district did not reserve rooms at the Golden Nugget. You are encouraged to stay in your favorite hotel or find the best price online.
District UUs Will Gather in Vegas for Our April District Assembly
If you have not been to a general assembly, you might want to start small with a district assembly. That is the annual gathering of members of the congregations in the Pacific Southwest District, comprising Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. This year, for the first time, we will meet in Las Vegas.
The keynote speaker will be Charlie Clements, the president of the UU Service Committee, well known for human rights and public health advocacy. He is a physician and a graduate of the Air Force Academy. He was a pilot in the Vietnam War, and is the author of “Witness to War,” published by Bantam and printed in four languages. He spoke at our church last year.
The dates are April 28 and 29. The theme for the assembly is “Imagine.” There will be a full day of workshops, items for sale, a banquet, and other events yet to be decided. If you might be interested, contact Carol Agate for more information or to arrange a carpool.
Registration is Now Open for Spring Rainbow Family Camp
Registrations for the Spring Rainbow Family Camp, Friday, April 7 through Sunday, April 9, are now being accepted. E-mail lbarnes@lagaycenter.org for a flyer/ registration form for your family’s use. Please note that completed forms must be returned to Laurel Barnes of the Family Services Program at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. Only checks will be accepted. They should be made out to “Camp de Benneville Pines.” If you have any questions, contact Laurel at the address above for more information. We look forward to seeing all your families at camp.
March, 2006
California Interfaith Coalition Legislative Issues Briefing Day
Deepen Your Understanding! Act on Your Faith! Join Unitarian Universalists in coalition with other faiths at the California Interfaith Coalition Legislative Issues Briefing Day.
March 27 (dinner and speaker)
March 28 (full day of activities)
(come either day or both days!)
Workshops
Health Care at the Crossroads * Death Penalty Moratorium and Reforming the Three
Strikes Law * Clean Money Campaign & Initiative Reform * Immigration in
California * Living Wage and Economic Justice * Infrastructure Bonds
Speakers
Monday evening:
Ms. Anuradha Mittal, Director of The Oakland Institute.
Tuesday Morning:
Senator Richard Alarcón, Majority Whip for the CA State Senate and architect
of the Master Plan to End Poverty in California.
Tuesday Noon:
Assembly Member Hector De La Torre, Representing the 50th Assembly District,
and serving on the Select Committee on the Los Angeles Health Care Crisis.
Lobby Your Legislators
People of faith bring an important voice of conscience to public policy. Share
your concerns and ideas with your legislators.
Special Video
(3-4PM on Tuesday)
“Rights on the Line: Vigilantes at the Border” sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee.
Registration information available at http://www.uulmca.org/programs/events.html#dinner_speaker
Civil Rights Movement Comes Alive on UUA Tour
Some places of the Civil Rights movement are readily accessible: the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma; the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, the church whose burning drew Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman to Philadelphia, MS.
But fewer and fewer of the people who gave such places meaning survive to talk with us. Both places and people are included in a tour being offered by Meadville Lombard Theological School.
The March 18 to 26 tour has been planned and will be led by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Gibson, who was involved in the early stages of the 1965 Selma voting rights campaign and was a Unitarian Universalist minister in Mississippi from 1969 to 1984. He led similar tours in 2004 and 2005.
The $1000 tour, by luxury motor coach, will include all admission charges, overnight accommodations, and most meals. Visits with 1960s activists and videos on the bus will supplement the site visits. The tour will begin and end in Chicago.
For details and registration information, go to http://www.meadville.edu or write to the Academic Office, Meadville Lombard Theological School, 5701 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637.
Registration is on a first-come basis.
Get Ideas on Helping the Church While Enjoying a Trip to Phoenix
No matter what your involvement in our church, the Sixth National Conference of Midsize Congregation, to be held March 2 to 5 in Phoenix, AZ, can provide ideas on how to do your job better.
Thirty-two stimulating workshops are on the agenda for the three-day event. The keynote speaker is William Bridges, an author and consultant who shows individuals and organizations how to deal more productively with change. The most recent of his ten books is an updated second edition of “Transitions,” which, together with his companion volume, “Managing Transitions,” has sold over one million copies.
There will also be time to enjoy Phoenix attractions such as the Heard Museum’s annual Indian Fair and Market, the Desert Botanical Gardens, and Frank Llyod Wright’s Taliesin West, which served as his personal home, studio, and architectural campus from 1937 until his death in 1959.
If you are thinking about attending, contact Carol Agate. Further details are available at http://www.uua.org/cde/midsize2006/
Sexuality Education Advocacy Training is Being Offered by UUA and UCC
The Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ, in collaboration with Advocates for Youth, will present a Sexuality Education Advocacy Training in Washington, DC, March 25 to 28. Youth, young adults, parents, youth advisors, and anyone with a passion about comprehensive sexuality education and an interest in being an effective advocate are encouraged to attend. The sessions will cover current federal legislation, lobbying skills, media training, organizing techniques, and speaking from a faith perspective. The training will end with a lobby day on Capitol Hill. Online registration for this event is available at connectuu.com. Contact Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks in the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy at (202) 296- 4672 x 13, mschonfeldhicks@uua.org for more information. Cost is $50-100, based on a sliding scale. Scholarships and travel subsidies are available.
February, 2006
An Online Dating Service for UUs Now Available to Browse or Join
UUsingles.com provides matchmaking services for Unitarian Universalists and other like-minded liberal religious thinkers. They make it fun to meet other singles while promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every individual — a fundamental principle of Unitarian Universalism. Individuals age 18 and older of all sexual orientations are welcome to join. Posting ads is free and membership dues are modest.
This matching service differs from other like matchmaking services in several ways:
• Minimal Advertising. Keeping true to their values, the owners limit the amount of advertising you will be exposed to while connecting with other singles;
• Commitment to Social Justice. UUsingles.com donates ten percent of all profits to further the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee;
• Privacy. Your e-mail address will never be sold or shared with another company or organization.
California UUs Submit a Brief Supporting Marriage Equality
Rev. Lindi Ramsden, executive director of UULMCA (UU Legislative Ministry of California), reports that an interfaith amici brief (friend of the court) drafted by Eric Isaacson and submitted to the legislative ministry by First UU Church of San Diego has led to a successful effort to gain broad geographic and interfaith support.
Starting with UU churches and fellowships, the legislative ministry used the legal talents and networking abilities of Eric Issacson, our own Rev. Silvio Nardoni, Mary Helen Doherty, California Faith for Equality, and many UUs who worked to make this happen.
The efforts of UUs and other faith communities resulted in over 200 congregations, clergy, seminary presidents, and regional and national religious organizations supporting the marriage equality case now before the California Court of Appeal. If you are part of an organization that wants to sign on, it is not too late. Contact Lindi Ramsden at lramsdon@uulmca.org.
Los Angeles Conference Prepares for International Water Forum
Roughly 1.1 billion people, 18% of the world’s population, lack access to safe drinking water. More than 2.2 million people, mostly children, die each year from diseases that stem from inadequate drinking water and sanitation.
The United Nations international decade for action on Water for Life extends from 2005 to 2015. As part of this effort, the 2006 International Water Forum will be held in Mexico City, March 16 to 22.
In preparation for this, a regional conference is to be held in Los Angeles on Friday, February 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and Friends of the United Nations. The conference will be at the MWD offices, next to Union Station, on Alameda Street, north of Caesar Chavez Blvd. Parking is free. Registration is $20 including lunch for adults; students are free.
Early registration is recommended, as seating is limited. For further information and registration contact (800) CALL MWD or visit worldwaterforum.us.
All proceeds from the local conference go to scholarships to send students to the Mexico City Forum.
— Eleanor Eagan
January, 2006
Venezuela and Argentina are Topics of January 10 Forum at the Onion
The Tuesday Night Forum, sponsored by the Social Concerns Committee of the Sepulveda UU Society, meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. Guest speakers discuss current social justice issues from a progressive point of view usually not covered by the corporate media.
On Tuesday, January 10, 7 to 10 p.m., the topic will be Venezuela and Argentina. There will be a film of the 1988 march from Panama to Mexico City. The speaker is Blase Bonpane, Director of the Office of the Americas. Doors open at 7 p.m., the film is at 7:30, and the speaker from 9 to 10.
The Sepulveda UU Society, also known as “The Onion,” is located at 9550 Haskell Ave. in North Hills.
Empowering Justice Workshop Will Teach How to Get Involved
On Saturday, January 21, at the Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena, the UU Legislative Ministry (UULM) and the UU Service Committee’s (UUSC) Southern California Unit will provide training focused on strengthening the spiritual foundation, broadening involvement, and building collaboration among our UU social justice ministries. They will be offering more indepth training in the following areas:
• Bringing UU values to bear on critical California water issues through UULM’s new “Thirsty for Justice” curriculum;
• Organizing with California Faith for Equality, helping to stop anti-gay efforts to amend the state constitution to take away existing domestic partnership protections and prohibit marriage for same-sex couples;
• Building a grassroots movement for single payer, universal health insurance;
• Joining an interfaith collaboration to put the Children’s Health Initiative on the ballot.
And . . . we will continue our tradition of good worship, good music, good food, and good company.
High school and college age UUs who are interested in faith-based activism are also most welcome to participate.
Home hospitality (Friday night) and childcare are available by advanced reservation. To register (by January 15th) on line or download and print the registration form go to http://www.uulmca.org/programs/events.html.
— Rev. Lindi Ramsden
The UUA Keeps Us Abreast of New Books and Programs
The UUA web site connects you with the larger world of Unitarian Universalists. Here are some things you might be interested in:
UU SOCIAL WITNESS
UUs will debate, discuss and vote on several issues of vital importance when they gather in St. Louis, MO, for General Assembly in June. It’s important for our delegates to have considered input, so check out the material from the Commission on Social Witness at http://www.uua.org/csw. There’s a resource guide for a new study item called Moral Values for a Pluralist Society and a draft statement on global warming. When our Washington Office lobbies on issues, they base their work on the decisions made at General Assembly.
FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
ConnectUU is a nationwide online database of Unitarian Universalist youth and young adult groups. You can find a group or event near you. Register to get information about upcoming events and much more. More than two dozen new groups and events have been added to ConnectUU in the past month — everything from conferences to weekly Soulful Sundown services to movie nights to campus ministry groups. So check it out. You may find exactly what you’ve been looking for at connectuu.com
NEW FROM SKINNER HOUSE
The 2006 catalog is now available from Skinner House, the UUA imprint that publishes titles on Unitarian Universalist history, theology, biography, and worship. The catalog is on the web at http://www.uua.org/skinner or call (617) 742-2100, Ext. 601.
Reduce Your Next Hotel costs and Meet UUs in Other Areas
Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?
The UU bed and breakfast directory “UU’re Home” (formerly “Homecomings”) can fulfill your dream. For 27 years the organization has provided a network of hosts in the US (and a few abroad) who enjoy making new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.
Visit the website at UUreHome.com, where entries are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. You can charge a membership to your credit card. The 2006 edition of the annual paper directory will be available in April and can be ordered by sending a check for $18 (or $23, along with your e-mail address, for both the directory and a year’s access to the website) to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806.
You can also become a host and be listed in the directory. Contact us at (828) 281-3253 or at info@uurehome.com, and we will gladly send you information about listing your accommodations.
December, 2005
MacroAnthropos: A One-Block Human Wristband
Saturday, December 10, 2005, 4:00 p.m.
8th & Spring Streets, Downtown Los Angeles
Please wear white if possible – and dress for the weather. There will also be a free party for participants after the event, with donations accepted to benefit the ArtistSalon's non-profit programming. The party will be held from 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. at CLUB 740, 740 South Broadway, L.A. 90014, and will include a complimentary buffet, film screenings and poetry readings. For more information on both events, see ArtistSalon.com.
A Little Bit of Money Can Go a Long Way When Pooled Through Chalice Lighters
Would you like to contribute to the larger Unitarian Universalist community? Here’s an easy way to be a participant in the growth of other UU churches. Chalice Lighters is a Pacific Southwest District organization that raises money to give to churches for growth projects. There are three "calls" a year, each one asking for $20 or more. That means a total commitment each year of $60.
That doesn’t seem like much money, but it does grow. There are about 8000 members of district churches. There are now 484 members of Chalice Lighters. If everyone gave $20 that would be close to $10,000. The actual amount is closer to $12,000 because there are some who give more than $20. If everyone in the district joined, we would be able to give $160,000 to district churches for growth projects. That’s a nice dream, but Chalice Lighters is growing and this small donation from you will help it continue to grow.
It’s easy to participate. Just send a check for $20 to PSWD Chalice Lighters, 12355 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91604. Your donation will go to the Granite Peak UU Congregation in Prescott, AZ. They have been operating without a classroom building, and will use the money for a modular building to house its religious education classes.
When you send your check, you will be added to the mailing list. You will be sent a notice for each call, explaining what church it is designated for and what the project is. And if our congregation has 10% participation, we may request a grant ourselves. For more information, contact Carol Agate.
November, 2005
Positions Available for Youth and Adults at November YRUU Social Justice Conference
The 2005 YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) Social Justice Conference will be November 10 to 14 in Philadelphia, PA. The conference brings together UU youth from all over the continent to learn how to organize grassroots campaigns, how to work with the media, and to educate one another about social justice issues we can be involved in right now. This conference is where you can learn to put your UU faith into action. Three youth and two adult staff positions are open. Conference registration and travel will be paid for staff. Information is at http://www.uua.org/YRUU/events/pdfs /ysjcstaffapp.pdf.
October, 2005
Sunset Hall Moves to Bethany Towers
After several years of struggling to survive at its Francis Avenue location, Sunset Hall is in process of moving to Bethany Towers, 1745 N. Gramercy Pl. in Hollywood; a few blocks east of Western, between Hollywood Blvd. and Franklin. Bethany Towers is an 80+-unit high rise on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Originally opened in 1935, it was the home of many celebrities. It was converted to use as a senior residence in 1948 and adapted specifically for assisted living in the 1950s. The apartments are spacious, beautifully appointed and furnished; many with balconies and kitchens. There is a pleasant garden area and quite a bit of parking on the grounds. It is a non-profit and has roots in the Disciples Church, a denomination with a broad and liberal vision of social justice and peace that is quite compatible with the traditions of Sunset Hall.
Of the remaining dozen Sunset Hall residents, eight are choosing to move to Bethany Towers as soon as their apartments are made ready for them; the others are moving elsewhere. Wendy Caputo, executive director, and other members of the Sunset Hall staff will similarly make the move. Those moving will pay the same rents and receive the same services as they did on Francis Avenue, as will those who in the future move to “Sunset Hall at Bethany Towers.”
The rich range of programs (concerts, excursions, educational events, social action projects, etc.) will continue at the new location and will be available now to all the residents of Bethany Hall. In short, the traditional mission of Sunset Hall will be carried forward, now in a much larger setting.
Sunset Hall will close its operations as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly and give up its existing RCFE license effective October 25, going forward with its mission under the RCFE license of Bethany Towers. At this writing the Francis Avenue property, which has been officially appraised at $1,520,000, has several potential buyers interested in turning the property into some form of affordable housing — in keeping both with neighborhood needs and the wishes of the Sunset Hall Board. After paying off its extensive debts, Sunset Hall at Bethany Towers will have a very comfortable endowment with which to fund — and enhance — its very special mission.
— Ernie Pipes
Got a Good Liberal Quote to Share?
For several decades, the Unitarian Universalist Association has provided congregations and communities spiritual refreshment in the form of the Wayside Community Pulpit, a set of posters with pithy ideas. The UUA is now working on a new series of quotations for the Wayside Community Pulpit that it hopes to make available on the UUA’s website, and your suggestions are welcomed. If you know of memorable, thought-provoking words that you would like to share, please send them to Mary Benard, Unitarian Universalist Association, Publications Department, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2800. Please provide source information, if possible, including the title of the work, author, translator, publisher, and page. The contributor is responsible for the accuracy of each quotation. Any source, ancient or modern, may be used. Quotations should be liberal but not sectarian. If a quote has been used on the Wayside Community Pulpit within the last five years, it will not be used again. Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned so the UUA thanks you in advance.
Half a World Away from the Gulf, Transylvania Suffers from Floods
As is always true, unless it is a very slow news day, the big story gets all the attention. We have all been overwhelmed by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. In addition to the two UU congregations in New Orleans, there are about 19 other UU congregations in the path of Katrina. Our sisters and brothers are doing heroic work ministering to one another.
Half a world away, Unitarians in Transylvania, the birthplace of Unitarianism, also suffer. On Tuesday, August 23, the area of the Nyiko Valley was hit with an 8- foot wall of water in a flash flood that swept through Unitarian villages in what is now part of Romania. Unitarian Universalists in the United States are responding to both tragedies. As of September 14, our UU Association and the UU Service Committee have received 4,912 donations, totaling $879,413 for Gulf Coast relief, and 315 donations, totaling $34,316 for Tranyslvania flood relief.
Unitarians in Transylvania trace their ancestry to the 16th century. Transylvania was the first and only principality in Europe to proclaim religious toleration when in 1568 under the inspiration of Unitarian Minister Francis David a law of freedom of conscience was passed, giving every person the right to freedom of religion. David’s famous line, “We do not have to think alike to love alike” set the groundwork for freedom.
Today there are 125 Unitarian congregations with 80,000 members in Transylvania. Unitarian ministers and congregants are helping to lead flood relief and clean up. However, because Unitarians are an ethnic minority in Romania, the government will not provide any help or relief.
The UU Partner Church Council is leading the relief effort by collecting donations here in the United States. For further information and or to donate to the relief fund, please see uua.org/news and click on the link for Transylvania or the UU Partner Church Council.
Visit the New UU World
The UUA’s new online magazine, “uuworld.org: liberal religion and life,” is now live at http://www.uuworld.org. The online magazine features at least one story from the quarterly “UU World” magazine every week. You’ll also find fresh news about Unitarian Universalist individuals, congregations, and organizations, along with a new “Unitarian Universalists in the Media” news blog. You can also sign up for an e-mail newsletter, “uuworldWeekly,” (by clicking the “e-mail updates” link near the top of the screen), and have the online magazine delivered to your e-mail inbox. When you find a story you especially like, click “E-mail this article” and send the link to a friend or colleague.
Fall Foliage Weekend in Vermont
October 14-16, 2005
Eleventh annual event sponsored by the UU Church of Rutland, VT. Enjoy the spectacular beauty of a Vermont Fall, select fro a wide range of tours and activities guided by UU hosts, stay in the home of a church member, all meals provided. For more information, e-mail uufoliagevermont@yahoo.com.
September, 2005
UU Service Committee Sponsoring Weekend Workshop Against Torture
Speak out with one voice against the use of torture by the United States by joining the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s Call for Justice weekend in Washington, D.C. from Sept. 24 to 26. The event will highlight the role of the U.S. government in sanctioning torture around the world. On Saturday, Sept. 24, the UUSC will offer a series of workshops and panel discussions about the relevant legal, humanitarian, and security issues. On Sunday, September 25, there will be a Citizens’ Trial, and on Monday, September 26, UUSC is asking that all participants proceed to Capitol Hill to speak with their representatives and senators. If you wish to attend, please sign up as soon as possible. For more information and to register, go to http://www.uusc.org/programs/STOP/trial.html
GLIDE is Looking for Speakers
GLIDE, Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality, a volunteer, non-profit speakers bureau is looking for volunteers to train as speakers in its work to combat homophobia. Each year GLIDE makes over 200 presentations, largely in the classroom setting. A GLIDE presentation served as the inaugural event to our own Welcoming Congregation process several years ago. Church member Michael Eselun is a cofounder and board co-chair. Flexible daytime availability, transportation, and e-mail access are a must. Any questions? Contact Michael Eselun.
August, 2005
PSWIRL "Peace World" Week at Camp de Benneville Pines
August 21-26
Theme Speaker: Marguerite D. Lovett - "Can We Stand the Test?"
The UU-oriented non-profit Pacific SouthWest Institute of Religious Liberals (PSWIRL) holds its annual adult event at Camp de Benneville Pines in Angelus Oaks from Sunday, August 21 to Friday, August 26. Campers can relax, swim, loaf, or take part in a wide variety of workshops and activities.
The Rev. Marguerite D. Lovett, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, will discuss the inspiring lives of social activists who stood up for free speech and human rights, such as Emma Goldman, Stephen Fritchman, Benjamin B. Forencz and Maude Barlow.
During the rest of the week, relax, swim, or choose from a menu of activities such as swimming, hot tubbing, silent auction, evening programs, music, happy hour talent show, video programs, a trip to Big Bear, personal inner work, yoga and/or movement, folk dancing, nature walks, hiking, watercolor, crafts, astronomy, improvisation, writing, massage, singing, discussion, Qi Gong (movement/exercise)...and a variety of other workshops.
Per person costs range from $305 to $420, depending on the type of accommodation, and include all meals and workshops for the week.
Camp de Benneville Pines is owned and operated by the Unitarian Universalist Pacific SouthWest District. It is at 6,800 feet altitude in the San Bernardino National Forest among towering pines, oaks and cedars with a creek nearby, and Jenks Lake within walking distance. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool and a large hot tub. A field trip to Big Bear Lake Solar Observatory will be offered during the camp.
See http://www.uucamp.org/pswirl/PSWIRL%20Flier%202%2005.pdf for more information and a registration form.
UU Christians Meet August 7 at First Church in San Diego
The Pacific Southwest Chapter of the UU Christian Fellowship holds its next general meeting on Sunday, August 7, at 4 p.m., in San Diego at the meetinghouse of the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4190 Front St. An ecumenical communion will be celebrated, led by Ned Wight, UUA trustee. There will also be bible study and discussion. We invite participants to bring a dish to share at a potluck supper following the service. Call Ned, (619) 463-4676, for more information.
Our September 4 meeting at 3 p.m. in Costa Mesa will focus on a review of Jim Wallis’s book, “The Politics of God: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It.” Bible study and worship will follow the discussion, and all are invited to stay for dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Clarence Darrow Justice Tour Comes to Costa Mesa on August 6
Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) was often referred to by the press as the “attorney for the damned” and the “lion of the courtroom.” Famous for his work in the Scopes “Monkey” trial, Darrow fought against the death penalty, social injustice, racism, conspiracy laws, and civil liberties violations. He is considered by many to be the most famous lawyer in history.
Gary L. Anderson of Redding, CA, is the country’s foremost portrayer of Clarence Darrow, with his Darrow performances being characterized as being in the same league as Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain.
On Saturday, August 6, Anderson will be bringing his Darrow portrayal to Orange County for performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. He will recount the greatest trials of Darrow's career.
Advance tickets are $15 and tickets purchased the day of the event are $20. Proceeds will support the UU Legislative Ministry of California. For more information visit www.ocuuc.org
July, 2005
Colorado Rockies Camp Beckons
You are invited to a UU Camp in the Colorado Rockies from July 24 to 30. Camp Laforet is an annual gathering of caring people who cherish community and life's profound experiences. It is held at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado where the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers meet, between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. The program has something for everyone: workshops for adults, youth and children and a multitude of activities including drumming, dances of universal peace, white water rafting and more. Check out the website: www.camplaforet.com
Register Early for Youth Camps
The PSWD Summer Youth Camps’ registration forms are now available on the Camp de Benneville Pines web site, http://www.uucamp.org
Please register early. Last summer, both the senior high and elementary winter camps were full and people had to be turned away. To be sure your child has a spot, please return your registration form and deposit as soon as possible. There is also an option to pay in full with PayPal and a credit card.
The dates for the camps are:
Sunday, July 10 to Saturday, July 16, for elementary grades 2 to 6 (beginning this fall). Theme: “Let’s Play! Exploring the seven principles through games.” Dean: Kevin Drewery.
Sunday, July 10 to Saturday, July 16, CIT Training (ages 15+ and attended at least one Senior High Camp) Would you like to be a counselor at camp? Take the CIT Training. Facilitator: Kim St Clair.
Sunday, July 17 to Saturday, July 23, for junior high grades 7 to 9 (beginning this fall). Project: Fun! Come to camp and play, explore the natural environment, learn how we can positively impact the world. We’ll host a staff person from the Humane Education Project. We’ll learn how we can lessen our footprint on the planet. We’ll also have fun exploring Jenks Lake and the mountains, playing your favorite games, and creating a UU community. Dean: Bridgit Paparella.
Sunday, July 24 to Saturday, July 30, for senior high grades 10 to 13 (beginning this fall). YoUUth Empowerment: May the Force be with YoUU. Youth Deans: Katie Plattner and Kevin Land. Adult Dean: Craig Block
See Alaska, Wild Creatures and More with UU Fellowship Members in July
Five Alaska UU fellowships invite other UUs to see the real Alaska for eco-spiritual/intercultural programs in July. Visitors will stay in UU homes in Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka and enjoy discussions and dinners with Alaska UUs. They will see whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, puffins, eagles, and other birds in the wild from the Arctic Ocean to the Inside Passage in the south. They will visit Denali’s Mt. McKinley and Kenai’s fjords and glaciers and see totem poles, native arts, dancing, and storytelling. The Rev. Dick and Mary Weston-Jones will lead the tour. For additional information, see wuurld.org or phone toll-free (888) 998-8753 for a brochure. Reservations are due April 1.
Connect with other UU Youth
ConnectUU is an online database of Unitarian Universalist youth and young adult groups. You can find a group or event near you, register to get information about upcoming events and forming groups, and much more. Over two dozen new groups and events have been added to ConnectUU in the past month — everything from conferences to weekly Soulful Sundown services to movie nights to campus Ministry groups. So check it out. You may find exactly what you been looking for: http://www.connectuu.com
The Church of the Larger Fellowship Supports UU Members of the Military
The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) can be a lifeline for someone who is far away from home and from her/his church community. Unitarian Universalists stationed overseas in the military often find they benefit greatly from being members of the CLF. The CLF provides an e-mail discussion list for UUs who are in the military, and offers the support of a UU military chaplain. If you know someone active in the military who could benefit from some UU sustenance and support, please tell them about the UUMIL discussion listserve, which can be subscribed to at http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uumil
UUA Assistance is Online
Whatever your major church activity is, the UUA probably has some material to help you. Go to http://www.uua.org/programs/layleader to see the areas for which there are questions and answers. Links at those locations may lead to other places where information is available.
UU Bed & Breakfasts Listed in Directory
Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?
The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. For 25 years, it has provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to likeminded people.
You can also become a host and be listed in the directory. Contact the directory at info@uurehome.com to get information about listing your accommodations.
UU’re Home has recently launched a new website at UureHome.com, where entries are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. The paper edition, which is published every year in April, is still available (and has many more listings than the website). For a copy of the 2005 directory, send a check for $18 to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806.
June, 2005
GA in Fort Worth, June 23 to 27
The Unitarian Universalist Association’s general assembly is coming up again. Did having it in Long Beach last year whet anyone’s appetite for going to Ft. Worth this year? The dates are June 23 to June 27, and information is available at http://uua.org/ga. If you would like more information, contact Carol Agate. And if you have decided to go, let Carol know if you would like to be a delegate.
Three UUA Summer Conferences are Scheduled for Young Adults
Three UUA conferences this summer are great leadership development opportunities for young adults 18 to 35. Due to an unprecedented outpouring of generosity from the community, a significant amount of money is available for scholarships this year.
The first conference will be the Young Adult Caucus, held during the annual UUA General Assembly, June 23 to 27 in Fort Worth, TX.
Opus, the annual spiritual retreat for young adults, is a weeklong conference in a camp setting and will be held August 6 to 11 in Boone, IA. ConCentric, the annual business meeting/leadership conference for young adults from the U.S. and Canada, will be held August 12 to 15 in Boone. Both events have worship and workshops, and they are great ways to connect with other UU young adults, learn leadership skills, and have fun.
Additional information is available from the UUA young adult/campus ministry
webpage:
http://www.uua.org/ya-cm/index_js.html.
To submit a scholarship application online, go to
http://www.uua.org/ya-cm/conferences/Scholarship%
20Application.html
The UUA is Honored for Leadership in Promoting the Freedom to Marry
The Religious Coalition for Freedom to Marry (RCFM) honored the Unitarian Universalist Association with its Peace and Justice Award for "outstanding leadership in helping gay and lesbian couples attain and preserve their civil right to marry." The award, presented by Rabbi Devon Lerner, Co-chair of the RCFM, was accepted by the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, in a luncheon and ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry is a seven-year-old organization with 600 clergy and congregations as members. More than 4,000 same-sex couples have wed in Massachusetts since such marriages became legal in May.
Visit the Wine Country with UUs This Summer
The UUs of Napa, CA, invite you to enjoy two of America’s most scenic valleys, Napa and Sonoma, this summer.
Your hosts will help you choose from over 600 wineries and hundreds of world class restaurants, COPIA (the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts), Jack London’s home, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery and movie museum, art galleries, miles of trails with breathtaking views and more.
Locally savvy UU guides will drive you to selected wineries, historic sites and mountain trails with breathtaking views. You will stay in UU homes for good conversation, good breakfasts and warm hospitality.
The wine country excursions are offered in June, July, and August. Plan on three nights with two days of touring. Fees are well below market rate for similar services. All proceeds benefit the UU Fellowship of Napa.
May, 2005
UUSC Human Rights Forum, May 14, 2005
There will be a Human Rights Forum sponsored by UUSC on May 14, at Troop Memorial Church, 300 S. Los Robles, Pasadena, at the corner of Del Mar.
The conference program includes the following speakers and topics:
• Dr Peter Drier, Professor at Occidental College: Fair Trade, Sweatshops & the Growing Gap Between Rich and Poor
• Marty Coleman, Founding member of CLUE (Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice): Getting Your Congregation to Work for Economic Justice
• Dr. Kathryn McMahon, Founder of Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking (CAST): Child Exploitation and Trafficking
The conference time is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $20 with pre-registration, $25 at the door, $10 for students. The price includes lunch for the first 120 people.
An informational flyer and registration form is available at http://tinyurl.com/66pb7
April, 2005
Queer Spirit Retreat, April 22 to 24, Will Explore Sexuality, Spirituality
A diverse group of queer-identified men and women and their supporters from interfaith backgrounds will gather at Camp de Benneville Pines, April 22 to 24, for a weekend retreat called “Queer Spirit: Growing and Sharing Our Queer Spiritual Gifts.” Janet Flecher, of the de Benneville staff, and the Rev. Ricky Hoyt, a Unitarian Universalist minister, are co-deans.
During the weekend, participants will mine the unique experiences of their lives as resources for deepening personal spiritual journeys and for transforming the larger culture. Author Mark Thompson will provide the Friday night keynote presentation. Special guests, the Rev. Malcolm Boyd and Rabbi Harold Caminker, will facilitate breakout groups and celebrate a queerfocused, interfaith seder for the first night of Passover. Cost for the weekend including shared cabin accommodations and all meals is $145, or $100 for students. Detailed information and registration forms are available on the web at QueerSpirit.org.
Rev. Ricky Hoyt is a former member of our congregation. He worked for AIDS Project Los Angeles from 1987 to 1995, when he entered the ministry. He is a graduate of the Claremont School of Theology and has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Studio City, La Crescenta, and currently in Santa Clarita, CA.
Women's Seminar to be Held April 20 to May 1 at Camp de Benneville Pines
The Rev. Teri Masters will be the featured speaker at the 2005 Women’s Happening inspirational seminar at Camp de Benneville Pines Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1. The seminar, titled “A Quest of the Heart: The Path to Living Your Destiny,” is designed to help participants identify their purpose, align their path, and create a joyful and meaningful life.
Teri, an ordained interfaith minister, is a chaplain with Trinity Care Hospice. She is a graduate of the Chaplaincy Institute for Arts and Interfaith Ministries. She and her husband, Dee, are 25-year members of Pacific Unitarian church in Rancho Palos Verdes. For additional information about the seminar, and details about registration, go to http://www.uucamp.org/women_retreat/FlierWomens05. pdf
UU Christians to Meet April 3 in Costa Mesa
The Pacific Southwest Chapter of the UU Christian Fellowship will hold its next general meeting on Sunday, April 3, at 3 p.m., at our Costa Mesa church. Iris Jue will moderate a discussion on "Our lives as UU Christians: How do we keep our strength growing as Christians? Do we have a special purpose in being among our fellow UUs?"
There will be refreshments followed by a brief study session. Let us know if you plan to bring children to the Christian Education class. David Miano will lead the worship service at 5 p.m.
The Santa Monica UUCF Prayer Group meets the first Sunday of each month, between first and second services. Contact Achim Jung or Iris Jue for more information.
March, 2005
Young People and Military Service are Topics for March 5 Workshop
A workshop for youth, young adults and their allies will explore the issues surrounding military service on Saturday, March 5, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena, 301 N. Orange Grove (corner of Walnut), Room 23.
The meeting is sponsored by the Social Justice Advocacy Group and the Religious Education Program of the UUA Pacific Southwest District. The UUA's publication, "Information on Military Service and Conscientious Objection" advises young people:
"Before you are required to register or enlist, take the time to develop and thoroughly clarify your beliefs about war through reflection, study and conversation. You must reach your own conclusions based no your most central beliefs."
