UUMA Convocation

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum blogs from the UU Ministers Association Convocation in Ottawa, Canada:

Here at the UUMA Convocation in Ottawa, Ontario, a continent-wide gathering of Unitarian Universalist ministers. The last Convo was in 2002 in Birmingham, AL, so it’s been seven years since we’ve had this meeting. Our keynote lecture is from Thomas Moore. (“Rev. Cyn,” November 12)

“Katabert” also blogs from the Convocation, excited to learn how to incorporate technology into the ministry:

UU ministers in Canada, whenever they travel to the U.S. to attend UUMA meetings, have to worry about cell phones working, kilobyte costs, and exchange rates and all that. We’re meeting in Canada to show solidarity with our Canadian colleagues, even though the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Univeralist Association have officially split. (“The Stole’n Word,” November 11)

Blogging from the Convocation, “Ginger Root” talks about the sometimes fine line between privilege and addiction:

And I realized- the line between ritual and addiction and privilege is very thin. The fact that my morning doesn’t feel right without that quiet moment, without the warm cup is both ritual and addiction. What a privilege to have a reliable moment of quiet peace and warmth each day. (“Carrots and Ginger,” November 12)

Rev. Sam Trumbore is keeping a running blog of the conference. (“Rev. Sum Trumbore”)

Growth and reform

Peter Bowden is enthusiastic about the monitoring aspect of the UUA’s new Policy Governance model:

Given the resources we invest collectively as an association in our ministry, and given the importance of this ministry, we have to know. Personally I think that if we care we need to measure it. Without it it’s hard to have transparency and accountability. This is also an essential component of policy governance – the board sets the vision and ends to be achieved and the staff, in this case under the leadership of UUA President Peter Morales, works towards these end. (“The UU Growth Blog,” November 7)

Paul Oakley brainstorms ways ways to implement a UU educational program, remembering that it should serve those with the greatest need:

But I would draw attention to something we should not forget in making such plans to assist the at-risk succeed in their education: if our aim is to help those most in need, we need to make sure that the effort is not directed at the not-so-bad public schools in our own neighborhoods or the middle-class school children who are going to get what they need from their family and school combination without the addition of our extra efforts. Rather, it’s the kids in the worst schools and in the worst neighborhoods that most need any educational mission we may offer. (“Inner Light, Radiant Life,” November 9)

Elizabeth wonders if the ordination process for UU ministers should be reformed:

I’m sure it has occurred to people before that one of the reasons our congregations are so un-diverse is because it is a pretty un-diverse privileged crowd of people who can afford to become our ministers. It seems to me that this would be something on the priority list to reform, but it is my sense that it is not. I wonder if it is because we have enough ministers so there is the sense that making fellowship and ordination more accessible would just flood the Association with too many ministers? Or there are just other financial/reform priorities? (“Elizabeth’s Little Blog,” November 6)

Other UU issues

Thomas R. Beall says that his Jesuit upbringing opened the door for his embrace of Unitarian Universalism:

I think it is also true that my Jesuit education made it possible for me to become a Unitarian Universalist. While UUs do not use the Christian term “Kingdom of God,” we do speak of an imperative to work for the Beloved Community — arguably the same imperative embraced by the Catholic bishops in 1971. “Living the Prophetic Imperative,” November 7)

“Lizard Eater” explains why and how she preaches without a manuscript:

I mean, they liked it, it seemed to go well. But for me, it was like the difference between giving pastoral care over the phone versus sitting next to the person. There is an intimacy that comes from eye contact, and when you have less time looking down at notes and more time with the eye contact … and even better, when you can roam down next to people … it’s addictive, I tell ya. (“The Journey,” November 8)

“ChaliceChick” talks about understanding religion through children:

As many times as I’ve corrected UUs of various ages (mercifully skewing towards kids) on the specifics of refining belief through reason, I can totally see why “you can believe whatever you want” is a little kid version of UUism. (“The Chaliceblog,” November 8)

Ft. Hood

John Michael Crovis comments on Ft. Hood and prejudice:

When I hear pro-life advocates call pro-choice advocates “murderers,” I understand it as condoning the slaughter on both sides. When right-wing talk show hosts deprecate Democrats as being Nazis and Communist, I hear them inciting another bloody civil war. Whenever one group of people demonizes another, they not only endanger the lives of those “other people,” but also endanger their own. If there is any sense to be of the massacre at Fort Hood, I think it should be that hatred always yields violence. I fear, however, that many will only think of this as another reason why not to trust Muslims. (“The Pageless Book,” November 6)

David Pyle wants people to truly investigate the causes of the Ft. Hood shooting, rather than blaming it on race or religion:

I find it fascinating that some of the individuals profiting the most from promoting fear are even willing to use this tragedy to promote their fear based racist agenda, such as calling for investigations of every Muslim in the military. What they do not realize is that the fascination the 24 hour news cycle has with sensational stories and the culture of fear they have created are as much the source of such mass shootings as any ideas, values, or intentions of the killer. (“Celestial Lands,” November 8)

Veterans Day

On Veterans’ Day, Jaqueline Wolven remembers why some people choose to enlist:

I know that the shift has been made where we thank those who serve/served for what they sacrifice. And I do. I just think that there needs to be the realization that it is still poor kids who are fighting these unscrupulous battles. They come from Arkansas, New Mexico, Mississippi – and the countless neighborhoods where money is always tight. They want to make a difference in their lives and the military gives them that chance – but at what cost. Why are we sending our poor to fight wars that have no real end in sight
. (“MoxieLife,” November 11)

The Rev. Dr. W. Frederick Wooden wonders whether soldiers should be called heroes:

Truly some are heroic, facing dangers and rising above and beyond. But most are not heroic in any personal sense. By calling them all heroes, however noble the intent, we subtly tell ourselves they are exceptional, atypical, special.

This is wrong. Serving one’s nation should not be exceptional. It should be normal. Behind all our genuine desire to honor those who serve is a deeper shame that we do not all serve. (“Aside from the Obvious,” November 11)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum uses a Frederick Douglass speech to discuss the recent Maine vote against marriage equality:

Would you have me argue that gay and lesbians are people? That their families are families? That their partnerships are true marriages? That their love is love?

Would you have me argue that people are entitled to love whom they love? That they are the rightful deciders of whom they shall spend their lives with?

What, then, remains to be argued? Is it that hate is not divine, that God does not hate? That which is not love cannot be of God. Who can reason on such a proposition? The time for such argument is past. (“Rev. Cyn,” November 6)

Jaqueline Wolven believes sometimes people need to be forced to do the right thing:

Knowing that I look at the landscape of people shouting about health care and I wonder if this is a similar case. A case where the people will need to be forced to do the right thing. My senators are both reluctant to vote for health care, even though a large percentage of our state’s population are already on some form of federal health care system (AR Kids, Medicare). They are afraid that those that oppose the “right” to health care won’t vote for them and that their jobs will be lost over this decision. I say that they need to stand up and do the right thing and that sometimes the people need to be forced – an unfortunate thing, but one that has been proven in our state’s history. (“MoxieLife,” November 7)

The Rev. Daniel Harper sympathizes with this year’s crop of college graduates:

I’ve been wondering about the people who will graduate from college this year. How difficult will it be for them to find a job? How will the recession shape this assumptions of this year’s graduates? And I wonder how this year’s college graduates will cope with their student debt. (“Yet Another Unitarian Universalist,” November 7)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham discusses the role of sadness in life:

The sadness that is part and parcel of human life doesn’t go away; it forms a foundation upon which we build our lives, recognizing that sadness is not necessarily bad. Sadness makes me think. Sadness makes me appreciate the dear ones whose lives are ended. Sadness helps me recognize how valuable people are, how much they have given me and others. Sadness reminds me that we are all in this together, that the only way out is through, that out of sadness can come action. (“Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show,” November 10)

“Smijer” talks about ethical eating:

I already know there is much wrong with the way we produce and consume food in America, there is a steep learning curve for me on the various difficult, subtle & complex issues. So another thing is to try learning a tad more about it. And as I do, I’ll try to share with you what I learn. (“Tete-a-Tete-Tete,” November 10)