News from Florida District Unitarian Universalist Association

Florida District Connections

March 8, 2011

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Florida District Annual Assembly

FDUUA chalice logo The Florida District Board of Directors cordially invites you to our Annual Assembly & Business Meeting April 8 - 10, 2011 at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando - the oldest Unitarian church in Florida.

We are privileged to have two remarkably talented presenters this year. Sarah Dan Jones & Janice Marie Johnson will lead us through a day-long celebration and reflection on our identity, our heritage, and our future.

On this, the 50^th Anniversary of the 1961 consolidation between the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association, we ask anew:

Where have we been? How does our heritage inform today's witness?

Who are we today? How has our society changed? How have we changed?

What is our future? What unique mission does the Free Church in America offer to these

times and today's multidimensional, complex and challenged world?

Come be part of the conversation, singing as we go.

Download the complete Assembly brochure - click here

JaniceMarieJohnson SarahDanJones

Sarah Dan Jones

President,

UU Musicians Network

Janice Marie Johnson

Multicultural Growth Director,

UUA

Commitment in Action

Unitarian Universalist Allies for Racial Equity Annual Conference

Fort Myers, Florida, March 25-27, 2011

are logo The 2011 conference of Allies for Racial Equity (ARE) seeks to build relationships and effective organization for white ally justice work. Through worship, community conversation, resource sharing, panel presentations, workshops and small group discussion, ARE's goal is to build a multi-generational white ally anti-racism/anti-oppression community. Join us in organizing for local community and regional action, and in preparing for white ally participation in the 2012 Justice General Assembly in Phoenix. A complete brochure and registration form are available at the ARE website: http://www.uuallies.org/home.html. Scholarships are available, with special scholarships designated for youth and young adults.

Planning Ahead - Florida District Sponsored Events

AVOIDING THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE CURSE - Moving to Leadership Development

Webinar, Led by Rev. Randy Becker

March 10, 8pm

Most of our congregations have some form of Nominating Committee structure, and in many of those congregations being asked (put) on the Nominating Committee is regarded almost as a punishment.

What would life be like if proposing a slate of nominees were an easy end result of a process that developed leaders more than just filled slots?

Join us on Thursday, March 10, at 8pm (EST), for a discussion about some exciting different ways of developing, preparing, and recruiting our elected leadership.

This webinar is open to all by pre-registration: if you are interested in attending this 1 hour (I promise just 1 hour!) online discussion, Contact Rev. Randy Becker at rbecker@uua.org so he can send you the information for connecting.

And part of the process of your preparation for this webinar will be his short video on the subject which will then be available for use with your local congregational leadership in sharing the ideas we will be exploring in the webinar.

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Values/Mission/Vision Workshop

April 2, 2011 ~ 9:30am to 2:30pm

Led by Rev. Kenn Hurto, hosted by the
Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church (located in Jacksonville)

Several of our Florida District congregations are at thresholds, having reached significant mile-stones or are in the midst of a leadership transition. Still others are eager to move off a plateau to grow Unitarian Universalism and their ministries. At such junctures, it is always good to return to basic questions of purpose, identity, and uniting values.

Values/Mission/Vision Workshop Flyer

Values/Mission/Vision Workshop Registration

Notes & Comments From Our District Executive

RevKennHurto Love wins ... Still? Again?

Christianity Today, "a magazine of evangelical conviction," reports a huge storm arising over a book not yet even published on the topic of Christian Universalism!

Baptist Pastor, Rob Bell's forthcoming book, Love Wins, has stirred up a Twitter backlash regarding heaven and hell. This will seem weird to us, but many still have a need to damn people to eternal torment at the core of their faith. The idea that a loving God could redeem even the worst among us offends such a belief.

As I read about this, I muttered, "Oh, that we could evoke such a conversation among ourselves!" Universalism is the far more challenging part of "Unitarian Universalist." While arguments over the Trinity might be the gate through which many come to us, it is the conviction that "love wins" that makes staying worth the while. And it is the hard part!

Even if we're more sophisticated than thinking of justice as an "eye for an eye," you don't have to be orthodox to find the notion of an ultimate forgiveness, well, unfair. Tell survivors of the Nazi holocaust or the 500 year legacy of African American slavery that God will forgive "the master," and you're in for an argument that goes to the very core of spiritual reflection.

Years ago, I spent several spiritually painful hours with a parishioner who was among the Dachau liberators. He said, "I cannot stay in this church if I have to believe in Nazi salvation." My heart was with him. I finally confessed, "I have no ability in me to understand how it could be so, but, my faith is in ultimate love. Any God worth considering cannot be one that creates us frail and then torments us forever for our sins, however grievous."

In the 1840's, our Universalist ancestors argued at length about this. The "Restorationists" (I'd put myself among them) argued for a period of purgation, in which atonement for earthly failing had to happen for salvation to be granted. There is something profoundly offensive, as the Ultra-Universalists averred, in a free-and-clear pass to heaven!

Well, that metaphysical argument may seem quaint, but we suffer still it's impact: Many today yet argue the justice of a society divided into the righteous (my tribe) and the damned (everyone else). The twitter-blasts around Bell's book suggest it's not so quaint yet to many.

What say you? Does love win in the end?

To check out the debate, click here. Rob Bell's video is really quite compelling.

May your ministry balance justice with mercy, mercy with justice. Somehow, love must win!

Rev. Kenn

P.S.: A colleague sends this along, also worth your time: http://www.emergentvillage.com/weblog/Chad-Holtz-What-I-Lost-Losing-Hell.

Notes From Our Lifespan Program Consultant

Rev.RandyBecker2010 The last chapter of our journey around my title:

Acting Lifespan Program Consultant

Consultant? What is that?

A wag once wrote that a Consultant is someone from at least 50 miles away.

I remember a professor of mine in Sociology at New York University who challenged us to try to define what a "professional" is. As we offered ideas such as attributes of specializations, documentation of licensure, appropriate educational preparation, collegial recognition, and the like, he would just shake his head. At long last he said, "Try this on for size . . . a professional is someone who can tell you what you don't want to hear."

Taking that as a starting point, I want to suggest that a consultant is someone who helps you say and do what you may not want to say or do but which you know you should say or do.

A consultant does not come with an agenda for you to fulfill, but helps you to fulfill your agenda. This may mean that the consultant helps you uncover the deeper levels of your agenda and explore the ways in which your role requires certain words or actions.

A consultant brings in a larger world of understanding, expertise, resources, and experience to help your vision, potential, and goals become real and realized.

A consultant is contrasted with a manufacturer's representative, who has something to sell, even if you are not in the position to buy.

So, if you are interacting with me as your Program Consultant (yes, I serve your congregation!), you will find me asking lots of questions. I do this because I believe that, in most cases, our local leaders already have the answers they are seeking within them. This is so consistent with our theology, our belief that our greatest wisdom arises from us and is not imposed upon us.

Through that process of inquiry, the need for additional resources will become evident if we are going to take the questioning conversation to deeper and more fulfilling levels. That is my other role, to provide a wider range of support, information, models, and solutions than might be apparent to a local volunteer leader, or to a professional leader mainly focused on other areas of congregational life.

As your consultant, I go away from any interaction feeling good if you have been empowered to be the leader you want to be, the one your congregation asked you to be.

And it all begins with you saying to me, "Randy, I was wondering about . . ." and then let my questioning and supporting begin.

Rev. Randy

(Got a question for Rev Randy? Send it along to him at rbecker@uua.org)

Trustee News

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund, March 2011

jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727

As many of you know the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) held the January, 2011 meeting in Phoenix, AZ, part of our work in preparation for the 2012 Justice General Assembly (GA) to be held in Phoenix. Monday forty UUs (including several of the BOT) traveled with members of the UU Church of Tucson No MasMuertes group,to the border between Mexico and the U.S. and across into Mexico on foot to witness the humanitarian efforts of some groups and learn of the U.S. deportation process, first hand through personal stories. I wrote a lengthy report which tells of the BOT's meeting and visits/discussions with groups who need our support. The report may be found in the District e-news and on the District web page.

One of our stops was at the Comedor (eating area) in Nogales, Mexico we listened to Lourdes who had been at the Mexican border for three months, first as a deportee, then as a volunteer. Before being "removed" (the word used by our government for those being deported) she had lived in California for almost 20 years and tried to become a citizen. She was desperate to get back "home" (CA) to be with her sixteen year old boy and nine year old girl. On the wall of the Comedor were several posters warning persons not to cross the border, plus maps of the deserts with red dots showing the locations of those who have died in the desert. We heard many stories in Nogales where hundreds are "removed" daily from all over the U.S.; the story from a mother who had brought her eight year old daughter from Atlanta to Mexico to receive counseling for sexual abuse by the child's stepfather; the story of a sixty year old man who had lived in Chicago from childhood. In the afternoon there was a panel discussion with human rights and immigration rights activists.

The next day while a small number of folks returned to Mexico to work at the Comedor kitchen, I was among the group who remained in Tucson and first visited the neighbor headquarters of Tierra y liberated organization (TYLO) and heard from the "We Reject Racism Campaign" activists. TYLO is a grassroots organization that promotes the ideals of equality, justice, and self-determination. They focus on building multiple examples of positive social change and resistance in the barrios where they live. Part of the day was spent at Federal Court house in Tucson where we learned from two immigration defense attorneys of the deportation process, Operation Streamline. This U.S. Government process is designed to wage "war on terrorism" by prosecuting border crossings with mandatory jail sentences. Although illusionary, it is hoped this will deter someone whose family needs food and/or medicine. At this time more than half of immigrant Federal prosecutions are small scale offenders. Almost all of them are prosecuted only for crossing the border without papers. The assassination/murder events on January 8^th prevented our being witness in court to the process.

As you might surmise I could write much more about our trip and the BOT meeting. I may write more in a later column. I strongly encourage you be at both General Assembly 2011 in Charlotte, NC (UU Fiftieth Anniversary) and GA 2012 Justice GA in Phoenix, AZ. At both of these yearly assemblies there will be much preparation and work on the immigration other social justice issues.

Blogging - News & Opinion Sharing Unitarian Universalists

Rev. Naomi King, March 2011

Once upon a time Universalists and Unitarians published millions of column inches of news, worship resources, and opinion through independent newspapers and magazines. Today the inheritors of that print tradition are Beacon Press, Skinner House Books and UU World Magazine. But the new media revolution has brought back the discourse and resource sharing typical to Unitarian Universalism's height.

Blogs are inexpensive electronic platforms for sharing who we are, what we think, and what we're doing. They can be connected to congregational websites, followed on electronic readers, or subscribed to for email delivery. The UU Blog Aggregator (http://uupdates.net/) is like a news service from blogs registered with the aggregator.

Religious leaders and congregational ministries are natural fits for blogging. They have things to communicate more often than your congregational website is conveniently updated. UU World knows how blogging generates and comments on news and offers a weekly round-up of the most interesting issues and themes (http://blogs.uuworld.org/web/?h3 ).

Remember to:

* List your blog on the UU Blog Aggregator.

* Embed or link congregational and religious leader blogs to your congregational website.

* Embed or link blogs of programs the congregation uses (e.g. stewardship, Side of Love, Green Sanctuary).

* Update your blog regularly.

Learn how to blog well by reading the tips from our UUA (http://www.uua.org/socialmedia/index.shtml) and reading other blogs on the UU Blog Aggregator.

Rev. Naomi King Some easy to use blog hosts:

WordPress http://wordpress.org/

Blogger http://www.blogger.com

Typepad http://www.typepad.com

LiveJournal http://www.livejournal.com/

Rev. Naomi King practices digital ministry in part through her four blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. http://experts.patheos.com/expert/revnaomiking/

March District Packet & UUA Congregational Bulletin

stack of paper photo from istockphoto The Florida District (FLD) Monthly Packet

contains flyers for district, cluster and congregation events. Information on non-FLD events of widespread interest are also included.

The March 2011 district monthly packet has been posted to the district website and may be viewed at the following link:

http://www.floridadistrict.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/FLD-March-2011-Packet.pdf (1.27 MB, 22 pages)

Please share the information contained in the monthly packet with individuals in your congregation. This edition of the district packet contains the following items:

· District Calendar, page 1

· District Award Nominations flyer, page 2-3

· District Assembly Flyer, page 4-8

· Unitarian Universalist Faces a New Age-Yet Again!, page 9

· Empowering Lay Ministry flyer, page 10

· Here Comes The CON, page 11

· Allies for Racial Equity 2011 Conference information, page 12-15

· It's all About Us! NE Cluster, page 16-17

· Values/Mission/Vision Workshop flyer, page 18

· River of Grass Grand Welcoming Invitation, page 19

· Media Reform Tour flyer, page 20

· Dr. Bill Schulz Benefit Appearance flyer, page 21

· Bread for the World Workshop flyer, page 22

Looking for a single event flyer? District event flyers are linked to the "Events Calendar" page on the District website (see http://www.floridadistrict.org/?page_id=1419). Simply click the event listed on the calendar and the flyer will open. UUA, Congregation, Cluster, and Affiliated Organization event listings are linked to those entities websites whenever possible.

The complete packet is also linked to the website events calendar (go to the calendar link at www.floridadistrict.org and click the "entire monthly packet" notation above the calendar). Please note this is a large document/multi-page download and may take a few minutes to open if you are working with a dial-up connection and/or older computer.

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UU logo The UUA Monthly Bulletin for Congregations is a collection of announcements and updates from the staff groups and committees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, and from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF).

Click here to view the March 2011 UUA Congregational Bulletin

Around the Florida District - News and Events to Note

News From the River of Grass UU Congregation:

THE RIVER OF GRASS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION IS ON THE MOVE!

The River of Grass UU Congregation in South Florida will host a Grand Welcoming Weekend on April 2^nd and 3^rd, 2011, at their new location, to celebrate moving into their long anticipated new home.

Festivities will include a pre-Grand Welcoming Beatles Music Concert on Saturday evening, April 2^nd hosted and performed by the River of Grass Musicians. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

On Sunday, April 3^rd, the Grand Welcoming will include a Worship Space Dedication, a special Sunday Worship Service, and a Celebratory Luncheon. The festivities begin at 10:00 am.

All are welcome! All are invited!

For more information, please contact Esther Sampol, Community Awareness Chair at communityawareness@riverofgrass.org.

River of Grass Unitarian Universalist Congregation
11850 West State Road 84, Suite 1
Davie, Florida 33325
www.riverofgrass.org

News From the UU Fellowship of Vero Beach:

The Future of Unitarian Universalism

film reel On February 20, the UU worship service in Vero Beach was a chancel dialogue with the following participants:

Rev. Mike McGee (Arlington, VA); Rev. Richard Speck (UUA Joseph Priestley District Executive, Wilmington, DE); Rev. Eugene Pickett (past UUA president) and Helen Pickett (Chatham, MA); Rev. John Burciaga and Linda Lu Burciaga (Newburyport, MA) (she's immediate past president of the UU Women's Federation); Rev. John Corrado (Grosse Pointe, MI); Rev. Kenn Hurto (UUA Florida District Executive); and, of course, the UUFVB minister, Rev. Scott Alexander.

A video is now online and available for those of you who requested a download. The video can be found here (web page to play or download): http://www.uufvb.org/sermons.html.

Cluster, Congregation & Affiliated Organization Events

March 11 to 13 - Here Comes the CON, Beacon Youth Conference, University UU Society

March 19 - West Central Cluster Immigration Justice Workshop and Panel, UUs of Clearwater

March 26 - Northeast Cluster Spring Gathering - UU Fellowship of Vero Beach

March 26 - Do Human Rights Have a Future? Lecture with Rev. Dr. Bill Schulz, President and CEO of UUSC - UU Fellowship of Vero Beach

Other News & Invitations

Peace Initiative Speakers Series, UU Fellowship of Charlotte County , various dates January - May, information flyer is in the FLD January packet

The Florida Humanities Series 2010-2011,The Emerson Center/UU Fellowship of Vero Beach, various dates through April

Job Opportunities

UU Congregation of Greater Naples is seeking an Acting Director of Religious Education

UU Church of Roanoke, VA is seeking a Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Click here to go the FLD Job Opportunities webpage

Things to Know in Our Extended Unitarian Universalist World

Be an off-site delegate for General Assembly 2011

Can't attend General Assembly 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina?

Are you a congregational delegate, minister, or credentialed director of religious education?

You can still participate!

Be part of our 50th Anniversary Assembly and represent our Association.

Apply to be an off-site delegate today at http://www.uua.org/offsitega.

Unitarian Universalist Growth Lab Launched

uu growth lab clip Last month, our Ballou Channing District's growth consultant, Peter Bowden, has created a new Facebook page inviting your participation in the conversation regarding our future. Of the UU Growth Lab, Peter writes:

Purpose: To serve as a free space and think tank for Unitarian Universalist change agents interested in exploring ideas, approaches to ministry and beyond. A number of innovation oriented friends and colleagues have expressed interest in a Facebook group where we can exchange big ideas, brainstorm and the like in a safe environment. By safe I mean a space where the purpose is to generate ideas that challenge our old models for doing church and ministering in the world. I believe having a dedicated space for this, a space where challenge is invited, makes it safer for participants to share ideas that might be frowned at if shared in other contexts.

You can join the Lab by going to: http://www.facebook.com/groups/uugrowthlab

Friends of the UUA"Double Your Gift" Challenge

Great news! Right now, if you make a gift to Friends of the UUA, your gift will be doubled!

A special group of dedicated donors including members of the President's Council, an advisory group within our movement, put their faith into action by generously offering to contribute up to $125,000 to Friends of the UUA as a matching gift challenge in hopes of inspiring you to act generously.

Time is of the essence. The challenge funds-up to $125,000 dedicated to the UUA's most vital programs and initiatives-will only be available for a limited time. Please don't let this opportunity slip away. Please make a generous gift today.

A Religion for Our Time Videos

The Unitarian Universalist Association has released additional videos in the exciting series, "A Religion for Our Time."

Episode Thirteen, "Opening the Doors to Diversity," illustrates how First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has begun the process of transforming into a multiracial and multicultural congregation. For years, the congregation talked about becoming more diverse, especially as their surrounding neighborhood became home to more and more immigrants.

After learning about the Diversity of Ministry Team (DOMT) Initiative of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), First Parish turned talk into action, and made a commitment to participating in the DOMT Initiative. With support from the UUA, the congregation has engaged in an intentional process of education and conversation about multiculturalism, established a Transformation Team, and called Rev.

Lilia Cuervo as the congregation's first settled Latina minister.

"The most difficult part is the preconceptions, the prejudices that people have..." explains Cuervo. "We try to open to other cultures, to appreciate other cultures. Not to 'tolerate,' but to really understand, get to love, and get to embrace other cultures."

View the six-and-a-half-minute video:

http://www.uua.org/multimedia/religion13

Episode Fourteen, "Joining Voices," gives a behind-the-scenes look at the joint Association Sunday service planned by seven Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations in South Central Pennsylvania.

Thanks to more than two hundred volunteers, the November 2010 joint service included an orchestra, an intergenerational dance troupe, a robust choir, and a sermon by Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Peter Morales. Worshipping together builds community among the congregations and gives participants a sense of the broader UU movement.

"Many of our members have never been UU's anywhere else," explains Rev.

Judy Welles, co-minister of the UUs of the Cumberland Valley congregation. "So to come into a much larger context...where they see, 'oh we're really part of something much bigger,' is very healthy."

View the five-minute video: http://www.uua.org/multimedia/religion14

Episode Fifteen, "An Auction with Heart!" spotlights the Outreach Auction at Central Unitarian Church (CUC) in Paramus, New Jersey.

Inspired by a charity auction at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City, members of CUC are in their tenth year of holding two annual auctions. While the spring auction raises money for the congregation, every dime from the Outreach Auction in the fall goes to local charities.

"Don't listen to any naysayers, just do it," says Celia Mendelsohn, co-coordinator of the Outreach Auction. "You will raise funds, even if it's what you feel might be a modest amount, it's going to grow over the years. You will not lose money to pledging. You might even see your pledges increase, because it's a wonderful feeling to belong to a church that does this."

View the four-minute video: http://tinyurl.com/RFOT15

"A Religion for Our Time" highlights inspiring work in Unitarian Universalist congregations, including innovative projects relating to worship, social justice, membership, and fellowship. New episodes are added to this page: http://www.uua.org/multimedia/religion/index.shtml

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry Florida