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| | Florida District Connections
June 9, 2011 |
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PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL
WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR CONGREGATION! |
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 | Notes & Comments From Our District Executive
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Notes & Comment by Our District Executive.
I am excited about this year's General Assembly. Not just because it's our 50th Anniversary of the consolidation of the Universalist Church in America and the American Unitarian Association. Although that's pretty cool.
What excites me is a recovery and reaffirmation of our Universalist theology. Unitarian theology may be the gate through which many disaffected by orthodoxy enter our congregations in search of a reasoned and genuine religious alternative. But once you are through that gate, the debate over how many parts God does or doesn't have -- 1, 3, none! -- is not interesting nor life shaping for very long.
It is our faith conviction in the worth of all souls that keeps us going. We have a proud heritage of standing on the side of both love and human dignity. Our faith has called us many a time to stand with those marginalized by the larger society -- dismantling slavery, legitimating women's voices for society, bringing an end to segregation, affirming the humanity of gay and lesbian people and, increasingly, walking our talk vis a vis immigration and the rights of migrants. How good to know we can be counted on to show up and resist injustice whenever and wherever it appears. "Standing on the Side of Love" is not just a new popular hymn. It is an affirmation of our core values.
I see a resurgence of Universalist teaching as our UUA turns 50. Recall, our ancestors asserted that, whatever else the it was/is, the holy is found in loving action. Hence, we were known as the "no hell" church and the "love church," in part because we could not believe a true god would create us frail and then sentence us to eternal torment for our failings. Salvation had to be for all! Today, that translates to a faith that never gives up on anyone. It is one that calls us to know and live the truth: each and all are loved, lovable, and able to love. (We'll save for another time discussing just how hard that can be.)
At the time of the consolidation there was a justified fear the more numerous Unitarians would swallow up the Universalists. Too often, we have short-handed our name to Unitarian, reflecting that bias. Yet, the truly inspiring teaching among us is the call to affirm and to promote human dignity for all souls. The Free Church (oh, had we renamed ourselves that!) is vital and our future is bright as we become known once again and live more fully what it means to be "the love church."
May love bless you and keep you. And may you give it, always in all ways. Rev. Kenn
PS: Scholar Karen Armstrong delivers the Ware Lecture at GA this year. Check out her "Charter for Compassion" (charterforcompassion.org) for a modern version of pure Universalist teaching.
PPS: If you cannot attend GA, be sure to check out uua.org for live streaming, podcasts, and daily reports on the Assembly.
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 | Notes From Our Lifespan Program Consultant |
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I want to challenge your thinking just a little bit.
It seems to me that most religions can trace their existence back to some point at which they differentiated themselves from others. Worshippers of Yahweh not Baal. Christians not Jews. Muslims not Christians. Unitarians not Trinitarians.
From that point of differentiation, institutional religious development focuses on the ways in which the gathered community remembers, respects, honors, and extends that differentiation in story, song, worship, art, music, and all the elements of expression.
The vision, the goal, as it were, of each religious tradition is to embody the universal in the most meaningful past form of the particular. (Yes, I know, a careful reading of this sentence will suggest its oxymoronic nature . . . or at least its ironic nature.)
So, we learn to teach our story ("this is my story, this is my song,. ."; "this little light of mine. . .") as a central element of our religious education.
But what if we inverted the process, and rather than focus on what makes us different, we focused on what connects us, and therefore leads us to the universal. What would religious education look like if it were based on the inclusive, empowering, multi-cultural, accepting, welcoming world we envision?
Who would be the heros and heroines of such an approach?
What would be the sacred sources?
How could one form an identity based on vision rather than heritage?
I would love to hear from y'all as I explore this idea in my summer musings and ponderings. We claim to be a religion of vision and values - help to shape a new understanding of how that can be communicated, explored, and understood by all ages.
Randy Becker, your Acting Lifespan Program Consultant |
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Trustee News | | | |
 UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund, June 2011
jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727
June rolls around each year and that means UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, this year in Charlotte, NC, from Wednesday June 22nd to Sunday, 26th. I look forward be being with many of you. I hope you will be at the Florida District Ingathering. Check the program book for time and location on Wednesday. As you prepare to attend GA please go to our UUA website and link to the GA agenda because there are several important bylaws changes on which we will vote; and there will be mini-assemblies focusing on them.
At times I have occasion to look at the mission statements of the congregations in our District. Without exception (so far) there is reference to being involved in the wider world of social justice ministries. How does your congregation choose and evaluate the justice ministries priorities in your community? At the April Board of Trustees meeting we were involved in Right Relations training led by Taquiena Boston, Director, Multicultural Growth and Witness and Leslie Takahashi Morris. They suggested organizations/congregations might look at four areas when considering social justice endeavors: grounding, accountability, fit and opportunity.
Grounding in an issue is authentic and deep UU roots and how it is linked to the current identity and theology/philosophy of our faith. This includes the spiritual and ethical basis for the congregation's choice. Do the members' engage and live their experience on a particular justice issue and is there historic UU engagement on the issue in the public arena?
Accountability is being concerned about marginalized groups in the congregation and community. Anti-oppression should be a part of the project and its focus. This would include the congregation's education about how the issue is impacting persons of color, low-income communities, and other oppressed groups. Relationships with other groups who are working on the issue are important. Reconciliation and right relationship must be an outcome of working on an anti-oppression issue.
Fit is the match between the congregation's resources, aspirations, and ability to make a real difference. Fit includes having informed and inspiring leaders, institutional resources and partners. Perhaps there could be a task force devoted to the issue, which would include determining if there is money available for the effort. There probably would be UUA office, committees, groups, publications, and curricula that exist to support the congregation in taking a position.
Opportunity includes the consideration of the likelihood that the congregation will/can be a respected participant in the public dialogue on an issue. A good time for a congregation to act relates to the "hotness" of the issue and if the congregation will/can make a real difference. A UU national campaign, debates in the public arena, and proposed legislation are important to consider in making a decision about social justice projects for your congregation.
Travel safely, fellow GAers. |
| Florida District Resources |
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More Than Money, But Money Matters
Nearly 30 people gathered at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale last month to explore Stewardship Practices. FLD DE, Kenn Hurto, was the presenter. Emphasizing "Money follows Ministry," Rev. Kenn reminded participants that there is no magic technology to stewardship. Instead, he asserted the importance of having clarity regarding your mission, anchoring your programs around your core values, being transparent in your financial goals and reporting, and broadly involving the membership is setting goals based on what is working well. After developing a theology of stewardship centered on attitudes of generosity and abundance, Kenn offered practical steps to year-round stewardship. The workshop concluded with how to handle a canvass that falls short and a reminder to focus on quality worship, graceful member interactions, and involving the whole congregation in every aspect of stewardship.
A .pdf version is available for your download, click here to open.
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It's Hurricane Season!
All our Florida District congregational Presidents, Clergy and DRE's will receive this month a packet of we hope helpful and useful information regarding preparing for and/or recovering from any hurricanes that may come our way this season.
The gist of it is this: know where your members are, have a way of keeping in touch during and after a storm, have a plan for building security and recovery, and know where your important congregational documents -- including insurance!
At any time you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact the Florida District Office or our District Executive. |
| June District Packet & UUA Congregational Bulletin |
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 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 June 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/2011/05/FLD-June-2011-Packet.pdf (.5 MB, 8 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
· More Than Money, But Money Matters! Stewardship Workshop, page 2
· BaCON Beacon Youth Conference, page 3
· Southern Region UU Leadership Experience, page 4
· GA as a Leadership Experience Webinar, page 5-6
· Multicultural Leadership School for UU Youth and Young Adults of Color, page 7
· Restorative CirclesWorkshop, page 8
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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 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 June 2011 UUA Congregational Bulletin |
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Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry Florida |
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Legislative Day Report
 On Tuesday, April 12th, 12 UUs from across the State met at the Tallahassee Church at 6:00 PM for dinner and briefing on Homeless Coalition Issues and "Meet your Legislator" tactics in preparation for our Legislative Day, April 13th.
Tallahassee UULMF Steering Committee member Brian Lee arranged the dinner with members of the Tallahassee UU Church, gave the briefing along with Chair Steve Segner, and arranged for home accommodations for 5 of the attendees. Others stayed by choice at a local motel at a discounted price arranged by Chair Segner.
On Wednesday, April 13, the UULMF citizen lobbyists, working in partnership with the Florida Coalition for the Homeless, lobbied our state senators and representatives to support, sponsor, and vote for a Homelessness Bill (HB 131 and SB 948) that would create a homeless prevention grant program and a Voluntary Contribution Option for Homelessness Relief on Department of Motor Vehicle Forms that would be a new revenue source to help fund homeless services.
We also spoke to our legislators about the employment of the homeless bill (HB 107) which provides a tax credit to corporations hiring a homeless person who
resides in transitional, permanent supportive, or permanent housing facility.
The third bill we advocated for was the Affordable Housing Bill (HB 639 and SB 912) which provides for a set-a-side of FHFC funding for special needs tenant group (includes persons who are homeless, have a disabling condition, young adults formerly in foster care, survivors of domestic violence and persons receiving SSDI, SSI and VA disability benefits), and authorizes the inclusion of affordable housing for seniors in local
comprehensive plans.
For the 2012 UULMF Legislative Day, we hope to attract more statewide UU participants, and include members of other faiths in lobbying our legislators. Whether we partner again with the Homeless Coalition or another organization, we plan to inform our participants of the key issues before and during the event, involve them in conference calls prior to the event, and join our partnering organization at their briefings on Tuesday night, whether they send a representative to us, or whether we drive to the hotel where they conduct their briefing.
Participants found the UULMF Legislative Day to be a rewarding and educational experience, and a great lesson in civic engagement. Our legislators need to hear from us for the causes we believe in, otherwise, the only voices they hear are those of the corporate lobbyists.
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UULMF Proposes Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) for 2011 General Assembly
"SPUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO RECLAIM AMERICAN DEMOCRACY"
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling of January 21, 2010 in Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates to unlimited spending by corporations and other large moneyed interests to influence elections in an endless cycle of TV and radio advertising purchases and messaging that profits media corporations and sways the public to elect leaders that vote in the interests of corporations and media conglomerates. To address this problem in 2011, WE THE PEOPLE need a three-pronged effort for media reform, campaign finance reform, and election reform: any one of them alone is not enough.
Click here to read the complete proposal.
If you agree, please encourage delegates to GA from your congregation to SIGN the petition (150 signatures needed in two days from at least 25 congregations from at least 5 districts) and HELP gather petitions at GA if possible. Email kindramuntz@verizon.net if you can help. Thanks! |
| Around the Florida District - News and Events to Note |
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Sound Mixing Console Available
University UU Society would like to find a good home for their gently used mixer. Learn more
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Women's Retreat
April 27-29, 2011
Florida District Women are invited to join together in retreat April 27-28-29, 2012 at DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center in Ellenton, Florida.
DaySpring, located conveniently off I-75, offers a wooded setting on a cove of the Manatee River. Bring UU women together in a setting which provides opportunities for conversation, sharing herstories, laughter and music, add nature trails, rocking chairs on screened porches, bicycles, a campfire, drumming, more laughter and conversation and you create a memorable experience! We gather together to create and enhance our connections to one another. We will also enjoy good food. Special dietary concerns can be met with prior notification.
Eight women share a cottage which provides four semi private rooms, a common area and screened porch. In addition to the cozy cottages, the center offers two larger buildings which, if needed, can house an additional 12 and 22.
Cost will be the same as last year $220.00 for a semi private room, six meals, and all fees. Private room $272 inclusive. A nonrefundable deposit of 20% will be due with the registration form in September. A registration form will be emailed to all who express interest. Please email or phone your interest to Allie, indigo8062@earthlink.net or 352-861-6303 |
| Things to Know in Our Extended Unitarian Universalist World |
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Massachusetts Tornado Relief Fund
 The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Clara Barton District have established the Massachusetts Tornado Relief Fund to provide relief to the congregations of the Clara Barton District, their participants, and the affected communities in Massachusetts. Funds will be administered by the Clara Barton District.
The Rev. Sue Phillips, District Executive of Clara Barton and Massachusetts Bay Districts of the UUA, shares, "The ministers of our affected congregations send heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love and care that they and their people have already received, and they are grateful for possible financial support to help see their congregants and communities through this hard time. All of us in the Clara Barton District are grateful for the support in the wider UU community!"
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RE Week at The Mountain
 Many Reasons to Come to RE Week at The Mountain, July 24-29!
- If your fiscal year begins July 1, you can REGISTER NOW AND PAY LATER! Complete the registration form and note on it that payment will come with new fiscal year starts. (Hooray for The Mountain for working with us on this!) For more information, click here. For the registration form, click here.
- Coming with kids? The Mountain offers a great program for children and youth while the module and afternoon sessions are happening. The evening events are multigenerational (so are trips to Sweet Treats).
- The newly revised Ministry With Youth Renaissance module will be led by Jesse Jaeger and Dana Poss during the morning sessions and the Rev. Dr. Monica Cummings will be leading several afternoon workshops around the topic of "Pastoral Care for Religious Educators", especially as it relates to youth of color and GLBTQI youth. Monica is the UUA's Program Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color and writes the monthly "Living Mosaic" blog.
- The Mountain is a very special place with gorgeous scenery, great hikes, an evening campfire, labyrinth walk and lots more, including many beautiful waterfalls in the area! And we always find a way to make a trip to Sweet Treats in downtown Highlands, NC, Daily worship opportunities and other self-nurture possibilities such as massage, yoga, healing touch therapy and expressive art workshop.
- Opportunities to network with colleagues abound - from meal times, to social hour each evening, and in "porch chats" over looking the mountains.
RE Week at The Mountain is brought to you each year by the Southeast chapter of LREDA.
Questions? Email or call Pat Kahn, pkahn@uuca.org or 404-634-5134 x211.
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Building the World We Dream About Support
Has your congregation engaged with the UUA's Building the World We Dream About curriculum? Multicultural Growth & Witness staff are looking for people who have facilitated or are currently facilitating Building the World We Dream About workshops so as to support you in your work and help other congregations engage most effectively with this valuable resource.
Please help identify Building the World We Dream About facilitators (of either the field-test or final versions) by emailing their names and contact information to Alex Kapitan in Multicultural Growth & Witness at akapitan@uua.org or calling (617) 948-6461.
If your congregation has not explored this resource we encourage you to learn about it! Please check out http://bit.ly/mgwbuilding or get in touch with Alex at the email or phone number above.
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Cruise from Southwest UU Conference
To all fellow Unitarian Universalists:
Back by popular demand...The YoUU Cruise will set sail from Galveston, TX on October 6, 2011 and we want you on board with us!
This cruise is open to all Unitarian Universalists and will focus on our inner landscapes. Beyond having a great time with other UU's, you can develop a new spiritual practice or share one that has worked well for you. We will be re-charging -filling ourselves up- so we are fueled enough to continue to change the world.
Families are welcome. We will create a fun, safe, and inclusive multigenerational community worshipping and learning together. And there are, of course, many activities aboard for people of all ages. Plus, you will have a full day ashore in Cozumel to spend with your family and friends.
Time is running out to save your spot, so call Gary Ashorn at A&A Cruises & Tours to make your reservation at 1-800-365-8497 today! A deposit of $150 is due at booking. The rest may be paid off until July 25, 2011.
For information on this and other SWUUC offerings, go to www.swuuc.org. Don't hesitate to call us for more information at 817-446-0099.
We are happy to help!
SWUUC Staff
Rev. Susan Smith
Jennifer Nichols
Connie Nolen
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