Get ‘yerself published!
Share your embrace of scripture. Skinner House books has released an Request for Book Proposal on a “Unitarian Universalist embrace of scripture”. Read the RFBP here. (Attention, it is the second request for proposal on the page.) Proposal Deadline is March 15, 2013.
Religiously Congregating (or Not)
In response to Katherine Ozment’s article “Losing Our Religion”, KJ Dell’Antonia presents an argument for what is gained by not fostering connection with religious community: parents having the opportunity to support their children’s freedom to define their religious identity. We invite you to add your reflection to the debate! – Ed. KJ Dell’Antonia, writing in the New York Times blog Motherlode – Adventures in Parenting, comments on Katherine Ozment’s article “Losing Our Religion” (in the January 2013 issue of Boston Magazine, previously excerpted by Blue Boat) that it might not be a bad thing when parents don’t offer their children access to religious community. Citing Andrew Solomon’s thesis in “Far From the Tree” (that “vertical”and “horizontal”…
New YA Community in DC
Have you heard about what my friend Rev. Erik Martinez Resly is up to? He’s heading up a new type of Unitarian Universalist space in the Washington, DC area called The Sanctuaries, geared towards younger and diverse individuals seeking a faithful community. Watch Erik’s awesome video to learn about the vision he is bringing into reality: Want to learn more? Check out www.thesanctuaries.org.
Life, Sex, and Other Daily Queries
At this year’s General Assembly in Phoenix, we Unitarian Universalists voted to consider the profound issue of reproductive justice over the next three years. Chosen as our Congregational Study Action Issue, reproductive justice incorporates reproductive choice, parenting, sexual health and other issues into a single framework. The idea of “reproductive choice” is, and has been, an important battle over the privacy of women’s bodies, but the “reproductive justice” movement expands the framework to four goals: 1) help people (not just women) have the children they want to have; 2) help people to not have the children they don’t want to have; 3) allow people to raise their children in save and healthy environments; and 4)…
Where IS your Campus Ministry Associate?
Kayla, your uber-dedicated Campus Ministry Associate chose to recover from a busy week representing Campus Ministry at Justice General Assembly in Phoenix by by a red-eye flight Sunday night to attend the Global Conference of Chaplains in Higher Education, held this year in New Haven, Connecticut, Monday June 25–Friday, June 29. This year the conference theme, “Mosaics in Motion: Spiritual Leadership in a Multifaith World” explores the core values of religious literacy, radical hospitality, service with thoughtful reflection and creating and sharing sacred space. Kayla will be posting updates from the conference on the Campus UUs Facebook page – so follow her there!
Overcoming Isolation
“The Chief End of Human Existence” Hi Family, Happy June! For those of you graduating, reporting for active duty in one of the armed services, starting a new job or moving to a new home, congratulations. And for those you who had to drop out of school, are unemployed, underemployed or have given up trying to be employed, I pray that you have a supportive community who will love you through this economically challenging time. When I do not attend Sunday morning services, I usually spend an hour or so reading my favorite UU theologian, James Luther Adams (JLA). This past Sunday I read an essay titled “The Chief End of Human Existence.” The section…
Summer Meditation on Star Island
Meditation & Simplicity Star Island Meditation Week August 25 to September 1 What else to say but click on the link?
One Small Step Toward Equality…
When they write about marriage equality in the history blogs of the future, they will be sure to mention Wednesday, May 9, 2012, when Barack Obama became came the first sitting U.S. president to come out in support of same-sex marriage. Perhaps this will prove to be the tipping point on marriage equality in America, and there are certainly many more battles to win before it becomes a reality. But I think the particular facts about Obama’s announcement, his age and his approach, are the most interesting. Public opinion on a social issue has rarely shifted so quickly as it has with marriage equality, a trend that is largely due to generational changes. Our generation,…
Come Into the Quiet
Connecticut College alumna Samantha Herndon tells a moving narrative of the importance UU campus ministry played in her life. -Ed From my first weeks on the neo-gothic, arboreal campus of Connecticut College, I found myself drawn to the chapel there. Its stern spire and stone exterior gave way to warmth, deep-seated sofas and a calming sense of spirit inside. I had several friends who attended the chapel’s weekly meeting of the Unitarian Universalist group – “Come into the quiet,” the posters featuring chalices proclaimed. I welcomed the thought of a break from the stress of preparing for graduation, studying abroad, choosing and changing majors, and constant reminders that I was 1,200 miles away from my family….
Voices From the Margins
This week Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed was in Boston on his book tour. And I got to see him – twice. What a privilege. What a groupie I am!-Ed. Mark is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister, currently “retiring” as Affiliate Faculty at Meadville Lombard Theological School. He is known for his research and writings on people of color in Unitarianism, Universalism and Unitarian Universalism. (Didn’t know these groups were ever different? Read about our two parent denominations that merged.) His newest book with Jacqui James Voices from the Margins: A Reflection of Meditations, is a collection of meditations and reflections from Unitarian Universalists of color. Over ten years ago Jacqui and Mark collaborated on Been…
