Five Steps to a Humane Life

By Rev. Robin Gray 

Confucius said: “You are humane if you can practice five things in the world: respectfulness, magnanimity, truthfulness, acuity and generosity.”

The sage Confucius wrote to clarify for his audience ways in which wise beings should comport themselves in social relations. He sought to inspire families, workers and governments toward good practices in their relationships. His goals were practical and yet elevated by the promise that improved interactions offered his contemporaries. That promise infuses his words with import that we cannot ignore, even 2,500 years later.

Though Confucius never imagined us, we share his dream of being humane. We want to be a people who exemplify the best of human attributes. Therefore, we can consider whether the five disciplines Confucius points toward are still an excellent foundation for humane living in our little corner of the world.

Respectfulness: The practice of holding other human beings in high esteem and treating them with care never goes out of style. In our times, the word “respect” has a tinge of the hierarchical about it, suggesting that some are indeed deserving of more or less respect because of their station, accomplishments, gender, age or status. Yet, the attitude of respectfulness as it arises in one person’s heart need not be governed by considerations of relative position in society. Respectfulness as a discipline requires extending positive regard to all the people we meet.

Magnanimity: Magnanimous people are slow to take offense. They do not see offense where none was offered, and they don't keep any kind of inventory of minor offenses even when the offender acted with intent. Magnanimous people are not to be confused with doormats. They know when they have been offended and they are resourceful. They are able to enlarge their thinking, address their feelings, and extend forgiveness to others. In churches, as in Chinese society, the mutual practice of magnanimity takes the sharp edges off our interactions with each other. We can address slights or offenses with open minds and hearts. We can see how our own actions might offend others and offer sincere apologies when needed, practicing a bit of magnanimity in our own behalf.

Truthfulness: Being true to oneself, speaking the truth in love, and being honest and forthright in all our interactions are phases of the truthfulness that lead groups toward greater cohesion. Yet, the truth offered to others must always be accompanied by respect and magnanimity. Criticisms disguised as “truth” are wolves in sheep’s clothing; they might seem harmless, but they have a ferocious bite. Anger and animosity dressed up to look like a “truth you should know for your own good” are equally dangerous. The only truthfulness we can offer each other is the truth of our own experience; our own feelings, our own hopes. Everything else has sharp teeth and long ears.

Acuity: The word suggests having a keen vision, as well as the wisdom to move toward it. As individuals, we have to have a vision for our lives. A clear, sharply defined vision helps us to focus on goals and to reach toward those goals. Acuity also helps us to determine whether this vision or that is a good fit for our skills and limitations. With a vision in mind, we know when we’re missing the mark as well as when we are on the mark. Acuity encourages us to evaluate, judge, and refine or redesign the vision so it remains in focus. A keen vision, shared by the members, also helps to build cohesiveness in a group. Acuity isn’t the shining goal itself, but the vehicle that helps us move toward the vision.

Generosity: Generosity begets gifts. People can be generous with their time, their energy, their money, and their talents. Generosity arises in the intersection between what we have and what we are able to give away without regret. Regrets are useless once the gift has been given. More time may be lurking around the bend. We might find our energies renewed. More money can be earned. Our talents may expand in days to come, but the gifts of each, once given will not return to us. This is the ultimate lesson in “letting go.” Generosity does not seek an accounting for its gifts. It learns to rejoice in the abundance that made the gift possible.

I can only imagine that our community will benefit if we each seek to carry these five practices into our life together. May it ever be so.

Truth in Advertising

By Chandra Snell

We’re all familiar with them:  The dumb blonde or jock. The homely, repressed, spinster librarian. The clueless dad left all alone to do laundry, or—horrors—watch the kids. I could go on, but I’m sure you have a few of your own you could add.

I’m talking about stereotypes, of course. Said to be based on some partial truth (this is debatable), they provide a superficial, quick way of assessing individuals when little information, other than readily observable traits, is available. 

Some stereotypes may be thought of as harmless, or even beneficial (i.e. Asian Americans as “model minorities,” though they are beginning to chafe at this label); others are unquestionably harmful. The problem with any stereotype is that it reduces individuals to categories based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc., without taking their individuality into account.  For example, is “woman,” “gay,” “Indian,” the sum total of all there is to know about anyone? Most people of reasonable intelligence would say not. Why, then, are Americans as a whole so tolerant of persistent stereotyping in the media?  It could be just me, but the problem seems to be getting worse. 

There was a time, in the not-too-distant past, when I would experience a quick burst of righteous indignation, or, more likely, mild irritation, upon witnessing the more flagrant flaunting of stereotypes in the media, then peacefully resume my day. But now—whether due to advancing age or the fact that, as a mother, I care more now than before about the state of the world my child will inherit—my tolerance threshold seems to have radically decreased, and continues to diminish.

 A couple of years ago, Chevrolet had a commercial, in heavy rotation, particularly on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel, which it called “America the Beautiful” in celebration of its 100th anniversary. The commercial featured sepia-toned photographs harkening back to a time in the country, when, apparently, there were no Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Indian people, no single-parent households and, most assuredly, no gays. Only White people are featured: postwar, wholesome, nuclear families and carefree friends sharing the joys of their Chevrolets. All this with, ironically, Ray Charles singing his soulful version of “America the Beautiful” in the background (and produced during a time when we have our first U.S. president of color).

Incensed, I went to Oprah’s website intending to ask how she, as a woman of color, could countenance running such an ad on her network. But, unable to find a viewer feedback section (my heightened nerves may have been to blame), I went to Chevrolet’s site and wrote:

“Re your new commercial featuring the song ‘America the Beautiful’: Really? I am disappointed that, although an African American man is performing this iconic song, no African Americans—or any other people of color, for that matter—are shown. Have African Americans and other people of color not purchased Chevys over the years? What ‘America’ are you living in? The vision of this country that you are apparently trying to evoke does not exist; in fact, it never existed. Really Chevy—this was a bad call. What were your marketers thinking? I have spoken to other African Americans, and they feel the same.”
 
Two days later, a Chevrolet Customer Service Specialist named Aya e-mailed me. The response read, in part:

  “… As the world’s largest automaker, GM markets vehicles to all Americans, and we value all of our customers. We are highly interested in learning about the experiences and opinions of our customers. This type of information is very important to us in evaluating public reaction to our advertisement.

Feedback from customers like you is very helpful to us. We have taken your comments very seriously, and they have been brought to the attention of the appropriate people in our organization for future consideration. Because of your concerns, we will review and continue to monitor our advertising practices to ensure they are consistent with our policies.”
 
Now, you may scoff, but I never saw this commercial again. Of course, I’m not presuming that it was discontinued as a direct result of my lone complaint, but I, at least, never saw it again.

Contrast GM’s response to my feedback with that of Progressive Insurance, which is currently running a commercial, part of its popular “Flo” series, which fairly revels in stereotype. The commercial features a loud, fat, aggressive African American woman shouting, “Where’s Flo?!” When she accosts Flo, Flo cringes as if she’s about to be smacked. Enough said?

Encouraged by GM’s positive reception of my note, I e-mailed Progressive last month, writing:

“I am a Progressive policy holder, and I am highly offended by the most recent ‘Flo’ commercial featuring a ‘stereotypical’ African American woman. As an African American woman, I believe this loud, pushy, overweight caricature is a derogatory representation. Just as you ended your highly offensive ‘Chinese restaurant’ commercial, please end this one, or replace it with a normal portrayal of an African American woman. Most of us are not loud and pushy. Please do not perpetuate this harmful stereotype. I have spoken with other African Americans who feel the same way. Do you not conduct focus groups before you release new ads? If you do not do something soon, I may switch to another insurance company.

The next day, a Progressive internet representative Aimee C. responded:

“We make every effort to deliver a positive message that will appeal to all our customers. I’m sorry to hear that for you, we missed the mark. We take your feedback seriously, and I’ve already passed it on to our advertising department …”

Needless to say, my e-mail has had no discernible impact. In fact, the commercial seems to have gone into even heavier rotation since my e-mail to Progressive. I don’t know whether Aimee C., forwarded my note to the appropriate department, or assuming she did, whether anyone even read it.  Now of course, I didn’t expect that my threat of cancellation would leave Progressive quaking in its boots, but I seem to recall hearing somewhere that one consumer complaint is considered by large companies to represent 100,000 consumers who don’t bother to make contact.

I’m sure many people find the ad funny and/or amusing. Their positive feedback likely outweighs my objection by far. So what does this all have to do with Unitarian Universalism?

 “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” is the first of our seven principles. When we tolerate the propagation of seemingly harmless stereotypes in the media, by either not speaking out and/or continuing to financially support the purveyors of such stereotypes, we are complicit.

And lest you think I’m overreacting, stereotypes taken to the extreme, as we’ve seen in the George Zimmerman case, can, and have, had tragic consequences. Zimmerman assumed that because Trayvon was Black and wearing a hoodie, that he did not belong in Zimmerman’s neighborhood and was a physical threat to him. (For more information on Unitarian Universalist  response to the Zimmerman case, see Lynn Unger’s “I’ll Stand Her Ground” in the Fall 2013 issue of UU World.)

“Every individual” should mean that each and every one of us is taken to be a unique entity, and not a mere representation of some random, socially constructed category. One characteristic, however you define that characteristic—gender, sexual orientation, race, etc.—does not define an individual. Any transgression of a person’s individuality should not be tolerated. 

Musings at the UUA Musicians Conference

Angel deArmendi, UUCT’s music director, recently attended the Unitarian Universalist Musician's Network National Conference in Dallas.  He shares his reflections on that experience in the following blog.

It is 5:30 p.m.  All the buses have left for the hotel.  I stayed behind at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas to be able to play the beautiful Steinway grand piano in the Sanctuary.  It is Thursday.  I have not touched a piano since Sunday morning at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee. The days have been crammed with countless workshops, choir rehearsals, plenary sessions, long classes.  I will forgo dinner to enjoy some privacy at the church. I want to practice the Intermezzo I will be playing for worship tomorrow to hundreds of UU Music Directors from all over the U.S. and Canada.  

“Around springtime, the Mexicans show up at first light to plant fresh flower beds all around the mansions of Highland Park.  The rich folks in Dallas want to enjoy a little springtime of their own even if by sunset the flowers are burnt.  It does not matter, the Mexicans will return the next day to plant fresh flowers; it is something you get used to when you live around here”. 

The organ starts rumbling.  I turn around just to see who is up there, and the FUCD Music Director waves.  He knows I am playing the Brahms tomorrow—his favorite piece—but he has to practice.  He is playing the postlude for the Saturday service.  The Sanctuary  looks a bit stiff with its long pews, but very spacious.  Did I just spot another Steinway in the choir alcove? Yes, it is definitely there in all its glory— five paces from the organ.  Two Steinways sit quietly while the organ is blasting away and I have no chance at either of them. 

“Have you tried the cupcake ATM?, cupcakes galore 24/7!”

The map by the entrance of the elevator shows a chapel by the side entrance. I check to see if they have a better piano over there, it is a chapel after all.  The door is locked; maybe that lady I passed by in the hall has keys.  Yes, she does.  It is a small chapel, intimate and austere… with an electronic keyboard in the corner.  Almost anachronistic, I always thought that chapels were more “traditional.” Well, it is almost 6:30, time to head back to the Sanctuary to practice the Brahms.  My stomach starts to growl. 

“Christmas is my favorite season in Highland Park.  The houses and trees are all lit up with lights, up to the tree tops.   Are you wondering how they get up there?  Well, you can earn $30,000 putting lights for just one house.”

Oh my, the church was empty but where did all these children come from?  They are all running to the apse, where  the other grand piano sits, about to be played by a lady who is announcing that the rehearsal will go on until 7:30. “We have just one hour, so let’s start.” she says.

“I really like it here, my father is English and my mother is Mexican.  I happen to have the Mexican look, which sometimes bothers me.  When I go shopping, occasionally employees tell me the delivery entrance is out back but I tell them I am a customer and they leave me alone.” 

It is 7:30; the choir rehearsal has just ended.  I am walking in with determination.  I have to practice the Intermezzo.  I suspect the acoustics are not the best with all the carpeting on the floor.   John Hubert, a Music Director from Colorado walks in and greets me. He is about to set up for the Singing Meditation service at 8:00 p.m., and asks if I want a program.  I give up and say yes.  Tomorrow will be another day.  I am exhausted from being up since 6:00 a.m., and very hungry. 

The service starts and the chanting is a balm to both my body and spirit.  I lose myself in the experience with a new-found thirst, and I let go of all the conversations about money and consumerism, about thousands of SUV’s parked outside, about George W. Bush’s neighborhood.  During the love offering, I light a candle to my mother.

Not Holier Than Thou

There are times when being a minister brings an abrupt halt to all conversation.  One of those times is when someone swears.  It goes something like this, “Expletive!”  Long pause, while speaker looks at me —often with a sheepish grin —“Sorry, I shouldn’t swear in front of a minister,” the guilty person apologizes.

Now, of course, all eyes are on me and it’s my turn to hit just the right note of saintliness. I’ve tried making a weak joke, something on the order of  “You’re forgiven…this time.”  I’ve ventured a brief version of the theological constructs suggesting that clergy shares a simple humanity with everyone else.  I haven’t yet tried responding, with a dead pan:  “That’s okay, I swear like a sailor myself.”

The truth, of course, is that I do swear, because I share humanity and basic biology with every other human being on the planet.  Nearly every language contains a compendium of swear words.  Swearing shares traits across those languages.  The two major categories for swearing remain constant:  they usually relate to deity or to body parts and bodily functions. For example, fans of the movie Gone with the Wind will remember the famous line Clark Gable uttered as he turned his back on the plantation.  “Frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn.”

This is, of course, a short version of the epithet which calls upon the deity to destroy forever ones foe.  Skipping across the generations to another memorable movie scene, those who absorbed the dark humor of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, may also remember the one word that echoed through the canyon as Butch and Sundance jumped off the cliff to the river below. (Sh---t). A third category of swearing relates to relatives.  I’ll let you recall an example of that on your own.

I swear, but, like many of you, I try not to let loose in public very often.  I do my really good swearing when I’ve botched up a project I’m working on, or when I’ve managed to slice my finger instead of the loaf of bread, or when I’ve just had it and “I can’t take it anymore.”  Oh, and especially when a computer destroys a half-written sermon, or otherwise makes my life miserable.

I wasn’t surprised to learn that most researchers think women swear less than men, and only a few posit the theory that women may swear as much as men —but, in more specific situations.  I was surprised to read that women swear in groups of women as a sign of trust. I can confirm that women swear more easily in a group of women.  I’d always thought of that swearing as a sign of feeling free from a male-dominated culture. I’d never thought of it as a signal of the bonding with the group.

Which brings us to the question of what purpose swearing serves— which also begs the question of whether good people, or those who are presumed to be saintly (like ministers), should pursue a cultural taboo against all swearing.  Brain biology suggests that swearing will always be with us.  Swear words are remembered and processed differently than other language.  The words themselves are remembered as whole units, and they are processed in the lower regions of the brain devoted to emotion and instinct. Some studies show that people who’ve suffered brain damage that left them aphasic (unable to talk) can still swear.**

It’s good to know that someday when my brain has dwindled to the size of a walnut, and when someone apologizes for swearing in front of a minister, I won’t have to search for a witty or forgiving response, I might just swear back at ‘em.

** Tracy Wilson, How Swearing Works, http://www.howstuffworks.com/swearing.htm. Accessed August 2009.

In Appreciation of Leaders

There are many people who deserve heartfelt gratitude from the congregation. Some are acknowledged for their contributions in the moment.  I'm thinking of the applause that is raised in thanks for soloists and choristers at the conclusion of the service.  I'm thinking, too, of the simple "thank you" I hear being offered to people who've helped with a number of duties on Sunday morning, or the quick "thank you" I share with people for their participation in the service. 

In addition to the small moments of gratitude, it is sometimes fitting to share thanks for the men and women who are stepping aside from positions of leadership in the congregation. One time when gratitude seems fitting is at the end of one year and the beginning of another. This past Sunday, we spent just a few minutes sharing gratitude with seven people who've held a variety of positions in the congregation.

I want to share those stories with you again...and invite you to consider taking a moment to write your own words of thanks to these folks. 

First, the person to whom we owe the greatest thanks for his service over many years. Tom Chase's dedication to the position of Collecting Treasurer has spanned twenty-two years.  Twenty-two years of shepherding the collection from the collection baskets to the bank, and more importantly, to the financial accounting systems.  Tom has had to be a detective trying to discern where people want their unattributed donation to go; and a mind reader to figure out if your check was meant to count against your pledge or some purpose. He’s also had to muster twenty-two years of collector’s reports, and attend twenty-two years of Finance Committee meetings.  He’s done it all with a singular dedication to the task, and to getting the job done right. Thank you, Tom, for supporting the congregation with your essential contribution. 

Over the past few years, Tom Moore has served as President Elect, President and Past President. During his tenure on the Board he was instrumental in organizing and fundraising for the Veranda Project. He, along with all the other Veranda Project Committee members, and all the good people who made generous donations to support the Veranda Project, have left us a lasting tribute to the efficacy of  "team work." Thank you, Tom, for years of enthusiastic leadership.

Kay Cleary served the Executive Board and the congregation as Secretary to the Board. She not only took notes, she helped to keep the Board on track when enthusiasm for a topic led them astray.  “Wait a minute,” she’d say, “what motion do you want me to capture...or, is there a motion?”  Sometimes a motion hadn’t yet been put forth, but, the Board was ever ready to take action anyway.  Even if there was a motion under discussion it was often a moving target; changing in a whirl of conversation.  Thank you, Kay, for helping, always graciously, to document the Board’s wishes.

John Sample served as Vice President for Worship, and in that capacity also as the chair of the Music Committee and the Program Committee.  In January he stepped down from the Vice President's position to devote his attention to only being the Program Chair, responsible for organizing guests in the pulpit 24 weeks in a row. Thank you, John, for moving from the frying pan to the fire. 

Kristen Coyne has been an effective voice for bringing the Covenant of Right Relations before new generations of members at UUCT.  Serving on the Committee on the Ministry for three years, she helped organize several cross-generational friends events. In this past year, while serving as chair Kristen insured that the congregational survey was conducted, and carefully evaluated. The report now rests with the Executive Board.  Thank you, Kristen, for helping the congregation to live up to it's goals for right relationships and shared ministry. 

Jennifer Carver, working with the other members of the Nominating Committee, has seen enormous turnover on the ten person Executive Board. Finding new leadership is never an easy job. Last year, they filled five positions, and this year two positions. Thank you, Jennifer, for finding dedicated candidates to fill key leadership positions in the congregation. Our future is more secure because of your efforts.

Sheri Stronach will be moving in August after completing her PhD program; and so, I wanted to offer her a bit of gratitude now. It would be hard to count the number of sleepless nights Sheri has put in as a youth advisor. She has been called upon to attend numerous weekend cons both at UUCT and in other congregations around the state. Thank you, Sheri, supporting Beacon TRYBE as they have been growing in numbers and strength.

-------------

Two simple words -- thank you. You who brought your own style and hopes to your tasks, you who made every job your own, you who can't be replaced...you who can accept our gratitude.  We know you were never looking for gratitude, but were only trying to do your best for your congregation. And, for that our gratitude grows.  Thank you. 

The Novel That Made a Difference

It first appeared in weekly installments, and then was gathered into two volumes for publication. The author was the daughter of one prominent preacher, and sister of another preacher who was known as one of the most capable orators of his day.  She married a noted Biblical scholar, who helped to establish public education in the United States. Her father once noted that she was so smart, he wished she'd been born a boy, and her brother Henry Ward Beecher had been born a girl.

Both Beecher children outstripped their father's expectations. It was Henry who became even more famous than his father and Harriet who authored Uncle Tom's Cabin. After appearing as a serial the story was popular enough to warrant a first printing of 5,000 copies, then 10,000 and 50,000 more. In the first year, 310,000 copies were sold. Many of them were read aloud to others in book groups, and some estimate that the book was familiar to three million people.

Tom and Little Eva by Edwin Longston Long

The influence of Uncle Tom's Cabin didn't end there. Two playwrights took the story for their own, creating extremely popular versions for the stage. George Aiken's version of Uncle Tom's Cabin was so popular that it changed theater going. The play incorporated song and dance, and so stood alone as an evening's entertainment, instead of being coupled with variety acts as other plays had been. A matinee was added so that children could attend. The play based on Stowe's work was so elevating that even clergy would deign to be seen at the theater.

Stowe set out with at least two tasks in mind: oppose the Fugitive Slave Law, and display the cruelty of slavery to unmask its moral depravity. She seems to have succeeded on both counts. Many Northerners held the common prejudice that blacks were an inferior race, and they were not moved to act against slavery while they held their prejudice intact.  Uncle Tom's Cabin portrayed whites and blacks as equals in their capacities for love and Christian virtues, including sacrifice. Many Northerners were moved to actively oppose slavery after allowing their emotions to be touched by the book's many tender scenes.

The play reached another demographic. Known as 'rough boys', they were laborers, 'shirt sleeve workers.' They attended the play in great numbers, and many were seen to shed tears. They entered the theater as toughs who may have tormented freed blacks in the past, and left as 'rough boys' who felt compassion for the hardships of people held in slavery.*

One book. One woman.  A woman who chose to defy the willingness of many to ignore slavery and its horrors that they might keep their prejudices (and some said, the nation) intact. A woman who sent her husband or brother to the podium in her stead, because public speaking was still considered an unseemly act for a 'good woman.'

One person, acting from firm moral convictions, can change a million hearts.  A mighty lesson for our time when families are shattered by immigration laws, detainees are held without rights, voting rights are being assaulted, and many are struggling for the right to have their love and lives fully recognized through marriage.  A great lesson in a state that seeks to speed up executions to clear more people off of 'death row' more quickly. An important lesson for anyone who hopes to take a position on higher moral ground, and to encourage others to follow. Talk, invite, write...you can share stories that change hearts and minds, too. 

--------------------------------

* All the information about Uncle Tom's Cabin and Harriet Beecher Stowe was gleaned from: Mightier Than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America by David S. Reynolds. Any mistakes in factual data can be attributed to my faulty memory rather than Professor Reynolds excellent work.  - Robin Gray

What Can General Assembly Mean to You? (excerpts from a sermon)

When, during General Assembly, I posted the six proposed Actions of Immediate Witness on multiple Facebook pages I hoped to bring people into closer relationship with the processes of the assembly.  I wanted to encourage people to imagine what they would do if they were sitting with the 1,200 plus delegates and had to choose between six proposals that had the potential to affect thousands of lives...in Unitarian Universalism and beyond.  A number of UUCT folks took up the question and offered their opinions.

When the votes at General Assembly were tallied the top three Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) were:

A. Consider divestment from fossil fuels

C. Support the We the People amendment

F. Condemn the mass incarceration, killing and mistreatment of young men of color by police

During debate at a mini-assembly, an amendment was introduced to the “Support We the People amendment” which removed all language specifically referring to the Move to Amend and replacing it with more general wording to a support constitutional amendment to preserve the constitutional rights for human persons. The final version adopted was the more broadly defined one, so now that AIW is “Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not persons and money is not speech.”

If  this congregation chooses to consider each AIW seriously they will seek to engage each other in our own debate and discussion processes; and then to take action.

Divestment from fossil fuels:

• You can ask the endowment committee to share information on how our endowment is currently invested. 
• You can learn what guidelines are used to manage investment choices.
• If necessary, the congregation can debate divesting fossil fuels.
• You can ask, how might the congregation as a whole affect the choices, if they chose to do so?

Corporations are not people, and money is not speech:

• You can join with the UU Legislative Ministry as they pursue paths to an amendment.
• You can choose to study We the People amendment, or to consider ways in which our voices might be heard in any amendment process that goes forward.

Condemn the mass incarceration, killing and mistreatment of young men of color

• One good way to better understand the history and present reality of mass incarceration of young men of color is to read or hear the theories espoused by Michelle Alexander - author of The New Jim Crow. Last year's discussion group gave us a head start.  And, for those who don't have time to read the entire book -- Alexander is widely broadcast on YouTube. 
• You could set a target date by which 40 per cent of the congregation (80-90 people) would have pledged themselves to complete some study of the material. Then together, we could learn about incarceration in Florida...rates, color bias in arrest and sentencing, and so prepare ourselves for actions we devise here in Tallahassee.

If we choose to continue to respond to the concerns shared at General Assembly, it can affect the life of our congregation in a number of ways. Attached to the end of this sermon are some suggestions for places to start private study, so you can join larger conversations in the congregation.

....................

General Assembly sends attendees back to their home congregations with sparks and flames of new ideas. I was re-invigorated for the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, which helps to inspire UU’s toward social action. Jennifer Toth, the campaign director, let me revision the campaign as the “people of love”, the people who are at almost every witness for equality and justice wearing orange t-shirts, or carrying a ‘LOVE’ banner. Coming home my energy for inter-faith and inter-group witness met its match when we were approached by the newly formed North Florida Coalition for Immigration Reform. I hope we can gather a good sized group to join the rally at the Capital on July 24th.  I’ve purchased 10 Standing on the Side of Love signs to share with you all.  Come out and share the love.

I was also inspired to think again about the prospects of the Partner Church Council which matches congregations in the U.S. with congregations in Hungary, Transylvania, the Phillipines or (now) Kenya. I immediately thought of the energy congregations felt when they talked about prospects for a UU mission trip, and I connected that energy with the request of a Unitarian Universalist Church in Kenya which is seeking a partner church.

Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council

The Kisii North UU Congregation, Kisii, Kenya is described by Lay Minister Magara, who  writes, “Our congregation is involved in a number of social economic projects to benefit the
congregational members and the entire community and mitigate poverty. We also have a ceramic water filter project meant to benefit the entire community by providing access to pure drinking water.” Here is what they are looking for in a partner: “We are seeking to be in congregational partnership to create a healthy relationship with our partner church to share sermons, visits and help us attain a professional development in our congregation and the community at large. We are expecting to have meaningful contacts and leadership training from a partner in another country.”

Is it possible that this church is the congregation they seek?

___________________________________

What can General Assembly mean to you? 

It’s up to you --
            - convene a discussion online or in person, book a room, show a video
            - join UUCT Sharing on Facebook, start a conversation that leads to action -
                         https://www.facebook.com/groups/UUTallahassee/

1. Invest yourself in an Action of Immediate Witness.....

Consider divesting from Fossil Fuels
                  Fossil Free 
                  Why Investors Must Do More Than Divest From Fossil Fuels, Dan Apfel

Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not persons and money is not speech
                 Move to Amend 
                 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Docket No. 08-205)
                Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Florida

Condemn the mass incarceration, killing and mistreatment of young men of color by police
               read: The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in an age of color blindness,
                          by Michelle Alexander
               2013 George E. Kent Lecture at the University of Chicago 

2. Offer yourself in a witness campaign. Be one of the “LOVE” people. Commit to attend the rally for immigration reform on July 24, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Capital.

3. Gather a group to study the Partner Church Council and congregations seeking connections with U.S. congregations. Consider if this congregation can be a Partner Church.