The excitement is building as Unitarian Universalists from all over the world gather here in the Southeast District next week. We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Unitarians and the Universalists joining together to become one Association. Much will be happening and you might find some of the information below helpful in preparing for your GA week.
And for a great Saturday night option, attend this concert by singer/songwriter Pete Leary from the UU Fellowship of Raleigh
Music of Universal Love (#4024) 9:30 to 11:30 pm Saturday night at the Hilton Mecklenburg Hall
Songs of acceptance, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Pete Leary has presented music programs at SUUSI, UUMAC, and SWIM since 1978 and his song “Roots and Wings” is a standard at many UU churches for coming of age, Mothers & Fathers Days, and other events of transition and is in the Jim Scott Earth and Spirit song book. Known mostly for his quirky, humorous songs, this is Pete’s more serious side with titles like “Three Fold,” “Imagine,” “What would you do?” “Hey, Can’t we get along?” “Soul food,” “Who’ll feed the children?” and others. Pete asks the questions and we find the answers together.
Severe storm fund created - contributions welcome to assist storm victims
April 29, 2011 Communities and families across the South were devastated by the storms and tornados of April 27th! Unitarian Universalist folks in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee have major property damage and are reeling from the effects of the storms. Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was particularly hard hit, and a number of UU families there are without their homes. Mid-South District has established the 2011 Severe Storm Fund to assist Unitarian Universalist families and their communities as they repair their lives and properties after the tornado-filled storms.
Checks should be payable to “Mid-South District,” noted: “2011 Severe Storm Fund,” and mailed to
Mid-South District Bookkeeper 4605 Elkins Ave. Nashville, TN 37209
March 17, 2011 In the aftermath of last weekend's earthquake and tsunami, we are holding the people of Japan in our hearts. The full extent of casualities and damage is not yet known, but we know that Japan will need the support and help of the world community. To that end, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Committee (UUSC) has created a join fund for UUs to participate in the effort to bring assistance to Japan.
To donate to that effort, visit the UUA-UUSC Japan Relief Fund. Visit the UUSC for further updates and information about UU efforts to assist the people of Japan.
Choosing your delegates for General Assembly
March 17, 2011 The Reverend Randy Becker has created a video for congregational leadership to learn a simple 10 step plan for selecting the very best delegates to represent your congregation at General Assembly (also appropriate for the TJD Annual Meeting). It's about 20-minutes long and could provide a great learning experience for your next board meeting.
TJD Annual Meeting Announced March 5, 2011 Official notices of the 2011 TJD Annual Meeting on April 30, hosted by Eno River UUF, Durham, NC, have been sent to each congregation (Secretary and office) and minister in our district.
This year's Annual Meeting will be a one-day affair, as we endeavor to support the 2011 GA in Charlotte in June. We hope that you will attend both meetings.
Embracing Chaos, Risk and Possibility in Congregational Life February 16, 2011 Recently, our next door neighbor and partner in the Southland Region, the Mid-South District, held their 2011 Faith Development Summit. The keynote was delivered by the UUA's Adult Faith Development Specialist in the Lifespan Faith Development Office, Gail Forsyth-Vail. Gail is also a master’s level credentialed religious educator and recipient of the 2007 Angus MacLean Award for Excellence in Religious Education.
Gail's keynote was entitled "Embracing Chaos, Risk and Possibility in Congregational Life". In the keynote, Gail explores the idea that congregational life is changing thus causing us to live in a liminal space or threshold space that can feel chaotic and risky at times. She invites us to embrace those liminal spaces as those are the places of possibility. She says,
A liminal state or space is not safe space or predictable space. It is a characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy. It is also a place where growth and learning and creativity abound. Liminal spaces and places are good place for people of faith to hang out, because there are the places where transformation happens, where we experience change of heart and renewal of life. Liminal spaces are where God can be found.
We are pleased to offer the text of Gail's keynote and a video of the Powerpoint slideshow (no recording was made) for your engagement. We hope it will be a conversation starter in your congregation. See the video of the slideshow below.
Newport News UU Minister Writes Regularly for the Daily Press February 15, 2010 Rev. Andrew Millard is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula in Newport News, VA. Rev. Millard began his ministry at UUFP just this summer and he has already been asked to be one of the Hampton Roads Peninsula ministers to contribute his thoughts to a Sunday column that appears in the Daily Press which serves the Hampton Roads area. He will be contributing about 4 columns over the year. Take a look at his latest column, We are all connected on the highway of life. Another example of carrying our Unitarian Universalist faith into the larger community!
Knoxville Congregations Receive Courageous Love Awards February 15, 2010 Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) and Westside Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, TN were presented with Courageous Love Awards on February 13th by Dan Furmansky on behalf of the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign for "their inspiring resilience, and their long-standing efforts to bring love forth in their community." As you may know, the creation of the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign was inspired by the 2008 shootings at TVUUC in which each congregation suffered the loss of one of their members. Both of these congregations responded with love and courage in the aftermath of the shooting and the Knoxville community itself responded with an outpouring of love. The award is greatly deserved and we are blessed by the witness of these two communities who inspire us to give more love and lean toward justice.
February 15, 2010 Unitarian Universalists from across the country celebrated National Standing on the Side of Love Day on February 14th. Many of our congregations in the TJ District joined in the celebration, one example of our commitment to stand on the side of love occurred in Richmond, VA at what has become the annual rally at City Hall where same sex couples go in to request marriage licenses and are denied. This year coverage of this event and others has been especially good with First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond's minister, Rev. Jeanne Pupke, articulating a message of love, inclusion and justice in a number of media outlets. In one of clips Rev. Pupke mentions that this is her 5th year of participation in this event, a reminder to us all that justice takes perseverance and public ministry means you have to keep showing up. Here are a few examples of coverage:
Small Congregation Experiences Growth Through Outreach
February 10, 2011 Clayton Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, a historically Universalist congregation in Newberry, SC is among the top five congregations in the TJ District in percentage growth (67%) over the past eight years. This growth is the result of a small, but dedicated membership who have been willing to reach out to their surrounding community and to live out their UU values in the world.
One example of the work they are doing in their community is an upcoming event on February 26th entitled, Finding Common Ground. They have invited 5 religious leaders and scholars from a variety of faith traditions including Christianity, Islam and Judaism to a panel discussion on seeking common religious ground. For further information see this flyer or go to the Clayton Memorial website.
We applaud the hard work and commitment of Clayton Memorial in spreading the message of Unitarian Universalism in South Carolina.
Cases Dismissed for Many Phoenix Protesters Including TJD District Executive February 3, 2011 A court has dismissed most of the charges against Unitarian Universalists who were arrested while protesting Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law SB 1070 in July 2010.
Some 30 to 35 Unitarian Universalists were arrested in Phoenix, Ariz., July 29, 2010, in a nonviolent religious witness against SB 1070. On January 20, the Phoenix Municipal Court dismissed cases against 17 of the 20 UUs who were scheduled to appear in court in January, and found three others not guilty. read more from the UU World
UUF Beaufort named 2011 Breakthrough Congregation January 15, 2011 We are very pleased to announce that the UU Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB)has been chosen as a "Breakthrough Congregation" for 2011 by the UUA's Growth Team. Each year, the UUA's Growth Team selects four congregations in four size categories that have shown significant and sustained numerical growth by having done many things well. UUFB is the first Breakthrough Congregation chosen from the TJ District.
UU Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB) is a model for what a small congregation can be when they are united in a common vision. UUFB embodies covenantal relationships within the congregation, their community, and with other UU congregations. Not only have they shown dramatic growth in the past six years - 72% from 2005-2010, they have developed partnerships and relationships that make them a vital player in their community and throughout the district. UUFB's minister, the Rev. Nan White , has been the congregation's only minister in its 11-year history. The congregation has only recently found a permanent home. Rev. White has maintained her office at Penn Center, the site of an early school for formerly enslaved people, founded by Unitarian Laura M. Towne. This has formed the foundation for a strong partnership with Penn Center and has created a focus for the congregation's social justice and community partnership work.
Being selected as a Breakthrough Congregation does not mean that they do everything right. Rather, it means they've had successes that many congregations cannot claim. The whole idea behind the concept of Breakthrough Congregations is "congregations learning from congregations" so UUFB will be creating a video that will be shown at General Assembly in Charlotte and then be nationally distributed to other congregations about how they have achieved their success. They will also be presenting a workshop at GA and will be honored there by UUA President Peter Morales. As a Breakthrough Congregation, UUFB will be asked to consult with other small congregations and be available in the district to help other congregations.
UUFB has just purchased a building on Lady's Island, SC and after some minor repairs plans to start holding services there in February 2011. The Lady's Island location in a rapidly growing area of northern Beaufort County is ideal for the congregation's current membership distribution. It is in a high visibility location on a major road and can serve
a growing suburban population as well as historic minority communities. The buildings have great potential for future church activities, such as Wednesday night potlucks/work meetings for committees, choir rehearsal, youth and adult religious education, and community outreach. A master
planning process is underway to provide for orderly expansion of facilities as the congregation continues to grow.
Please join us in congratulating UU Fellowship of Beaufort on their new building and especially on the honor of being chosen as a UUA Breakthrough Congregation. For more information on what is happening at UUFB, go to their website at www.uubeaufort.org..
Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Celebrates 60 Years December 31, 2010 To celebrate this milestone, church members gathered with Morrill to
share a recent city council proclamation marking the Dec. 30 as Oak
Ridge Unitarian Universalist Recognition Day, and to bury a time
capsule, which will be opened in 2070.
Sixty years ago, on Dec. 30, 1950, the pioneering members of Oak Ridge
Unitarian Universalist Church signed the founding charter. For further details click here.
Items for Oak Ridge Time Capsule ... Photo by Joshua Scot
Celebrating and Honoring ... Photo by Joshua Scot
Unitarian Universalists Counter-Rally in Raleigh, NC December 15, 2010 On Saturday, December 11, about 25 UU’s from area congregations stood in a crowd of about 200 to oppose the hate speech delivered by members of the Westboro (KS) Baptist church. Westboro protesters were in Raleigh to disrupt the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. Despite chilly weather, by Raleigh standards, and a steady downpour, people gathered in support of the grace and dignity exemplified by Elizabeth Edwards and in opposition to the negative and hateful accusations voiced by the Westboro group.
On Friday afternoon, the Rev. Deborah Cayer, minister of the Eno River UU Fellowship sent out a Call for Action of Immediate Witness to the UUCCNC (the cluster of UU congregations in central North Carolina) inviting congregations to join other religious liberals and conservatives who were forming a “line of love” to stand between the protesters and the church where the funeral was to be held. Despite the short notice and heavy rain, UU’s from five area congregations gathered behind the
“Standing on the Side of Love” banner in quiet witness to the power of love over hate. Congregations represented were the Eno River UU Fellowship (Durham), All Souls UU Church (Durham), the UU Congregation of Hillsborough, the Community
Church of Chapel Hill-UU, the UU Fellowship of Raleigh, and UU PEACE Fellowship (North Raleigh). Joining the group were ministers Ruth Gibson, Patty Hanneman, and Tom Rhodes. The Revs. Gibson and Hanneman observed that we were indeed active participants in “the separation of church and hate.”
Submitted by Carole Stephens, UU PEACE Fellowship, Raleigh
Photo by Susan Holahan, UU PEACE Fellowship
New Minister in Local News November 10, 2010
The Rev. Robin Tanner began her ministry at the Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlotte this fall. The local media has taken notice of Rev. Tanner's ministry and she has been featured in several articles. The following links are various articles that have featured Rev. Tanner.
Relief Fund established to help UUs in flood-stricken TN and KY May 5, 2010 Greater Nashville UU Congregation, in the TJ District, 1st UU Church of Nashville, in the Mid-South District, and the UU Church of Bowling Green, in the Heartland District, have been significantly affected by the flooding in Tennessee and Kentucky. Although both of the Nashville church buildings were spared (Bowling Green was not so lucky), UUs in both Nashville congregations experienced catastrophic losses. Because the flooding extended beyond the established flood plains, many of these people do not have flood insurance. Although members from both congregations are helping in with clean-up, temporary housing, and other assistance, it will be only through the generosity of other UUs that the flood victims will be able to get back on their feet.
The purpose of the 2010 Tennessee/Kentucky Flood Relief Fund is to bring practical financial assistance, ministry, and spiritual care to those affected by recent tragic flooding in Tennessee and Kentucky, particularly to those in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, the Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Giving to this fund will support these congregations and their communities in this challenging time and let them know that they are remembered by those in the Unitarian Universalist faith community. The fund is a partnership among the UUA, the affected congregations, and their districts, the Mid-South District, the Thomas Jefferson District, and the Heartland District.
Please donate now to help restore hope for the UUs affected by this flooding. Individual gifts are, of course, welcome and you can live your covenant with other UU congregations in which you pledge your mutual trust and support by taking up a special collection or sharing the plate in your Sunday service. We have exceptionally generous people in the TJ District and we want to thank you, in advance, for demonstrating it once again.
UU World Article UUA raises funds for southeastern flood victims Will help Unitarian Universalist congregations in Tennessee and Kentucky. By Donald E. Skinner http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/162765.shtml
To Donate Donations for the 2010 Tennessee/Kentucky Flood Relief Fund may be sent to the UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108. Attn: Stewardship & Development Gift Processing. Please note “Nashville Flood Relief” somewhere on the check. Online donations may be made at http://uua.kintera.org/TNKYFloodRelief.
Well-attended TJD 2010 Annual Meeting enjoyed historic venue May 4, 2010 he TJD 2010 Annual Meeting held this year at Penn Center, St. Helena's Island, SC, April 30 - May 2, 2010, was clearly one of most exciting annual meetings we have had in the TJD. A total of nineteen children and 219 adults attended the event. The weather cooperated wonderfully and the location, Penn Center, an organization founded in 1862 by Unitarian, Laura M. Towne, as one of the first schools for the newly freed African people of the Sea Islands of SC, was amazing. Even more amazing was the dedication, committment and hospitality of the UU Fellowship of Beaufort. For a congrgeation of 81 members to host a record-size annual meeting was quite a feat and they did it with grace and love.
The theme, Standing on the Side of Love, included an inspiring and moving keynote by the Reverend Chris Buice, Tennessee Valley UU Church. Workshops were led by former UUA moderator, Denny Davidoff, and the director of the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, Adam Gerhardstein, and several of our capable congregational volunteers, Frank Benedetti and Gary Trowbridge (Winston-Salem), Wendy DeGroat (Richmond), Linda Lane Hamilton (Williamsburg), and district staff, the Rev. Sue Sunnamon, and Donna Sequeira. On Friday evening, Leon Dunkley, an ethnomusicologist and Director of Congregational Life at Unity Unitarian in Minneapolis, entertained and moved us with a fundraising concert for an organization that teaches organic farming to children of the Sea Islands.
Five major items on the business agenda were decided:
A by-laws amendment to change the District name failed.
Several bylaw amendments related to policy-based governance all passed
The district budget, including an increase of TJD Dues to $22 for the 2012 church year, was approved
A proposal by the District Board related to the Arizona anti-immigration law passed unanimously (see below).
New district leaders were elected: the Rev. Ann Marie Alderman (Greenville, NC) and Nato Hollister (Eno River) were elected to the board, Jim Key (Beaufort, SC) and Denise Rimes (Richmond) were re-elected to the board. Myrtle Hepler (Raleigh) was re-elected and Lois Cavanaugh-Daley (Raleigh) and Anna Olsen (Asheville) were elected for the first time to the Nominating Committee.
All in all, we had a very successful weekend in which we honored and were inspired by our courageous ancestors, Laura M. Towne and Clara Barton, congregations put the democratic process to the test, and we all practiced beloved community.
For Jim Key's presonal reflections about the name change vote, visit Jim's blog.
UUA Video Series, "A Religion for Our Time" Features Two TJ District Congregations
June 15, 2010 The UUA and President Peter Morales have created a video series highlight inspiring work in Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, including innovative projects relating to worship, religious education, social justice, membership, and fellowship. Two of our TJ District congregations have been featured in the series: the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wilmington, NC and Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church in TN. Please see the episodes below. Well done UUFW and ORUUC!
Video featuring Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church
Episode Five explores the creation of an alternative worship service at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) in Tennessee. When several congregants at ORUUC realized two years ago that they yearned for a worship service with more music and interaction, they started working with the minister to create a "celebration service." They call it a work in progress.
Video featuring Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wilmington
Episode Four presents a creative approach to youth programming from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wilmington (UUWF), North Carolina. What's a compelling way to engage teenagers in a deep, yearlong discussion of theology and Unitarian and Universalist principles? How about a curriculum designed around the Star Wars movies? It's working like a charm at UUWF.
Southeast District of the UUA ♦ 9704 Mallard Creek Road ♦ Charlotte, NC 28262 ♦ 800-549-0751 ♦ sed@uua.org
