Pictures from GA from Rev. Marian Stewart

Notes from the 2009 Ware Lecture

Here are my notes from the 2009 Ware Lecture, presented by Prof. Melissa Harris-Lacewell - a life-long UU as well as a political scientist and a political commentator. These are just bits that stuck in my ear.

• Faith and reason - the juncture that marks our UU community and our citizenship in a democratic nation. We must embrace both - flinging our arms wide to the expansive skies, and remembering that beneath the sand where we dig in our toes, there are hard-pinching crabs.
• In the aftermath of Katrina, tens of thousands of people, overwhelming black people, were labeled "refugees" and authorities worried more about crime and looting rather than their safety and health. Nearly every African American with whom she spoke in New Orleans believed that racism was behind their disproportionate suffering. Their response was not just emotional - it was rooted in the history of our country.
• It was clear to her that New Orleans could not be rebuilt. She did not want to be part of a country that allowed her people to starve on television. Yet, this is her country. Every part of it, every story of it. She is both the opressed and the oppressor.
• George W. Bush never recovered from his failure to respond to Katrina. The Democratic Party found its first solid ground to criticize the Bush adminsitration - how could an administration incompetent to respond to a crisis in our own country be competent to prosecute a war in Iraq? It was New Orleans that set the stage for Barack Obama's presidential win.
• There have been as many losses as wins in New Orleans. There is still a preferential option for tourists over residents in much of the city. Yet the work to recover and restore continues. The story of New Orleans reminds her that the best social justice work arises from our willingness to fully embrace the battles we are not likely to win.
• There has never been anything false about hope.
• Yet, California went to the polls and voted for Barack Obama with one hand, and passed Proposition 8 with the other. Democrats have aggressively taken "single payer" off the health care reform table.
• Obama warned us, "Get prepared to govern." He warned us. Governing with a friiend in the white house is harder than being on the margins. The crabs are at our feet.
• Bill Gates has more wealth than the bottom 45% of US residents combined. Less than 1% of what the world spent on weapons could send every child to school. Our entire planet is threatened with extintion, while we continue to have a ravenous appetite for everything.
• There is little reason to think a fair and just world is possible. And that is why we cannot rely on reason alone.
• We must create something we have never seen before. Here is the work of religious community.
• Why do black people in America believe that God loves them, when there is so little evidence to support that belief? People who were slaves, who had no reason to believe their children would ever be anything other than slaves too, still believed in a loving God, who loved them.

oops - there endeth my notes! I'm certain that I had another paragraph or two, but it looks like they weren't preserved when I closed up my laptop. Maybe someone else can add the closing thoughts.

Report #2 on UU University - Theology track

Worshiping with the "Theology" track at GA's UU University was an amazingly beautiful way to start the day! We entered to gorgeous music and stunning images from the worlds' religions. The University of Utah Singers provided a capella music for the service, and they were a religious experience just in themselves. The various elements of the service were just excellent, weaving into our minds and souls and calling our every cell and pore into praise, humility and gratitude. Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich (Senior Minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in NYC), presenter of this track, described aspects of the formal Mass/ Holy Communion reflected in Mozart's Mass, and gave us a homily that was elegantly crafted - it connected like a deep gift that simply said "Here. Join me in this moment of meaning and memory." This is the church I want to belong to!

Here are some of the tidbits I wrote down from this morning's presentation:

• "Faith is a leap of the moral imagination that connects the world as it is to the world as it might become."
• "Our brains cannot be changed merely by adding new information or knowledge. What is required is new behavior: a different way of living."
• "Humans are dust waiting to happen"
• "If there were a church of a new millennium, what would it look like? One that embraces mystery, but not magic, one that believes that reason is a source of revelation, not its opposite."
• "The goal of faith and religion is to develop character - to transform our inner lives by the force of our beliefs... Religion is about who we are within ourselves."
• " Worship is where we learn the discipline of gratitude."
• Rev. Tony Campolo: "Rituals keep us from forgetting what must not be forgotten and keep us rooted in a past from which we must not be disconnected."
• Rev. Wayne Muller, in his book "Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in our Daily Lives" (note from Janine - this is one of my favorite books - I highly recommend it!) points out that ritual is meant to be repeated because "We are not supposed to do it right the first time and then be done with it. We are not supposed to do it better each time until we get it perfect... The perfection is in the repetition. This is not about progress, it is about circles, cycles and seasons, about the way time moves, and things we must remember, because with ever faster turning of the wheel it can become easier to forget."
• "The cyclical nature of time reminds us that some aspects of life are not about progress... An hour of worship is an invitation to recall the nature and purpose of our lives as a whole, and to consider how our nature is to be honored and our purpose fulfilled... Each hour is a page in a book of hours that we cumulatively call life."
• "The shadow side of morality is cast by people who create repressive moral rules and try to force everyone else to follow them."
• "We need a higher standard than individual preference on which to base our code of conduct."
• "Find one thing and do it with all your passion." Don't get sucked into overdoing. Just do your one thing. Trust that others doing their one thing will make up the whole.

The cool video for today was U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

The presenter feels pretty good about summarizing the root of UU as Gratitude. In the expansive way he understands this as spiritual practice, it seems reasonable and even useful. My problem with this kind of boiling down to a primary essence is that I'm afraid that most people would say "oh - o.k., that's what we're all about" and apply this satisfying answer very superficially. This would end up lessening our spiritual depth, not deepening it. The important thing, I think, is for each person to engage thoroughly in the search and come to the true, real, deep, boundless and ever evolving meaning of your religion -- and to embody it through constant and challenging spiritual practice. Anything less, I think, is less than we deserve and less than we are called to be in the world.

Report on UU University - Theology track

Here are some notes from the UU University track I attended Thursday afternoon, on "Theology for a Secular Age." This was presented by the Rev. Galen Guengerich, who is the Senior Minister of All Souls UU Church in New York (he was Associate Minister with his predecessor as Senior Minister, the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church). For the past 3 years, UU University has been presented as an "add-on" prior to GA, requiring separate registration and fees. It was developed to support lay leaders, particularly congregational presidents and elected leaders, as well as lay leaders of various church programs and functions. This year, GA is the core programming of the first two full days at GA, running 1-6 on Thursday and 8-noon on Friday. There are 6 tracks and you stay in your selected track the entire time.

Seven key questions are being explored in the Theology track:
1. How do we know what we most truly know?
2. What is the nature of existence and how do we fit into the picture?
3. What in the world is divine - if anything?
4. What is the uniquely human challenge?
5. What is the purpose of faith and the role of religion?
6. What does it mean to be a religious community?
7. How shall we live in order to transform ourselves and the world?

In the 4th century, St. Augustine posited, "I believe, therefore I understand." The presenter, in his program handout, notes that "Children of the Enlightenment move in the opposite direction: not from belief to understanding, but from understanding to belief. We take everything we know into account as we decide what to believe. Enlightened faith never asks us to set aside what we know." Here are some other bits that caught my eye or ear:

• "The main function of religious faith is not to affirm that certain facts are true. Rather, it is to develop a life of meaning and purpose in light of what we know."
• We live in a relational universe. "The first principle of the universe is not independence (each thing that exists is a thing unto itself), but rather the opposite: utter dependence."
• The idea of God is necessary. "In my view...God exists the way beauty exists, but not in the way a person or an apple exists."
• "I believe some religions are better than others. I believe there are some religions we should not tolerate."
• Q: Is "evil" a necessary theological concept? A: "Yes…it's the devil inside." (referenced an INXS song with this phrase)
• Q: Many have been hurt by the word "God." Shouldn't we find our own words for the concept you're talking about? A: Maybe so - I haven't come up with anything sufficient, though. (From Janine: what comes up for me is that no one has been hurt by God or the word "God." The hurt has been done by people who are misapplying that word. How do we intend to pursue healing, other than insisting on avoidance?)
• What do UUs (collectively) believe? How do we answer that question sometimes posed to us by visitors to our churches? This workshop is essentially the presenter's answer to that question. He invited questions to theology@allsoulsnyc.org

Loved that he showed the video of Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." This was an illustration of the feeling of "outsider" that so many feel. Rev. Guengerich says, "Where does the boulevard of broken dreams end? In my church. In your church."

The day's presentation closed in a worship service with live jazz music - how cool is that? Beautiful service, achingly sweet and upbeat all at the same time. Jazz, opening words, jazz, responsive reading, jazz, poetry, jazz, more poetry, more jazz, prayer and silent meditation, jazz, poem, jazz, closing words, benediction, postlude. Mmmm….

Report on GA Workshop: The Multi-Site Congregation Option

Here are my notes on the 2nd workshop I attended Thursday morning, "The Multi-Site Congregation Option," presented by the UUA Pacific Southwest District.

There are several variations of multi-site models - I didn't catch all of these, so I'll have to hunt down a handout on this (or maybe get a recording of the presentation). But some are:

• Regional Campus - Most popular at present (examples First UU Albuquerque - 3 branches, First UU Church of San Diego - 2 branches).
• Video Venue - second most popular - capture sermons on DVD and provide to other sites for use same day or following week
• Diversity of Ministry - Uses different rooms on the same campus. This allows a congregation to provide a specialized ministry to distinct groups within your current congregation - examples include Spanish language, young adult, family ministries.

To work, multi site minsitry must be supported by the whole team - not just the minister or lay leadership or staff. Congregations of 200 to 1000+ are using multi-site models successfully. However, sufficient professional staff really is necessary to sustain the logistics and relational network. It's also important to be clear that there is not a heirarchy among the campuses - not a "mother church" or "primary campus." Your language must scrupulously reflect your authentic commitment to this. Motive for successful multi-site is to spread UU, not to address the needs of a single church (like "we're getting too big - let's spin off multi-sites so we can all stay small").

Style of worship at various sites may be quite different - contemporary (up-tempo feel, high-energy music, more interactive congregation) vs "high church" (lots of words, more one-way talk elements, more passive-receptive congregation). Often, the sermon is shared at all sites but the music and other elements are created and conducted at each site. Be in the "both/and" mindset, don't get stuck in "either/ or" thinking about the worship style that you consider "traditional." If we make the multi-site congregations more compelling to younger people, UU will naturally become more multi-cultural because that's "normal" for younger people. Mostly, this means less talking, more music, high energy, physically involved (not just "head").

These multi-site models are intended to be sustained over time, not temporary "launch" alternatives to start-up a new congregation that will be a stand-alone church "when it's ready." The multi-site campuses are seen as already whole and complete and worthy, not "second rate" to a larger church or "not ready" to be a "real" church. Commitment is to UU, not to a physical site. From the very first, identity is larger than just the local congregation or community.

Multi-site congregations pledge together and share a budget that covers the ministry of all sites. San Diego spent about $90K on the first year of operation, including $20K on equipment and lots of marketing. "You can do it cheaper," says Senior Minister Arvid Straube. Recommends "guerrilla marketing" over direct mail (example - handing out tea bags at community fairs, with tags, "are we your cup of tea?" or chalk on the sidewalks with your web address - get permission from the parks, etc., to do this). Direct marketing was not ineffective for them, but other methods were just as effective for a lower cost and lower hassle-factor. UUA Funding panel, Chalice Lighters might provide some funding help, but the vision funding for start-up comes most significantly from your own congregation interested in becoming multi-site.

Researching your multi-site options includes a good demographic study of your service areas and potential sites.

Large evangelical churches now tend to use the term "teaching" instead of "preaching" for the main segment of their Sunday service, and this element often holds the stage for 45 minutes or more. (Works with an exceptionally talented speaker who can engage the congregation intensely.) Another interesting concept is the requirement to be very intentional about "artist development" - that is the very high quality of every person/group who has a role in worship. Every piece must be excellent and meaningfully contribute to the whole experience to create a lasting impression.

I'll ask the Rev. Dr. Ken Brown, district exec in UUA Pacific SW, if he'll share his PowerPoint presentation summarizing the "multi-site" concept and various implementation options. Maybe we can provide a workshop on this at our own district meeting - several PNWD congregations could make use of these models.

Report on GA Workshop "A Call to Lay Leadership"

These are my notes on some of the comments made at Thursday morning's GA workshop, "A Call to Lay Leadership,"presented by the UUA Board of Trustees. The thoughtful answers participants gave to the faciliator's questions showed a deep understnding of lay ministry.

What does it mean to be "called" to lay leadership? The UUA Trustees believe that team ministry will be effective when lay leaders feel called to ministry, too - not just the professional/ ordained leaders.

• It's telling in how we respond to a crisis. Feeling a call to leadership means we'll stay engaged and committed to the whole community, even if it's uncomfortable for us
• Awareness of and owning our legacy - realizing that everything we do has a consequence, whether we intend it or not
• A call arises from our passions and fulfills the context of need around us - so it's deeply personal as well as communal and service-oriented
• "Called" leaders engage with commitments even after their defined role ends - so when you've completed your term as congregational president, for example, you find a new way to serve meaningfully

What are the challenges of being called to lay leadership? How does a sense of "call" as a lay leader change our relationship to our professional religious leaders?

• Hearing and using wisdom of others, not just doing what you know is the right thing. Being called also means calling others to speak and share their perspectives, and encouraging others to hear & answer their call to leadership
• The loneliness of living your call - you sacrifice some of yourself so that the greater good may be served
• Keeping your church experience from devolving into just the "business" of the church. Holding to boundaries is difficult but crucial. Setting limits to what you choose to do -- you can't do everything; you must do your part and trust others to do theirs
• The true challenge of a lay worship leader is to create sacred space -- it's much easier to just focus on a check list. You must be able to share the power that flows through you in worship
• Minister might be trying to micromanage everything in the church - lay leaders need to be free to follow their own call, too. It feels sacred to meet the weaknesses of the Minsiter with the strengths you can bring (and vice-versa), in order to make a whole
• It can be awkward to provide coaching from lay leader to professional minister. Also, you have to manage your feelings after you've had a lot of attention from the minister (as board president, for example), and then it has to go away when you leave the position
• It's not always easy to trust your own instincts - we're not used to this
  Being in the hot seat - and using that position transformationally (for example, to stop the proceedings and call for prayer and reflection when emotions are over-heated or there is trauma in the room)
• You must be aware of how you're being received, and gently educate and lead so people don't run away when they see you coming! (Knowing that you are likely to ask them to step up to something they'd just as soon avoid)
• Helpful to set a firm limit about how much time you wlll give -- say, 10-20 hours per week -- and stop when you reach that limit so your life will stay in balance
• You might die some day - so come to terms with that, and make it a priority to prepare others to take over from you, instead of approaching your calling as if you're the only one who can do the work
• Sometimes you have to bring the prophetic voice and call people to do things they aren't excited about doing -- challenging to social justice work, for example

What could Unitarian Universalism be, if we did this work passionately and deeply? What are the opportunities for our faith that come from lay people answering the call to lay leadership?

• Small congregations like mine can reach out with vigor to our communities
• We must practice what we preach - but we must not preach to loudly, because we all have more to learn
• Ours is a chosen faith, which is both our strength and our curse. May we find ways to discover and share the gospel of UU with our congregations
• Lay leadership can nourish the individual and enrich the congregation. It will help our denomination to grow and flourish
• We can be leaders in the larger community that demonstrate the courage to step out of what's comfortable and do new things or the same things in new ways, while keeping our values intact
• Opportunity above all for deep connection to others with all their strengths and vulnerabilities - including discovering about yourself, what you must change, and how you connect with others
• Individuals and groups that have felt unaccepted and unacceptable can feel cared for and welcomed.
• We'll realize that there's lots of elbow room for this work, which can be transformational for self, congregation, community, nation and planet
• This is not just for Unitarian Universalism - it's for the whole world. It's the right thing.
• Active member of a larger family, with mutual love and support

Opening Worship

Tandi Koerger

Shout-out to Angela Herrara who offered an amazing sermon. She was a member of Salem, OR years ago and is now a Candidate for the Ministry. Her words and spirit were stunning, hopeful, relevant, and loving.

Anti-Racism/ Anti-Oppression Training for Ministerial Candidates

Monday

Tandi Koerger

Presenters: Dr. Mark Hicks, Rev. Hope Johnson, Rev. Josh Pawelek

I can’t praise this experience enough. It was transformational. I came away inspired, energized, and full of ideas and commitment. Be sure to watch for the new curriculum Building the World We Dream coming out this summer and please consider this program for your congregation. We will be setting up a list-serve for facilitators of this program and schedule regular phone conference check-ins with each other.

Suggested Movies for discussion on racism/oppression analysis:

Crash

Akeela and the Bee

Cadillac Records

(There are many more. These are the ones we analyzed.)

Suggested questions for racism/oppression analysis:

How is power used to hurt People of Color?

How is power used to perpetuate power and privilege?

How is power used to define identity?

Questions that made me go, hm…

· When did my church become accountable to People of Color? How?

· How does my church show up to stand with people on the margins? Note (and this is really, really important): if you ask a marginalized group what they need from you, when they answer, you must do that thing and follow through. Our religious integrity demands it. That is being in right relationship. Discern ahead of time what you are willing to give up in the name of justice and right relationship and liberation.

· How does my church share our power and unique gifts to transform oppressive structures? How does my church leverage privilege?

· What makes you feel most human? If that thing weren’t in your life/ part of you, you’d miss the point of life? What is that quality of your core and how does this identity intersect with your ministry?

If you'd like to explore liberating justice work in your congregation and beyond, please contact me: tkoerger@uua.org/ 253-278-4646

Get an Environmental Justice Passport at GA

Hi all. Just a brief shout out for participation in the UU Ministry for Earth/UUA/UUSC Environmental Passport program. Info will be in your registration packet. Sustainable practices, resources, and workshops are available for your participation, and you can win gifts and learn a lot in the process. Come by the UU Ministry for Earth booth for info. I will practically be living there!

Cynthia from Ellensburg, WA, is at GA!

Here's a message from Cynthia Murray, of the Kittitas Valley UU Congregation (Ellensburg, WA):

I am in SLC - arrived one hour early on Amtrak this morning!!! 3:00 a.m
Thanks for the Breakthrough recommendation! (Tandi)
I am in the Radisson Hotel - they were kind enough to let me get into my room at 3:30 a.m. - so had time to sleep.
There were about 6 others on the train this morning who were to attend GA
- two from Berkeley, two from Corvallis, OR, two from unknown, and one Ellensburg, WA. Also, a vendor for the convention. Lots more people taking the train these days.
cynthia murray

PNWD networking at GA

Hello, PNWD GA-ers!

This year, the district "in-gatherings" were scheduled for 10 PM on Wednesday night. We decided that was too darned late at night, so we're not holding a PNWD In-Gathering this year.

Connect with your fellow PNWD UUs via the GA message board and at UU University!

I arrive in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and will be there through Sunday. Tandi is already in SLC. Our entire PNWD Board (all five members) will be attending GA this year. Dick Jacke, our president, is already there and the rest will arrive on Wednesday.

Congregational Presidents, the district board will look forward to greeting you at the networking session with the UUA Trustees - Wednesday, 4:30 - 5:45 PM, Salt Palace Ballroom ABCD!

- Janine Larsen, District Executive

Welcome to GA!

Here's a note from Tandi Koerger, PNWD Program Specialist, to all PNWD-ers at GA:

I recommend you check out the "Breakthrough Congregation" workshops:

For smaller congregtions
Saturday, 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Breakthrough Congregation - UU Congregation of South County, RI
Salt Palace Ballroom J
Chartered in 1993 with 31 members and today has officially 123 members plus several dozen "friends."

For larger congregations
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Breakthrough Congregation - First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque Salt Palace Ballroom J
Membership in 2008 is 715 with 168 children and youth. In 2003 it was 564