tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82039154173887630632024-03-13T11:59:18.876-04:00Inspired Faith, Effective Actionweblog of the Advocacy & Witness staff group of the <br>Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
<br><br>UUA Advocacy&Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11598353791862045668noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-64293087315827976392010-02-18T10:55:00.008-05:002010-02-18T11:01:49.597-05:00Action Alert: Gaza<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cmep.org/cmep-FINAL-lg-PRINT.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 142px;" src="http://www.cmep.org/cmep-FINAL-lg-PRINT.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sadly, the dismal conditions in Gaza are causing enormous hardship for the people there, with particularly harsh effects on children. </span><a href="http://www.cmep.org/"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Churches for Middle East Peace</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a coalition founded in part by the UUA, has organized a letter to President Obama calling for his leadership. Please join the UUA and Churches for Middle East Peace by taking action!</span><br /><div><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>CMEP Action Alert:</strong> One year after the Gaza war thousands of civilians are homeless and forced to rely on tents and mud brick houses for shelter.<br /><br />Children are among the most vulnerable and worst affected by the blockade policy that greatly restricts goods, people, and commerce from crossing Gaza's borders.<br /><br />Many children witnessed horrific events during last year's 23-day Israeli military operation. According to a local NGO in Gaza, "73 percent of Gaza children are still suffering from psychological and behavioral disorders, including psychological trauma, nightmares, involuntary urination, high blood pressure and diabetes." The blockade has inhibited access to medical equipment and health professionals. Many children are not getting the help they desperately need.<br /><br />The dismal conditions in Gaza are counter to American humanitarian values and strategically unsound for Israel's long term security.<br /><br /><a href="http://action.cmep.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1818">Take Action! Sign Churches for Middle East Peace's petition and ask President Obama to urgently address the needs of civilians in Gaza!</a> </div>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-8838058931826031772010-01-29T12:26:00.008-05:002010-02-01T13:48:00.311-05:00IARF Chapter Conference Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG9Pwy5iLrtkgT-HrivphgiqpnyMv9boIIOeV9FLm8p2FK2ixvojkvD09PcdgUjJPmzxDs-wDihXOIU1zEMyFG2PiuWoN7DyXnl_SueF7FKjI3Kbid6kVmhMfk-4Tuou75krrNMr-yE8/s1600-h/iarf.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG9Pwy5iLrtkgT-HrivphgiqpnyMv9boIIOeV9FLm8p2FK2ixvojkvD09PcdgUjJPmzxDs-wDihXOIU1zEMyFG2PiuWoN7DyXnl_SueF7FKjI3Kbid6kVmhMfk-4Tuou75krrNMr-yE8/s200/iarf.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432232776954452706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">From Doris Hunter, Chair, US Chapter, <a href="http://home.iarfus.org/home/">International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF)</a>:</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The conference, "Reconciliation with the Earth, Each Other and the Stranger" was held at the Clearwater Unitarian Universalist Church from January 14-17th with over fifty people attending plus speakers and invited guests.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The US Chapter and the World Congress of Faiths sponsored the conference with the assistance of the Clearwater Congregation and its minister, the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi. The conference opened with an interfaith worship service led by Abhi; its message set the tone for the conference.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvPp5NWZIj5zEXeYZDjbbkavNGRlDhruapUjS1zHG8M4NXPj0ny8sT6VA32zeILlucGsTYgvYL2-OQjZkjddQh7okaVPCflFUOxb2jIdB5IdTswe1Y8eNf5xbXrBTQaYisM6tZizc-EM/s1600-h/iarf2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvPp5NWZIj5zEXeYZDjbbkavNGRlDhruapUjS1zHG8M4NXPj0ny8sT6VA32zeILlucGsTYgvYL2-OQjZkjddQh7okaVPCflFUOxb2jIdB5IdTswe1Y8eNf5xbXrBTQaYisM6tZizc-EM/s320/iarf2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433346878947379698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">The next day we had a major address by Dr. Paul Rasor and a panel on “Racial Justice in a Post-Racial Society, Myth or Reality" led by Dr. Roy Kaplan. In the afternoon we had several workshops including "100 Years of Interfaith Work" focusing on the IALRW with Kathy Matsui and Jopie Boeke.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Rev. <st1:personname st="on">Eric Cherry</st1:personname> from the UUA also presented a workshop on "Charting the Future of International Relations." Then the conference broke up into its circle groups exchanging introductions and opinions. In the evening we had an Interfaith Music Program that included music from so many different faith traditions.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The next day opened with worship service led by the Rissho Kosei-Kai followed by lecture by Dr. Hal French. Following the lecture, Dr. Thomas Mathew from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, presented a power point about the coming Congress and information about the program of the Congress. In the afternoon, the conference concluded with lectures by Dr. Mozella Mitchell and Dr. William Schulz followed by a panel discussion and response. Sunday morning there was a special worship service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Dr. Schulz giving the sermon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj9vQHRsx1_Ea4wu139a8q1vziXhjHgAynQ6BlxGrq_GrB8_bGtVz5hOEE9ihxhYyk6vzjT3ZVTq1OkIA-ArDyRnFk3_7OHIlWRj0KzZ1l5rHrc2FQIZm7xpO3qapVyorX1lzBQl6_fY/s1600-h/IARF1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj9vQHRsx1_Ea4wu139a8q1vziXhjHgAynQ6BlxGrq_GrB8_bGtVz5hOEE9ihxhYyk6vzjT3ZVTq1OkIA-ArDyRnFk3_7OHIlWRj0KzZ1l5rHrc2FQIZm7xpO3qapVyorX1lzBQl6_fY/s320/IARF1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433347175714660690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">We were very pleased to have the presence of Dr. Thomas Mathew during the entire conference and also the presence of the Rev. <st1:personname st="on">Eric Cherry</st1:personname> from the UUA. The Chapter sponsored one young adult, Mr. Sri Kota. We wished that we had more time to arrange a young adult conference at the same time but being such a small board with a limited budget, we felt the need to concentrate on the conference itself. Perhaps in the future this can be planned.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Many participants spoke enthusiastically about the coming Congress, hoping that they might be able to attend. We are so grateful that all went as planned and that the program was appreciated and well attended by the participants.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal" face="verdana">You can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/srinifun07">view videos</a> taken during the IARF Chapter Conference online, including:</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwjZnbLp1l4&feature=PlayList&p=4C0400309506DBE5&index=8">Panelist introductions<br /></a></li><li>Risho Kosei-Kai <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8j2JbIAY_8&feature=PlayList&p=4C0400309506DBE5&index=20">Mantra/Chanting</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPy-IlN63Sk&feature=PlayList&p=4C0400309506DBE5&index=18">Allahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_scjGoJYEFY&feature=PlayList&p=4C0400309506DBE5&index=12">Bahai Song</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFoRJn3wq20&feature=PlayList&p=4C0400309506DBE5&index=19">Matsuri Daiko</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/srinifun07">And more</a>!<br /></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" face="verdana"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Nicole McConveryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972797177865605862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-75293042208770744882010-01-20T16:28:00.005-05:002010-02-12T09:12:55.053-05:00Fighting the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jZmnut-EWfnUGhXbfSSVAPeYpZtu8b0mTDsMxYOHcGwqWs1wQu88mn8VOOEZYKiKCQvAtR7qVGJEAG-_fhFH5VEsUy53Y77dwGccFs2FH85b8symPg93yXDMWQxhm-s-JDq_MRzokVg/s1600-h/1046Kiyimba_Cherry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jZmnut-EWfnUGhXbfSSVAPeYpZtu8b0mTDsMxYOHcGwqWs1wQu88mn8VOOEZYKiKCQvAtR7qVGJEAG-_fhFH5VEsUy53Y77dwGccFs2FH85b8symPg93yXDMWQxhm-s-JDq_MRzokVg/s400/1046Kiyimba_Cherry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425492944816295394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">T</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">he Unitarian Universalist Church of Uganda is preparing to take a strong and courageous stand against the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://wthrockmorton.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/anti-homosexuality-bill-2009.pdf">"Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009."</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> This hate-filled legislation proposed in the Ugandan Parliament would criminalize homosexuality and enforce penalties of life imprisonment and capital punishment against gays and lesbians. BGLT allies would also face drastic punishments.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The UU congregation in Kampala is one of the few religious organizations in Uganda that is welcoming and supportive of the BGLT community. During a visit with the congregation in 2008 UUA representatives met with both gay and straight Ugandans who witnessed to the terror that the Ugandan BGLT community faces, and the importance of the congregation's support. This visit occurred many months before the current legislation was proposed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Ugandan UUs plan to hold a conference on February 14, 2010 - with the following goals:</span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">To achieve permanent, fundamental, real equality for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people through affecting fundamental changes in the attitudes of society,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">To defeat discriminatory legislation and exclusionary policies and practices,</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">To build a strong social movement of lesbian, gay and bisexual people with a fully representative and activist Base.</span></span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">The conference will include </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">programs about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Promoting Equality</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Access to Justice</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Research</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lobbying/Advocacy</span>. More than 200 Ugandans from various faith traditions are expected to attend.<br /><br />American UUs have been invited by the leaders of the UU Church of Uganda to spread the word about this important event. And, we are also asked to remember the courageous steps that our Ugandan brothers and sisters in faith are taking. Will you or your congregation "Stand on the Side of Love" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Globally</span> - by supporting this front-line battle against Hate? The <a href="http://www.icuu.net">International Council of Unitarian Universalists</a> is supporting this important work.<br /><br /><br />Update: UUA President, the Reverend Peter Morales, signed on to an <a href="http://www.uua.org/documents/internationalresources/100113_uganda_interfaith_letter_to_congress.pdf">interfaith letter to Congress</a> that urges US opposition to this terrible law.<br /></span></span>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-77033692019539934602009-12-23T11:11:00.003-05:002009-12-23T11:15:12.580-05:00Season's Greetings from the International Resources Office<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiQBWK8axTQGDMU-owq0hoRE1wVNLBh1WbovtxS5cK2i34e51zIB-wvWYXJGXfdNXheyk3L0nER139z5zLxISfN21LCZhhxatiJhOjQ48a9DIm-7REf0_ByMUaN0U3U3ykuoAqdmlYgA/s1600-h/HolidayCard-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 473px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiQBWK8axTQGDMU-owq0hoRE1wVNLBh1WbovtxS5cK2i34e51zIB-wvWYXJGXfdNXheyk3L0nER139z5zLxISfN21LCZhhxatiJhOjQ48a9DIm-7REf0_ByMUaN0U3U3ykuoAqdmlYgA/s400/HolidayCard-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418465535740946162" border="0" /></a>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-60704754785410507622009-12-18T11:28:00.012-05:002009-12-18T15:37:50.413-05:00UU's Send Love, Rice, to Filipino UU's Affected by Typhoons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN_PrqhR3Sp8OgkT4mcoKgcGTBIEvwYrr31l5DDla-MovwPpOpz7Wt_o3S7iR3ohnDGnh_i2x_GUfBQd9vMJi56pxTf8sSGte_IktKvr13Jj1n8gBGeGcEM_-_Kg6_rrqZOcwSes0J5M/s1600-h/Thirteen+families+received+a+sack+of+Rice+each.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN_PrqhR3Sp8OgkT4mcoKgcGTBIEvwYrr31l5DDla-MovwPpOpz7Wt_o3S7iR3ohnDGnh_i2x_GUfBQd9vMJi56pxTf8sSGte_IktKvr13Jj1n8gBGeGcEM_-_Kg6_rrqZOcwSes0J5M/s320/Thirteen+families+received+a+sack+of+Rice+each.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416616809431018914" border="0" /></a>Thanks to the combined efforts of Unitarians and UU's around the world, members of the UU congregations in The Philippines (Malingin and Doldol) have received generous donations of rice in the wake of food shortages from recent flooding.<br /><br />In September 2009, two powerful typhoons, "Ketsana" followed by "Parma," swept throught the region. For a week an unprecedented amount of rain pounded the land, flooding and eroding the landscape, displacing 300,000 now-homeless residents and killing over 300 men, women, and children.<br /><br />Many of the UU's on Negros Island, where most of the Filipino UU's reside in small agricultural/fishing villages, sustained serious damage to their crops from the heavy rains, creating a critical food shortage in the following months.<br /><br />Moral and financial support were extended by the <a href="http://www.icuu.net/">International Council of Unitarians and Universalists</a>, the <a href="http://www.uua.org/">UUA</a>, the <a href="http://www.uupcc.org/">UU Partner Church Council (UUPCC)</a>, partner congregations here in the U.S., individuals around the world, and the <a href="http://www.unitarius.com/">Unitarian Church of Transylvania</a>. The combined support of all involved has resulted in several types of assistance, including, most recently, one bag of rice per family affected in both the UU Doldol and UU Malingin congregations. In total, thirteen bags of rice were sent to the Malingin congregants (pictured above); nine were sent to the Doldol members. The 50 kg sacks can each feed a large family for a week and have arrived just in time for the upcoming Christmas holiday.<br /><br />In a particularly heartwarming gesture, the Unitarian Church of Transylvania provided very generous financial aid to the <a href="http://www.sportsmanila.com/uu/">UU Church of the Philippines</a> in response to the disaster. In recent years, the Unitarian Church of Transylvania has faced its own disasters and challenges; paying forward the kindness they received in their time of need, the Church has empathetically reached out to assist the affected UU Filipino brothers and sisters.<br /><br />The UU Church of the Philippines expresses incredible thanks for all received assistance. Please enjoy a few pictures (below) of the families receiving, and celebrating, gifts of rice!<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2FUUAInternationalResources%2Falbumid%2F5416614430957233233%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="400" height="267"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Many thanks to Rev. Nihal Attanayake (International Relations Officer, UU Church of the Philippines), Lee Boeke Burke (UU Partner Church Council), and Rev. Szabo Laszlo (Vice President, Board of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania) for contributing details to this update.</span></span>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-71262135318184458592009-12-14T11:30:00.007-05:002009-12-14T11:55:39.531-05:00Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard<blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: lucida grande;"><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hiroshimaschoolyard.com/images/about-04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 266px;" src="http://www.hiroshimaschoolyard.com/images/about-04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >n 1996, a box was uncovered at the home of a parishioner of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington D.C. In that box were nearly 50 colorful drawings made by children as thanks for gifts received from the church fifty years earlier.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Not many people in the church knew the story behind these pictures, they only knew they were made by school children in Japan after World War II."</span></p></blockquote><p></p><br />You may remember an <a href="http://uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com/2009/04/all-souls-church-hiroshima-childrens.html">April 2009 blogpost</a> about the Hiroshima Children's Drawings that All Souls Church in Washington DC had recently restored. These incredible works of art - which are part of an equally incredible story - were also on display at General Assembly last summer.<br /><br />A film about the Drawings and their story is now in production, and a website about the film - <a href="http://www.hiroshimaschoolyard.com/index.html">Pictures from a Hiroshima Schooyard</a> - has recently been updated. Have a look, and enjoy the film's promo:<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ly3q3-zUFTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ly3q3-zUFTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> </center>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-48861310819250507522009-12-10T09:14:00.005-05:002009-12-11T10:44:04.034-05:00Parliament of World Religions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bahai.us/files/melbournelogo2.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 169px;" src="http://bahai.us/files/melbournelogo2.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The 2009 <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/">Parliament of World Religions</a> recently concluded in Melbourne, Australia. More than 220 faith traditions were represented at this global event by 6000 people from 80 nationalities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/_images/content/graphpar2.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 120px;" src="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/_images/content/graphpar2.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unitarians were key organizers of the first Parliament held in Chicago in 1893. On the 100th anniversary of that momentous gathering a second World Parliament was held in Chicago, and further Parliaments have taken place every 5 years since. In 2009 the global Unitarian/Universalist movement was represented at the Parliament by the <a href="http://www.icuu.net/">International Council of Unitarians and Universalists</a> (ICUU). ICUU representatives provided a workshop on congregational interfaith work, and staffed a booth in the Exhibit Hall. We look forward to a report.<br /><br />Much of the Parliament was covered online. Get a taste of it from the Australian Broadcasting Company's <a href="http://blogs.abc.net.au/religion/page/2/">"Talking of Faith" blog</a>, from <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=8&sn=17">photo streams</a>, and from <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=8&sn=16">video</a>.<br /><br /><center><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8017950&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8017950&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object></center>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-2890832242130320242009-12-01T14:11:00.004-05:002009-12-01T14:18:59.247-05:00Uganda’s Proposed Anti-Gay LegislationCrossposted from <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/blog/ugandas-proposed-anti-gay-legislation/">Standing on the Side of Love</a><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Equality-March-October-2009-138-150x150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Equality-March-October-2009-138-150x150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>When I was 18 years old I spent three months in Kenya for a service learning opportunity. During one long weekend we traveled across the border to Kampala, Uganda. I was blown away. Our hosts were incredibly hospitable, the streets felt safe, and the city was rich in culture and well developed. I have nothing but positive memories of my time in Uganda. <p>Then, during the past four years, I spent a lot of time working on HIV/AIDS policy and came to admire Uganda’s success in addressing HIV/AIDS with their innovative ABC method (Abstain, Be Faithful, Use Condoms). Although in recent years their success has slipped, I was inspired by the way Uganda took their HIV/AIDS epidemic seriously and made positive strides to address it.</p> <p>Perhaps it is these positive experiences that have made the <a href="http://blogout.justout.com/?p=12426">latest news out of Uganda</a> so hard for me to hear. The Ugandan Parliament is considering legislation that would make homosexuality illegal. Anyone caught having homosexual sex would be condemned to life in prison. If HIV positive, they would face a death penalty. Furthermore, any witness of homosexual sex that does not report it within 24 hours would face three years in prison.</p> <p>Some prominent conservative Christian leaders both inside Uganda and internationally are supporting the bill. I recently signed <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/rick-warren-please-denounce-anti-gay-bill-in-uganda">a petition calling on Pastor Rick Warren</a> to publicly denounce the anti-homosexual legislation. I encourage you to sign it as well as it is the best action I have found so far.</p> <p>Personally, my spirituality was awakened in East Africa. My encounters with Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Catholics were eye opening. I saw Christians pray with deep conviction. I joined in hymns that stirred my soul. I witnessed a reverence that sustained lives. I was privileged that these faith communities fed my faith.</p> <p>I imagine there are many gay Ugandans that grew up with and were sustained by Christian communities. I can’t help but feel the isolation and betrayal they must face at this moment. I pray this legislation will not pass and that the intolerance and oppression that has brought the legislation thus far is called out and pushed back. In this dark hour, I stand on the side of love with Ugandans of every sexual orientation.</p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rick-warren-187.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 430px;" src="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rick-warren-187.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Adam Gerhardstein protesting an HIV/AIDS press conference </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">at which Pastor Rick Warren spoke</span></div></div>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-71442860753779989582009-11-13T10:12:00.021-05:002009-11-13T11:51:03.716-05:00The Charter for Compassion is Launched!<center><object width="420" height="347"><param name="movie" value="http://dotsub.com/static/players/portalplayer.swf?plugins=dotsub&uuid=4468573a-9796-44e0-8f30-fbe2b9085721&type=video&lang=eng"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://dotsub.com/static/players/portalplayer.swf?plugins=dotsub&uuid=4468573a-9796-44e0-8f30-fbe2b9085721&type=video&lang=eng" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="347"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><p><strong>"The principle of compassion</strong> lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.</p><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>It is also necessary</strong> in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.</p><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>We therefore call upon all men and women</strong> ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.</p><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>We urgently need</strong> to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community."<a href="http://charterforcompassion.org/docs/cfc_dl_english.pdf"> (pdf)</a></p><p><a href="http://charterforcompassion.org/docs/cfc_dl_english.pdf"><br /></a></p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="description">Interfaith clergy and community leaders in the Philadelphia region gathered on November 12, 2009 at Love Park to publicly affirm the Charter for Compassion.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Thanks to Rev. Nate Walker for sharing this video from the event:</span><br /><br /><center><object width="420" height="347"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jkh7l9B9gb0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jkh7l9B9gb0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="347"></embed></object><br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4af95b8ceddf6dab/4afd86df4050ac5a/4afc508df274d815/bc368679" id="W4af95b8ceddf6dab4afd86df4050ac5a" width="525" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4af95b8ceddf6dab/4afd86df4050ac5a/4afc508df274d815/bc368679"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></center><br /><br /><p>Visit the <a href="http://charterforcompassion.org/">Charter for Compassion</a> website</p><p><br /></p>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-89222064337836554392009-11-05T09:35:00.005-05:002009-11-06T10:38:46.530-05:00Seminarian returns from two week visit to Tsubaki Grand Shrine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_277kKcQPg0A/SvA-BMDvzII/AAAAAAAACLo/0eWleMsWyQA/s800/IMG_0193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 224px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_277kKcQPg0A/SvA-BMDvzII/AAAAAAAACLo/0eWleMsWyQA/s800/IMG_0193.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Barbara Prose - currently the ministerial intern with the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula - was awarded the UUA's 2009 </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/tsubakischolarship/index.shtml">Tsubaki Grand Shrine Scholarship</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. For two weeks in October she lived and worked at the Shrine, and had a deeply meaningful interfaith experience there. </span><br /><br /><blockquote>A wise and dear friend taught me this old German saying, “Barbara, remember,” he said, “The soul travels on foot.” Well, it will be a week tomorrow that I have been back from Japan and I fear my soul is still swimming somewhere far from shore in the depths of the Pacific, unsure if it should follow and try to catch up and into my body. Instead my wandering soul seems to be wondering if it would not be wiser to return to the <span style="font-style: italic;">wakeiseijaku</span> of Japan and lure my body back to the enchanted island shrine called Tsubaki so that body, mind and spirit could wake up together and find themselves again in heaven.<br /><br />Is it the pickled radish, tempura, fish, squid and seaweed that lure me? I doubt it as I feel my intestines and stomach readjust daily to my Western diet of more water and less tea, more fresh produce and less rice. What sense can I make of the fact that I miss sweeping every morning with the priests? How do I understand the fact that the world I see is now more ravishingly beautiful and that I did not see this Beauty before.<br /><br />In 200 words I cannot tell you how or why. I can only tell you it is so. And I can recommend that you go and live for yourself the power of the Old Ways as they are carried into our modern world on the backs of priests who stand before us as human bridges across whom the wisdom of the past is carried.</blockquote><br />You are welcome to read Barbara's <a href="http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7MC3BWF9MqoMjZmZGFlZmYtNDMxMi00ZDM4LTk4MmUtZDgxNmJhMTgxNWQ4&hl=en">complete report of her experience</a>. And, enjoy the photos that she brought back with her.<br /><br /><center><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2FUUAInternationalResources%2Falbumid%2F5399883611954226049%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="288" height="192"></embed></center><br /><br />UU seminarians attending non-UU theological schools are welcome to apply for the <a href="http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/tsubakischolarship/index.shtml">Scholarship in 2010.</a>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-44425664166358121472009-10-30T10:12:00.012-04:002009-10-30T12:24:00.157-04:00Dr. Judit Gellérd Visits the UUA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgrHPAbbLOkz4NJIQCp4rWKcS_8CibA7k7sCEyBdOWjUp5OZJECZCNaNEE0gUmbhnM4eIlOzWbqqif7HRx0DbuSXbgTMGgUwSn4jKXGK46hWwYJx_Fc54AXY1f2r7ja5Do5wBVHxMocA/s1600-h/gellerdjudit1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgrHPAbbLOkz4NJIQCp4rWKcS_8CibA7k7sCEyBdOWjUp5OZJECZCNaNEE0gUmbhnM4eIlOzWbqqif7HRx0DbuSXbgTMGgUwSn4jKXGK46hWwYJx_Fc54AXY1f2r7ja5Do5wBVHxMocA/s320/gellerdjudit1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398403988154222258" border="0" /></a>On Tuesday October 27th, the UUA welcomed Dr. Judit Gellérd, founder and honorary president of the Unitarian Universalist partner church program, to lead the morning chapel service.<br /><br />With a spirited and lively sermon, Judit explored "Transylvanian Unitarianism's Historic Dilemma," a timely reflection as the twentieth anniversary of the partnership movement approaches:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Unitarian story in 16th century Transylvania began with a dramatic existential dilemma, solved with a scandalous sacrifice - in order that faith and our institution could survive. A new scholarly work challenges our old understanding of our history's beginnings. It also compels us to reflect on our responsibilities today to protect our institutions of genuine freedom and democracy from erosion - not by muting the prophetic voice but by finding and walking a middle way in our polarized and spirit-eroding world.</span><br /><br />A video of the sermon is <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/UUAInternationalResources/JuditGellerd">available online</a> for free viewing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Physician, musician and Unitarian minister, Judit hails from Transylvania, the daughter of a Hungarian Unitarian minister martyred by Communist persecutions. Graduating from Boston University's School of Theology in 2002, she studied with Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiese, writing <a href="http://www.uuabookstore.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=382">Prisoner of Liberté</a> under his guidance.<br /><br />In addition to editing the recently released tome <a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1272/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1137072#4">"Ferenc Dávid,"</a> the 26th and final volume of the series Bibliotheca Dissidentium, Judit has also just completed her memoirs. Visit the <a href="http://w3.enternet.hu/sandor64/cffr/index.html">Center for Free Religion</a>'s website to read some of Judit's papers, articles, and sermons.<br /></div><br /><table style="width: 502px; height: 227px;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gpDv8tUyX6D1dUKMSb-Phw?feat=embedwebsite"><img style="width: 254px; height: 200px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_277kKcQPg0A/SuhycaMYlqI/AAAAAAAACCI/BHkDXjSk1pM/s144/Zizi.m4v.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center" style="font-family:arial;"><td style=";font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size:85%;" >October 2009: Transylvanian Unitarianism's Historic Dilemma</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Nicole McConveryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972797177865605862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-86386248344799067362009-10-16T09:20:00.003-04:002009-10-16T09:30:00.394-04:00UU United Nations Office: Climate Change Task Force<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent//UnitarianUniversalistUnited/unsunday.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 182px;" src="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent//UnitarianUniversalistUnited/unsunday.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The UU United Nations Office Climate Change Task Force recently <a href="http://www.digitaluniverse.net/uuuno/">launched a website</a> that serves as a great resource for congregations and social action committees.<br /><br />Youth (and people of all ages) who are interested in the role of the UN in responding to climate change should plan to attend the UU-UNO's "Spring Seminar" in New York City: <a href="http://freepdfhost.com/projects_new/335/3247/spring_seminar_flyer_2010.pdf">A Climate of Change: Head, Heart, and Hands Around the Planet,</a>" April 8-10, 2010.Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-19727568681692576802009-10-09T10:16:00.010-04:002009-10-21T09:10:53.442-04:00Mallika Dutt Receives American Courage Award<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoi6ubiXlg_palbeHQ_XqW3tb_CtlmjaA0HYX5m82eym3oXkgs51RT72anwPfVQ_PzuKfDQerqPSHb2DdPvLwBcseMBYpZxzRHVsFb2SBIdxoFLSmNonA3dYF2FSxAURnQauq4TMmufM/s1600-h/duttsmall.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoi6ubiXlg_palbeHQ_XqW3tb_CtlmjaA0HYX5m82eym3oXkgs51RT72anwPfVQ_PzuKfDQerqPSHb2DdPvLwBcseMBYpZxzRHVsFb2SBIdxoFLSmNonA3dYF2FSxAURnQauq4TMmufM/s400/duttsmall.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390606027818320306" border="0" /></a>It's been an exciting week for the <a href="http://www.uua.org/aboutus/professionalstaff/advocacywitness/holdeenindia/">UU Holdeen India Program</a>'s partners! <a href="http://uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com/2009/09/shramajivee-mahila-samity-wins-freedom.html">Last week</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shramajivee Mahila Samity (SMS) – India</span> received the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harriet Tubman Award</span> from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Free the Slaves</span>; this week, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mallika Dutt</span> received the <a href="http://www.advancingequality.org/about-mallika-dutt/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">American Courage Award</span></a> from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Asian American Justice Center</span>.<br /><br />Founder and executive director of <a href="http://www.breakthrough.tv/">Breakthrough: Building Human Rights Culture</a>, Mallika has been utilizing the power of media, popular culture, leadership development, and community education in India and the United States to transform public attitudes as a means of advancing equality, dignity, and justice for all.<br /><br />An innovative, international human rights organization, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakthrough </span>addresses critical global issues including racial justice, immigrant rights, violence against women, and HIV/AIDS, using creative tools to "build a culture of human rights." This culture is built upon the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The rights to life, food, shelter, freedom of expression, freedom from violence, and religious freedom - in other words, the human rights to which we are all entitled. Utilizing <a href="http://www.breakthrough.tv/about-us/awards">award-winning</a>, multi-media awareness campaigns, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakthrough </span>shares powerful, human-rights-affirming messages with audio, video, and discussion/resource guides.<br /><br />The recipient of several awards already, Mallika has served as program officer for human rights at the Ford Foundation's New Delhi office and as associate director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University. Also a founder of SAKHI for South Asian Women, she has served on several boards and committees including WITNESS, Human Rights Watch Asia and Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Rights Working Group, and Games for Change.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="302"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2804217&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2804217&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/2804217">Let's Breakthrough Together 2008 Benefit Video</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/letsbreakthrough">Breakthrough</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For further information:</span><br /><a href="http://www.breakthrough.tv/about-us/mission">Learn</a>, <a href="http://www.breakthrough.tv/educate">educate</a>, and <a href="http://www.breakthrough.tv/learn">explore</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakthrough</span>'s inspiring, and inspired, work.Nicole McConveryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972797177865605862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-38466244893085897702009-09-30T09:22:00.005-04:002009-09-30T14:40:49.690-04:00Flooding in the Philipppines<font style="font-weight: bold;">Reverend Nihal Attanayake</font>, International Office Director for the <font style="font-weight: bold;">UU Church of the Philippines</font> shared the following message this morning regarding the Flooding in the Philippines:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHWbVWv6hWcw4K27Fy0EYJX6tMJBvuClm0tG6MMaI5967bJS6z8t-2lWHYngh3nU6UoiZ4qFVlQnIE99IQMLrE8a5wPc7tAxX0N0uQE9PG368olce6o00WxwRSSeYhMbGf-PsQ_1Hhyk/s1600-h/7522_146400926532_710751532_3095955_1701890_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHWbVWv6hWcw4K27Fy0EYJX6tMJBvuClm0tG6MMaI5967bJS6z8t-2lWHYngh3nU6UoiZ4qFVlQnIE99IQMLrE8a5wPc7tAxX0N0uQE9PG368olce6o00WxwRSSeYhMbGf-PsQ_1Hhyk/s400/7522_146400926532_710751532_3095955_1701890_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387251488604048722" border="0"></a><br /><br />Dear Friends,<br /><br />I traveled to four congregations from Saturday to Tuesday ...and returned home last night. Heavy rain fall all the way with occasionally burning sunlight. The extremes of the weather was some thing I experienced during this trip. Because of the heavy rain fall most of the rice farms have gone under water. This means people are running short of food because some are not able to dry the rice from the farm, others cannot prepare the land for planting and some have lost the crop in the field. I was in Doldol and members complained of shortage of food.<br /><br />I was in Malingin and members complained of the farm situation.<br /><br />In Manila and on Negros all UUs are safe but the larger community in Manila and the provinces are greatly affected as you know through news. Our leader in Manila is organizing relief for the larger community. Here I copy his report.<br /><br /><blockquote>Bob Guerrero writes: "This is likely to go down as the biggest catastrophe in the history of the Philippines, even worse than the twin disasters of the earthquake and Mt. Pinatubo in 1990 and 1991. Please try to help. 2 more storms coming so things may get really bad. Here is a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122290&id=710751532&ref=share" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook photo gallery</a>.<br /><br />36 hours after the rains fell there are still people trapped on rooftops. Some are sick.<br />To my UU friends, please inform your church mates. Our congregation here was largely spared but so many are not.<br /><br />Thanks for your kind attention."</blockquote><br /><br />Bob also suggested that those who would like to help out with donations to the emergency relief efforts should go to this site: <a href="http://www.redcross.org.ph">www.redcross.org.ph</a><br /><br />This is the news from the Philippines.<br /><br />With all good wishes,<br /><br />NihalRev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-32700055761927672932009-09-29T13:06:00.009-04:002009-10-21T09:11:06.701-04:00Shramajivee Mahila Samity Wins Freedom Award<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9CSDlIzgXRDqasfRt2vBlAONwXF7zUFH_ckNYvRkAvgb51Y5kw-gJk61t1iLYkLH2VDT0Mr37GefU-zpATgJDf3HiDjU6N3S5oiLDIlo8NELkNX5QADrYcVthxIZhFz1NOViycaXsjA/s1600-h/photo1067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9CSDlIzgXRDqasfRt2vBlAONwXF7zUFH_ckNYvRkAvgb51Y5kw-gJk61t1iLYkLH2VDT0Mr37GefU-zpATgJDf3HiDjU6N3S5oiLDIlo8NELkNX5QADrYcVthxIZhFz1NOViycaXsjA/s200/photo1067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386948367732318850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shramajivee Mahila Samity (SMS) – India</span>, a partner of the <a href="http://www.uua.org/aboutus/professionalstaff/advocacywitness/holdeenindia/">UU Holdeen India Program</a>, has received this year’s Harriet Tubman Award from international human rights organization, <a href="http://www.freetheslaves.net/">Free the Slaves</a>.<br /><br />Open to organizations and individuals working to defeat the human trafficking industry, <a href="http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=516">The Freedom Awards</a> celebrate heroes of the anti-slavery movement from around the world. With nominations from twenty-two countries, this year’s awards honor women who are making incredible strides in anti-slavery work.<br /><br />Trafficking has grown as a problem in the state of West Bengal, India. As laborers move outside their home villages to seek work, they become increasingly vulnerable to forced labor practices. Additionally, parents who cannot afford the huge dowry required in traditional weddings are being tricked into selling their daughters into “slave marriage,” accepting payment for their daughters’ weddings to unknown families.<br /><br />The Working Women’s Association, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shramjibee Mahila Samity (SMS)</span>, fights slave marriage and other forms of domestic slavery in India on many fronts. The democratically governed organization of 28,000 women aims for self-empowerment of its members through organizing. Educating villagers on how to slave-proof their communities, SMS puts on plays to teach people to recognize the tricks of the trafficking trade. Through forming women’s committees, villagers are learning what actions to take when someone is taken into the trade.<br /><br />SMS goes undercover to expose human traffickers, traces missing people, and puts pressure on their government to enact regulations to end trafficking. The organization also helps slavery survivors reunite with their families and rebuild their lives. Through trainings, the women are taught how to be self-sufficient and open small businesses so that they can earn a living without needing to move far away from home.<br /><br />As recipients of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harriet Tubman Award</span>, SMS will receive: a grant of $25,000 a year for the next two years, a technical assistance package worth $15,000 a year for two years, a short documentary to be produced by Free the Slaves about the work of their organization, and more.<br /><br />View a slideshow, read more about the <a href="http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=505">incredible work of Shramjibee Mahila Samity</a> and the <a href="http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=501">other award recipients,</a> and join us in commending this year’s winners!Nicole McConveryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972797177865605862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-55606140181760941672009-09-28T11:38:00.014-04:002009-09-28T14:47:45.922-04:00Sharing Global Faith - September Reflections<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUUmuzmU5sH6OwLh4G2K28kBCh_RiNK8PwTxWHGin7-0VkfTguu-EWIRCjawHgzLH-3iaCrUNl44UU1LkV4L2qx1mqjD4B3Ob7lO84Enb1CM2hPc8QHdmAFHzMdqV66widSU1h2oKlhg/s1600-h/Picture1.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUUmuzmU5sH6OwLh4G2K28kBCh_RiNK8PwTxWHGin7-0VkfTguu-EWIRCjawHgzLH-3iaCrUNl44UU1LkV4L2qx1mqjD4B3Ob7lO84Enb1CM2hPc8QHdmAFHzMdqV66widSU1h2oKlhg/s200/Picture1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386544366758766738" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color:black;"><a id="footerlink" title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B" href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B"><i title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B"><span title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B" style="font-style: italic;">Sharing Global Faith</span></i></a> gathers Unitarian and Universalist voices from around the world in a unique devotional e-resource.<br /><br />Reflecting on various aspects of faith life, participants share spiritual insight into the stories and thoughts that fuel their ministerial call.<br /></span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Distributed monthly from April until September 2009, the publication seeks to deepen international connections and nourish the individual spirit.</span></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In this sixth edition, four global U/U leaders explore the meaning of HOPE to our faith tradition, reflecting on Alicia Carpenter's "A Promise Through the Ages Rings":</span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We are honored to include contributions from:</span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYU6H_dEOOxthJuMLwQEEod-ljenbZMcS3QuLD9BljAE_itOCWLqH2wExFfsIdIG_88V_SgNszde3pwu_7bgK2xm-Vv4KVa1jv3q3gJjaODa23CxcRr65-xYWknMBdy_6ZXt1FsvbHjY/s1600-h/sgf-image.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYU6H_dEOOxthJuMLwQEEod-ljenbZMcS3QuLD9BljAE_itOCWLqH2wExFfsIdIG_88V_SgNszde3pwu_7bgK2xm-Vv4KVa1jv3q3gJjaODa23CxcRr65-xYWknMBdy_6ZXt1FsvbHjY/s400/sgf-image.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386546658201973730" border="0" /></a></span></p><ul face="verdana"><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YlgM7twtDpepXboAlVz-dNQKyfsAQ44jPUbE92AAX9gt5dmwmNpOST3e5nrkZODBdTvX9B43I6Qgq8QpEd5AYm8rOmhTvQoreBh7wtSiQ8MfeIA5cWCB9xi7Zl68B3sw6f0-qkoToq4/s1600-h/ade.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 73px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YlgM7twtDpepXboAlVz-dNQKyfsAQ44jPUbE92AAX9gt5dmwmNpOST3e5nrkZODBdTvX9B43I6Qgq8QpEd5AYm8rOmhTvQoreBh7wtSiQ8MfeIA5cWCB9xi7Zl68B3sw6f0-qkoToq4/s200/ade.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386547559331418306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rev. Adeyenke Matimoju -</span> is the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Lagos, Nigeria. </span></li></ul><br /><ul face="verdana"><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcMJep88jxyqsi4cA0dJdUjsat687fjkgtBj_mD7M4GXsDdEtfLWwjiet8mU30uLjiuifp_fopNztl4Tgsnz4WO2yJ4T-cePA5Wi-WQtzOiUWuPG5knDmHYfJY1GiBdrzU_pt3gXJQOM/s1600-h/iva.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 72px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcMJep88jxyqsi4cA0dJdUjsat687fjkgtBj_mD7M4GXsDdEtfLWwjiet8mU30uLjiuifp_fopNztl4Tgsnz4WO2yJ4T-cePA5Wi-WQtzOiUWuPG5knDmHYfJY1GiBdrzU_pt3gXJQOM/s200/iva.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386547738846690914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Rev. Iva Fišerová - </strong>has been an ordained minister of the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians for two years. She obtained her masters at Meadville Lombard Theological School. She also graduated from Institute for Spiritual Leadership. She grew up in a Unitarian family and after the Czech Republic broke with the communist regime in 1989 she put her heart and action into various church activities, which eventu</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ally resulted into her ordained ministry. </span></li></ul><ul face="verdana"><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVAQAqjRtl3Ckv6VXJjfGLIGxQj0cTzEns5kpauVs5UUd6FZ6-g3GQ-p7DJIpX2Qu9TxtGHCZX6N86pOxbMZgStanAqzOFVPzJUK_raaxeNN5MnOdSk9zWvS6plXhPfNfhObLbD9mNSg/s1600-h/fred.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 63px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVAQAqjRtl3Ckv6VXJjfGLIGxQj0cTzEns5kpauVs5UUd6FZ6-g3GQ-p7DJIpX2Qu9TxtGHCZX6N86pOxbMZgStanAqzOFVPzJUK_raaxeNN5MnOdSk9zWvS6plXhPfNfhObLbD9mNSg/s200/fred.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386547865593551362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Rev. Fred Muir -</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> is currently the UUA Ambassador to the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines and has served the UU Church of Annapolis since 1984. He is the author of three books: <i>A Reason for Hope: Liberation Theology Confronts a Liberal Faith; Heretics' Faith: A Vocabulary for Religious Liberals;</i> and <i>Maglipay Universalist: The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines</i>. </span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><ul face="verdana"><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfRNKAp8W4hrWca9UP6BDWvG_7zpwxye5hx5QSHanWnDdIJ7lPqOfWFKuK7eR7OpEi3IoftrbsuN8BjhuBaPWAlFUmozur5qdRSGmpzQP05rccnpxlaWuHutT4tAqc3ohEmp1Gf2W1_4/s1600-h/janne.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 61px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfRNKAp8W4hrWca9UP6BDWvG_7zpwxye5hx5QSHanWnDdIJ7lPqOfWFKuK7eR7OpEi3IoftrbsuN8BjhuBaPWAlFUmozur5qdRSGmpzQP05rccnpxlaWuHutT4tAqc3ohEmp1Gf2W1_4/s200/janne.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386547963026637698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs -</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> along with her husband Rob, as been the co-minister at Unity Church- Unitarian in St. Paul, MN since September, 2000. Janne has held many positions of leadership throughout the Unitarian Universalist movement, and is currently a member of the UUA President's International Advisory Council.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Continue to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://sharingglobalfaith.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/september-reflections-on-hope/">read this month's edition</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">!</span><br /><br /></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p>Nicole McConveryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972797177865605862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-58200623992407786882009-09-24T11:52:00.007-04:002009-09-24T12:20:23.531-04:00G20 Religious Leaders Summit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53iJImU0JIiSjQ67HdUfoX6t2JiYH8mWE_T-zBCSzGuwx1ISHI8z0eFqo-sjnbGPvxsNrSTD4N1XsPyZodVuJglmdOduzYWPE-LerxC7itu3hqIvCWKrMmNekqIbyjE7DwV4_jE1dvjI/s1600-h/IMG_1298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53iJImU0JIiSjQ67HdUfoX6t2JiYH8mWE_T-zBCSzGuwx1ISHI8z0eFqo-sjnbGPvxsNrSTD4N1XsPyZodVuJglmdOduzYWPE-LerxC7itu3hqIvCWKrMmNekqIbyjE7DwV4_jE1dvjI/s320/IMG_1298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385048430940914930" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.bread.org/">Bread for the World</a> issued a call for interfaith religious leaders to gather in Pittsburgh for a two-day Religious Leaders Summit on the eve of the G20 meetings. More than 25 prominent national religious leaders from Moslem, Jewish, Indian, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Sikh, and Zoroastrian traditions were in attendance, and it was an honor to be among them. (Media coverage: <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09267/1000460-482.stm">Pittsburgh Post Gazette</a>, <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090921/religious-leaders-to-gather-ahead-of-g20-summit-to-press-for-action/index.html">Christian Post</a>, <a href="http://www.bread.org/learn/global-hunger-issues/photos-g20.html">Bread For the World</a>)<br /><br />The main purpose of the gathering was to demonstrate the broadly shared agreement of the US faith community that global economic recovery can only be realized if the poorest and hungriest people of the world experience it. It is estimated that extreme poverty in developing countries has risen by 200 million people in the past two years, and that for the first time more than 1 billion people are suffering from hunger.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcoVqKhTGm6fjOypdQNvYJOaOxYZlR3hWLAx2pFPs4u08MXKncxgiIs4zquxruzo6qUatUc_OsprSsDk-Y6nrS8pY984KPNY_swIUlSKPANjfv3U3dFDZwzx8o4zoDZE7gCdBsIOLpVY/s1600-h/IMG_1296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcoVqKhTGm6fjOypdQNvYJOaOxYZlR3hWLAx2pFPs4u08MXKncxgiIs4zquxruzo6qUatUc_OsprSsDk-Y6nrS8pY984KPNY_swIUlSKPANjfv3U3dFDZwzx8o4zoDZE7gCdBsIOLpVY/s320/IMG_1296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385047284199907570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ5XXenmyZ-ZQeDBZzr59NGmN15XZgRhGZTTAodPDv0VFgYh8PxX863DcHH-gR7yUJpwDoks_ABX_rsPOlvBtzgaEDzjN80KNg79NCkKCs6XZhu0b2WVNAkxmhWJ3YiZ0GijRXXV4boQ/s1600-h/IMG_1990.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ5XXenmyZ-ZQeDBZzr59NGmN15XZgRhGZTTAodPDv0VFgYh8PxX863DcHH-gR7yUJpwDoks_ABX_rsPOlvBtzgaEDzjN80KNg79NCkKCs6XZhu0b2WVNAkxmhWJ3YiZ0GijRXXV4boQ/s320/IMG_1990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385065923450747170" border="0" /></a>In response to this tragedy, we asked the leaders of the G20 to fulfill promises made at previous international conferences, and continue to move towards the alleviation of hunger and poverty, especially the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative. We thanked the Obama Administration for its efforts to double US financial support of agricultural development in developing country to $1 billion - and asked that this project be initiated quickly. We also expressed our shared understanding that Global Climate Change and severe Hunger and Poverty are linked, and that we hoped G20 decisions would reflect that fact.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5DSX1uQ-o9GucLiXV-7TI2GJgo3rCNAFlUPCvpuGDC7O0TL36rkpC4-2JqtujQJr_66iKG5QeUXgyDw5jCCzCSIABwOeDLdEskscibdAPPRNuUo9xQXf8X2rhHM-wGjznHRX44WRifA/s1600-h/IMG_1293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5DSX1uQ-o9GucLiXV-7TI2GJgo3rCNAFlUPCvpuGDC7O0TL36rkpC4-2JqtujQJr_66iKG5QeUXgyDw5jCCzCSIABwOeDLdEskscibdAPPRNuUo9xQXf8X2rhHM-wGjznHRX44WRifA/s320/IMG_1293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385046410586883922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t_boIdegg2TaLfWmDocV2hhsAN8mk2sV2M18PXhUgLOK05waun-a7YtM0ua1UQjnB2t-eH8rd9bEWEKp4Z-RoqfMo7U07oAz5_XJc6mUMjEx16x1MzrRNgUb9rDcD4jfPwrTphCxjkU/s1600-h/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t_boIdegg2TaLfWmDocV2hhsAN8mk2sV2M18PXhUgLOK05waun-a7YtM0ua1UQjnB2t-eH8rd9bEWEKp4Z-RoqfMo7U07oAz5_XJc6mUMjEx16x1MzrRNgUb9rDcD4jfPwrTphCxjkU/s320/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385066323615193906" border="0" /></a>The gathering included opportunities to share spiritual communion with each other through prayer and meditation. A Lutheran Bishop from Tanzania - Rev. Benson Boganza - also met with us to describe his experience with rural poverty/hunger in his country. On Wednesday morning we gathered for a press conference that featured presentations by: Rabbi Steve Gutaw (Jewish Council for Public Affairs), Dr. William Shaw (National Baptist Church), Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson (WCC), and Dr. Stephen Colecchi (US Conference of Catholic Bishops). Following the press conference we processed to another hotel for a meeting with Dr. Michael Froman, deputy US national security advisor, and "Sherpa" for the US delegation to the G20. The gathering ended with prayer and small-group discussions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uVQVp5HYXya3Q7Q5fliSQ45fO_8-MVYjOxQDzs-vzpvDsbvYLzBrG0sZ918K6Yq99YDoI9Zotoh9URRnjh6iRxEh10E-PZett2AwNbrFL1gK8iYB4M4mQskmeuKLtlT3CQgCfepG-z8/s1600-h/RLS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uVQVp5HYXya3Q7Q5fliSQ45fO_8-MVYjOxQDzs-vzpvDsbvYLzBrG0sZ918K6Yq99YDoI9Zotoh9URRnjh6iRxEh10E-PZett2AwNbrFL1gK8iYB4M4mQskmeuKLtlT3CQgCfepG-z8/s320/RLS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385052283379286210" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-7582599642423476242009-09-23T12:19:00.004-04:002009-09-23T12:46:51.628-04:00UUA President Signs Letter in Support of Middle East PeaceFrom <a href="http://www.cmep.org/">Churches for Middle East Peace</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">On September 22, President Obama held tri-lateral meetings in New York with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas to try and jump start final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. In response to this effort, Christian leaders from a variety of traditions, along with their counterparts from the Jewish and Muslim communities, <a href="http://www.cmep.org/letters/092209letter.pdf">issued a statement of principles</a> supporting President Obama's efforts to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.</blockquote><br />Joining a diverse group of prominent individuals and leaders, UUA President Peter Morales signed the letter in support of "bold American leadership to achieve a negotiated, sustainable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."<br /><br />The letter commends President Obama's leadership, vision, and prioritization of peacebuilding in the Middle East and outlines principles to chart a path to a better future in the region.<br /><br />View the letter and <a href="http://action.cmep.org/t/4317/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1160">add your name</a> to those people of faith who support Middle East Peace!Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-68039911056331536242009-09-21T09:31:00.010-04:002009-10-21T09:20:14.699-04:00WMD: We Must DisarmSeptember 21, is the UN's International Day of Peace<br /><br />Looking for constructive ideas to commemorate the day?<br /><ul><li>Plan to use the UUA's "<a href="http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/peacemaking/index.shtml">Peacemaking</a>" materials in your congregation.<br /></li><li>Use the <a href="http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/147086.shtml">UUA's materials</a> to support the interfaith effort - <a href="http://charterforcompassion.com/">A Charter for Compassion</a></li><li>Twitter users can tweet <span class="UIStory_Message">#peaceday to help make PEACE a "trending topic". Or, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/wemustdisarm">WMD</a> on twitter for updates throughout the day.</span><br /></li><li>On Facebook, join the I<a href="http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=international+day+of+peace&init=quick">nternational Day of Peace group</a></li></ul><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6I7hkNk_6WI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6I7hkNk_6WI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><span class="UIStory_Message"><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Disarmament:</span><br /><br />The International Day of Peace is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence.<br /><br />It is a time to reflect on the horror and cost of war, and on our duty to resolve disputes peacefully.<br /><br />Most of the victims of conflict are powerless. Innocent civilians. Fathers, mothers, children.<br /><br />Without peace they have little hope of improving their lives. Little hope of escaping poverty.<br /><br />Often, those who work on behalf the powerless are also targets.<br /><br />Journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian workers, United Nations staff and peacekeepers have all found themselves under attack.<br /><br />Combatants, warlords, arms suppliers and their sponsors continue to display a cruel disrespect for life.<br /><br />On this International Day of Peace, I remind all of them that there is another way.<br /><br />A better way.<br /><br />The path of peace.<br /><br />We should be encouraged that war between nations is happening less often.<br /><br />Diplomacy and negotiation are becoming a more frequent choice.<br /><br />And even where States are torn by internal strife, history shows that peace can prevail if there is sufficient will.<br /><br />There are many examples where the advocates of peace have successfully subdued the voices of hate.<br /><br />I also draw hope from the renewed engagement of the international community on the issue of nuclear disarmament.<br /><br />That is why I have launched the WMD-WeMustDisarm! Campaign. As long as such weapons exist, no-one is safe.<br /><br />On this International Day of Peace, I have a simple message for all: We Must Disarm! We must have peace.<br /><br />I appeal to people throughout the world to join in this effort. Support the United Nations, and do your part for peace.</blockquote><br /></span><span class="UIStory_Message"><br /></span>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-10289669356080420872009-09-18T08:55:00.006-04:002009-09-18T10:13:50.713-04:00Leaders of Dutch Remonstrant Church visit UUA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZOeY8nYwcB20VnGyERO1R9xQF4PV83OeBGp2vwPt-rH6Z5KT8OzZuHQi0PSmKrJ2jHNNcm-p5fyP8f_GjGiT3EY1FWMPgjRTqkwUzaLpWJyNJU_L1VTGwjunu7bTE8MLuMpisRXgogs/s1600-h/remonstrants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZOeY8nYwcB20VnGyERO1R9xQF4PV83OeBGp2vwPt-rH6Z5KT8OzZuHQi0PSmKrJ2jHNNcm-p5fyP8f_GjGiT3EY1FWMPgjRTqkwUzaLpWJyNJU_L1VTGwjunu7bTE8MLuMpisRXgogs/s320/remonstrants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382790417824385378" border="0" /></a>The General Secretary of the <a href="http://www.remonstranten.org/introduction/index.html">Remonstrant Church</a>, Reverend Tom Mikkers, and the minister of the Remonstrant congregation in <a href="http://www.remonstranten.org/utrecht/index.html">Utrecht</a>, Holland, Rev. Tina Geels, are visiting the UUA and Boston-area congregations this week.<br /><br />The visit by these leaders serves as an opportunity for two long-time institutional interfaith partners to become re-acquainted after changes in administration leadership. Rev. Mikkers began his service as General Secretary in 2008, and both he and Rev. Geels agree that he represents a "changing of the guard" within the Remonstrant church.<br /><br />The American Unitarian Association, and later the UUA, has had interfaith relations with the Remonstrants since the early years of the 20th Century, as the Remonstrant Church participated in the founding of the International Association of Religious Freedom along with the AUA in 1900.<br /><br />The Remonstrant church traces its foundation to the 1620s when the theological followers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobus_Arminius">Arminius </a>dissented from and were forced to leave the folds of Dutch Calvinist Orthodoxy. Arminian theology, and the foundation of the Remonstrant Church, are products of the Radical Reformation, and demonstrate close relationships with Socianian and Anti-Trinitarian/Unitarian proponents of the era. Early Unitarians in the United States and England were strongly influenced by Arminian theological ideas as well.<br /><br />At the moment the Remonstrant Church is developing a congregational "rejuvenation" program, and our guests have enjoyed meeting with UU congregational leaders in Concord, MA, Jamaica Plain, MA, Lexington, MA, and will visit congregations in Wakefield, RI and Weston, MA before their visit is over. They have also discussed "Churchworks" matters with leaders of UUA departments, including Congregational Stewardship Services, Growth Services, BGLT Concerns, and Youth/Young Adult Ministry. UUA President Peter Morales thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the Remonstrant leaders as well, and looks forward to continuing close relations in the years to come.Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-34758855727368188182009-09-09T13:59:00.001-04:002009-10-01T13:18:43.363-04:00A Charter for Compassion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/147086.shtml"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjQhDNH_8pOVICASvNVC4Kjs3Oo6X2SC-iY87IkW8xdGa8SdLq2cia68zd4lkFfMC5ZspJqTequYBflzsv00oZiuE0kfKyoHYZ_aI-BsiBnbd-ViNy_LG2B8HuLNQ7vQCUr_RhV-AIHw/s320/Picture11.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379493955709983954" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.uua.org/">Unitarian Universalist Association</a> is one among a diverse group of interfaith religious organizations that have partnered with the "<a href="http://www.charterforcompassion.com/">Charter for Compassion</a>" community. This collaborative effort seeks to be a witness to the centrality of compassion in all of the world's religions - and to help build a more "peaceful and harmonious global community" through that witness.<br /><br /><br />One of the key leaders of this effort is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Armstrong">Karen Armstrong</a> - a theologian that many UU's have come to appreciate for her interfaith undersanding. She has written books that appear on many UU bookshelves including "The History of God" and "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths". However, the "Council of Sages" for the Charter for Compassion (see pictures, right) also includes Sheikh Ali Gomaa (the Grand Mufti of Egypt), Rabbi David Saperstein (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism), Sadhvi Chaitanya (spiritual leader of the Arsh Vijnaya Mandiram ashram), and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (retired Archbishop of Cape Town, SA).<br /><br />The Charter for Compassion website explains that:<br /><br /><p style="margin: 10px 0pt 0pt; font-weight: bold;">The Charter does NOT assume:</p> <ul style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 15px;"><li>all religions are the same</li><li>compassion is the only thing that matters in religion</li><li>religious people have a monopoly on compassion</li></ul> <p style="margin: 10px 0pt 0pt; font-weight: bold;">The Charter DOES affirm that:</p> <ul style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 15px;"><li>compassion is celebrated in all major religious, spiritual and ethical traditions</li><li>the Golden Rule is our prime duty and cannot be limited to our own political, religious or ethnic group</li><li>therefore, in our divided world, compassion can build common ground</li></ul>In November 2009 the finalized version of the Charter for Compassion will be "Launched" in a major event. Religious people from around the world are invited to join in this launch by sponsoring special events. The UUA has created <a href="http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/147086.shtml">a resource for congregational religious education programs</a> that would like to participate in this global event. Please contact the <a href="http://www.uua.org/international">UUA International Resources Office</a> if you'd like more information.<br /><br /><br /><center><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCG4qryy1Dg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCG4qryy1Dg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></center>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-76472696772556215602009-09-04T10:40:00.007-04:002009-09-09T14:22:47.878-04:00UUA President in Transylvania for ICUU meetingUUA President, the Reverend Peter Morales, traveled to Kolozsvar, Transylvania for the biannual Council Meeting of the <a href="http://www.icuu.net/">International Council of Unitarians and Universalists</a> - ICUU from August 31 - September 7, 2009.<br /><br />During his visit he met with leaders of Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist national groups from around the world. The Council Meeting event consists of worship services, workshops, business meetings, and includes reports from each member group. During the reports we've heard about the highs and lows over the past two years for each of the member groups. Many of their stories have been inspirational - including the report of the Unitarian Christians of Indonesia who are making plans to start a seminary and the UUs of Hong Kong who were welcomed as an ICUU "emerging group" this year.<br /><br /><center><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2FUUAInternationalResources%2Falbumid%2F5377606301697091905%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="288" height="192"></embed></center><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Achievements</span> of member groups ranged from increased Administrative capacities (structural, strategic planning), Training and Development (professional leadership, education of new leaders, relationship building, worship materials, religious education expansion), new Activities (retreats, camps, economic projects, social justice, sabbatical exchanges). Strengths and Skills that were mentioned included Cooperative efforts, Commitment and Focus, Financial Stewardship, Multi-generational involvement, and Enthusiasm in the face of change.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Issues and Concerns</span> that were mentioned mirrored the achievements, including Membership concerns (high average age, instability, decreased members, growth efforts struggle), Financial concerns (diminishing resources, restrained budgets, international economic instability), and Structural concerns (admnistration, leadership).<br /><br />But, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hopes and Dreams</span> that were described were especially inspiring. Ideas ranged from establishing international service/learning programs for yough, creating a seminary/training institution, developing published worship materials, expaning congregational commitment to ICUU, leveraging cooperation between member groups, increasing public witness and social action projects.<br /><br />In attendance at the meeting were leaders from the following <span style="font-weight: bold;">member groups</span>:<br /><ul><li>Australia and New Zealand UU Association</li><li>General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (UK)</li><li>Canadian Unitarian Council</li><li>Religious Society of Czech Unitarians</li><li>European Unitarian Universalists</li><li>UU Society of Finland</li><li>Deutscher Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft (Germany)</li><li>Unitarian Church of Hungary</li><li>Jemaat Allah Global Indonesia - Indonesia Global Church of God (Unitarian)</li><li>Unitarian Union of NE India</li><li>UU Church of the Philippines</li><li>Unitarian Church in Poland</li><li>Unitarian Church of South Africa</li><li>Unitarian Church of Transylvania</li><li>Sociedad Unitaria Universalista de España (Spain)</li><li>Unitarian Universalist Association (USA)</li></ul><br />And from the following <span style="font-weight: bold;">emerging or perspective groups:</span><br /><ul><li>Assemblée des chrétiens unitariens du Burundi (Burundi)</li><li>Libre Congregación Unitaria de México(Mexico)</li><li>Unitarian Umbrella Organization of Norway</li><li>UUs of Austria<br /></li><li>UUs of Bolivia</li><li>UUs of Hong Kong</li></ul><br />During the <span style="font-weight: bold;">business meetings</span> a new Executive Committee was elected with the following members: Rev. Brian Kiely, President (Canada), Pauline Rooney, Vice-President (Australia), David Shaw, Treasurer (UK), Rev. David Gyero, Secretary (Transylvania), Rev. Nihal Attanayake (Philippines), Rev. Celia Midgely (UK), Olufemi Matimoju (Nigeria). A strategic plan was also adopted by the Council members, as well as a budget for the 2010 and 2011 calendar years.<br /><br />The ICUU's <span style="font-weight: bold;">new staffing model</span> was also introduced, which includes a 1/2 time General Secretary position, to which Rev. Steve Dick has been hired to fill. And a part-time Program Coordinator position, which is being filled by Rev. Jill MacAllister.<br /><br />Additionally, the Council passed <span style="font-weight: bold;">three resolutions</span>. The first two addressed a recently passed <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8232878.stm">law in Slovakia</a> which criminalizes and fines the use of minority languages. The largest minority group in Slovakia is ethnic Hungarians, and while there aren't any Hungarian Unitarian churches in Slovakia, the Transylvanian Unitarian Church has joined with other Hungarian churches to protest this law.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.uniuniques.com/UniFineArt/Printwork/TordaEdict.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 172px;" src="http://www.uniuniques.com/UniFineArt/Printwork/TordaEdict.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The third resolution requests that the ICUU asks the City of Torda (Transylvnia) to immediately begin exhibit an historic painting by Aladar Korosfoi Kriesch of the "Diet of Torda" which has been unavailable to the public for more than ten years.Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-91853332225679070692009-08-25T10:22:00.010-04:002009-10-21T09:10:28.442-04:00International Engagement: UU from Unity Church-Unitarian serves UUHIP partner Vidhayak Sansad<span style="font-style: italic;">Please welcome guest blogger Wendy Harris writing from </span><span style="font-style: italic;">a tribal village near Vasai in the state of </span><st1:place style="font-style: italic;" st="on">Maharashtra</st1:place><span style="font-style: italic;">, India where she has spent the summer working with UU Holdeen India Program partner Vidhayak Sansad.</span><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14LIWm9bhQ1tstPunfCa20r3Q7rG0WClEXySSy_AISw8ROrqw-pB927bCSQ1IZSFbseVeNnnaXZBT-gHsc0vRK0BINtqwncOQTSHSpgSLvkJLffMI2pbmE0mSnqe5suQDOx3bv3WaZFI/s1600-h/school+girls+singing+at+the+hunger+strike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14LIWm9bhQ1tstPunfCa20r3Q7rG0WClEXySSy_AISw8ROrqw-pB927bCSQ1IZSFbseVeNnnaXZBT-gHsc0vRK0BINtqwncOQTSHSpgSLvkJLffMI2pbmE0mSnqe5suQDOx3bv3WaZFI/s320/school+girls+singing+at+the+hunger+strike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373915764841734498" border="0" /></a>“You lead English prayer?” The request, by the exercise instructor at the end of the morning session set off a series of UU heart palpitations. I had no idea what the girls at this school usually prayed and I had no idea what to say in a prayer in general. However, when I paused, he prompted me with “You know, the last.” Our morning exercise sessions often include We Shall Overcome in English or Marathi. I had never considered that song as a prayer before. As I looked into the eyes of these 160 young girls – most of whom are the first people in their families to get a formal education and who are part of an anti-oppression movement – and sang the words “we shall overcome” I felt part of a bigger moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJS88-1JdLq4jniaf2g4nK5-cpvPlHAiSCr27DANNKfl2OIs-a6sf2_tHXB-ADxrdvl16Op4CqOR5IFQQJdEyvjUBRV-1JOb9z19RU4tsJK7j4qsuHAux4kZacNUijVxlew8s7rB2Ikw/s1600-h/some+of+the+crowd+at+the+protest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJS88-1JdLq4jniaf2g4nK5-cpvPlHAiSCr27DANNKfl2OIs-a6sf2_tHXB-ADxrdvl16Op4CqOR5IFQQJdEyvjUBRV-1JOb9z19RU4tsJK7j4qsuHAux4kZacNUijVxlew8s7rB2Ikw/s320/some+of+the+crowd+at+the+protest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373912140399585266" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">A few weeks later, I was asked to lead the song again. This time, it was in the context of many dalits (untouchables), tribal people, and others who were gathering to stage a massive protest. The government had gone against the wishes of 53 village councils and incorporated them into a municipal corporation. Villagers from these villages and others blocked the main highway, masses participated in protest marches, and a handful of leaders went on a hunger strike that continued 3 days until the government agreed to review the decision.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8sIKIGnw466zTUyYxsWythcGo-mkzZ3afIN3bfTrFOEo09gTsjq7a1YKsuuQWy8qHe2U3LYbnf5743BeKipcU79SU11HoqxxK5irDvBCixNKswFHe7I_TK9D2MYEbkWg8zwULhrY9q8/s1600-h/2A+-+Vivek+at+anniversay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8sIKIGnw466zTUyYxsWythcGo-mkzZ3afIN3bfTrFOEo09gTsjq7a1YKsuuQWy8qHe2U3LYbnf5743BeKipcU79SU11HoqxxK5irDvBCixNKswFHe7I_TK9D2MYEbkWg8zwULhrY9q8/s320/2A+-+Vivek+at+anniversay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373912851116215906" border="0" /></a>I had met Vivek Pandit, the co-founder of Vidhayak Sansad, when he came to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:city> in 2007 by invitation of our ministers Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs.<span style=""> </span>Vidhayak Sansad (Constructive Parliament) and its sister organization Shramjivi Sanghathana (the People’s Union) work for socio-economic empowerment and development of the deprived sections of the society like tribals, dalits, women, child laborers, and landless laborers and released bonded laborers.<span style=""> </span>The Unitarian Universalist Association Holdeen India Program has helped fund more than 90 groups in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> since 1984. One of the Holdeen Trust partners is Shramjivi Sanghathana.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am a teacher and each summer I like to travel somewhere in the world in a capacity that will allow me to get to know something of the local place, people, and life.<span style=""> </span>After learning about the anti-oppression work of Vidhayak Sansad, I thought I could use my skills as a teacher in a bilingual school in this small corner of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>Laney Ohmans, also from <st1:placename st="on">Unity</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:city>, went to Usgaon (one hour north of Mumbai) in 2008 to teach at Vidhayak Sansad’s residential school for girls from the Katkari tribe.<span style=""> </span>After hearing about her experiences, I was even more enthusiastic about volunteering at the school.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I usually learn at least a few phrases in the local language, but I had no Marathi upon arrival.<span style=""> </span>To my relief, there is a system of commonly understood gestures that I could quickly pick up based on my experience with sign languages.<span style=""> </span>I used that and my slowly (word-by-word) increasing Marathi vocabulary to communicate with the 160 students in 1<sup>st</sup> to 7<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style=""> </span>I like to think that my stumbling attempts at Marathi gave the girls more enthusiasm or courage to try their English.<span style=""> </span>However, their joy for meeting and getting to know a new person (especially one crazy enough to dance the Hokey Pokey which they had learned from Laney-teacher) and their enthusiasm for sharing about their lives probably played a more important role.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Besides endless verses of Hokey Pokey (even including “put your teeth in…”) and other favorite American children’s songs with motions, my days were spent in two capacities.<span style=""> </span>I taught the 5<sup>th</sup>-7<sup>th</sup> graders daily and rotated through the younger classes, which led to enthusiastic requests of “Teacher, teacher” and a number shown by fingers or pointing to a classroom by the younger students until I learned the words for 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup>, and 3<sup>rd</sup> grade.<span style=""> </span>I also worked in the Vidhayak Sansad office to help write two annual reports for funders.<span style=""> </span>In this capacity I was able to meet and interview a number of dedicated activists and organizers of Shramjivi Sanghathana and learn about the challenges and success they experience in the field.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This summer, I learned a lot about love, dedication to social justice, and joy of living.<span style=""> </span>I can only hope the students learned something from me as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">- Wendy Harris</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Related blogposts:<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com/2009/08/long-live-struggle-now-available-online.html">Long live the Struggle</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com/2008/10/teaching-in-maharashtra-for-uu-holdeen.html">Teaching in Maharastra</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-44598108623897705462009-08-19T11:49:00.013-04:002009-10-21T09:12:28.198-04:00"Long Live the Struggle" Now Available Online<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwcr3z6Tn3nSQAPfxpF3SfAD9TZjrVSRdRhEdmAaEosVV8Rcr4b41yHyDdJoz4BJ2kYOcAXk_3dNYp_Gn2ie5-5VIvtAJSu4xQHu93jQzTIPaeNe2QATvaNPdHi2ki1GzZT5TFgOP5og/s1600-h/fwblogo-small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 78px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwcr3z6Tn3nSQAPfxpF3SfAD9TZjrVSRdRhEdmAaEosVV8Rcr4b41yHyDdJoz4BJ2kYOcAXk_3dNYp_Gn2ie5-5VIvtAJSu4xQHu93jQzTIPaeNe2QATvaNPdHi2ki1GzZT5TFgOP5og/s200/fwblogo-small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373926769879035650" border="0" /></a><br />The UUA <a href="http://www.uua.org/aboutus/professionalstaff/advocacywitness/holdeenindia/47555.shtml">Holdeen India Program (UUHIP)</a> partners with democratically-operated grassroots social change movements in India, supporting the empowerment of dalits, tribal people, women and religious minorities.<br /><br />"Long Live the Struggle" provides a brief overview of UUHIP, focusing on Vivek Pandit, director of program partner Vidhayak Sansad. Learn more about the work of the Holdeen India Program as it brings a sense of hope to the people it works with while providing a model for ending social injustice<br /><br />You can view the entire short film online below; a limited number of DVD's are also available for free from the UUA's International Resources Office (contact <a href="mailto:international@uua.org">international@uua.org</a> for more details).<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AEuXlkrjXts&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AEuXlkrjXts&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wDO4Jk8S7SM&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wDO4Jk8S7SM&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Credit: Barbara Johnson films bjohnsonfilms @ mac.comRev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203915417388763063.post-47672060102686424912009-08-19T11:48:00.013-04:002009-08-20T08:50:17.630-04:00Sharing Global Faith - August Reflections<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD70T7WZH3_5hDQ_jd4Arm9J2a1VaQ1sTbIU4M7VfmMwkKiD9ikbJJkCvyPidF8RQHPIGTcO0n-43xNc1kIpsTdrGa4Uw6ZbFcsFEXiFmYY4n730sw_Q-y0KksGJmjDxFfXVORIeyj44/s1600-h/Picture1.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD70T7WZH3_5hDQ_jd4Arm9J2a1VaQ1sTbIU4M7VfmMwkKiD9ikbJJkCvyPidF8RQHPIGTcO0n-43xNc1kIpsTdrGa4Uw6ZbFcsFEXiFmYY4n730sw_Q-y0KksGJmjDxFfXVORIeyj44/s320/Picture1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324642140284817106" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:black;" ><a id="footerlink" title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B" href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B"><i title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B"><span title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mKh9r94V1karXYCG%2BesG1IOcC8gnIGk%2B" style="font-style: italic;">Sharing Global Faith</span></i></a> gathers Unitarian and Universalist voices </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:black;" >from around the world in a unique devotional e-resource.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:black;" >R</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:black;" >eflecting on various aspects of faith life, participants share spiritual insight into the stories and thoughts that fuel their ministerial call.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color:black;"><span><span style="color:black;"><span><span style="color:black;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/sgf-graphic-august1.png?w=258&h=300"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 298px;" src="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/sgf-graphic-august1.png?w=258&h=300" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Distributed monthly from April until September 2009, the publication seeks to deepen international connections and nourish the individual spirit.<br /><br /></span><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In this fifth edition, three global U/U leaders explore the meaning of FAITH to our faith tradition, reflecting on the well-known admonition "Stand by This Faith" by Rev. Olympia Brown:</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are honored to include contributions from:<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;" face="arial"> </p><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:black;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/balint.jpg?w=85&h=122"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 67px; height: 95px;" src="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/balint.jpg?w=85&h=122" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><b>Bishop Ferenc Bálint Benczédi</b> - was installed as Bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church in March 2009 . Previously, he served as minister of First Unitarian Church of Kolozsvar and has worked in Unitarian ministry for over thirty years.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:black;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/fulgence.jpg?w=79&h=127"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 58px; height: 92px;" src="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/fulgence.jpg?w=79&h=127" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><b>Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana</b> - is a former Dominican brother who left the Roman Catholic Church to become a Unitarian. He is now the president of the Assembly of Christian Unitarians of Burundi. A father of a boy, he is active in the local civil society and works for an International organization in Burundi. </span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><span><span style="color:black;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/johnweb.jpg?w=82&h=124"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 56px; height: 85px;" src="http://sharingglobalfaith.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/johnweb.jpg?w=82&h=124" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Rev. John Buehrens</b> - has served as the Minister of the First Parish in Needham since 2002. From 1993 to 2001 he was the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Long a leader in interfaith cooperation for peace and justice, he currently serves as national co-chair for Freedom to Marry, as Senior Advisor to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, as a member of the Needham Human Rights Committee, as President of the Needham Clergy Association, and as President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association for the Mass Bay District. </span></li></ul> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a id="footerlink" title="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=22&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsharingglobalfaith.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Faugust-reflections-on-faith%2F" href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=22&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsharingglobalfaith.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Faugust-reflections-on-faith%2F">Continue to read</a> this month's edition! </span></p><!-- TemplateEndEditable --><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;color:black;" ></span></span>Rev. Eric Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162918387092053909noreply@blogger.com0