Fall 2009, Vol.XXIII No.3

Features

The gospel of inclusion
A black Pentecostal bishop embraces Universalism, befriends a Unitarian minister, and shakes up the largest congregation in the UUA.
By Kimberly French in Life

A multicultural future
The Unitarian Universalist Association elects a president focused on helping congregations adapt to a changing society.
By Donald E. Skinner and Christopher L. Walton in News

Awards for service to church and state
UUA honors Debra Bowen, Mark Ritchie, Eric Isaacson, and the Rev. Alice Blair Wesley.
By Christopher L. Walton and Sonja L. Cohen in News

Social witness resolutions
Resolutions adopted by the 2009 UUA General Assembly.
By Christopher L. Walton in News

Departments

The breadth of our message
Can Unitarian Universalism become more culturally diverse?
By Christopher L. Walton in From the editor

We want our movement to change
A letter from the newly elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
By Peter Morales

Mailbox, Fall 2009
Doubtful saints, uncontested elections, and putting down roots.
By Jane Greer in Letters

Letters, Fall 2009
Readers respond to the Summer 2009 issue.
By Jane Greer in Letters

Blog roundup, Fall 2009
Online responses to UU World.
By Christopher L. Walton in Letters

Traffic report, Fall 2009
Top ten stories at uuworld.org.
By Christopher L. Walton in Letters

Reach out to become a public church
Unitarian Universalism can't yet claim that the greater good is its primary purpose, but it should.
By Michael Durall in Forum

Youth, adults bond through service trips
Service trips are a great way to help people in need and cultivate a lifelong awareness of the importance of serving others.
By Donald E. Skinner in Congregational life

New Wichita church full of spaces for children
New UU building also has 'safe' rooms built to withstand tornadoes.
By Jane Greer in Spiritual landmarks

Practice gratitude
Like hope, trust, and love, gratitude is both a feeling and a spiritual practice.
By Christine Robinson and Alicia Hawkins in Reflections

Be the change
Those who want to move the world in the direction of equality and lasting harmony must become, and learn to think of themselves as, forces of history.
By Stephen M. Shick in Reflections

A spark of understanding
My first encounter with Unitarianism.
By Bernadette Siegel in Reflections

Winter Falls
Trying to capture a tiny part of the essence that sparks my sense of wonder.
By Gabriel Jules in Reflections

Lot A, Mills Heights
Everything we do leaves a mark.
By Ellen Wixted in Reflections

Death barged in
He has been here ever since.
By Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno in Reflections

Just cause
A line is crossed.
By George Witte in Reflections

Families: Weave a Tapestry of Faith (pdf)

Beacon Press to reissue MLK writings
Featured online in another form:
Beacon Press to reissue Martin Luther King Jr.'s books
Exclusive partnership with King’s estate will bring civil rights leader’s writings to a contemporary audience.
By Christopher L. Walton in UU news

Portrait of a President
Painting by Shelley Thayer Layton presented on June 3, 2009.
By Jane Greer in UU news

Membership in UUA declines slightly in 2008
Featured online in another form:
Membership growth in UUA slows down
Latest figures show slight dip; UUA presidential candidates Laurel Hallman and Peter Morales comment on growth strategies.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Board proposes changes to UUA election process
Featured online in another form:
Board proposes changes to UUA elections
Search committee would nominate candidates for president for a six-year term; board would nominate candidates for moderator.
By Jane Greer in UU news

Youth ministry reports issue call for change
Featured online in another form:
Reports outline new model of UU youth ministry
Urge congregations and districts to make ministry to youth and young people of color priorities.
By Donald E. Skinner

New credentialing for musicians
Featured online in another form:
UUA offers credentials to church musicians
Unitarian Universalist Association is also revising religious educators' credentialing program.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Organizational changes made at UUA in FY10
Featured online in another form:
UUA reorganizes Congregational Services staff
Department disbanded; most offices will merge with District Services into new Congregational Growth and Vitality Staff Group.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

N.H. UUs cheer same-sex marriage
Featured online in another form:
UUs cheer legalization of gay marriage in New Hampshire
‘Live Free or Die’ state now place to ‘Live Free and Marry’
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

UUA, UUSC leaders call for torture inquiry
Letter to President Obama calls for ‘accountability’ for U.S. officials who authorized torture.
By Sonja L. Cohen in UU news

New Orleans still welcomes help
Featured online in another form:
New Orleans UU congregations still welcome help
Area churches organize to coordinate fundraising, volunteers.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

UUA charts new international course
Featured online in another form:
UUA shifts international focus to congregations
Sinkford’s presidency focused less on institutional alliances, set up resources for churches seeking international partners.
By Jane Greer in UU news

Illinois church collects stories from veterans
Featured online in another form:
Illinois church collects veterans’ stories
Unitarian Universalist church’s oral history project opens up conversations about military service.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

UU convicted of littering for supplying humanitarian aid
Featured online in another form:
UU convicted of littering while supplying humanitarian aid
Ministry provides water, supplies to migrants crossing Arizona desert
By Jane Greer in UU news

Seeing Joseph Priestley whole
He's more than just the discoverer of oxygen and soda water, and not just incidentally a Unitarian.
By Scott Gerard Prinster in Bookshelf

Gratitude, paying attention, and multiculturalism
Questions for spiritual reflection and adult group discussions.
By Jane Greer in What in the World?

Fifty years after the vote to form the UUA
The Unitarian and Universalist consolidation process continues to this day.
By Kimberly French in Looking back

Online Extras

Vanessa’s garage
Volunteering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina—and the aftermath of my diagnosis with ALS—has helped me appreciate the complexity of asking for, and offering, help.
By Mary J. Harrington

Their spirit is still with us
One year after a gunman opened fire in the Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, the congregation’s minister reflects on the spirituality that has sustained his people.
By Christopher Buice

From mother to gypsy
Saying goodbye to the home where I raised my children.
By Meg Barnhouse

Message or culture?
Are Unitarian Universalists more committed to spreading liberal religion or to preserving our congregational culture?
By Doug Muder

General Assembly blog

Unitarian Universalists in the media: Weekly guide to news about UUs

The interdependent web: Weekly guide to the best in UU blogs