Unitarian Universalist: The UU Perspective

COP21  Paris – Will Unitarian Universalist Congregations Become Organized to Ensure Earth’s Future for Our Descendants?

Hear what the results of the Paris COP21 UN talks were from our UU representatives William McPhearson and Jan Dash. Aly Tharp, Program Mangager for Commit2Respond is co-hosting and asking the improtant questions that we want to know the answers to.

Are we organized as UU Congregations to make a difference when it comes to Climate Justice?

Can UUs have an influence over Climate Justice locally?

Emissions – what does the trajectory look like between now and 2100?

 

 Co-Host, Aly Tharp –  is the Program Manager for Commit2Respond and has been  staff network coordinator for the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice, a covenanting community of activists aged 18 to 35 years old, supported by the UU Ministry for Earth. Aly graduated from Austin College in May 2012 with a Bachelors of Art in Environmental Studies and has devoted most of her time over the last three and a half years to grassroots movements for environmental and climate justice. Aly resides in North Texas with her family and twelve pets.

Webpage: UU Young Adults for Climate Justice

Twitter: @UUYACJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uuyacj

LinkedIn: Aly Tharp

 

Jan Dash – links to important sites

the Climate Portal

the Paris Conference blog on the Climate Portal

The talk with slide on CO2 emissions by different countries

2nd edition of my book with the chapter on Climate Change Risk Management

Dr. William McPherson is a retired environmental diplomat. Author of books on ideology and environment, he has participated in international conferences on climate change and worked on a number of environment issues, including coal use, petroleum transportation and renewable energy.

 

Links:

Sabotaging the Planet: Denial and International Negotiations:

Ideology versus Science: Climate Change Denial:

 

UU Coalition of State Advocacy Networks

UU-UNO Envoy Program

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Youth have a great opportunity to find out if becoming a minister is what they want to do. The Summer Seminary Program provided through the UUA is a way to experience what it would be like to attend a seminary program. The attend workshops that introduce them to a variety of areas within the ministry and experience the preparation it takes to speak in front of their peers inside of the “Preach-Off”.  They discover if it’s their calling or it can create more engagement in their own congregations worship committees.

Luminary Leaders is an invitation that sprouts from attending the Summer Seminary Program. They further develop leadership skills through the support of their peers.

Steven Ballesteros and Alex Jensen are alumni of these programs after attending in  2014 and 2013. They share there experience and what other youth can expect to gain from the experience. Both are going into the ministry and this has added to the growth of their abilities in preaching and ministering in areas they are passionate about.

 

Steven Ballesteros Bio:

“I was born and then raised in Tucson, Arizona by my two adoptive moms,

along with my biological sister. I spent most of my teens in a variety

of athletic and artistic extracurriculars while traveling, hiking, and

attending churches with my family. I have spent the last 6 years

involved in Unitarian Universalist leadership from the congregational

to national level. I have dedicated my time and talent to a variety of

leadership roles, including dozens of committees spread between two

churches, volunteering at the UU Camp DeBenneville Pines, and

attending UU leadership schools. I currently serve as member of the

UUA Nominating Committee, co-chair of the General Assembly Right

Relationship Team, and as Faith Development Intern to the Edmonds

Unitarian Universalist Church of Edmonds, Washington.”

Steven on LinkedIn

Favorite Quote:

“We are often called to do the difficult, if not the seemingly

impossible, and it is vital to our spiritual growth that we not ignore

these challenges.”— Janice Marie Johnson

Alex Jensen Bio:

Alex Jensen is a second year student at California State University, Monterey Bay, where he studies Human Communication. Alex has been a Unitarian Universalist since middle school, where he joined Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fremont, California. A graduate of the UUA’s first Summer Seminary (2013) and a Luminary Leader alumnus, Alex is discerning a call to ministry.

Links:

Alex on facebook

Alex on linkedin

Email: [email protected]

Favorite Quote:

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.” ~The Reverend Theodore Parker, Unitarian Minister

 

Here’s where you can learn more about Summer Seminary

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.

Answers to the question “How is Unitarian Universalism as a religious denomination uniquley positioned to serve and impact society,” along with some favorite quotes from former UU Perspective guests: Bart Frost, Kenny Wiley, Brian Tideman, Elizabeth Mount, Gleb Tsipursky, Fred Small, Anita Mills, Kathy Smith, Patty MacAfee, Domonic Giafagleone, Cyllis Dreamer, and Micaela Corcoran.

Check out more about them and hear complete episodes by clicking on their names!

Favorite Quotes:

 Lisa Presley:

– Surprised people behave badly

– Transparency, transparency, transparency

– Feed health, starve dysfunction

– Diversity: where you count the people; Inclusion: where the people count.

– Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right  – Henry Ford

Bart Frost

But love is really more of an interactive process. It’s about what we do not just what we feel. It’s a verb, not a noun . –Bell Hooks

Rev. Fred Small

“When conditions are sufficient things manifest. When conditions are no longer sufficient things withdraw. They wait until the moment is right for them to manifest again.” –Thich Nhat Hanh

Anita Mills:

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto -from a song by Violeta Parra

Translation: Thank you to life which has given me so much

(my own – soon to be bumper sticker!) You can change the world!

Kathy Smith:

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. – Theodore Parker

 Kenny Wiley:

Strong people don’t need strong leaders. – Ella Baker

 

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Did you realize that 7/12 of the AA 12 steps have a religious reference and can be a put-off to those non-believers. Even though Alcoholics Anonymous says a Higher Power can be anything you want…a door knob….yeah right! Higher power itself doesn’t align with great number of Athiests, UUs and such. So what’s the alternative where you can get support if you want to live a sober life? Secular Organizations for Sobriety is available for that purpose.

Valerie White (episode 42) give us insight into her journey of becoming sober when she hit bottom in 1985. 28 years sober and the experiences of creating her own group of SOS, has given her the opportunity to be open with others in way that helps them to live a sober life. She writes quarterly articles to support others who suffer with the disease.

Links:

The movie: The Anonymous People

LifeRing Secular Recovery

SMART recovery

James Christopher Books

Unhooked

How To Stay Sober

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Polyamory: It is the idea that you can love more than one person as long as you’re doing it openly, honestly and with the full consent and participation of all involved.

Valerie White will tell you all different aspects of Polyamory. Where do people find each other who are poly amorous? Why would you get involved in Polyamory? Is it a choice or orientation? Does the 3rd person live with the first couple? How does that work? Anyways, it’s a fascinating subject no matter if your are a part of it or not.

Bio:

Valerie White has been a Unitarian Universalist for 53 years, lawyer, and director of Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund, Valerie White has spoken on polyamory at many national and regional conferences.  She has written for many periodicals, including Loving More, The World and The Humanist, and served on the boards of Church of the Larger Fellowship, Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness (their first president), Interweave and UU’s for Jewish Awareness.  She has been president of the Unitarian Church of Sharon, MA and currently chairs the worship committee.  A long-time sexual rights activist, she was president of the Vermont Civil Liberties Union.  She has lived in an open triad for 21 years and is helping raise 13-year-old twins.

Favorite Quote:

“My feeling about technique in art is that it has about the same value as technique in lovemaking. Heartfelt ineptitude has its appeal and so does heartless skill; but what you want is passionate virtuosity.” John Barth, Giles Goat Boy

Website Links:

Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund

Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness

Loving More

Books of interest:

Loving More: The Polyfidelity Primer

 Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality By Christopher Ryan

 Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships

 The Ethical Slut

 More Than Two

 Opening Up

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The COP 21 UN Climate Talks in Paris are where decisions are made…or not among 200 Nations.

How do they get everyone to agree. How will fossil fuels be dealt with. There is so much happening between Nov30- Dec 12 and Aly Tharp and Ethan Bodnaruk are two Young Adult UUs who dig deep into what’s happening as they attend the 2015 COP 21. Ethan’s Cohert will be inside attending workshops and being directly involved, while Aly will be at the 2nd half attending activist events outside the building in solidarity with others from around the world.

Once they are back I’ll bring you a recap of their experience.

Aly’s Bio:

Aly Tharp is the staff network coordinator for the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice, a covenanting community of activists aged 18 to 35 years old, supported by the UU Ministry for Earth. Aly graduated from Austin College in May 2012 with a Bachelors of Art in Environmental Studies and has devoted most of her time over the last three and a half years to grassroots movements for environmental and climate justice. Aly resides in North Texas with her family and twelve pets.

 

Webpage: UU Young Adults for Climate Justice

Twitter: @UUYACJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uuyacj

LinkedIn: Aly Tharp

 Favorite Quote:

 

“Dream lucid and wide awake” – Gini Von Courter, in a speech she once gave in Texas

 

 Ethan’s Bio:

Ethan Bodnaruk is a Ph.D. Candidate in Ecological Engineering at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, NY and is a co-leader of the Religions for Peace, North American Interfaith Youth Network.  He is active in Citizens’ Climate Lobby which advocates for a revenue neutral carbon fee and will be attending the Paris COP with a small cohort of interfaith youth sponsored by Religions for Peace USA.  He has a MS in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University and a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.  He lives in snowy Syracuse, NY with his wife and two dogs. 

Webpage: www.ethanbodnaruk.com

Twitter: @ethanbodnaruk

LinkedIn: Ethan Bodnaruk

 Favorite Quote:

“Know the rules well so you know when to break them”  – Gandhi

Other Links:

 The Condor and the Eagle video

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Favorite quotes from former guests, Margalie Belizaire, Cal Frye, Phillis Smith, Connie Goodbread, LoraKim Joyner, Hal Walker, Kathleen McTigue, Darlene Pagano, Jyarleen Daniels, Peter Morales, Rachel Gore Freed, Janet Mason, Ariel Hunt-Brondwin, and Susan Katz Miller. Plus answers to the question, How is Unitarian Universalism as a religious denominiation uniquely positioned ot serve and impact society?

Want to find out more about one of the guests? Click on the name to go to their episode!

How would you answer this question? Leave your answer in the comment section below or use speakpipe (the tab on the right) and I’ll play it on the next episode!

List of Quotes:

Margalie Belizaire

Let us be kind to one another for most of us are fighting a hard battle. – Ian MacLaren

LoraKim Joyner

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves

Tell me about despair, your, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on. – Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver

They who bind to themselves a joy

Do the winged life destroy;

But they who kiss the joy as it flies

Live in eternity’s sun rise. – William Blake

 

Connie Goodbread

Faith development is all we do.

Unitarian Universalism is the faith we teach.

The congregation is the curriculum. – Connie’s creation (it is also the mantra of the UUA Southern Region)

Hal Walker

“Don’t Believe Everything You THINK!”

Rev. Kathleen McTigue

“If our religion plays a significant role in our lives, then it must do more than simply reinforce the values of our culture. In fact, …our values are often deeply counter-cultural. Articulating the ways these values challenge certain cultural ideas about wealth accumulation…for example, is part of what it means to be prophetic….Given the public dominance of conservative religious voices today, if religious liberals don’t speak up, no one else will know that there is another religious perspective.” – Paul B. Rasor from his book – 

Guided by Unitarian Universalist principles, TXUUJM educates and organizes member congregations, and partners with sympathetic organizations in order to advocate effectively for public policies that:

Uphold the worth and dignity of every person;

Further justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

Ensure the use of the democratic process;

Protect religious freedom; and,

Promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence.

The areas of focus in the future are economic justice, reproductive justice, and immigration and refugee rights.

Are you in one of the 23 States that has a Justice Ministry?

Rev. Chuck Freeman Bio:

Rev. Chuck Freeman has been in the ministry since 1977 serving Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist congregations.  He is the founding minister of the Free Souls Church in Round Rock,Texas.  Chuck is a founding member of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry and its Executive Director.

Chuck is also a certified Chaplain who has ministered in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and with Hospice Austin.  He is the co-founder of Hospice Austin’s Bereavement counseling program.

He is the creator; producer and host of the radio program “Soul Talk” which has been broadcasting since 1996.  The show currently streams live 24/7  Soultalkradio.com.

Chuck is the Founder and President of the Free Souls Project, promoting the integration of spirituality, democracy and ethics from a liberal faith perspective. His blogs on Politics & Religion have appeared on Fire Dog Lake/The Seminal,  & The Huffington Post.

His Op Ed Pieces have been published in the Austin American Statesman, Austin’s NPR affiliate, KUT, and The Washington Post/Newsweek “On Faith” blog. Chuck was a panelist on the 2009 Netroots Nation workshop “A New Progressive Vision for Church & State.” You can keep up with Chuck’s media ventures at ChuckFreeman.org.

Chuck is a lively, reflective, down to earth man who combines irreverence, compassion, and a playful humor in his life and work.

Favorite Quotes:

“Organized error will outdistance unorganized truth every time.”- Rev. James Billings, Universalist Minister/Missionary in Texas, 1889

“Why talk forever? What shall we do? Now is the time to push and be active. There will never be a better time ‘til we make the times better.” —Rev. Theodore Parker

Links:

TXUUJM

Coalition of Unitarian Universalist State Action Networks

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Peggy Gill of Horizon UU Church of Carrolton, TX created the Candle Lighters, a 4 hour weekly gathereing for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

It may be respite for spouses and caregivers but it enriches and gives diginity to those suffering from Alzheimer’s. As they sing in their own special way, “We are the Champions” as friends pass on, they champion each other as they continue to gather.

Description of the Candle Lighters Program:

Candle Lighters, an outreach ministry of Horizon UU Church, is a meeting place for adults with memory issues. Open to persons of all faiths, races and ethnicities, Candle Lighters provides a time for those who participate to enjoy and activity-based program each Friday, and gives a respite for caregivers. Activities include exercise (Tai Chi), creating a Memory Book, games and music and art.

Bio:

Peggy Gill is a retired professor of educational leadership. During her teaching career, she focused on the needs of students with learning difficulties. She continues to work with future teachers but spends most of her time in volunteer work. She currently volunteers as a teacher of adult ESL classes, in Candle Lighters (a fellowship for those with early stage Alzheimer’s) and in rural Belize helping teachers learn the skills to be successful in challenging conditions. She is married and the mother of 3 children and 8 grandchildren.

Favorite Quote:

“Better to light one candle, than curse the darkness.”

Contact Peggy at: [email protected]

Links:

Alzheimer’s Association

Horizon UU Church on Facebook

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Kenny Wiley, Senior Editor of the UU World and avid activist.

He has explored faith and identity as a youth and it helped him develop the core of who he is. His struggles as a Black UU when he was young had him avoid what later would be a significant friendship. He found his friendship with Raziq to be powerful and healing.

Bio:

Kenny Wiley, a UU World senior editor, lives in Denver and works at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church as its director of faith formation. A 2011 graduate of the University of Missouri, Kenny loves college football, women’s and men’s basketball, and playing ultimate frisbee.

He also the founder of the Denver Black Lives Matter chapter.

Favorite Quote:

Strong people don’t need strong leaders. – Ella Baker

Each night a child is born, is a holy night.- Sophia Lyon Fahs

 

Final Credits: music thanks to:

“Carefree”, “Open Those Bright Eyes”, “Sweeter Vermouth”

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/