What’s going on...March 2006

Sunday Services

 March 5 -  “Self Actualization in Earth-Centered Traditions” - Michael Jeffers

Michael Jeffers has been a practicing pagan and aficionado of Earth-centered spirituality since the age of 13. He will reflect on age old questions through the lenses of pagan philosophies. How do we strive to find meaning in an ambiguous world? How we are to become empowered individuals, but at the same time maintain community and brotherhood?  

March 12 -“Threats to Future of American Universities” - Dr. M. Elizabeth Derrick

As Unitarian Universalists we “covenant to affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”  Betty Derrick, a long-time member of our congregation, believes this is the same principle which university faculty espouse as academic freedom.  She is concerned that this principle, so fundamental to the university as most of us have known it, is under attack from several directions.  She will discuss effects on the university through corporatization both from the perspective of financial support as well as structural changes in university governance, the increasing use of part-time and temporary faculty, and recent pressures for a so called Student Bill of Rights.   

Betty Derrick, Valdosta State University Professor Emeritus, recently retired from the Chemistry Department.  Throughout her career, in addition to her disciplinary professional activities, she has been involved in issues related to faculty rights and academic freedom and governance.  Betty currently serves on the Council of the American Association of University Professors as one of three councilors for the southeast and is a past President of the Georgia AAUP Conference.  The AAUP is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization that promotes academic freedom by supporting tenure, academic due process, and standards of quality in higher education.  

March 19  ^- “Judaism:  The Triumph of Hope and Meaning” – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus

VSU Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, will continue his year-long series of talks on world religions at the UU church. He will explore key events in the history of the Jewish people and highlight core religious teachings regarding God, creation, and human beings.  The Jewish people have found a way to maintain a passion for meaning in the midst of perpetual persecution and minority status.  The Jewish story can help all of us to discover how the joyous spirit of hope can triumph over the pessimistic spirit of despair.         

March 26 -  “The ‘Wages’ of Social Justice” – Dr. Viki Soady
This spring, the UU Service Committee is working to encourage Unitarian Universalist congregations nationwide to address the pressing human rights issue of workers rights, empowering each other to take action both locally and globally. VSU Professor and Head of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Dr. Viki Soady, has been a strong supporter of the Living Wage campaign here in south Georgia and will speak to us about the annual state-by-state report by the Women's Policy Group of Washington, D.C. on the Self-Sufficiency Wage, the point at which individuals and families can be truly self-sustaining. For many south Georgians, this dignified bar is hardly within reach. 

Viki Soady was, until recently founding Director of Women's Studies at VSU. Having served in that capacity for ten years, she chose to go back to her "mother ship" by becoming Head of the foreign language department because it gives her a broader base (and much more budget) to work for gender equality and multicultural causes.  She still spells womenandchildren as one word!  Winner of two teaching awards, her research is in feminist theory and philosophy.  Her MA and PhD are in Latin and Greek (Classical Studies) from McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada .  

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JUUST Change is coming to Valdosta...   NOTE:  The meetings with Sue Lacey, our UUA JUUST Change consultant, originally scheduled for March 20-21, have been postponed to a later date.  Click here for more information about this project, and contact Betty Derrick for further details.

For more information about the JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Consultancy and Resources, go to this link from the UUA:

http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism/consultancy.html 

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INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP   If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our President, Lars Leader.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

 Volunteers Needed:  There are several Sunday service jobs including lay leader, flowers, greeting guests, greet and meet host after the service, and music director.  In addition we do our own cleaning inside and out of our facility.  See the sign-up book in the foyer and volunteer.

 

 

 

Social Action Activities

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2^nd Monday of each month.  If you can deliver meals on this day beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Dee Tait.

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 Accepting Difference in Valdosta, GA:

A Series of Speakers, Seminars, and Workshops

Betty Derrick, Director, Lars Leader, and Helen Gerhardt, who are serving as the project committee, met several times in recent weeks.  Sue Lacey, one of two consultants assigned to our congregation through the UUA JUUST Change Consultancy, has been in touch with Betty to learn more about our congregation and begin to discuss how she and Manish Mishra can best assist us in developing our project in the community.  Betty, Lars and Helen have discussed that initial conversation and future action.  They will be keeping the congregation informed as the project develops. 

            During this past month the church committed $2000.00 to the Wiregrass Literacy and Literature Festival of Deep South Georgia scheduled for this coming fall.  We will be sponsoring the Marita Golden Workshop on September 14.  Marita Golden is the Director of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation.  Her workshop will focus on how racism and colorism affect literacy and education and how writing may help teachers, students, and communities address the divides of class and race which damage us all.   Teachers will receive educational credits for the workshop.

            In case you are a newcomer to our congregation or have just forgotten about this project, perhaps a few words about the project’s genesis and objectives would be appropriate.  The project is an outgrowth of generous assistance from a number of people in the wake of severe vandalism to the church’s building several years ago.  Given that the vandalism may have been a hate crime, once the facilities were repaired, it seemed appropriate that remaining money be directed back in to the Valdosta community in a shared interest in improving the level of acceptance of difference in the wider community.  The money is designated in the budget as the Restoration Fund.  The congregation approved this project, which will sponsor a series of programs in the Valdosta area which promote the acceptance of difference in all its many guises.  After much talk, the Marita Golden Workshop will be the first of these workshops.   The Project Committee hopes that focused  conversations facilitated by our JUUST Change consultants will help the community at large help us decide how best to proceed further with this ambitious project.

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SOUTHERN REGIONAL MARCH for PEACE IN IRAQ and JUSTICE AT HOME, ATLANTA , GEORGIA , 12:00- 4:00 PM  SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2006 Proposed Route: Martin Luther King, Jr. Center to Piedmont Park   For more information see www.georgiapeace.org

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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)  The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies.  UUSC is a membership organization that is a voice for human rights and social justice. By neither seeking nor accepting government funds, UUSC maintains a high level of independence.

UUSC has members who contribute small amounts and some who contribute thousands of dollars. Gifts of $75 or more are matched dollar for dollar by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in New York . Memberships run for 12 months from the month the gift was received.  UUSC is an independent, nonsectarian, nonprofit agency. The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) is a religious organization for Unitarian Universalist congregations. UUSC is an affiliate of the UUA, but does not receive funding from it. More than 90% of UUSC members are also members of UU congregations. Some congregations make contributions to UUSC, but being a member of a congregation and/or contributing to the congregation does not make individuals members of, or donors to, UUSC.

Betty Derrick, our UUSC local representative, has recently received an update of our donor list.  Many of us need to renew our annual memberships.  Plan to do so when you receive your notification.   We will be celebrating Justice Sunday sponsored by UUSC this month.  That should be a good reminder!  See the UUSC.org website if you would like more information.

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About Our Members and Friends

v    Keep in your hearts.... our members and friends in difficult health situations.  

v   Congrats to Dory! She has been accepted to Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon and will begin her studies there in the fall of this year.  Way to go Dory!

 

 

Newsletter

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

March 15: deadline for the April newsletter 

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Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner

FUND BALANCES at January 31, 2006

General Fund                                        $23,858.15             

Restoration Fund                                 $15,215.64             

Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)         $39,073.79   

          

OUTSTANDING DEBT                                                                     

 Mortgage                                             $24,849.54          

                   

                                                                                                                               YTD

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:          January      Seven Months

Receipts:  

               Plate                                                                                89.00            716.19

                Pledge                                                                        1,030.00          7,270.00

                Rent                                                                               200.00          1,680.00

                Interest Income                                                            386.25            721.77

TOTAL RECEIPTS                                                                   1,705.25       10,387.96 

Disbursements:                                                                                                    

               Mortgage                                                                       500.00        3,500.00

                Speaker’s                                                                        275.00        1,943.75

                Rep. and Maint.                                                                 0.00           326.00

                Postage                                                                               0.00           185.60

                Supplies                                                                              0.00           221.97

                UU Conf.                                                                             0.00           189.00

                Utilities                                                                            168.05        1,069.88

                Advertising                                                                        0.00             84.80

                Other                                                                                    3.00            33.00

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS                                                          946.05        7,554.00

NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)                                            $759.20       $2,833.96

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UU Board News:  The board did not meet in February.  Watch for an announcement about when the March Board meeting will be held.   

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At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings: Beginner’s Class 5:30-6:30 PM.  Continuing Class 6:30-8:00 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo.   

New Hope Christian Fellowship - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.

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UU Activities and Announcements

Further information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.  Also check your Sunday Order of Service for announcements. 

March 4 Southwest Cluster Meeting – Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society: Our UU Voice in the Public Square , with Howard Masters, Ft. Myers , FL

March 10 Florida District Awards deadline (see below)

March 10-12 OWL Teacher Training: K-1 and 4-6, Gainesville , FL

March 11 District Board Meeting,   Orlando , FL

April 7-8 UU Florida District Annual Assembly,   Vero Beach , FL

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Florida District Unitarian Universalist Association 2006 Awards Announcement DEADLINE – MARCH 10, 2006

The Florida District Awards Committee requests your nominations to honor members who have made significant contributions to their congregations and communities. Nominations should include a submission form with narrative and samples when appropriate.

AWARDS:

·         Unsung Unitarian Universalist Award – given to a Unitarian Universalist whose actions inspire, support and express Unitarian Universalism but who is not generally recognized

·         Lifetime Achievement Award – given for long and dedicated service to Unitarian Universalism

·         Clarence R. Skinner Award – given for the best sermon exemplifying Unitarian Universalist principles

·         Jim Barrett Social Justice Award – given to a member or group in a Florida congregation for commitment to and leadership in social justice work

·         John DeWolf Hurt Levity Award – given to honor a person who remembers the value of humor in congregational life

·         Excellence in Religious Education – given in recognition of outstanding work in the field of religious education

·         Communications Awards –to recognize outstanding media

·         Newsletters – awarded to a small, medium and large congregation annually

·         Website – (please include printouts with website address)

·         Women and Religion and YRUU Awards – please contact these groups’ leaders directly

Award winners will be recognized during the 2006 District Annual Assembly.  Send nomination materials to: Florida District UUA, Attn: Award Nominations, 1901 E. Robinson Street Suite 18 , Orlando , FL 32803 . Florida District UUA 

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS  Joan Lund’s  column did not arrive in time for the earlier than usual printing of our March newsletter.   Watch the website - Carol Stiles will post her interesting column when it arrives. [Web Ed.:  As requested, Joan Lund’s column is included immediately below!]

Joan Lund

It is hoped each month that the topic on which I write will be of some use to your congregation. For certain in each of your wider-world communities there are social justice issues of importance to UUs. The office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness (OCAW) assists UU congregations and organizations in developing their capacity and effectiveness for social justice work and to involve them in state, national, and international coalitions on these issues. What follows is based on information from Susan Leslie, Director of the OCAW.  

The OCAW manages the Social Justice Empowerment Workshop program which held six workshops in the fall and will hold six more during this winter and spring. Unfortunately, even though the OCAW has received more applications for workshops, they will be deferred until the fall as the budget limits have been reached. These workshop/programs are very helpful for congregations in terms of mobilizing and inspiring members to engage in social justice efforts and help them develop a plan for how these efforts can be most effective. The workshop brings together at least 20% of their membership along with clergy and helps them accurately assess their capacity regarding size and other factors to identify the “passion” in their congregation. The OCAW office is also piloting a follow-up consultation to congregations that have sponsored these workshops.

Key coalition work for the current year includes representing the UUA and involving UU congregations in the broad interfaith Let Justice Roll/Living Wage Campaign. This initiative includes advocacy for raising the eight-year-old national minimum wage and it includes several state ballot initiatives and legislation, plus protecting the minimum wage increase won in Florida . The campaign will also focus on voter registration and GOTV for the 2006 elections.

The OCAW will continue working on UUA public witness priorities and with the Washington Office on marriage equality, an end to the war in Iraq , and progressive family values including reproductive rights and reality-based comprehensive sexuality education. To this end and to help bring a holistic integrated perspective to these various efforts Susan Leslie, attended training Spirit in Action Circles program which has worked with hundreds of grassroots organizations and congregations across the U.S. This group has developed core strategies for building an effective spirit-based anti-oppressive movement for a new democracy that brings together leaders, activists, and concerned individuals from various faith communities and issue-based movements. They will be sponsoring a workshop at General Assembly.

Contact me for further information and UUA questions and concerns, jlund@uua.org. I look forward to hearing from you. Be of peace and stay well.

 

 

Statement on the Confirmation of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court

Robert Keithan, Director, UUA Washington Office for Advocacy  (February 1, 2006)

Tuesday, January 31, marked two milestones in US history: the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court, and the announcement of the death of civil rights legend Coretta Scott King. As we remember and celebrate the life of Mrs. King, we are reminded that too many dreams remain unfulfilled. As Bruce S. Gordon, President of the NAACP said, the passing of Coretta Scott King "is a deep loss not only to the civil rights community, but to all who cared about human rights." A Zogby poll released on Sunday, January 29, found that 0% of African Americans surveyed supported the confirmation of Samuel Alito.

            The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations opposed the confirmation of Judge Alito, based on a 2004 General Assembly statement on civil liberties that called us to oppose nominees "whose records demonstrate insensitivity to the protection of civil liberties."

Although Judge Alito was ultimately confirmed, I believe that there are many small victories to claim in the 58-42 vote—the slimmest confirmation margin since the confirmation of Judge Clarence Thomas in 1991. Through the hearings and other public means, the UUA and our coalition partners helped elevate the importance of serious legal issues surrounding this nomination. The national dialogue that resulted asked very timely questions regarding the scope of presidential authority and individual civil liberties. Perhaps most significantly, we made it clear that a wide coalition of groups, including the Union of Reform Judaism as well as the UUA, were willing to put a great deal of effort into defending civil rights and liberties. I strongly believe that the ability to form effective partnerships is among the most critical factors in successful long-term social change, and I fully expect these partnerships to continue in the coming years. Many thanks to all Unitarian Universalists who spoke out against the confirmation of Judge Alito.  

Another important reason for doing this kind of work is accountability: listening to the people and groups most affected by an issue and working to implement the solutions they identify. In this case, Judge Alito's confirmation was opposed by virtually every group working for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender rights; civil liberties; racial justice and civil rights; disability rights; worker's rights, and women's rights.

 Striving for accountability and demonstrating, by our action and our word, our belief that all people are equal is one concrete way Unitarian Universalists can make a belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person not only a religious principle but a religious practice. UU minister the Rev. Richard Gilbert wrote in The Prophetic Imperative, "We are in the process of learning that church social action is not a small band of marginal activists in the church decrying church inaction or seeking to represent the whole church.  Rather, it is a congregational process of coming to terms with the mission of the religious community in a society that sometimes confuses the separation of church and state with the divorce of religion and public policy."

 Clearly, we still have much work to do before all public decisions reflect values of justice and equality for all people. I am grateful to be part of a faith tradition that has and will continue to speak out for these values. In my work for the Association, I will continue to spread the message that we are first and foremost a religious community—not a political one—and that we must take care in how we express our position on controversial issues. We must seek a balance between the value (both in theological growth and potential effectiveness) of taking collective action and the importance of respecting the diversity of opinions within our congregations and movement. I believe the key lies in focusing our efforts on those issues where we have unique grounding, fit, and opportunity, and recognizing that (1) we need to provide a space for dissenting voices to be heard; and (2) we will not—and should not—speak out on every issue. For us the process of taking action should be at least as important as the action itself. When done well, collective action for justice can build relationships between people and organizations, deepen personal and religious understanding, energize a congregation or community, and effectively change culture and policy.  

Extensive social justice resources for your congregation are available at www.uua.org/programs/justice. To participate in the Association's Social Witness process—comments from congregations and districts are due March 1 on "Moral Values for Pluralistic Society" and "Global Warming"—see www.uua.org/csw.  

In a 2003 speech to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Coretta Scott King said, "We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...an inescapable network of mutuality... I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be."  

May it be so.

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“Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson