Forrest Church and Learning to Fall

We have all suffered, and will suffer, our own falls. The fall from youthful ideals, the waning of physical strength, the failure of a cherished hope, the loss of our near and dear, the fall into injury or sickness, and late or soon, the fall to our certain ends. We have no choice but to fall, and little say as to the time or the means.

Perhaps, however, we do have some say in the manner of our falling.

These words, from Philip Simmons’ beautiful little book Learning to Fall: Blessings of an Imperfect Life (Bantam, 2003), have stuck with me from the first time I read them. Perhaps no better of example of someone choosing the manner of their falling is Forrest Church.

On February 23, 2008, the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church announced to his congregation that his cancer had returned – and was terminal. His receipt of the Distinguished Service Award at General Assembly on June 28 could not have been a better match for the public life he has lived. Creator of such memorable quotes as “The opposite of love is not hate, but fear” and “Religion is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die”, Church served The Unitarian Church of All Souls In New York city for 30 years and has written at least 20 books. As Church accepted the award, we all knew he was dying. His strong spirit brought to mind Yeats’ words about the soul “fastened to a dying animal”.

One small thing stands out to me about the presentation of the award – Roger Thompson, trustee from the recently-merged Northeast District, was the Board member who presented it with President Bill Sinkford. Roger is a tall, roughhewn mountain man, with a full beard who is partial to flannel shirts and canvass pants. The Board has never seen him dressed up – but he wore a white suit and tie as a sign of deep respect for Rev. Dr. Church. When I commented on it, he said, “it never occurred to me to do anything else”.

Van Jones and Green Collar Jobs

I had never heard of Van Jones before I learned he was the Ware Lecturer for 2008, joining such greats as Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr. , and Helen Caldicott - and now he appears to be everywhere. Founder of the Ella Baker Center in Oakland, Jones recently worked with Nancy Pelosi last year to pass the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which authorizes up to $125 million per year to train workers in "green collar" jobs.

Like another better known African American leader, Jones does not shy away from fixing accountability, but offers hope along with a call for responsibility: “Martin Luther King did not give a speech entitled “I have a complaint!” Rather than a call to protest, his message was that we are at a turning point, with a need now to govern. It is far easier, he says, to be against whoever is in power, rather than having the responsibility to use power wisely to make the changes we have been calling for. It seems he knew his audience well.

Articulate, smart, funny, and passionate about his values, Jones got a rousing, standing ovation. As he shook hands with some of the people in the area where I was sitting, Board member Lyn Conley pointed to our 150 strong young caucus and said “the youth are over there”. Watching him join that young, excited, cheering crowd I was ready to go home, head to his office in Oakland, and volunteer to work for him – along with several other thousand of us.

In her “20 Reasons to Come to GA”, Moderator Gini Coulter said “ten years from now, you will be glad you heard him here”. I think she is right – read a review of his speech and hear his lecture via streaming video by scrolling down to Saturday and clicking on the Ware Lecture.

And if the Colbert Report is more to your liking, see Jones explaining what "green collar jobs" are with a little heckling from his host.

Next post: Forrest Church and Learning to Fall

"It was a good GA."

Though significantly smaller in numbers (just over 3000) than last year, nearly everyone I have talked with (including the entire UUA Board) said this was a good General Assembly. Though a financial “hit”, a smaller GA translated into less hassle, shorter lines, and more time to connect with other people, without sacrificing content. The music (mostly contemporary, featuring 4 different choirs and terrific accompaniment) was superb, helped by the GA Planning Committee’s decision to pay for the UU Musician’s Network members GA registration, allowing many of them to stay after their own meeting in Fort Lauderdale. There were many great moments, featuring people like Van Jones from our own Bay Area backyard, who bowled all of us over with his message of “green”, working with urban poor, and hope, or Good Asian Drivers, a Lesbian singer/songwriter and Transgendered slam poet duo with incredible power in lyrics and delivery who were part of the Bridging Ceremony on Friday night. There were few dry eyes as the Rev. Dr. Forrest Church received the Distinguished Service Award, or as the Rev. Marlin Lavanhar spoke of losing his daughter a few years ago – or several thousand UU voices sang “Blue Boat Home” [worth checking this just to see what is probably an unauthorized cell phone recording on YouTube in Japanese].

Look for these – and more – in postings over the next several weeks. And if you were there - what is YOUR opinion of this year's GA?

Photo taken in Fort Lauderdale courtesy of Tom Loughrey, UUA Trustee from the Pacific Southwest District, used by permission.

Are you coming to GA?

Fourth in a series of posts following the UUA Board meeting April 17-20.

I describe General Assembly (GA) as part revival meeting, part convention, and part tradeshow. Originally meant to be where the business of the UUA was conducted, it also provides a wealth of workshops, information tables, and every sort of book, jewelry, music, and information booth of interest to UUs or that you can stick a chalice on. For people wondering how to feel part of "something much larger", a trip to GA will usually do it.

First of all, there is the experience of being among thousands of people who actually have similar value systems to yours. There is a comraderie in the lunch lines, workshops, and plenaries that will start conversations easily, and have you meeting people all over the country. Our president, Rev. Bill Sinkford, is always inspiring and amazing, and watching Gini Courter run a plenary is worth coming for by itself. You will find more things to think about, books to read, and ideas to take back than you thought possible.

But what if you can't fly or drive to Ft. Lauderdale? Start making plans now to attend the one next summer in Salt Lake City. This was be our presidential election, with two extraordinary candidates, Rev. Laurel Hallman and Rev. Peter Morales.

But you don't have to lose out on everything in Ft. Lauderdale. Most of the major events will be via streaming video - you can find out when they are by checking out the GA home page, and either watch in the privacy of your home on your computer, or better yet, set up a projector and screen at your congregation and invite others to join you and discuss what you saw afterwards. Maybe not as good as "being there" but a great way to catch the spirit.

Next post: Fellowship culture

Youth Ministry

Third in a series of posts following the UUA Board meeting April 17-21, 2008

In October of 2004 the Board passed a resolution “to request that the President convene a consultation for the purpose of renewing the Association's vision of its ministry for and with youth”. This 3 year Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth culminated with the Summit on Youth Ministry in July of 2007. From this process came the view that “a clear consensus emerged from both youth and adult stakeholders that the present continental structure of YRUU does not well serve the majority of UU youth or UU congregations.” [Excerpt from Frequently Asked Questions] A 15 member Youth Ministry Working Group was appointed to carry the recommendations of the Summit forward. Prior to the April Board meeting the YRUU Steering Committee (by all accounts a group of exceptional and committed young people) expressed their concerns about the Working Group to the UUA President and Board, primarily in the area of how youth were chosen for the Group, the high ratio of staff to youth on it, and concerns about funding: the current YRUU structure was terminating prior to the establishment of a new one. The latter point was of particular interest to the Board, because it meant there would be no "youth sanctioned" body to advise the Board in the interim. We passed the following resolution in response:

"The administration shall make the transition in youth ministry an institutional priority now. This process must be transparent and those responsible for implementation must be in authentic relationship with the youth community and its elected leadership. During this transition, the administration must provide monthly progress reports to the Board. The administration shall ensure that UUA support for youth ministry programming is maintained throughout the transitional period.

Philocrates comments:

I'm interested to know how trustees (individually or collectively) interpret the resolutions they passed regarding youth and young adult ministry.

In my opinion the Board is giving a clear signal to the YRUU Steering Committee and the other youth who are aware of this situation that they have been heard. I believe the administration, including Bill Sinkford and Kay Montgomery, are fully committed to making this process work and will insure that it does, with or without this resolution.

It is not unusual for an organization to discontinue one structure/program before another is firmly in place. Done intentionally, it can leave time for healing and preparing for what William Bridges calls "a new beginning". Done inadvertently, as I think was done here, leaves those depending on that program to founder. Unfortunately, The Youth Ministry Working Group did not start meeting until February as key people were on sabbatical, so it appears that momentum was lost, and the YRUU funding would sunset on June 30, without a mechanism in place to elect youth representatives for the interim. Continued funding will allow the YRUU Steering Committee to follow through on a their proposal to create a new interim advisory group to the UUA leadership and Youth Ministry Working Group.

Next post: Are you coming to GA?

Funding the Gulf Coast Relief Volunteer Center

Second in a series of posts after the April 17-21 UUA Board Meeting

What happened in New Orleans made many of us very uncomfortable - not only did we see a disregard for what was clearly predicted, but the response to the disaster, particularly for those with the least resources, seemed more than inadequate. But what really made it uncomfortable was that we were seeing the "seamy" side of all that one happy family jazz celebration culture - and it appeared that a disproportionate part of the people left with nothing were African American.

Since this disaster, the UUA and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee have partnered in addressing the needs of the New Orleans community, first through the generous contributions of UUs across the world who contributed $3.5 million that was shared with the local congregations and greater community. A second appeal raised funds that went directly to the Gulf Coast Relief Volunteer Center that has been doing a stellar job of connecting the volunteers showing up on its doorstep with the needs of the community - and providing some context and understanding of the systemic racist and economic oppression that helped create what they are seeing.

That funding is coming to an end. The issue is whether or not the UUA should fund the center, either through continued appeals or as part of the annual budget - and what role this center plays in our core purpose in serving congregations. Is the UUA a "service delivery" organization, helping New Orleans to recover? Or is the Volunteer Center much more than that, a living laboratory of racism and oppression? How does this compare to the many other needs of groups across the country - and world? Should the Center be funded by all congregations (as a budget item) or just the ones who choose to participate in its programs? What role, if any, does the UUA have in helping the three congregations in Greater New Orleans to rebuild? We have "bought time" by working with the GA Planning Committee to do another appeal for funding in Fort Lauderdale, but the long term funding depends on the answers to these questions. I encourage your comments to this post.

It is easy to sit in our Bay Area houses, most of which are perched on top of earthquake faults, to criticize those who "chose" to live in below lake level neighborhoods, not have insurance, and did not leave when the warning first sounded, without recognizing that we are doing the same thing. My earthquake insurance cost nearly $1600/year for a 1500 square foot house, with a $50,000 deductible. I am fortunate I can afford to pay it. Many cannot, and are likely to be those who will suffer most.

Next post: Youth Ministry

April Board Meeting - the Overview

This is the first of several posts about the April 17-21 Board Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Over the next few weeks I will be posting information about decisions made at the board meeting just held in Boston - youth empowerment, funding of the New Orleans volunteer center, the UUA budget for next year, the next step in policy governance, and a series of successes from Beacon Press. In the short term, take a look at the agenda and let me know what you are most interested in.

I will start by posting two overviews of our faith from our president, Bill Sinkford. His interview in the St. Petersburg Times a few weeks ago is a beautiful summation of Unitarian Universalism and his report to the Board a few days ago identifies the "sea change" we are experiencing. Both great reading!

Next post: Funding the Gulf Coast Relief Volunteer Center