post GA ponderings

The UU "big dance" is over for another year. Surprisingly, I was sad to miss the last day (and happy to be home with my man ... life is all about holding disparate emotions). The past few years I've dreaded GA a little bit (don't tell anyone!). But this year seemed different.

It might have been the snow-capped mountains, the clean city, the abundance of vegan food, the discovery of the quiet, lovely "City Creek Park" with the stream bubbling through it. As I was leaving, and dreaming about an eventual move to Salt Lake City, I realized while those things were cool, they didn't completely create the warm and fuzzy feeling I had.

It was the people. All the Unitarian Universalist friends - coming together to Stand on the Side of Love. To laugh, pray, think, reason, dance, share meals, converse, and play together. I feel like we spent a week saying a great big "YES" together - yes we can change the world, yes we can agree to disagree, yes this faith touches us deeply, yes each of us matter. We are not alone. I can't wait til Minneapolis. With love.

into the future with Peter

The word is out; as soon as my plane landed at LAX I was on my phone, checking the Twitter updates to see who had won the UUA Presidency. It was Peter Morales with 59% of the vote.

Congratulations, Peter. As you say on your website, "we begin our campaign to govern together," and you will honor the "diversity of our districts and our congregations."

We've had a great 8 years with President Bill Sinkford, and in some ways tonight we begin again; we get to reimagine who we are ... or perhaps not reimagine as much as continue to deepen who we know ourselves to be. We continue that journey of becoming a great faith movement that stands on the side of love.

UULMCA healthcare curriculum

UULMCA is an amazing organization. Their executive director rocks (go Lindi!); they are creating an energetic, skilled, passionate staff team; and they are doing better and better and mobilizing volunteers in CA to make a real difference at a policy level.

And now they have a new healthcare curriculum - if you are at GA, drop by the table, flip through it, and put your name on the order list!

Healthcare reform can be really confusing (what's the difference between single payer and public option?); what's the history of healthcare? what's the real cost of our current healthcare system?

This well-written and well-thought out curriculum leads groups through those, and other questions; handouts, readings, opening words, hymns to sing, questions and activities - all are included.

And if you DO swing by the UULMCA table at GA, make sure to say HI to Anne and Betty Jeanne, healthcare reform enthusiasts in the accompanying photo - watch out, they may sign you up for something!

Standing on the Side of Love

The UUA's new public witness campaign, Standing on the Side of Love, was kicked off yesterday. A huge banner was hung outside the convention center and GA attendees heard about the goals and strategies during the opening plenary address by President Bill Sinkford.

From a recent USA Today news article on the campaign:

The “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign will try to rally local leaders and clergy to publicly oppose violence and mobilize their more than 1,000 congregations online. Their goal: to counter the estimated 7,500 hate crimes nationwide against individuals motivated by race, religion, political ideology or sexual orientation.

The UUA is also hoping the campaign will help shape public policy on issues that impact human dignity — particularly immigration reform and hate-crimes legislation that is currently stalled on Capitol Hill, said the campaign’s directors.

The best thing from my perspective? All the amazing volunteers at GA wearing bright yellow "Standing on the Side of Love" T's, asking people to contact their legislators to support and co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Yeah ... we're not just standing, we're MOVING.

veg food in SLC

Eating a plant-based diet is key to my own identity as a religious person, and sometimes it's frustrating to go to a church event and find there is little to eat. That's certainly not the case this year in Salt Lake City at our annual General Assembly.

There are vegan-specific restaurants, like the wonderful Sage's Cafe just a short 20 minute walk from my hotel. www.sages.com. Meals there are hearty and satisfying, and it feels very warm and comfy inside.

And many restaurants around the convention center boast vegetarian menus, and/or clearly have vegetarian and vegan options clearly marked on the menu. Naked Fish, Blue Iguana, and Squatters Pub are the three names I can remember right now.

This is especially great this year as we delve deeper into the Ethical Eating study action issue.

Happy eating!

Thank you, Alison Crotty

Hey, there she is, Ms. Fabulous DRE of UU Fellowship of San Dieguito, Alison Crotty. You can find her beaming smile amidst the large group of senior high youth from her congregation.

What did Alison do to deserve a thank you? Many things, but this time in particular a big YES to her amazing efforts in getting the children and youth in her church to go to PSWD Youth Camps.

Last year, there were 47 campers from her church at the six youth camps held at de Benneville Pines. That is way amazing. I realize it wasn't only Alison doing the recruiting, parents, youth and other leaders have a role in it. But hey, she's the face of the RE Program, so she gets all the affirmation on this one. Way to go, Alison and UUFSD!

UUA Presidential Election

This summer at General Assembly, congregational delegates will have a chance to choose a President from two candidates, Rev. Laurel Hallman and Rev. Peter Morales.

As UUA staff, I stay out of the fray. But on Tuesday night I got to attend a Board meeting of the UUs of Santa Clarita Valley in PSWD, and I was so impressed with the careful thoughtfulness they gave in deciding which candidate their two delegate votes should go for.

The Board members had read information about the candidates ahead of time, asked questions of their minister who had heard both speak at a forum, and then pretty much came to consensus on who to support. It was refreshing watch them help shape the future of our religious institution. Way to go, UUSCV!