|
April 23, 2010
Contents:
I. Rev. Miyake's Visit to the UUA
It was a pleasure to welcome Rt. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake - Superior General of the Konko Church of Izuo (Shinto) - to the UUA last week. Miyake-sensei had a very constructive meeting with UUA President, Rev. Peter Morales.
View photos from this special visit!
II. UU-UNO Elects New President
 Catherine Onyemelukwe of Westport, CT, has been elected to be the new president of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office. Elected unanimously at the organization's annual membership meeting earlier this month, Onyemelukwe has been a member of the UU-UNO board since 2007.
A recognized nongovernmental organization with consultative status with the UN's Economic and Social Council, the office is the UUA's official representative to the United Nations.
Learn more about the UU-UNO, and join us in congratulating President Onyemelukwe!
III. Profile: UU Congregation of Frederick, MD
In addition to taking action locally and nationally, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick (UUCF), in Maryland, has reached out internationally over the last few years, supporting initiatives in Kenya and Congo.
From hosting a fair trade fashion show to sponsoring the education of a Kenyan high-schooler, UUCF's work is both inspired and inspiring.
Read a profile about the UUCF's international engagement!
IV. UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India Video
The UUA International Resources Office is happy to announce the release of "UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India," a great introduction to the work and philosophy of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Holdeen India Program.
UUHIP works with key leaders and organizations of India's most marginalized and disadvantaged peoples in their struggle to secure human rights and economic and social justice. The program supports the efforts of those peoples excluded or oppressed on the basis of gender, caste, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, especially dalits (untouchables), adivasis (tribals), migrant, bonded and child laborers, domestic and home-based workers, and scavengers, helping them to participate fully in the social, economic and political life of India.
Available online for free, as well as on DVD, the video features profiles of 5 Holdeen India Program partners as well as reflections by Program Direction Kathy Sreedhar, former UUA President Rev. John Buehrens and UU minister Rev. Abhi Janamanchi.
For those interested in obtaining a DVD copy of the video, please contact the International Resources Office.
View "UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India" online!
V. Flower Communion Resource
Celebrating Flower Communion is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All.
The UUA's International Resources Office has a Flower Communion resource available online. Find a few suggestions for bringing Sixth Principle Ministry to life in relation to your Flower Communion service in the seven areas of the Faith Without Borders program.
View the Flower Communion resource online!
VI. Ministerial Training Opportunity in UK
The London district of Unitarian Churches (UK) is seeking qualified Unitarian Universalist (UU) seminarians interested in providing short-term (3-12 month), supervised ministerial services to London-area congregations. UU seminarians in Candidacy with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are invited to apply for this opportunity.
Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed other ministerial field education and CPE units.
The term of service is between 3 and 12 months. The London District will provide the seminarian with housing in East London-or alternative accommodation nearer to the congregation-as well as a small stipend to be agreed. Supervision will be provided by local Unitarian ministers who are in Fellowship with the UUA. All other expenses are the responsibility of the seminarian.
View further details about this opportunity and apply today!
VII. ICUUW Newsletter Now Available
The International Convocation of Unitarian and Universalist Women (ICUUW) has released its Spring 2010 newsletter. In this issue, read about: a Bolivian UU's fight for justice, International Women's Day 2010, the Women's Funding Network, a message from the ICUUW president, and more!
Read the ICUUW's Spring Newsletter (PDF)!
VIII. Attend the IARF Congress in September!
The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) will be hosting its 33rd World Congress September 4-7, 2010 in Kochi, India.
Held every four years, the theme of this year's congress is "Beyond Conflict to Reconciliation: the Challenge of the 21st Century" and the keynote speaker will be the Dalai Lama. Learn more about this special event!
IARF Council members recorded video greetings, welcoming all to this year's congress: 11 Reasons to Attend the IARF's 2010 World Congress
IARF CONGRESS | COCHIN, KERALA, INDIA
SEPTEMBER 1-7, 201O
The Dalai Lama will be keynote speaker for the 33rd IARF Congress, which takes place September 4-7.
UUA President Peter Morales will participate.
Pre-Congress/Congress events include:
- A tour the last week in August.
- September 1-4: International Assoc. for Liberal Religious Women (IALRW)
- September 1-4: Interfaith Issues - Joint program with World Congress of Faiths (WCF)
including worship, small group discussions, and excursions (to be confirmed in March).
- September 4-7: IARF CONGRESS - www.iarf.net
The 33rd Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom will be a very special occasion for participants. The theme is "Beyond Conflict to Reconciliation: the Challenge of the 21st Century."
An international list of speakers includes: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Karan Singh, President of the Temple of Understanding, Ms. Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on Religion or Belief from the United Nations, Dr. Sheikh Ali, Muslim interfaith leader.
Registration information is available online. The UUA has ten voting delegates so if you are interested in being one, contact the Rev. Eric Cherry at the International Resources Office. There will be important issues to vote on regarding the future of the organization.
Also, the International Association for Liberal Religious Women will be celebrating its 100th year with a special program for women. Don't miss these exciting events and of course, don't miss that unique welcome given by Indian hospitality to its guests! Please contact Doris Hunter, chair of the US Chapter, IARF if you have questions about the coming 33rd Congress of IARF.
IX. ICUU Announces New Mailing List
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) has launched a new email mailing list for the circulation of announcements about ICUU as well as news about developments in Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism in other countries: All are welcome to join!
Learn more about the ICUU and join its new mailing list!
X. ICUU Monthly Global Chalice Lighting
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 80th in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.
All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the "Global Chalice Lighting" for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.
It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.
This Global Chalice Lighting, in French and English, is to be used during April 2010.
French
Au nom de la Miséricorde et de la Compassion :
Suivant les traces d'Ibn Arabi, maître soufi, nous laissons se dilater nos coeurs,
afin de les rendre capables d'étreindre toute forme spirituelle ou existentielle.
Notre cœur, pour celles et ceux qui cherchent, est devenu une église, un temple, une synagogue, une mosquée, un sanctuaire,
une citadelle pour les humbles, les souffrants et les minorités d'où qu'elles viennent.
Nous croyons en la religion de l'Amour, qui n'a pas de genre, vers laquelle se dirigent les histoires personnelles.
Car l'Amour est notre religion et notre foi.
English
In the name of compassion and loving-kindness :
Following the paths of Ibn Arabi, a Sufi master,
we let our hearts dilate to enable them to fit all spiritual or existential kinds.
For those who seek, our hearts have become church, temple, synagogue, mosque, sanctuary;
stronghold for the poor, for those who are suffering, for minorities wherever they come from.
We believe in the religion of Love, which has no gender, and to which all personal stories are leading.
Because Love is our religion and our faith.
-- Yohann Amal
Conseil des Unitariens et Universalistes Français (CUUF)
XI. Events
- June 23-27, 2010: UUA General Assembly, Minneapolis, MN
- July 9-13, 2010: U-U Ministers Conference, Eindhoven, the Netherlands (visit www.icuu.net)
- July 13-17, 2010: The Third ICUU International Theological Symposium, Eindhoven, the Netherlands (visit www.icuu.net)
- September 1-7, 2010: IARF Congress in Kochi, India
|
