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June 18, 2010
Contents:
I. International Resources Office Workshops at General Assembly
Our Global Faith: Multiculturalism and Partnership
Thursday, June 24 | 9:00am - 10:15am
Minneapolis Convention Center - M100 AB
The Global Unitarian/Universalist community can provide American UUs with a new vision of Multicultural identity. Unitarian leaders from beyond the USA will help workshop participants explore the reality of our global multicultural community and the power of congregational partnerships in a multicultural context.
Speakers:
Aryanto Nugroho, Francisco Javier Lagunes Gaitan, Beatrice Niyungeko
International Partnership 2.0:
Community-Based Justice-Making
Thursday, June 24 | 10:45am - 12:00pm
Minneapolis Convention Center - M100 CD
UU organizations are gaining experience in facilitating community-based justice-making work around the world. US congregations can partner with these organizations literally to change the world. Our workshop features the efforts sponsored by Project Harvest Hope (Transylvania), UU Holdeen India Program, UU Partner Church Council and International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.
Speakers:
Reema Nanavaty, Eva Kelemen, Beatrice Niyungeko
Empowering Women Using Microfinance and Organizing: SEWA's Strategy
Friday, June 25 | 2:45pm - 4:00pm
Minneapolis Convention Center - 101 J
The Self Employed Women's Association is one of the UU Holdeen India Program's oldest partners. SEWA's unique strategy is to combine microfinance and community organizing as an effective means of empowering women. SEWA director, Reema Nanavaty, will provide stories of the struggle. Learn how your congregation can be involved.
Speakers:
Reema Nanavaty, Kathy Sreedhar, Rev. Eric Cherry
Attending General Assembly?
Visit the International Village (Booth #227)!
The UU International Organizations booth serves as a home to seven international UU organizations: ICUU (International Council of Unitarians and Universalists), ICUUW (International Convocation of Unitarian and Universalist Women), PHH (Project Harvest Hope), UUGAC (UU Global AIDS Coalition), UUPCC (UU Partner Church Council), UU-UNO (UU United Nations Office), and the UUA's International Resources Office.
Our booth will be hosting numerous events throughout GA: Workshops, lectures, films, discussions, performances, craft
sales, and more!
Check out uuinternational.org for details and updates!
II. Win a Trip to the Philippines!
BUILD UU will be holding a raffle at this year's General Assembly, where one lucky winner will win a trip to the Philippines in March 2011!
Raffle tickets cost $25 each and there is no limit on the number you can purchase. Tickets can be purchased at the International Village booth (#227) at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Members of your congregation (or neighboring congregations) who cannot attend GA but wish to participate still can!
Simply give someone from your congregation who will be at GA either cash or a check made out to "UUA" with BUILD Philippines Raffle in the memo line to purchase raffle tickets at GA. Be sure to include a note with your name, address, phone number and email address with the payment. The winner need not be present at the raffle to claim the prize!
The raffle drawing will be held during GA, on June 27th at 1:00pm at the International Village booth (#227).
 One lucky winner will get:
A free roundtrip flight from your home airport to Manila and participation in the UUPCC Tour of the Philippines which starts March 12 and ends March 24, 2001, in Manila.
This trip will offer you an opportunity to meet the UUs in Manila, then travel to Negros Island where you will meet the UUs at the UUCP headquarters before beginning a roadtrip to several congregations on Negros. Additionally,you will have an opportunity to relax and enjoy the beauty of Negros Island! You will learn about the hopes, dreams and challenges of the UUCP and open your eyes to an expanded vision of your own faith and who you can be in the world.
The trip will cover all of your expenses except for the money you spend on gifts, alcohol and personal donations. This trip has been very popular among past participants and we are sure that it will profoundly affect you.
The proceeds from this raffle will go to benefit the dreams and vision of the UUCP by enabling them to create a sustainable financial future for the church while providing a much needed service to the Dumaguete community in the form of a safe and affordable women's dormitory. This project will also offer meeting space for interfaith get-togethers and theological training for UUs in the Philippines and around the world.
For questions, contact the international office at international@uua.org.
To learn more, visit www.uucpdorm.com!
III. Short Term Ministry near Lake Chapala, Mexico
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (LCUUF) is interested in hosting a visiting UU Minister for two weeks in 2011, preferably between the months of January and April.
Lake Chapala is within an hour's drive of Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city. The LCUU Fellowship has been in existence since March, 2006 and has held lay led services every Sunday since its formation. With a membership of 68, it is governed by an elected Board and has several active standing committees. Completely volunteer run, the Fellowship employs no staff. LCUUF has Mexican not-profit legal status and is a member of the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
The visiting minister would be expected to speak at two Sunday Services, provide consultative services to the board and committees, and facilitate lay leader training. In addition to an honorarium of 8,000 pesos (approximately $650 U.S.) the Fellowship would provide local transportation, some meals, and if desired, accommodation in members' homes.
Continue reading for further information! Applications for this opportunity are due by October 31, 2010.
IV. News from the ICUU
The Global Chalice
The latest edition of "The Global Chalice" - the newsletter of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) - is now available online! Included in this edition is: news from the Philippines, Standing on the Side of Love in Uganda, information on upcoming ICUU conferences, an update from Transylvania, and more!
The Center & The Circle: The Challenge of International UU Ministry
ICUU President Brian Kiely presents the first webinar from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists. First delivered as the John Relly Beard lecture of the UK Ministerial Fellowship at the Annual Meetings of the General Assembly in Nottingham in 2010, Rev. Kiley offers his thoughts on the challenges of ministry for our global faith in this video presentation.
Monthly Global Chalice Lighting
This Global Chalice Lighting is to be used during June 2010.
We light our chalice in celebration of the life of Norbert Fabián Čapek, deeply
religious figure endowed with unusual courage, pioneer of Czech Unitarianism
and martyr for what we value, embodying the best of our faith in the worst of
times.
Born one hundred forty years ago this month, his spirit is still among religious
liberals the world over when we re-create his creation the flower communion.
May the rekindled flame of our chalice, rekindle our appreciation of all the
women and men whose dedication to their personal visions paved the path on
which we walk together on our own spiritual journeys
Rev. Steve Dick
ICUU Executive Secretary
This Global Chalice Lighting is to be used during July 2010.
We light this Chalice, a living symbol of the one Life that animates and sustains all things and all persons, the one Life in which we all live and move and have our being, and the one Life which perpetually gives of itself to itself so as to become the many.
By means of the light of truth and reason, and the warmth of fellowship and compassion, may the many come to know themselves to be not only interconnected with each other but also indivisible emanations of that one great Light which enlightens all Life and which can never be extinguished.
Rev. Dr. Ian Ellis-Jones
Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association
V. Statements Condemning Israeli Defense Force Attack on Aid Flotilla
On June 7 the UU Service Committee (UUSC) issued a statement condemning the deadly attack in international waters early May 31 by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on a multinational, civilian fleet bound for Gaza. Although there are different versions of how the violence began and escalated on the flotilla's lead ship, nine civilians were killed and many more were wounded as a result of the IDF's raid against the convoy. Continue reading the UUSC statement.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), of which the UUA is a member, urges an end to the blockade in Gaza.
"The violence and death that erupted in the early morning hours of May 31 -- when Israeli commandos mounted an operation to stop an international flotilla at sea that was seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza -- has prompted concern around the world. While details of the incident remain unclear, nine persons on the vessels were reported killed and many were injured, including some Israeli forces.
The incident highlights the need for the United States to work for new, constructive Israeli policies toward Gaza that end the blockade and provide for the humanitarian need of those living there without diminishing Israel's own security."
Continue reading CMEP's statement.
VI. 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!
VII. 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 register, visit www.worldfaiths.org
- 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, and Rev. Peter Morales, UUA President.
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.
VIII. 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)
- July 22-24, 2010: 20th Anniversary of Partnership Between Transylvania and the United States, Koloszvar, Transylvania
- September 1-7, 2010: IARF Congress in Kochi, India
- October 29-31, 2010:European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Fall Retreat, Mittelwihr, France
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