November 3, 2011
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From October 28-29, UUA President Rev. Peter Morales was in Zaragoza, Spain, where he was the guest speaker at the 5th Centenary International Congress on the Birth of Michael Servetus.
2011 is the 500th Anniversary year of the birth of Michael Servetus (c. 1511 - 1553). The Congress will focus on and celebrate the life and contributions of Servetus, a 16th century scientist and anti-trinitarian martyr, highlighting his importance in the history of ideas as one of the catalysts for the right to freedom of conscience in Europe.
President Morales lectured on "The Reality of the Unitarian Movement in the World: Liberalism vs. Dogmatism"; during his time in Spain, he blogged about his thought process in preparing his presentation and the evolution of Servetus from heretic to cultural hero.
Check out: Speaking of Servetus and Servetus: Heretic and Hero
Did You Know?
There are multiple resources that Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations can make use of for celebrating Michael Servetus, including a worship packet, booklets, video clips, and more!
Save the Date! The UU United Nations Office will be holding its annual Spring Seminar from April 12-14, 2012 in New York City.
This year's seminar theme will be Race and Immigration.
Details will become available on the UU-UNO website as the spring approaches.
Related: Read the latest from the UU-UNO on the Faith Without Borders blog
The UUA International Office is thrilled to welcome Kye Flannery, a student at Harvard Divinity School who will be interning with us until May 2012. She writes:
Traveling on the first joint UUA/UUSC trip to Haiti this summer I learned to think more deeply about how we can work with people in developing nations to build capacity, on their own terms.
The construction we did with traditional tools at the agricultural collective MPP showed us how, as UUs in the U.S., sometimes picking up a pickaxe is the best way we can work toward the goals of seeing water, education, and shelter accessible to folks in rural Haiti. Continue Reading
On Saturday October 22, a delegation of twenty-three International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) members hailing from Japan visited the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for the day.
Leading the group on an East Coast tour was the former chairman of Rissho Kosei-kai, Rev. Norio Sakai, who presented gifts and greetings to President Rev. Peter Morales and Gini Courter, on behalf of the Association.
Read the blog post about the delegation's visit and check out some photos from the special occasion!
With several service learning opportunities abroad, there are numerous ways for UU seminarians to connect to the basic tenets of UU faith and ministry while gaining an international perspective.
Whether providing short-term supervised ministerial services to London-area congregations, working with children living at the Anne Margaret Barr Children’s Village in the Khasi Hills of India or at the New Life Orphanage and School in Uganda, or spending some time at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Japan, there are many ways to develop and grow your international and multicultural understanding, in tandem with your seminarian studies.
Learn more about the various service learning opportunities available to UU seminarians!
Join Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists from every continent for the International Council of Unitarians and Unversalists’ (ICUU) historic Council Meeting and Conference, meeting for the first time outside North America and Europe.
The Conference theme “Sharing Our Faith, Transforming Our World” (PDF) asks how we can “love alike” in appropriate right relationship. Creative tension in our multi-cultural dialogue will be explored through a variety of talks, workshops and other interactive experiences focusing both on our diversity and what we have in common. Some sessions will consider how the ways we express our faith can make an impact on social justice and the environment in our local communities.
South Sea Resort on Negros Island, the Philippines, is the location for the gathering from February 7 to 12, 2012. Situated near the headquarters of the UU Church of Philippines in Dumaguete City, this remarkable seaside hotel will offer comfortable accommodation and a picturesque setting for ICUU’s biannual Council Meeting.
Worship and spiritual sustenance will be a special feature of the gathering including acts of worship in the style and custom of different member groups, Chalice Circles for small group sharing and participatory workshops focusing on creative arts such as dance and music.
A limited number of eligible participants from member groups and emerging groups will receive sponsorships covering international travel and on-site costs for the Council Meeting and Conference. Details and an application form are available from the ICUU website or by email request to execsec@icuu.net. The closing date for applications is September 15. If you are considering applying for sponsorship, please do not register online at this time.
Read more about the ICUU gathering in the Philippines and register online today!
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 99th 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 is submitted by the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association. It is to be used during November 2011.
May this flame remind us of our own inward light,
the centre of our being, that connects us to all Being
and gives us strength and comfort in a troubled world.
Jan Tendys
Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association
- November 4-6, 2011: European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Fall Retreat, Oberwesel, Germany
- December 3-10, 2011: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
- January 30-February 6, 2012: Culture, History, Partnership, and Women’s Livelihood, Philippines
- February 3-5, 2012: IARF US Chapter Conference: "Faith, Interfaith, and Freedom," Hilton Head, SC
- February 7-12, 2012: ICUU Gathering in the Philippines
- March 10-17, 2012: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
- March 13-21, 2012: UUPCC NE India & Khasi Hills Pilgrimage
- April 12-14, 2012: UU-UNO Spring Seminar, New York City
- April 14-26, 2012: UUPCC Transylvanian Pilgrimage
- April 20-22, 2012: European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Spring Retreat, Rolduc, Netherlands
- April 28-May 5, 2012: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
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