Thanks go especially to Ernie Guyton and Priscilla Dodds for their consistent leadership role at UUCA around our Habitat partnerships, and this fall especially as they are taking a leadership role in overseeing the build in the absence of Jan Swanson, who will be leading an interfaith tour in the Middle East over some of the weekends.

It was also an eventful summer in the larger world. We saw the worst offshore spill in U.S. history unfold before our eyes, and it broke our hearts. Finally, the BP well was plugged… and then in early August I was grateful to read a news article about the unexpected self-healing capacities of the affected marshes: “More than a dozen scientists interviewed by The Associated Press say the marsh here and across the Louisiana coast is healing itself, giving them hope delicate wetlands might weather the worst offshore spill in U.S. history better than they had feared.” Once again, I am reminded of the unquenchable resilience of life.

We also saw Justice Vaughn Walker’s determination that Proposition 8, California’s federal ban on same-sex marriage, violated the 14th Amendment. It was also, as the New York Times put it, “a stirring and eloquently reasoned denunciation of all forms of irrational discrimination, the latest link in a chain of path- breaking decisions that permitted interracial marriages and decriminalized gay sex between consenting adults.” I celebrate this decision wholeheartedly and rejoice in Justice Walker’s good sense. I also know that there’s still much more work to be done.

Yet a third thing we saw this summer was Unitarian Universalists from around the nation gathering in Arizona to protest the scheduled implementation of Arizona’s Immigration Law. I’m so proud to say that our congregation was represented by my colleague, the Rev. Marti Keller— way to go, Marti! And, I’m so proud to know that our UU organizing efforts stood out as distinctive. Writes Kim Bobo in Religious Dispatches magazine, “Although most faith bodies and denominations have very strong statements on immigration reform, those same denominations did not activate people. With one glaring exception—the Unitarian Universalist Association. Of the several hundred religious leaders who showed up, only the Unitarian Universalist Association seriously committed staff, money, and organizing talent to the struggle.” We have much to be proud of—and, as with marriage equality, there is still much more to be done. As the year progresses, you’ll be hearing a lot more about immigration reform.

Lots going on this summer. Yet a fourth thing is the storm brewing around the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in Manhattan. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sees this “as important a test of the separation of Church and State as we may see in our lifetime.” On the other hand, there are those who view it as an “unnecessary provocation.” Still others see Islam as inherently anti- democratic and violent. A storm is brewing.

As I see it, the controversy in New York City is but a small example of how we’re struggling, as a nation, to claim our call to religious freedom. Mistrust and misunderstanding abound. I believe that one of the gifts we Unitarian Universalists can give to the world is clarity about how to live in a 21st century America that is multifaith and multicultural. We can model ways of celebrating our differences even as we discover common ground. We can learn how to separate the good from the bad and remind each other that the timeless call of all authentic spirituality is love.

In May of 2011, the Unitarian Universalist Association celebrates its Golden Anniversary. Fifty years ago, a new religion was born, even though its parent faiths (Unitarianism and Universalism) were themselves hundreds of years old. Ever since, this new religion has happily drawn from many religious traditions and many cultures as it has sought to empower people to live more richly and to create a more just world. Pluralism is in our DNA.

I’m excited about the year ahead for us. All year long, we’ll be exploring what it means to be Unitarian Universalist in an America that’s multireligious and multicultural. We’re going to recognize and celebrate the unique gifts that are ours to give. And we’re going to look at ways in which we can enhance those gifts and give them in ways that are more relevant and inspiring than ever. Our goal is not just to celebrate the past 50 years, but to envision who we may yet be in our next 50 years. Nothing less than that.

Blessings,
Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister

That was what the buzz was among those UUCA members and staff who traveled to Minneapolis last month to attend the annual General Assembly (GA) of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA). For some of us self-confessed GA junkies who have been going for quite a while, these gatherings of a small, by most denominational standards, tribe of liberal religious folk from all over the country (with guests from around the world), are always amazing.

To be in the company of several thousand other UUs, many of them in the same convention center coffee lines, for us, is itself a wonder. To be part of the amazing worship services, the banner parade, the bazaar of chalice art and books, the conversations about common congregational successes and challenges, is always worth the trip, whether it be in the center of our movement in Boston, or the relative sparseness of Utah. But this year, this particular year, as UUCAer and UUA Board of Trustees member from the Mid South District Nancy Bartlett put it, she felt “a sea change” in the way our business was conducted in that big, chilly hall where the plenary sessions were held: sessions with significant votes taken, including finally passing a Peacemaking resolution that was inclusive of those who are opposed to all wars and those for whom there are just wars; those who work in the military and those who have actively opposed the draft and military funding.

We had work to do, deep listening, as we voted on which congregational study action issue to work on for the next four years, with competing and compelling proposals from an examination of the state of our American democracy, to slavery in the 21st century, to the one overwhelmingly selected: immigration as a moral issue. And there was much trepidation about what the nature of the debate would be when we had to grapple with a UUA Board- proposed business resolution to move our GA in 2012 out of Phoenix in response to the passage of a law (SB1070) in Arizona giving much broader powers to local policing authorities to proactively check immigration status, with great fears of even more prevalent and punitive racial profiling.

Moderator Ginny Courter led us in a process of reflection by prominent ministers and prayer and song before the discussion even started. The eventual vote supported an alternative, no business as usual “Justice” General Assembly there, rather than a full-out boycott, with a renewed commitment to working on the safety and accessibility of our gatherings for people with “historically marginalized” identities and opposition to systemic racism. The cheers that went up when the result of the vote was announced were not just for the content of the resolution. It was for the sense of collective decorum, dignity, respect, and yes, love as well.

You should have been there, our UUCA delegates agree, for this achievement in civil discourse, for exemplary democratic processes, for the model set by the UUA Board, our YAYA (youth and young adult) caucuses, by the leadership of DRUUMM (diverse revolutionary UU multicultural ministries).

You should have been there, I want to add proudly, to see our own UUCA delegates in action, from the first time they sat together at the Mid-South ingathering there; to that night during the display of banners, this year ours carried by Tim Atkins; to the ways in which they stayed connected, even when scattered throughout the massive convention center. It was a large and impressive showing. On behalf of Rev. David and myself, I want to personally thank our delegates: Lynne Anderson, Tim Atkins, Barbara Burnham, Marjorie Girth, Oreon Mann, Marshall Orson, Karen Reagle, Howard Rees, David Yamashita, and Julie Weisberg, many of whom played other important roles there. And of course your staff, including Chance Hunter and Pat Kahn, who participated in significant ways as well.

You all did us proud, and we have much to be proud of. You should have been there. Consider being there in Charlotte for the next General Assembly in June 2011.

Note: In addition to passing the business resolution about the Phoenix GA 2012, a call went out in Minneapolis for Unitarian Universalists to go to Phoenix from July 28-30 2010 to be part of the National Day of Compliance with SB1070, the day the law goes into effect, or whether or not the law takes effect that day, as a demonstration of our opposition to this kind of legislation, proposed now all over the country, including here in Georgia. A special request was made that clergy come and support this human rights movement on the ground in Arizona. Along with at least two of my Mid-South ministerial colleagues Revs. Fred Hammond and Jeff Jones, I will be there. Look for reports from the field.

Sincerely,
Rev. Marti Keller, Minister

One of the major initiatives of your Board of Trustees in 2010-2011 is the creation of a new Long Range Plan for UUCA. While any organization can carry on for quite a while without a viable Long Range Plan, operating under a Long Range Plan provides distinct advantages: it serves as a source from which specific programs are designed, and acts as a benchmark for measuring performance of the staff. Clearly articulating and adopting long-term goals helps keep the congregation focused and prevents distractions by a few strong, impassioned voices. Above all, it is an invaluable governance tool for the board.

If you were involved with UUCA about ten years ago, you may remember the last such effort. Entitled “Claiming the Vision,” it pushed us toward major improvements in child and youth RE, the lay ministry program, and small group ministries. It was a precursor to the capital campaign that led to the building addition and renovations, and the resulting energy and momentum served us well during the retirement of Dr. Frost and subsequent calling of Rev. David as our new Senior Minister.

So what exactly is in a Long Range Plan? In some ways it’s a misnomer, as it’s more a vision or set of goals than a plan. In any case, it answers the questions, “What would a successful, vibrant UUCA look like 5 years from now?” and “How do we get there?” Answering those questions will require input from as many members as possible, so expect to hear much more about how you can contribute your opinions as we head into the fall and winter. If all goes according to plan (so to speak), the finalized Long Range Plan will be ready for adoption at the May 2011 Congregational Meeting.

In the meantime, we’re looking for talented and dedicated individuals for the Long Range Planning Team. If you are a current member, interested in helping to shape our future, and willing to commit to the process for at least one year, please consider serving our congregation in this important and meaningful role. If you would like to participate in this process, please visit the Long Range Planning Team webpage or email me at epohl@uuca.org by Aug. 8.

The recent election by the congregation of four new board members was an enlightening and humbling process. I knew UUCA had a board, but honestly I didn’t know very much about what the board does, who is on it, or what their responsibilities entailed. Having attended our first meeting as an official board member, as well as several trainings and related meetings, I am happy to say that we look forward to serving you, the congregation and representing your interests.

UUCA is filled with interesting, intelligent and incredibly diverse members and friends. When we are chosen to serve on the board, it is our responsibility to represent the interests of all these people. It’s overwhelming at first, but then it becomes clear that the best way to do this is to reach out and become acquainted with as many people as possible during our tenure on the board. Most of us are involved with different affinity groups, and we have found different ways of getting to know people through our volunteerism within our community, whether it is through the RE program, the coffee service team, greeting teams or committees. We welcome you to approach us in the social hall after services, or any time you see us around!

What’s the best way to identify a board member? Each board member wears a pin with his or her nametag indicating she or he is a board member. If you haven’t met one of us, or if you have a concern or an idea that you want to discuss, look for us in the social hall or at other congregational events. We also have mailboxes in the office, and we can easily be reached via email. We want you to share your ideas and concerns with board members. That is the best way to make our positions effective and purposeful in the mission of what UUCA is and strives to be.

This past year saw wonderful achievements. The Initiative’s mission is for UUCA to become a leader in equipping people to lead more sustainable lives, and to that end, we saw the following efforts:

• The MLK Day family service project, in which there were more than 50 participants
• A Reproductive Justice Advocacy group, which hosted a fantastic speakers forum and panel discussion featuring key area leaders
• Multiple Mindful Eating Potluck events
• A special Give Away the Plate offering, which subsidized community supported agriculture shares for five people
• A Green Products Buying Club
• Energy Star Certification for UUCA
• A weekly “40 Million Minutes” message in worship services from January to April, encouraging people to live more sustainably
• Around 120 congregants making a year-long Happiness Pledge
• Progress towards Green Sanctuary Certification by the UUA
• The upcoming Aug. 22 “This I Believe” worship service, featuring credos by a variety of UUCA congregants

And this is not everything! In small ways and large, the efforts claim the vision that sustainable living is holistic in nature and involves caring for our earth as well as for personal well-being, social justice, and the economy. In order to truly build to last, we must take all four “points” of the “sustainability compass” into consideration.

A big thank you goes to the leadership behind this past year’s events: Charlene Hurt and Jane Henley; Manette Messenger and Judy Shaklee; Sarah Eiler, Dev Howerton, and Kimbery Ferlauto; and Tom Sayre and Richard Dew. Beyond these leaders, there are so many others deserving of thanks. So many people have been involved, in one way or another! Extra special thanks goes to Manette Messenger, for her guiding expertise and passion throughout.

And now, we look forward to a new program year (Sept. 2010-June 2011) and another chapter of the Sustainable Living Initiative at UUCA! Let me say a couple words about what lies ahead.

First of all, there will be a couple of organizational changes, to facilitate smoother functioning: (1) The four sustainability teams will combine forces to become one team, enabling volunteers to be in better communication with each other, as well as to reduce the number of top-level leaders required to keep the Initiative moving forward; and (2) the Initiative will become an official Faith in Action group, ensuring that it receives the same support (budgetary and otherwise) that our other Faith in Action groups enjoy at UUCA.

A third organizational change deserves its own paragraph: the Initiative will be led by Sarah Eiler and Tom Sayre. Last year, Sarah was a Service Team co-leader, and Tom was a Zero Footprint Team co-leader. Both did a fantastic job, and I’m excited about the energy and skill that they will be bringing to the Initiative!

Beyond these organizational changes, keep a sharp eye out for some big gathering events coming up. One will be on Aug. 22, following the “This I Believe” service scheduled for that Sunday. After the service, there will be an RE Orientation and Sustainable Living Picnic. At this community-building event, we want to get the word out that “UUCA is a leader in sustainability in Atlanta.“

Equipping people to live more sustainably is one of the most important things we can do as a faith community. My dream is that, when people think of UUCA, one of the first thoughts that pops into mind is, “Oh yeah, that’s the congregation where people do sustainable living!” Let’s make this dream a reality!

A final word: by the time you read this, I’ll be on my summer leave, which will combine vacation time with time devoted to study. And there will be a lot to study! Next year, our First Sunday sermon series will focus on Unitarian Universalism as a spiritual tradition that draws from many world religions. So I’ll be reading a lot on Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and other religions of the world. Can’t wait!

See you in August—and as always, many blessings!

Blessings,
Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister

In a recent UU World article, Janet H. Bowering started by saying, “A church is people. It is not a body of belief, a set of principles, or an impressive structure of stone, wood, and glass.” This statement resonated with me because that is what drew me to UUCA in the first place.

I hadn’t attended any church since I was 21 and living with my parents while earning a little money before my marriage to my college sweetheart. I went because my mother went and because I loved to sing the hymns, but I would mentally argue with many of the things the minister said. After the wedding, I moved to Grand Forks, ND and out of my parents influence. My new husband was contemptuous of churches and would go only if it was someone else’s wedding (and then with much grumbling), so I spent Sunday mornings reading the paper and watching Charles Kuralt on “CBS News Sunday Morning.”

Many years later, after relocation to Atlanta, divorce and remarriage, I found myself back at church with my mother. My father had died after a long decline with Alzheimer’s, and I was visiting Mom to help out. Caring for my father at home for years and then visiting the assisted living residence every day had worn Mom to a frazzle, but her friends were always there to love and support her. Many of those friends were from her church.

When I returned home feeling lonely and sad, it occurred to me that I didn’t have that support system. I knew a few people who went to UUCA, and I suggested to Arlo that we go and just check it out. We enjoyed Dr. Frost’s sermon and were attracted by the energy and acceptance we could sense, so we came back. It might or might not have been enough to keep us coming, but someone suggested we come to a “40-Something” party (now called “Forever Young”) and we were immediately hooked by the friendly, smart and interesting people we met. We kept coming, and here we are 12 years later.

Even if the building was to burn down and our wonderful staff were to move on, UUCA would still exist in the people that make up the congregation. We are the embodiment of our principles, and all our varying beliefs together make up our religion. And that’s how it should be.

On the other hand, there were always a couple of jokesters. One was none other than my high school principal, Mr. Fistko. He wrote, “God made the Earth and rested. God made the Sea and rested. God made Anthony David, and since then, nobody’s rested.”

Then there was Ms. Starkey, my English teacher. Five feet tall, pudgy, with sparkling dark eyes and a razor sharp intellect. At the time, I was a fundamentalist Christian (Church of Christ), and she was a liberal Christian (Presbyterian, I think). For me, there was only one way to salvation. For her, there were many.

When I asked her to sign my yearbook, she said of course and then told me she’d get it back to me the next day. This surprised me. I expected her just to write something down then and there, like everyone else. But she wanted to say something especially meaningful.

Here’s what I read when I got my yearbook back: “My dear little Anthony. This is from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. It says a bit of what I believe. ‘Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.” Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.” For the soul walks upon all paths. The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.’ Your petals are, so far, a joy to behold. Thank you for sharing your mind and spirit with me for the past two years.“

I remember the moment I read this. My eyes teared up. Blood rushed to my face. Intellectually, I still disagreed. But emotionally, something clicked. Gibran’s words pointed to something far larger and nobler than I knew at the time. It would take 15 years for me to give a name to it: Universalism.
Let us honor the teachers and mentors that enter our worlds and plant seeds of the Larger Life. Thank you, Mrs. Starkey.

Blessings,
Anthony
Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister