Local UU News 2001

December 2001

DISTRICT NEWS

What a catchy title!  Mary K., Donna and I recently attended the Fall District Conference in Denton, TX.  For me, district conferences are a time to meet friends, both old and new, from around the district. Even though UUs have no common creed, there is definitely a commonality that encourages instant friendships. This conference was special in other ways.  It was held in conjunction with a youth rally so there were a lot of (high energy) youth present - and I mean actively participating in workshops and leading a very meaningful worship service.

The theme speakers were Ric Masten and his wife, Billie Barbara. Ric Masten has long been called our UU troubadour, having made several recordings and written many books (including "Let It Be A Dance", in our hymnal). Ric has been living with terminal cancer for the past three years and has such a positive outlook on the illness and life. He is still actively writing and speaking to groups.

And since I am writing about how wonderful it is to experience the sense of belonging and being a part of our Southwest District, I will write about another way to feel a part of the larger UU community in the comfort of your home (with checkbook in hand).  Ok, bet you guessed where this is going.  So, rather than bore you with lots of drivel, I'll get right to the point.  Last call for NW Community's (Houston) Extension minister has raised $8,250 so far (more is trickling in).  The new call is for a new building for North Shore UU Society in Lacomb, LA (across the lake from New Orleans in the fastest growing region in southern Louisiana).  I can provide details for anyone desiring.  Otherwise, just write out your check for $10 or more (I have it on good faith that for a measly $1000, you too can be a torch bearer!) to SWUUC Chalice Lighter.  You can give it to me for forwarding or send it directly to 6720 Brentwood Stair Rd, Ft Worth, TX  76112.

Jon Durbin
Denominational Consciousness-raiser

October/November 2001

LECTURE/WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY

The Comal County Unitarian Universalist Society in conjunction with The Sacred Well Congregation proudly present:

PHYLLIS CUROTT, attorney, Wiccan High Priestess, and the author of "Book of Shadows" and "Witchcrafting:A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic."

LECTURE: Friday, November 30, 2001, 7:00 p.m. "Witchcrafting: Deep Spirituality of Magic" 1st Unitarian Universalist Church, San Antonio (Fellowship Hall) 

WORKSHOP:Saturday December 1, 2001, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. "Practicing Divine Magic" American Legion Post 593, 326 W. Legion Drive Converse, Texas 78109

PREREGISTRATION: AT THE DOOR: Lecture only - $10 Lecture - $15 Workshop only - $40 Workshop $50 Lecture & Workshop - $45 (Space is limited. Register early to reserve you place.) Autographed copies of Ms. Curott's books will be on sale at each event. For information and registration and maps to events: Email: Varuna101@Yahoo.com  OR Call: (830)643-0282

August 2001

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PEACE TAX FUND ACT HR 1186 

BACKGROUND: HR 1186 would allow Conscientious Objectors to military taxation a legal way to pay their taxes into a non-military fund instead of resisting them as they now do. It would restore freedom of conscience to its rightful place in American history and political culture, increase tax revenues, not effect the budget, be an educational tool on tax returns, and correct the inequity in current CO law. The UUA has supported this bill for over 20 years. 

The U.S. military budget accounts for more than any other category - almost half the discretionary federal income tax - and the Pentagon outspends its top 12 "enemies" combined. The RFPTF also has the support of a variety of religious denominations and other organizations. 

ACTION: Please call and/or email House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Lloyd Doggett and tell him you support the bill and ask him to co-sponsor it. (If you live in another district, contact your own representative - info at http://www.house.gov or http://www.senate.gov ): A sample letter is available at http://www.PeaceTax.com . Under "Action" click on "Sample Letter." 

Representative Lloyd Doggett 
Austin: (512) 916-5921 
Wash., DC: (202) 225 4865 Lloyd.Doggett@mail.house.gov  

Please also contact the senators. Although the bill does not yet have a number in the senate, Sen. Harkin is behind it. 

Senator Phil Gramm 
Dallas: (214) 767-3000 
Wash., DC: (202) 224-2934 Phil_Gramm@gramm.senate.gov  

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison 
Austin: (512) 916-5834 
Wash., DC: (202) 224-5922 senator@hutchison.senate.gov  

For more information and a sample letter please see the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund website at http://www.PeaceTax.com or call 888-Peace-Tax. Copies of lobbying emails or notices of phone calls may be sent to info@PeaceTax.com for lobby tracking purposes. 

Supportive religious leaders are invited to sign on to a letter to Mr. Doggett. The local contact is the Austin Conscientious Objectors to Military Taxation, (512) 467-2946 or 477-8301. 

For more information about how military spending damages our community, see http://www.natprior.org/taxday2001/pdf/austin.pdf  

Thank you very much for your support! 

Submitted by Andrew McKenna serhumano@yahoo.com 

UUA RESOLUTION 

Unitarian Universalist Association Sharing in the New Call to Peacemaking 1979 General Resolution http://www.uua.org/actions/peace/79call.html 

WHEREAS, a basic principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to "implement the vision of one world by striving for a world community founded on ideals of brotherhood, justice, and peace"; and

WHEREAS, delegates of the historic peace churches - Friends, Mennonites, and Brethren - gathered last October for a New Call to Peacemaking Conference and issued a statement of findings;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1979 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association expresses its admiration and gratitude to those who participated in this peacemaking effort, and especially supports the following calls to peacemaking:

[I've excerpted the two most important sections here.]

War Tax Resistance. The Assembly challenges ourselves and our congregations to uphold war tax resisters with spiritual, emotional, legal, and material support. World Peace Fund. In keeping with our past support of alternative service provisions for conscientious objectors to the draft, the Assembly urges support for congressional enactment of a World Peace Tax Fund as an alternative to compulsory financial support of war and preparation for war.

[See web link for the rest] 

Submitted by Andrew McKenna serhumano@yahoo.com 

FURTHER BACKGROUND FROM THE UUA

The following statement comes from the book "Communities of Conscience," citing a 1972 UUA resolution:

WHEREAS, the telephone excise tax was levied specifically by Congress in 1966 to finance the war in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, those voting in favor of the following do so with the intention of refusing payment of the federal excise tax on telephones;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the delegates of the 1972 General Assembly urge all Unitarian Universalists to refuse payment of the telephone excise tax and urge the Unitarian Universalist Association to refuse such payment also.

And from 1979:

The Assembly challenges ourselves and our congregations to uphold war tax resisters with spiritual, emotional, legal and material support.

In keeping with our past support of alternative service provisions for conscientious objectors to the draft, the Assembly urges support for congressional enactment of a World Peace Tax Fund [now U.S. Peace Tax Fund - note: the former still exists as a goal] as an alternative to compulsory financial support of war and preparation for war.

Submitted by Andrew McKenna serhumano@yahoo.com 

July 2001

SOUTH AUSTIN CONGREGATION NEWS 

At their first proto-congregational meeting on June 3rd, over forty attending UU's of South Austin made several important steps: - they ratified the steering committee's selection of officers including Carol Knight, President, Kelly Ramsey, Vice President, Charles Bisantz, Treasurer, and Pat Pore, Secretary. - they authorized these officers and the steering committee to incorporate on their behalf and perhaps most importantly, they selected their new name

Wildflower Church, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation

This concludes a fourth month process during which many names were considered. but this one was selected by the forming congregation because, as President Knight describes: "It is local (the National Wildflower Center is in South Austin); It connotes a group of people who are hardy and strong and can grow anywhere, even on difficult soil; It combines the "wildness" of our theology and the passion of our commitment to freedom of religion with the dignity and beauty of native flowers, which spring up without being planted and spread without cultivation..."

Although many of the Wildflowers along the road are wilting, this Wildflower is still in full bloom. They are actually increasing their numbers under the warm summer sun of South Austin. Their steering committee is meeting twice per month for the summer to move this important church-building business ahead. The developing congregation has active covenant groups and dinner circles. And the worship services are refreshing and participatory. Drop by for a visit! They gather the Wildflowers at 11:00 a.m. EVERY Sunday morning at Sunset Valley Elementary School at 3000 Jones Road behind AISD's Toney Burger Athletic Fields (which is on Ben White/290/71).

CARLEY ELECTED TO FULL TERM AS UUA TRUSTEE

The Rev. Burton Carley, minister of First Unitarian Church of Memphis, TN, also known as "the Church of the River," has been elected without opposition to a full, four-year term on the UUA Board of Trustees.

Rev. Carley had previously been elected to serve out the final year of Ken Carpenter's term on the Board when Ken moved to Colorado.

FLOODING IN HOUSTON SPARES OUR CHURCHES 

Although many died and hundreds of people suffered millions of dollars in damage to vehicles, businesses, and homes as a result of heavy flooding in and around Houston Friday and Saturday (June 8-9), an email survey of church leaders indicates that Unitarian Universalists were not among those hard hit.

The worst reported damage to our church buildings was minimal: First Church of Houston had some water damage to carpeting in their fellowship hall, plus some debris to be cleared from in front of their building on Fannin Street near the heavily damaged Medical Center.

One family in our Bay Area church had water in their home. A family in the Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston had a foot of water in their home and another had water in the shop of their piano business.

Alan N. Reeder, lay coordinator for the June 10 service at Beaumont's Spindletop congregation, believes the storm may have even enhanced his congregation's Sunday experience. Reeder wrote: "Not very much rain at all fell overnight (Saturday) and so many of us woke up relieved and, perhaps, feeling the need to celebrate our (all-too-often taken for granted) opportunity to worship together. ... Perhaps most of all, we all felt our own individual responsibilities to assure that the service took place, whether directly involved, such as Rachelsarah, our organist, or even myself as coordinator, or not directly, such as the unexpected number of persons who attended this morning. Apparently we needed today's service!"

The most distant effect of Houston's problems on one of our churches took place in Kerrville, a couple of hundred miles away. The Rev. Bob Schaibly of 1st Church, Houston, was scheduled to speak at the charter Sunday service for the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Hill Country, but highway and airport complications caused Bob to have to cancel. Instead, he emailed the Kerrville folks his service.

April 2001

The new UU congregation in South Austin was the beneficiary of a Chalice Lighter grant of over $8,000! Congratulations to them. What a great start for this committed group of UUs.