Starting on Wednesday evening the Unitarian Universalist 2016 General Assembly, and its 4,000 or so attendees will descend upon downtown Columbus, Ohio. Over 100 workshops will be offered Thursday and Friday, and being that UUism is the only “mainstream” religion that attempts to be welcoming to Pagans we thought we’d highlight a few of these programs which might be of interest to Pagan attendees. For those unable to attend, most of these events will be recorded and can be purchased for later sharing with your chapter or congregation
BEYOND HOLIDAYS: LEARNING AND WORSHIPPING WITHOUT APPROPRIATING
How do we draw wisdom from the world’s religions with respect, humility, and appreciation without appropriating? UU families want their young people to learn about world religions. How do we teach this without having children “play at” being other religions or sending the message that religions are a buffet table? (Thurs. 1045am)
CHRISTIANITY AS THE ‘OTHER’: COMMUNICATING WITH THE MAJORITY RELIGION
Learn how to build bridges of understanding to the more than 70% of Americans who identify as Christian. Most UU’s have never been attracted to Christianity or long since left it behind. But we have plenty in our tradition, historically and currently, that can help us engage in effective, knowledgeable, convincing dialogue. Includes participatory exercises for audience. (Thurs. 1045am) Yes, UU-Pagans are far from being the only people in UUism that don’t see themselves as Christian.
HYBRID UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS: EXPLORING OUR OWN MULTIPLE IDENTITIES
All of us are spiritually hybrid, drawing wisdom and sustenance from many sources. is panel of emerging UU leaders from Harvard Divinity School will share their own hybrid identities and explore ways insight into our own hybridity can enrich the work we do in partnership with other communities and traditions. (Thurs. 1045am)
INTERSECTIONS IN SPIRITUAL IDENTITY FOR UUS
As a creedless faith, we can explore a variety of beliefs and spiritual paths. Join us as we share in personal and group reflection into the spiritual journeys, beliefs and practices that help us nd fulfillment and insight in other faith traditions that compliment or challenge our core Unitarian Universalism. (Thurs. 1:15pm) This discussion is sponsored by the Young Adults and Youth Caucus two organizations representing UU’s age 15-35.
UU HINDU PERSPECTIVES ON PLURALISTIC ENGAGEMENT
How might we Unitarian Universalists engage locally in interfaith, pluralistic bridge-building with diverse faith communities? Revs. Abhi Janamanchi and Manish Mishra-Marzetti share their Hindu perspectives on how we can approach such relationships as UUs, helping shape and transform our local religious landscapes. (Fri. 1:15pm)
FAITH-SENSITIVE OWL PROGRAMMING FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education offers outreach opportunities to congregations seeking to welcome the larger community. This workshop helps facilitators acknowledge participants’ diverse faith perspectives while remaining true to the values and content of OWL and Sexuality and Our Faith. Presented by the UU and United Church of Christ OWL specialists. (Fri. 3pm) Imagine for a moment, our sex ed course adapted to your Pagan community’s needs.
ZEN BUDDHISM AS UNIVERSALISM: A HISTORICAL REFLECTION
James Ford, a Unitarian Universalist minister who is also a Soto Zen Buddhist priest will discuss the various encounters between Unitarians and Buddhists starting from the middle of the nineteenth century, and how these encounters shaped the theology of what has become Unitarian Universalism. (Fri. 4:45pm)
AESOP, FIRST UU? FUN WITH OUR SEVEN PRINCIPLES. LIVE!
Performance: Aesop, First UU? (original family-friendly play created by Laura Conkle and Deb Lemire). Experience our UU Seven Principles through Aesop’s fables in an intergenerational context. After the performance, explore with Laura and Deb how you can take this exciting program back to your congregations and communities. Activity book with script available for purchase. (Sat. 3pm)
THE FUTURE OF WOMEN
Join a few young adult leaders for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of gender justice, on topics including economic equity, families and relationships, multiculturalism, queerness, healthcare, and more. How might the Unitarian Universalism of the future be different if it were fully committed to, and practicing, gender equity? (Sat. 3pm) This is of interest just to see how Transgender issues are treated, given the current furor over TERFs within the broader Pagan community.
GENDER IDENTITY: MULTIGENERATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
Within Unitarian Universalism our understanding of gender is ever evolving. Come hear from trans and non-binary folks of many ages as they talk about gender identity across generations. (Sat. 3pm) UUism is the only “mainstream” religion that has embraced transgendered clergy (including a founding co-chair of CUUPS) for decades.
As I said, this is just an admittedly biased sampling of the programming available this year at General Assembly. To download (for free) the full program book Click Here. And, if you are in Columbus, but can’t afford the GA Registration Fees (close to $400 for the weekend) CUUPS is holding two events off-site, but nearby:
Mid-Summer / Solstice Celebration and Ritual at noon on Saturday at Sensebrenner Park. All are welcome.
Later that day, in Room 113 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (across the street from the Columbus Convention Center), CUUPS will hold our Annual Meeting. Ingathering is at 5:30pm, with the meeting proper at 6pm. We’ll have a summary of the past years activities and we will present the winner of our 2nd Sermon Contest with her $500 prize and hear the sermon for ourselves! (More about that in a few days.)
(As an aside, usually every other Tuesday we feature some of the translations of classic philosophers by Rev. David Breeden. However we’re prompting that for todays post on General Assembly. I should also mention that David will be a feature speaker at a panel sponsored by the UU Humanists at General Assembly. For more information on his panel, please click the link above for the complete program book.)
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