UUMA News The Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association From the President March 2002 — Dear Colleagues, Convo 2002 (p. 2) What a thrill it was to see so many beloved colleagues gathered for our 2002 convocation in Bir- E-Mail Aliases (p. 3) mingham. What a feast of lectures, worship, small groups and chance encounters! And how (p. 3) gratifying it was to see us take seriously our witness for social justice in the midst of our other EDGES of the Spirit plans. I hope that all of us, whether we were able to be there or not, join together to recognize the Public Witness Seminar (p. 3) debt of gratitude that we owe to the members of the Convo Planning Committee: Patricia Jimenez, Doug Morgan Strong, Susan Manker Seale, Bob Schaibly, Jane Bramadat, Scotty Ministerial Specialties (p. 4) Meek, and Chair Kirk Loadman Copeland. My hat is off to every one of them. As you will read elsewhere in this newsletter, videotapes and print copies of the lectures and many other events Journey Toward Wholeness (p. 5) are available; some of them would make wonderful congregational study materials and conversa- Gilbert Spirit Fund (p. 5) tion starters. I was heartened by the opportunity at Convo to get on the table several issues that have con- Sermon Awards (p. 6) cerned the Executive Committee for some time and have been circulating in the form of specula- tions and rumors. One of these is the nature of our ongoing connection between us as an interna- Notable Unitarians (p. 8) tional body of colleagues following the changes that are in process between the UUA and the UU Reflections on Prayer (p. 8) churches in Canada. There will be several occasions to learn more about this process and discuss its implications when we are together at Professional Days in Quebec City, because there has Roots of Rebellion (p. 9) been time to build those opportunities into the program planning. I hope some of our Canadian colleagues will offer helpful background material in this or subsequent editions of our newsletter. Skinner House Books (p. 9) The Exec. remains committed to seeking the wisdom and will of our Canadian ministers as we honor both their special identity and unique challenges, while continuing to embrace them fully Investing in Vestments (p. 10) as colleagues and be as helpful to them as we can in their discernment process. This evolving CENTER-fold (p. 12-13) change presents us all with an exciting chance to practice our skills in diversity and intentional pluralism Preachers and Teachers (p. 12) Another opportunity for feedback came with the Meaning of “People of Color” (p. 14) “...whatever role the UUMA evening discussion and afternoon workshop time on the MFC proposal for changing the current system Clergy Housing Allowance (p. 16) is to play … must be founded of ministerial tracks and the process of renewal for on broadly-inclusive dialogue preliminary fellowship. I am persuaded that, what- Call to Selma (p. 17) ever role the UUMA is to play in implementing this among our members” proposed change, it must be founded on broadly- Minister’s Statement (p. 18) inclusive dialogue among our members; for with- UUMA Members Recognized (p. 18) out the support of the current ministry, no institutional structure-regardless of how sensible it may inherently be-is going to have a chance of functioning effectively. We must bring to light In Print (p. 18) and examine the history of how we have arrived at the present system, and we must ponder whether the present system functions productively to nurture the competence of our arriving col- What’s Up With Canada (p. 18) leagues. We must ask how competence in ministry is to be defined and measured according to the several diverse types of ministry now recognized, and how best we might help new ministers And We Remember (p. 20) of all kinds to learn the hands-on skills that have to be gathered by experience in those first few Publications Information (p. 22) years. These are serious questions that deserve our attentive consideration. At the same time, it would seem we need to attend to some painfully unfinished business among UUMA Publications (p. 23) us. In the twenty-two years since the Ministry of Religious Education was recognized as a spe- cialty in its own right, and the decade since the same recognition was granted to Community Executive Committee (p. 24) Ministry, how have our institutions-the UUA, the MFC, the UUMA-functioned to support and honor those of our colleagues called to those ministries? I am not aware of our having ever asked (Continued on page 2) UUMA NEWS (Continued from page 1) this question in a systematic way, but I am newly conscious of many stories that remain untold and many concerns that have never been addressed satisfactorily. And I know how often and how far our optimistic, idealistic reach can exceed our institu- tional grasp, leaving hurt and disillusion in its wake. I suspect that until we make time and space to sort out some of that dis ap- pointment, acknowledge our blunders, and resolve to learn from those experiences and do better, no institutional structures, whether reasonable or absurd, are going to serve us adequately. I would like to think of our Ministers' Association as a place where some of that dialogue and understanding might be created, a place where we can safely share the ways in which our ministries have both nurtured and wounded us. I hope it is a place where we do not launch into new projects without the assent and participation of our membership. Moreover, I hope that the conversa- tions I was part of in Birmingham do not stand alone, but serve to draw our collective attention to matters that will be significant to the future of our profession and our movement. I anticipate the UUMA website will soon have an evolving collection of mate- rial about the categories/specialties/ministerial fellowship renewal question, with the capacity for us to share our thinking with one another; and I hope many of us will make productive use of it. In the end, I have profound faith that the depths of thought and concern so evident in our Convocation time together can serve us still as we move forward into our vision of a shared minis- try that is both equitable and diverse. The future of our heritage, and our future colleagues, deserves no less of us. Kendyl Gibbons, UUMA President From the Editor Convo 2002 Dear Gentle Readers, The Mind and Soul on Fire: Where Hunger and Passion Meet It is a delight to serve on the Exec and get to know and work closely with so many of you. Although it has I am writing this a week after added uncounted hours to my work week, I have never my return from our Convoca- “...it was an event- regretted answering “yes” when I was asked to serve in tion in Birmingham, Ala- filled four days with this demanding but rewarding role. bama. It was an incredible memories I will carry One of the purposes of having a Convocation every experience! With four lec- seven years is to get a sense of our ministry. Although I tures, two worship services, with me for years.” had only attended one previous Convocation (in Hot one small group, and a wide Springs, Arkansas) the tone of this Convocation seems variety of afternoon work- much different than the last. Perhaps it was not having shops and evening events to choose from, it was also an in- to form a consensus on any type of statement. Perhaps credibly exhausting experience. I particularly enjoyed Tom it is that I’ve changed. But after spending a few days in Anastasi and Elizabeth Green’s evening worship service. They Birmingham with more than four hundred of our col- had us all our feet with a powerful message underpinned with leagues, I have no doubt that we’ve changed. soulful music. Steve Crump pleasantly surprised us earlier that day with his improvised lyrics to the tune of Let’s Face the From my limited perspective (I was ordained in 1982), Music and Dance accompanied by some excellent local jazz it seems we are on a roll. It appears we have left behind musicians. My favorite Birmingham lecture was the very last some of the same old tired arguments and conflicts of lecture, The Small Work in the Great Work, by Victoria Safford, yesterday and are ready to take up the challenges of a colleague I had never had the pleasure of hearing before. today. I see a higher degree of openness, a willingness From early morning walking, running, and Tai Chi to late eve- to listen to and learn from one another, a greater desire ning dancing with our own DJ, Robert Flanders, it was an to have our walk match our talk. I was surprised to see event-filled four days with memories I will carry with me for more than half of us stand when we were asked how years. Even the hotel food was good! many of us had covenant groups in our churches. Fortunately, for all those who weren’t able to attend and those Thanks to ever-increasing capacity of technology cou- who want to re-experience some of the highlights, we were able pled with its ever-decreasing cost, it has become much to capture all the events on video. Although we had to scale easier to share our separate visions and perspectives back our original plans for a team of professional videographers with one another.