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Undaunted, churches proudly display support for justice
In replacing the church’s rainbow flag for a fifth time, the Rev. Joanna Crawford of Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park, Texas, boldly proclaimed the congregation’s longstanding welcome of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. Members cheered as Crawford hung a new rainbow flag next to their church’s welcome sign. (NewNowNext.com – 9.1.15)
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore will return their recently defaced “Black Lives Matter” sign to their property as-is. The congregation's minister, the Rev. Cynthia Cain, said they felt that people need to see that there is a force that hates this phrase symbolizing support for black people. Interfaith community leaders spoke out in support of the congregation. (pressofAtlanticCity.com – 9.4.15)
Aware of the risk of vandalism, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, Maryland, held a ceremony to hang a “Black Lives Matter” banner on its property. Youth led the procession and members of the congregation took turns blessing the banner. Senior minister the Rev. Fred Muir said the Unitarian Universalist Principles called the congregation to hang the banner, and the effort was a deliberate part of their journey toward wholeness. (Capital Gazette – 8.30.15)
Ban a hymn for a good cause
The Rev. Meg Barnhouse has been offering creative fundraising ideas at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, Texas, for some time. A recent one, allowing members to make bids to retire their least favorite hymn for one year, has seen an explosion of mostly positive feedback. The successful scheme acknowledges that while some hymns are much-beloved, others are really awful. (Church Times – 9.4.15)
Former UU World staffer joins New Jersey congregation
The Revs. Christian and Kristin Schmidt have joined the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, as its new interim co-ministers. Christian worked for UU World as a production specialist in 2014. We wish his family the best in their new spiritual home. (NJ.com – 9.1.15)
In June, UU World reported on the shortage of interim ministers: “Demand for interim ministers outruns supply” (UU World – 6.8.15)