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Upon becoming executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Ohio, the Rev. J. Bennett Guess noted that he is not a lawyer but a minister in the United Church of Christ. He describes the long history of religious leaders in leadership positions at the ACLU, noting that a Unitarian Universalist minister, the Rev. Mark Stringer, leads the ACLU of Iowa and that a Unitarian was co-founder of the ACLU. (Cleveland.com – 8.9.17)
UU World recently reported on the Unitarian Universalist connection to the ACLU in several stories, including this one about the ACLU of Colorado, and this one about the organization’s Unitarian co-founder.
The Rev. Anna Blaedel is sharing the ACLU of Iowa’s annual Louise Noun Award with two women who organized Iowa’s Women’s March, Sandy Mostaert of Ely and Stefanie Munsterman-Robinson. A campus minister at the University of Iowa, Blaedel received the award for her advocacy for LGBTQ rights, which has earned her censure from the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Rev. Mark Stringer, Unitarian Universalist minister and ACLU of Iowa executive director, described Blaedel’s actions as both “humble and tenacious.” (Press-Citizen – 8.8.17)
Couple injured in church parking lot after funeral service
A car struck a couple outside of River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland, while people were leaving a funeral service held there on August 5. The driver of the car remained at the scene, the couple is in stable condition, and the accident is still under investigation. (NBC Washington – 8.5.17)
“Two pedestrians seriously hurt in crash at church in Bethesda” (Washington Post – 8.5.17)
“Police: Elderly man and woman struck by car in church parking lot, serious injuries” (WJLA – 8.5.17)