Those of you sharing my interest in turning our congregations, our ministry and our movement inside out and upside down will probably enjoy the following article by KATHYRN PALEN. This is from a previous issue of the Alban Institute's CONGREGATIONS magazine.
Yes, it is true. If UU navel gaze long enough UU and your congregation can accidentlly turn outside in and downside up. Is that why the primary cartoon featured in the UU World is mont after month of character all twisted and inverted? Ahaa!!
A Ministry of All
By KATHYRN PALEN
The headline read “Lay Ministry Is at a Dead End.” I took a deep breath before reading the accompanying article. This was not how I had expected to begin my participation at a national convocation of people working in the area of lay ministry. I had arrived at the event excited about spending a weekend with others who shared an interest ....
Continue reading at
http://www.alban.org/ShowArticle.asp?ID=249
More info about
Alban Institute
CONGREGATIONS magazine.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
The Fountain of UUth?
Are you following Fountain Street's growth and development? If not, you should. Just take a look at their "Century Vision" document. It includes some very clear statements about what liberal religion is about AND a real action plan.
I LOVE THIS because they are aspiring to be a beacon for their exisitng members, not just for their immediate community -- they're in it for the world. That's right. Life change and liberal religion for all who want it.
- Liberal Religion is about spiritual liberation.
- Freeing people to be truly alive is the mission of liberal religion.
- A liberal church exists to make this happen. It does so in three ways.
1. by proclaiming the liberating vision
2. by helping people pursue a life of spiritual liberation throughout life, and
3. by living that life, personally and as a community, in the wider community.
One aspect of their plan is to develop resources other churches can use. WHen this happens I have little doubt that the very UU-like vision of their church and their ministry will spread.
I'm very interested to see what happens with this. Will Fountain Street become a national player like Willow Creek and Saddle Back? I hope so. I hope your church will too. Do you have a plan?
Where will people go to find a liberal religious home over the next 20 -100 years? The UUA member congregations or will they go to the Fountain???
Read Fountain Steet's "Century Vision"
http://fountainstreet.org/A%20Century%20Vision2.pdf
I LOVE THIS because they are aspiring to be a beacon for their exisitng members, not just for their immediate community -- they're in it for the world. That's right. Life change and liberal religion for all who want it.
- Liberal Religion is about spiritual liberation.
- Freeing people to be truly alive is the mission of liberal religion.
- A liberal church exists to make this happen. It does so in three ways.
1. by proclaiming the liberating vision
2. by helping people pursue a life of spiritual liberation throughout life, and
3. by living that life, personally and as a community, in the wider community.
One aspect of their plan is to develop resources other churches can use. WHen this happens I have little doubt that the very UU-like vision of their church and their ministry will spread.
I'm very interested to see what happens with this. Will Fountain Street become a national player like Willow Creek and Saddle Back? I hope so. I hope your church will too. Do you have a plan?
Where will people go to find a liberal religious home over the next 20 -100 years? The UUA member congregations or will they go to the Fountain???
Read Fountain Steet's "Century Vision"
http://fountainstreet.org/A%20Century%20Vision2.pdf
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Video of UUA - UCC meeting this October
This October there was a meeting of the presidents of both the UUA and the UCC. If you missed this event, you can watch a video of this event on the following site.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
George Bush and Our Whole Lives
Take action by clicking the link below. Thanks.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/keroackpetition2?rk=i1q9P0S1CSnCW
This "political" action alert is being shared as the issue is one which directly challenges long established UU values. If you agree with our association's position on sexuality education please take a moment to
1) sign this position
2) share this post with others.
BUSH vs. OUR WHOLE LIVES
Many of you know that the UUA and the UCC published a comprehensive lifespan sexuality curriculum called "Our Whole Lives". As a movement we value teaching our children, youth and adults what it means to be in healthy relationships and, at the appropriate age, the facts of life.
George Bush doesn't agree with us. Yes, he is entitled to his personal position. BUT we do need to look at how this position manifests as policy. Empashis on the LOOK OUT!!!!
Our President has just appointed a man in charge of our country's family planning program who is clearly opposes contraception and is against distributing information about birth control.
A PEACE ACTIVIST IS NEVER GOING TO RUN THE PENTAGON
How can someone with this position faithfully carry out his duties? That's like putting a hard core pro-life in charge of research and development for the PLAN B pill. Uh, not a wise decision. Would George Bush put a Christian peace activist in charge of the Pentagon? No. You've got to be willing to kill if you're going to be in charge of the military.
You can help send a message to our government about the inappropriate nature of this situation -- send kind of a virtual smack upside the head. Hello!!!
Take action by clicking the link below. Thanks.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/keroackpetition2?rk=i1q9P0S1CSnCW
More from Planned Parenthood:
Eric Keroack was the medical director of five so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" hat oppose contraception and do not distribute information promoting birth control. In Keroack's new role, he will oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding meant to provide access to contraception and reproductive health information. This politically motivated appointment is not in the health interest of women and families.
THANK YOU
Thanks for taking action on this one. I hate watching as our country slips backwards in terms of liberty, civil rights and the values we've worked hard for. I guess we have to remember that when we win certain rights we are only winning them for now...
In faith,
Peter
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/keroackpetition2?rk=i1q9P0S1CSnCW
This "political" action alert is being shared as the issue is one which directly challenges long established UU values. If you agree with our association's position on sexuality education please take a moment to
1) sign this position
2) share this post with others.
BUSH vs. OUR WHOLE LIVES
Many of you know that the UUA and the UCC published a comprehensive lifespan sexuality curriculum called "Our Whole Lives". As a movement we value teaching our children, youth and adults what it means to be in healthy relationships and, at the appropriate age, the facts of life.
George Bush doesn't agree with us. Yes, he is entitled to his personal position. BUT we do need to look at how this position manifests as policy. Empashis on the LOOK OUT!!!!
Our President has just appointed a man in charge of our country's family planning program who is clearly opposes contraception and is against distributing information about birth control.
A PEACE ACTIVIST IS NEVER GOING TO RUN THE PENTAGON
How can someone with this position faithfully carry out his duties? That's like putting a hard core pro-life in charge of research and development for the PLAN B pill. Uh, not a wise decision. Would George Bush put a Christian peace activist in charge of the Pentagon? No. You've got to be willing to kill if you're going to be in charge of the military.
You can help send a message to our government about the inappropriate nature of this situation -- send kind of a virtual smack upside the head. Hello!!!
Take action by clicking the link below. Thanks.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/keroackpetition2?rk=i1q9P0S1CSnCW
More from Planned Parenthood:
Eric Keroack was the medical director of five so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" hat oppose contraception and do not distribute information promoting birth control. In Keroack's new role, he will oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding meant to provide access to contraception and reproductive health information. This politically motivated appointment is not in the health interest of women and families.
THANK YOU
Thanks for taking action on this one. I hate watching as our country slips backwards in terms of liberty, civil rights and the values we've worked hard for. I guess we have to remember that when we win certain rights we are only winning them for now...
In faith,
Peter
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
UU Oval Car Sticker Spotting
It happened! I saw my first UU oval car sticker on the road! A while ago I designed some UU bumper stickers including a UU oval bumper sticker. Over the weekend I attended my district's Fall conference. On the way to the event I pulled up behind a car with one of my bumper stickers on it. How cool is that??
You can order bumper stickers at http://www.cafepress.com/peterbowden/1990576 or through http://shop.uuplanet.com. If you have an idea for a bumper sticker let me know or make your own through www.cafepress.com .
You can order bumper stickers at http://www.cafepress.com/peterbowden/1990576 or through http://shop.uuplanet.com. If you have an idea for a bumper sticker let me know or make your own through www.cafepress.com .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
