Fall 2013, Vol.XXVII No.3

Features

Our animal contradictions
How Unitarian Universalism can help us sort out our place in the animal world.
By Kimberly French in Spirit

Gini's revolution
The UUA's longest serving moderator reflects on a legacy of volunteer leadership.
By Christopher L. Walton in Life

Entering a new era
Report from the 2013 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
By Donald E. Skinner in News

Departments

Experience and complex truths
Great essayists ask questions about the reliability of truths they wring from experience.
By Christopher L. Walton in From the editor

Belief is the enemy of faith
A new interfaith, multifaith spirituality is struggling to be born.
By Peter Morales in From the president

Beloved Cafe seeks new model for spiritual community
'Not all Unitarian Universalism has to happen at church,' say Bay Area entrepreneurs.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

A congregation in clay
Members of a Massachusetts congregation made self-portraits in clay.
By Janet C. Bush and Bob Rundquist in Life

Choice words
Hands-off parenting gives kids choices they aren't ready to make.
By Marcy Campbell in Life

Something old, something new at Louisville church
After 1985 fire, Unitarian church transformed the space inside its gothic walls.
By Allison Bennett in Spiritual landmarks

Paying my rent to the planet
I pick up litter for an hour on my early morning dog walk.
By Kathy Duhon in Life

Birth, breath, and death
Doulas are called to care, to encourage, and to leave the world better than we found it.
By Amy Wright Glenn in Spirit

Simply listening
I hated candles of joy and concern, until I started listening.
By Lynne Jacoby in Spirit

The power of visual design for UU evangelism
In our multimedia society, an image's worth is probably closer to a million words.
By Jessica Ferguson in Spirit

Passover
'That we might, at last, glimpse the stars, brilliant in the desert sky.'
By Mandie McGlynn in Spirit

Adventure of discovery
Being part of a Unitarian Universalist community means being on an adventure of discovery.
By Jessica Ferguson in Spirit

I'll stand her ground
What I'm telling my daughter, an African-American teenager, about Trayvon Martin's death.
By Lynn Ungar in Spirit

Families: Weave a Tapestry of Faith; A Heavenly Place to Read (pdf)

UUs push for fossil fuel divestment
Featured online in another form:
Four UU congregations pull investments from fossil fuel companies
Congregations divest to make statement against profiting from practices that contribute to climate change.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

New, smaller UUA board tackles racism and relationship building
Featured online in another form:
New board takes up antiracism, relationship building
New moderator, financial advisor, and five new members join smaller board.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

Marriage equality gains ground
Featured online in another form:
Marriage equality gains momentum
UUs in Rhode Island, Delaware, and Minnesota celebrate equal marriage rights in rapid succession.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Nashville church urges association to act against clergy misconduct
Featured online in another form:
Nashville church urges conversation about clergy misconduct
Moderator candidates both sign petition pledging to strengthen UUA’s response to victims of misconduct.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

New rules approved for ministers' relationships

Hoover, King win service awards
Featured online in another form:
Hoover, King lauded for decades of UUA service
Fighting for racial equality spurred both men’s work.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

N.C. UUs arrested at Moral Mondays
Featured online in another form:
Six UUs arrested in 'Moral Monday' protest
North Carolinians jailed for protesting conservative legislation; Texas UUs detained, deported after visiting factory in Mexico.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

Three districts join to form region
Featured online in another form:
Three districts vote to become MidAmerica Region
Shift toward regionalization aims to create greater connections among congregations.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

New executives named at UUA
Featured online in another form:
UUA announces new executive structure
Harlan Limpert to become 'chief operating officer' as Kay Montgomery retires from office of executive vice president.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

UUA membership is flat again
Featured online in another form:
UUA membership is flat in 2013
Over eight-year period, UUA shows slight increase, as other American denominations post double-digit declines.
By Michelle Bates Deakin in UU news

Choosing vendors for your church using UU values

After tornadoes, aiding immigrants
Featured online in another form:
After tornadoes, Oklahoma UUs aid undocumented immigrants
Interfaith effort brings services to people who, fearing deportation, don’t seek relief.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Arizona Prison Ministry
Featured online in another form:
Gateway Fellowship forms from Arizona prison ministry
Inmates and members of Tucson congregation gather for monthly prison worship.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Clearwater wins Bennett Award
Featured online in another form:
Clearwater UUs lauded for deep-seated social activism
For decades, congregation has advocated for civil rights, farmworkers, immigrants, and LGBT rights.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Bringing General Assembly to life
Featured online in another form:
Bringing General Assembly to life
The UUA's General Assembly and Conference Services office puts together a giant logistical puzzle every year.
By Donald E. Skinner in Inside

Playing with fire
Am I using social media in ways that affirm people's inherent worth and strengthen the interdependent web?
By Heather Christensen in Ideas

Living your faith online
How do you use social media as part of your religious life?
By Sonja L. Cohen in Ideas

Greta Gerwig, UU film star
Greta Gerwig stars in the new black and white film 'Frances Ha,' which features the UU congregation she grew up in.
By Cynthia Littleton in Ideas

Book to note: 'Muhammad: The Story of a Prophet and Reformer'
New book for children shares stories from the life of Islam's founder.
By Michelle Richards in Bookshelf

Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Beautiful' book
The famous architect designed a rare book by the Unitarian minister William Channing Gannett.
By Sonja L. Cohen in Ideas

British Unitarians rally to save faith from extinction
‘Growing Unitarianism’ movement seeks to reverse decline and promote excitement.
By Donald E. Skinner in UU news

Letters, Fall 2013
Readers respond to the Summer 2013 issue.
in Letters

Blog roundup, Fall 2013
Online responses to UU World.
By Heather Christensen in Letters

Traffic report, Fall 2013
Top ten stories at uuworld.org.
By Christopher L. Walton in Letters

Online Extras

Audio recordings of selected essays

More Frank Lloyd Wright 'House Beautiful' book photos

The Honey Springs worship committee ponders joys and sorrows
‘I’m just a fool for church people and the things that happen in church.’
By Meg Barnhouse in Spirit

A few words in favor of Jezebel
Is Jezebel the baddest of the bad girls of the Bible?
By James Ishmael Ford in Spirit

You don't say
We can’t help seeing through words, but it’s worth trying.
By James Ishmael Ford in Spirit