[cuc-uumoc] August Update from CUC Executive Director Mary Bennett

[Mary Bennett]

Hello, Professional Ministers in Canada - and CUC board and staff,
 
CUC STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
I'm pleased to tell you that Janice Lincoln janice at cuc.ca who has worked
with us on a temporary, part-time basis as Office Assistant since March, has
applied for and been selected for the ongoing (almost) full-time position of
Administrative Coordinator as of September 1, 2006. Her role will be similar
to that filled by Paola Jani, before she left CUC in March, that is - the
first voice/email address for the CUC when you phone or send email to
info at cuc.ca; administers the lay chaplaincy applications and renewals;
ensures the congregational mailing is compiled, sent out and posted on the
website and sends out letters and news releases on behalf of the various CUC
Social Responsibility monitoring groups.  In a small office, there are of
course a thousand other tasks, which Janice performs comfortably and
competently. 
 
 
CROSS-POLLINATION
It is often over the late spring to early fall, that congregations go
through leadership changes, as new boards and committees take on roles.  If
"cross-pollination" with others in similar roles across Canada would be
helpful to some of your new leaders, please do let them know about CUC
discussion email lists.  We have email lists for: presidents, treasurers;
lay chaplains; membership committee members, and much more!
For information or assistance, contact Janice (as above!) 
 
CUUL SCHOOL /PROGRAM
CUUL School was, once again, a resounding success.  We were sorry to have to
turn away four applicants, but 35 was the highest we could go and guarantee
the kind of quality program that has been designed. This was CUUL School #3.
We expect CUUL School #4 to be in Ontario, and will let you know of the
dates and location as soon as they're available.  
 
The Directors of Regional Services and the Director of Lifespan Learning
have now "signed off" on a CUUL Program--whereby those completing the
(flexible) program receive certification as a leader.  Contact Linda Thomson
(Central/Eastern) or Sara McEwan (BC/Western) if you want more information.
(All CUC staff can be reached through their firstname at cuc.ca) 
 
CUC ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING
Come early/Stay late
 
ECSTATIC NATURALISM
On Steven Epperson's recommendation, we have invited (and he's accepted) Dr.
Robert Corrington, professor of Philosophical Theology at Drew University to
come to Vancouver for May.  Among other events, Dr. Corrington will present
a 15-hour course co-sponsored by Vancouver School of Theology and CUC.  This
course can be taken as a 1.5 credit course through VST - either towards an
M.Div or a Certificate. 
 
Here's his "bio" from his website:
Professor Corrington has developed his philosophic perspective of ecstatic
naturalism (link to a brief statement of the categorial scheme of ecstatic
naturalism) out of an ongoing dialogue between Continental phenomenology on
the one side and classical Euro-American pragmatism on the other. The
metaphysical perspective of ecstatic naturalism is anti-supernaturalist
while remaining open to the religious dimensions of nature as these
dimensions are manifest in sacred folds (semiotic orders with special
numinous and archetypal power). Animating the dialectic between
phenomenology and pragmatism (or pragmaticism) is his work with depth
psychology, especially that of Reich and Jung. Professor Corrington not only
writes on these issues but has lectured on Jung at the C.G. Jung Institute
in Zurich, Switzerland as well as at Drew University. His book on Wilhelm
Reich is forthcoming. 

His metaphysics of ecstatic naturalism is concerned with exhibiting the
utter vastness of nature as that nature manifests its own unconscious
potencies and the religious orders of meaning that intersect with the human
unconscious. His seventh book, A Semiotic Theory of Theology and Philosophy,
(Cambridge University Press, 2000) extends his categorial scheme into the
foundational structures of the world and presents a semiotic cosmology. 

Currently he is working on a larger project for Cambridge University Press
as well as other book projects that will further ramify and extend ecstatic
naturalism. This involves a continuing exploration of Hinduism, Buddhism,
and theosophy as they all intersect with the liberal strains in Western
metaphysics and theology. 

Professor Corrington is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist
Association and The Theosophical Society of America. He lectures and gives
classes for both organizations and travels to India for the Congress of the
International Theosophical Society in Chennai (Madras). 

FRIDAY NIGHT CUC BOARD/UUMOC MEETING

Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher, Principal of the Vancouver School of Theology has
invited the CUC board and UU Ministers of Canada to a post-ingathering
reception and to hold a joint meeting on the premises on the Friday of the
CUC Annual Conference and Meeting. 

 
 
All for now - hope you are or have enjoyed summer!

 

Your reply goes just to me (and other moderators, including Linda Thomson)
not to the whole group.
You are free to forward this email to others -- while written specifically
for our professional ministers, all of the information can be shared with
others.
 
Take care,
 
Mary Bennett, Executive Director
CANADIAN UNITARIAN COUNCIL
www.cuc.ca <http://www.cuc.ca/>    1-888-568-5723