[JTWNews] Buliding the Beloved Community

Thu Apr 14 17:18:10 EDT 2005

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JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS NEWS

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Dear JTW News Readers:

In this issue I want to share reports with you about how UUs and our interfaith allies are working together for beloved community and against the assaults on people of color in this country and internationally.

As we work for peace and justice we need to “be the change we want to see.”  Tomorrow is the last day (for this church year) that we are accepting congregational applications for the new JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Consultancy. For more information about JUUST Change and an application see http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism/consultancy.html. If your congregation is interested please contact Tracey Robinson-Harris at trobinsonharris at uua.org to let her know an application is on the way.  

April 22nd is Earth Day. Campaign for Communities has as its mission connecting environmentalism with concerns in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods and building a broad coalition.  The Campaign registered nearly 1 million new voters from these communities in 2004.  The UUA partnered with the Campaign as part of our Faithful Democracy initiative.  Read on (See #5) to find out how your congregation can partner with them as well.

In faith,

Susan Leslie

Director of the UUA Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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1) Bill Sinkford Joins Interfaith Leaders For Beyond Iraq: Building the Beloved Community at Interfaith Service

2) Congregational Actions on Iraq

3) Hearings on USA Patriot Act & Civil Liberties Campaign

4) UU UNO Darfur Sundays

5) Celebrate Earth Day with Campaign For Communities – April 22nd

6) Reflection on Beyond Iraq Service by Rev. Susan Veronica Rak

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1) BILL SINKFORD JOINS INTERFAITH LEADERS & NYC UU CLERGY & 100 UUs FOR INTERFAITH SERVICE - BEYOND IRAQ: BUILDING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

On Monday April 4th, the Rev. William G. Sinkford and religious leaders from across the country gathered at Manhattan's Riverside Church for a special service, "Beyond Iraq: Building the Beloved Community." Over 1200 people attended.

April 4th marked the 38th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1967 prophetic sermon at Riverside Church, when he called on peace activists to see "beyond the Vietnam War" and build the "beloved community" so that peace and economic justice could support one another, both at home and abroad.

Sinkford shared the pulpit with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. James Forbes, senior minister of the Riverside Church, Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, and many other religious leaders. The speakers represented many faiths, including Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, and Catholicism.

A dozen metro-area UU ministers in clergy garb were joined by about 100 UUs in the pews. Over 1200 people attended the event.  With deep satisfaction, Sinkford noted, "This is yet another example of how Unitarian Universalism is assuming its rightful place at the interfaith table. UUs have much to offer the current struggle for peace and justice."  See Rev. Susan Rak of the UU Church of Flushing NY (Queens) reflection below.

See http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050404_riverside.html for the full story & photo, for the text of Bill's speech, and resources.

The Drive Democracy website http://www.drivedemocracy.org/breakthesilence/   has a 10 minute clip of the “Beyond Iraq” service. Bill Sinkford appears around the 6:40 mark for about 20 seconds and again at the very end of the clip where he speaks the final words.

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2) CONGREGATIONAL ACTIONS ON IRAQ

Many UU congregations joined events to mark the second anniversary of the Iraq war.  We are featuring two congregational reports, from UU Church West in Brookfield WI and UU Congregation of Erie PA, on the UUA Social Justice website.  See http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/  to read about their actions and for a copy of the statement that was delivered to the PA congressional delegation.

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3) USA PATRIOT ACT HEARINGS.  Let your voice be heard!!

A number of the most controversial sections of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to sunset December 31, 2005. Congress is gearing up this spring to debate the reauthorization of these provisions as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales calls for further expansion.

€UUA joins broad coalition in calling for expressing concern about the reauthorization of the 2001 PATRIOT Act. Press Release from the Rights Working Group at http://rightsworkinggroup.org/files/RWG_pr_patriotact.pdf.

Since the enactment of the Patriot Act there have been mass arrests of Arabs and Muslims, extended detention periods, and discriminatory enforcement of immigration laws.

**Contact your Senator!**

Let your Senator know of your concerns for civil liberties and the actions you and your congregation have taken in the past four years to protect civil liberties for all! See the UUAWO¹s Civil Liberties page for Background, Talking points, and UU Actions Past and Present.

http://www.uua.org/uuawo/new/article.php?list=type&type=22 

**Join the Civil Liberties Safe Zone Campaign** Five state governments and over 373 cities and towns have passed resolutions for non-compliance with the civil liberties violations of the Patriot Act.  See the Bill of Rights Defense Committee for a listing and for how to join at http://www.bordc.org/OtherLocalEfforts.htm. 

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4) UU UNITED NATIONS OFFICE DARFUR SUNDAYS

Over 40 UU congregations have held Darfur Sundays and sent over 1,500 faxes urging Congress to provide support to the African Union.  For materials to hold a Sunday and more information, see http://www.uu-uno.org <http://www.uu-uno.org/> .

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5) EARTH DAY NETWORK – CAMPAIGN FOR COMMUNITIES – CELEBRATE EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22ND

Campaign for Communities’ mission is to broaden the environmental movement and redefine its agenda by including non-traditional environmental issues that face communities of color and low-income communities. Campaign for Communities is breaking old barriers to change the face of the environmental movement. They are seeking environmental equality and the right of all people to live in healthy communities regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status or geography.

To find an event near you go to http://www.earthday.net/programs/find/default.aspx.

For more information about the Campaign, see http://www.earthday.net/programs/currentcampaigns/c4c.aspx.

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As always, please send in your reports and we will feature your stories!  

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Reflection on Beyond Iraq: Building the Beloved Community Interfaith Service at Riverside Church, New York City, April 4th

By Rev. Susan Veronica Rak

We gathered, two three at a time, greeting one another with smiles and nods of recognition, about a dozen Unitarian Universalist ministers – from New Jersey, New York, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.  Most of us wore clerical garb – a sign of office, commitment and identity – robes, colorful stoles, even a clerical collar or two.

We gathered, standing in the tradition of our faith, to offer a witness for peace, reason and community that this reckless war demands.

We gathered with pride that one of our own was chosen to address this diverse gathering at this important time.  

We gathered for our own personal reasons and commitments, but clearly united in the thought that, as poet Audre Lorde reminded us, we know that our silence will not protect us. 

We gathered - to listen to one another, to be reminded through the memory of life of Martin Luther King Jr. that voice and vision did not die with him; that as bearers of that legacy, we need to “reclaim the prophetic voice” (thanks to my Connecticut peace colleagues  for this phrase!), to have hope and take the risk of speaking truth to power.

With stirring words, spirit-filled music, heart-rending testimony and communal good will, we were reminded of the promise and possibility of the Beloved Community – and that its creation and maintenance is in our hands.

We left that night, our hearts moved by what was shared, our spirits buoyed by word and song, our minds stirred and perhaps set to renewed purpose.  And our resolve sweetened by a dish of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!  

--Reverend Susan Veronica Rak

Unitarian Universalist Church of Flushing, Queens NY

14754 Ash Avenue, Flushing NY 11355

718-353-3860

www.uucflushing.org

Susan Leslie

Director for Congregational Advocacy and Witness

Unitarian Universalist Association

25 Beacon Street, Boston MA  02108

(617) 948-4607; sleslie at uua.org

www.uua.org/justice

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