Credentials Credentials All Over The Place pt. 2

Steve Caldwell wrote a comment to my original post that I've been mulling since I read it.

In my opinion, the real reason for having professional associations and credentialing for the musicians and other professionals in our congregations is the code of ethics that comes from professional associations.

It's not important if one has an alphabet soup of academic letters after one's name.

But avoiding unethical behavior like a musician violating copyright laws or any church professional using power and authority to take advantage of a congregant sexually is important for our congregations.

As I said in my original post, I understand the need/want for credentialing both ministers and religious educators. But Steve's comment really points out my concern.

When one is talking about the arts (music, writing, acting, etc.), what are the codes of ethics? Pardon my ignorance, but I've never heard of a musician's code of ethics. By their very nature the arts are incestuous (creatively incestuous, not the other incestuous); and music especially so. So the issues that would come up in other professions' codes of ethics do not apply.

And even when you start talking about issues of copyright and so forth, those are really matters of law and not ethics because issues of fair use and what is in the public domain is very different when one is talking about the arts. And they become even more complicated when one is talking about the arts in a church setting.

But my real concern is the message that credentialing musicians might send. As the music program of a church is going to be mostly populated by those who are NOT professional musicians, won't credentialing musicians turn off those really gifted musicians who aren't professional?

Again as I said in my original post, I understand wanting quality music programs. What I don't understand is how credentialing musicians brings that any closer.

Credentials Credentials All Over The Place

Hello dear readers.
I've been meaning to write about this for a while, and now I have a few minutes to do it.

I get it! UUs like credentialing people. Really, I get it!

And for some things I can understand the want for it.....I understand the need for credentialing/fellowshipping ministers. I understand the want for credentials for religious educators (although I have some reservations about what that process is and how they go about it).

What I don't......repeat DON'T......understand is the need for credentialing musicians. Can somebody please explain this to me?

Let me be perfectly clear, I understand the want for really good, quality music programs in church. In fact I think most UU churches are behind the curve on that front. What I do not understand is what the credentialing of musicians brings to us as a movement other than just another bureaucratic thing.

As music is one of the best avenues to get people involved in a church, I'm more than a little concerned at the signal that this sends. But hey, I've been known to be wrong. Maybe this doesn't send out the signal that I think it sends.

Opinions?

Now That The Election Is Over...The Single Best Decision

I have decided to reprint a post that I wrote earlier this year. It still says what I think about this election season. This is from Feb. 21.


As you all may remember, I have said that I have done the only political post I plan on writing. I'm sticking to that. Just barely. I've been reading some articles the last few days talking about about the different campaigns; how organized or disorganized they are, strengths and weaknesses, etc. I've found them quite interesting, but I've also noticed one thing that hasn't been mentioned.
So dear readers, here's my take on why one campaign is still in this race and not watching it from the sidelines.The single smartest decision made so far in the 2008 campaign: Barack Obama's campaign is run from Chicago and not Washington.

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Yee haw!!!!!!!!!!!

The most ridiculous time of the year is coming to an end. We get our hour back.

Life is good.

Are Minorities Really To Blame?

Ok dear readers, I have a question.

Are minorities really to blame for the financial mess?

Now I know that some of this is because of sub-prime, but can a whole financial system break down because minorities were given bad loans? C'mon now, I have a hard time believing that.

I am asking this because I don't like the spin that's being placed on this as being something that's caused by the "other". In fact, I'm sickened by it.

Dow Down 778, Do You Have Any Money Left?

What a day dear readers, what a day.

Mondays are my light days, so I can work from home if I so choose. I did. And decided to go back and forth between CNBC and MSNBC to see what was going on as far as the bailout was concerned. Well....the answer came a little after 2:00 EDT. 228 nay, 205 yea.

Where do we go from here ladies and gentlemen? Here are some questions:

-Does the market really need $700 billion dollars?
-What protections should there be for the public and taxpayers?
-Is there any situation in which judicial review is a bad thing?
-What should happen in bankruptcy court in regards to mortgages?

Like I said, a few questions for consideration.

Those who know me in my non-anonymous life know that governance issues play a large role in my life. I also spend a bit of time trying to help those who make decisions understand how those decisions might play in the public eye. And my professional persona is cringing at how this is going to play tomorrow morning. It's not going to be pretty dear readers, not pretty at all. I'll probably write something about that later in the week.

Anyway, I hope you all are not panicking. Panicking is not good for anybody.

Hopefully Charlie Rose will talk about this tonight. My guess is he will.

The Long Goodbye, Paul Newman 1925-2008

Well it just came over the wire that Paul Newman has died at age 83.

Since my favorite line in all of movie-dom comes from "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", I am sad at the news. But Newman lived a good life and even though he was taken away by cancer, he lived his life the way he wanted.

So dear readers, take a little time out to watch a movie that stars Paul Newman and celebrate a life well lived.

Is It Really A Bailout?

Hello dear readers.

I haven't written since the AIG mess, mainly because I've been watching CNBC most of the time when I'm not either working or in my class.

I can't answer the question as to is this really a bailout, but I'm upset at how this is being framed; as if everybody whose home has been foreclosed on was greedy and stupid and should have never gotten a home in the first place. If I remember this right, when the housing crisis started, the issue was not really the people who were working two jobs to keep their home, but "flippers" who thought they could make some quick money in the housing market and took out very risky loans to begin with. Am I remembering this right?

Well.....back to financial news....CNBC or Bloomberg.

It's 10:45.....Do You Know Where Your Money Is?

Well, the market goes down 446 points. What to make of that?

I must say I'm surprised that there isn't more postings on the financial situation, but I'm not really all that surprised. Bread-and-butter and money issues have never been big issues to talk about in many UU circles.

Anyway......should the government have bailed-out AIG?

Things Are Heating Up

Hello dear readers.

Seems like things are heating up in the UU-blogosphere over cultural misappropriation. I'll have a post about that soon.

Right now, though, I'm watching CNBC and all the talk about the financial markets. Very interesting stuff if I do say so myself.

What should/is going to happen to AIG?
Was the government wrong in not helping Lehman?
What the hell is Bank of America thinking buying Merrill Lynch?
Is this the beginning/middle/end of the financial crisis?

oh well, back to CNBC. And maybe Charlie Rose will talk about this tonight.

An Interesting Sounding Book

So I got to read the Times Book Review this week and came across a review of a book that I had heard about and have been intrigued by since I saw the title in the indie-booksellers newsletter.



The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.



If you like historical fiction or mysteries, this sounds like it might be the book to pick up sometime. I plan to when I get to read for pleasure again.




I'll be back to writing about UUA stuff when life slows down next month.

The New Study Action Issue

Hello dear friends.

It never ceases to amaze me how UUs continue to find ways to make themselves irrelevant to more and more groups of people.

Let's talk about the new study-action issue that was passed at GA this year. Now before I go on my rant about it, let me be clear, I do think that how food is produced is an issue for concern.

That being said dear friends, if we're going to talk about ethical eating/food production, we need to remember that for a sizable portion of this country, food is being priced out of their reach. Especially fresh fruits and vegetables. And all these wonderful upper-class hippy ideas of co-ops and going local is just not possible for a number of people in this country.

Where is the discussion of this issue in the new CSAI? Did I miss it? Is there any talk of working with consumer groups that are working on this issue? Because this is not just about small farmers and farm workers, but about a whole system. And this is not just about poverty and hunger either. (it's not just the poor who are being priced out) This is also about geography and economic development, race and class, and so many other things.

Just a few thoughts. I'll probably have some more later.

Never Eat A Lemon Before Going On TV

Hello dear friends.

With Mmse. Peacebang taking a break on Beauty Tips.....I thought I would bring this up.

I just finished watching a segment on The NewsHour about the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac soon-to-be mess which was very interesting.

However, somebody needs to get their hands on Karen Shaw Petrou and give her a makeover like yesterday. And once they're done with that, tell her to relax her face when she is going to be on TV; it looked like she had just eaten a lemon before they started the segment.

Back to life in the real world............

There Should Be Some Advantage To Being A Fair Share Congregation

Hello dear readers.

I seem to be getting all sorts of good gossip these days, but this one is the most important to me.

It seems that the President of my district (Central Midwest for those of you who didn't remember) is a part of a congregation that is not in full Fair Share status with either the UUA or the district. Or at least that's what the gossip is.

This does not seem fair to me. There really should be some advantage to being a Fair Share congregation.

Is this a common occurrence in other districts? How can the President of a district faithfully stand there and talk about congregations contributing to the district at Fair Share levels and yet not be part of a congregation that is doing just that?

I'm developing a headache trying to make sense of this. So I shall stop here.

When 'I Told You So' Are The Only Words That Come To Mind

hello dear readers.....

the grapevine tells me that this year's Central Midwest District annual meeting lost money. hmmm......seems as if I was talking about some of the problems a few months ago.

but since my mother told me that if I didn't have anything nice to say to not say anything, I think I will keep my mouth shut.

until next time...............................

The Pope Speaks

and says this gem..........The clergy sex abuse scandal was sometimes "very badly handled".

Well......no Sh*t Sherlock!

and we went through a Papal Conclave to get him???????????

read more at: http://www.yahoo.com/s/859266

What Bible To Buy

I see that somebody on one of the other blogs has asked for recommendations as to what Bible translation to buy.

It doesn't surprise me that most of the recommendations are some version of the NRSV. I have 2 different NRSV study editions myself. I wonder though, if we liberal folk limit ourselves because we tend to only go for the NRSV.

So I'm going to make some other recommendations; Bibles that will work in UU settings, but aren't the NRSV.

1. The Jerusalem (or New Jerusalem) Bible.
As somebody who loves the poetry of the King James Bible but likes the historical-critical method, this version works for me.

2. The New International Bible or The Amplified Bible.
If you want to know what our conservative brothers and sisters are reading, pick one of these two.

3. The English Standard Bible.
There's nothing that really screams "You need to read me" from this Bible translation, but I still like it.

4. The New American Bible.
This is the official Catholic Bible, and is really good if you want a basic understanding in what Catholics consider their canon and what we Protestants have as ours.

I hope that others who have recommendations will post them.

Enjoy your Bible reading.

On This Day

Since today marks 40 years since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. I thought I would republish an old post that is about him. I'm cutting out some parts, but I think the questions are still valid.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to your sermon, you believe that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been for marriage equality. I couldn't disagree with you more. From everything that I've read and heard about him, Dr. King was a typical black preacher of his time. He would have had a hard time with the women's movement (just look at how he interacted with the women in his life). And if you look at his complex relationship with Bayard Rustin, you can see that Dr. King had more ambivalent feelings about homosexuality than most black preachers. (I know part of the complexity with Rustin was due to Rustin's association with communism, but that's another subject)

So I guess my question is this: is your belief that Dr. King would have been for marriage equality a matter of faith(using Paul's definition of it as being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen)? Or is there something out there about Dr. King that I haven't seen?

My concern is that we liberal religious folk are trying to co-opt people that we admire and use them for causes that we are involved in even though those we admire may not or wouldn't have been.

A Post of Interest

Hello dear readers.......

I'm back after a blogging break and thought I would point you to a post that I think is worth reading.

For those of you who know her, Kim Hampton has a blog talking about her experience at seminary. The most recent post that I've read is about her going to a worship service. Take a read at it:
http://eastofmidnight.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/built-for-silenceor-why-i-am-not-a-quaker

Maybe I'll talk to her some more about it at the Central Midwest District meeting at the end of the month.

"Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner"

Hello all.

Mademoiselle Peacebang sends a note of thanks to Patrick Swayze on both of her blogs. Take a look at them if you're a Swayze fan.

While the focus of Peacebang's posts are Swayze's role in Too Wong Foo, I would just like to put in a word for Dirty Dancing.

I remember the first time I saw Dirty Dancing. The music. The dancing. The setting. Everything combined to make the perfect movie in my teenaged eyes. And then there is my favorite scene, when Baby and Johnny are dancing on the log to "Hey Baby". Ahhhhh.....the height of romance to me. And in many ways is still my standard for romance.

I have truly "had the time of my life" watching Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing. And I know that many wish Patrick a good recovery and many days of dancing ahead.

If You Don't Stand For Something You Will Fall For Anything.....or Why Lent Matters

There's been much discussion of Lent these days on UU blogs. I find that wonderful. As someone who finds the Lenten season more important than any other season in the liturgical year, I like the fact that UUs are actually talking about something that is explicitly Christian.

Anyway....the passage in Mark (1:12-13) that tells of the journey into the wilderness says:

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Jesus, these verses say, was DRIVEN into the wilderness. What does it mean to be driven like that? And to be surrounded by wild beasts yet have angels waiting on him. Wouldn't that have been a sight to see?

It was after this time in the wilderness that Jesus starts his public ministry. It was his public ministry that brought him to his death.

My parents taught me the saying that I'm using for the title of this post. You must stand for something or you will fall for anything. This is part of the reason that Lent matters to me. Jesus stood for something and was willing to die for it. What would I be willing to stand up for and die for if necessary?

In these days, what is the wilderness? What are the wild beasts? Are there angels out there wanting to wait on me?

These are the questions of Lent. And that is why Lent matters. (at least to me)

Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday, Are You Ready?

Well dear readers, DST starts Sunday. Are you ready? I must admit that I'm not. After my last post on it, that probably comes as no surprise. The only upside this year is that it was already planned that I was going to miss church this Sunday. So at least I won't be one of those people who comes into church late because of the time change.

As you can see, I'm looking for an upside.

Looking For Humor

Hello dear readers.

I'm working on a sermon that is going to be about humor and religion and want suggestions as to who to quote from.

I do have some people picked out...a lot of the usual suspects; Twain, Swift, Colbert and Stewart. Now I'm looking for more on the religion side. Know of any good religious humorists? Or places to look for stuff on religion and humor?

There Should Be No Daylight Savings Time

Hello dear readers.
I needed to know what day Daylight Savings Time starts this year and since it's not in any of the calendars I bought I had to look for it online.

Daylight Savings Time starts on March 9th. March 9th. And it doesn't end until November 1. Eight months (almost)

Does anybody else remember when DST started in April? Mid- to Late April at that? And why do we need it anyway? It doesn't save the energy that they say it does. Why is it in the summer instead of the winter, when you really do need to save sunlight? Why 8 months instead of 6 like it used to be?

As you can see, dear readers, I have no use for DST.

The Single Smartest Decision Made in the 2008 Campaign

Hello dear readers.

As you all may remember, I have said that I have done the only political post I plan on writing. I'm sticking to that. Just barely.

I've been reading some articles the last few days talking about about the different campaigns; how organized or disorganized they are, strengths and weaknesses, etc. I've found them quite interesting, but I've also noticed one thing that hasn't been mentioned.

So dear readers, here's my take on why one campaign is still in this race and not watching it from the sidelines.

The single smartest decision made so far in the 2008 campaign: Barack Obama's campaign is run from Chicago and not Washington.

Maybe there's something about the air out here.

Why I'm Still Writing On This

ChaliceChick asked me why I'm still writing on this. I hope this post will explain some.

I was raised in a very working class home and church was a big part of my life. We did lots of things for the church and traveled quite extensively because of it. I know that this is coloring my view of the whole registration/hotel issue and I don't apologize for that. This is more than about $15 for me.

I find it amazing that other comparably sized religious groups find ways to accomodate those of lesser means and yet we seem to keep having problems.

I know this is a really short explanation, but hopefully it will shed some light on me.

Why Frontenac? or Class and District Assembly pt.2

oh my dear readers! I truly did not expect to start off a firestorm, but I might as well go with it.

Since ChaliceChick did some research on hotels in the area of the Hilton-Frontenac, I decided to do a little more research, both on that hotel and some others. But a little info first.

Last year, in Oak Brook, the rooms were in the $90s (I can't find a hotel receipt but do remember that much), but less than $100, at the Marriott. (I do find it interesting that we will be paying more in a suburb of St. Louis than we did in a suburb of Chicago)

In 2006, in downtown Madison, the rooms were $85.

In 2005, in Arlington Heights (another suburb of Chicago), the rooms were $74 at the Sheraton.

So I don't think it's irrational to ask this question: WHY FRONTENAC?

Here is a little info on the Hilton-Frontenac: it has 263 rooms and it's normal rate is $143.10. Yet if the district had chosen the Hilton at the St. Louis Airport, it would have picked a bigger hotel (395 rooms) and one with a lower rate ($89.00).

But even more than that......why choose Frontenac, which only has 1 choice, when you could have gone to the airport or Westport and had many?

Let's look at some more hotels at the airport.

The Renaissance has 393 rooms and a rate of $89.00. The Marriott has 601 rooms and a cost of $89.00. Both of these would have had ample meeting space. Then there are the smaller hotels if one needed/wanted to go elsewhere. And most are within walking distance

Then there's Westport (as you can see, I know a little about where hotels are clustered in St. Louis). The biggest hotel at Westport is the Sheraton. It has 2 hotels there with a combined number of rooms of 510 (300 in one and 210 in the other) and ample meeting space. There are also a number of hotels in/around Westport within walking distance of the Sheraton if people wanted to stay somewhere else for whatever reason.

So again.......WHY FRONTENAC?

Class and District Assembly, or What I'm Asking For pt.2

Well dear readers I'm having so much fun being in a cranky mood I think I'll stay that way.

I decided to look up a few things about where the CMwD assembly is going to be. I'm not thrilled. So here's the next thing I'm asking for.

CAN WE NOT HAVE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE SUBURBS??????

This year the assembly is in Frontenac, a ritzy suburb of St. Louis. Last year the assembly was in Oak Brook, one of the ritzy suburbs of Chicago. Not only do these suburbs have class issues, these suburbs also have racial issues. Why are we picking places like these? Aren't there hotels that fit the district's requirements that are in places other than Frontenac and Oak Brook? Or are we really trying to send subliminal messages to those in lower socio-economic classes and to people of color that we don't really want you?

Some People We Want Are On A Fixed Income, or What I'm Asking For

Hello dear readers.

Ogre asks me what I'm looking for when I'm talking about things related to District Assembly. I think that's a legitimate question and one that should be it's own post instead of a comment on the last post.

Ok....here's what I'm asking for. If you'll read my post "Sleeping Arrangements", you'll see that I'm asking that there be a lower cost alternative to the ritzy hotels that we use for the annual meeting. That is the fixed cost. And I know that it might just be the way I was raised, but when the "special" room rate is $105+tax, then we're talking about the only people who can afford that are in a different tax bracket (or have expense accounts). Unless there are 4 people in a room, that is a high cost for a church meeting.

What I'm asking for is the acknowledgement that there are people in our churches who want to be involved who are in fixed incomes, and try to make some accomodations for that. All the great religions ask us to remember the least of these. Doesn't seem to be much rememberance of that in UU circles.

As for the students, it still goes back to the fixed costs of the hotel room and transportation, as you can always bring your own food and food costs are mutable. But that is still $105+tax for 2 nights. If there were a lower cost alternative, then maybe there would be greater participation by people of all socio-economic classes in the work of our districts and association.

That's what I'm asking for.

Yet Another Thing About District Assembly

I seem to be having problems with both GA and District Assembly this year. Must be going through a cranky phase.

Anyway, dear readers, I went through the brochure for the CMwD meeting again and saw that there is a Young Adult/Full-Time Student rate of $45. But guess what, dear friends; your meals are not included and you still have to pay for your room.

So not only do you still have to pay for a room, pay to get to St. Louis and pay $45 registration, you have to pay for ALL your food. So I guess the District is telling you to bring your own or starve.

Ain't being a UU grand?????

Sleeping Arrangements At District Assembly

Well hello again dear readers.

Steve Caldwell brings up the idea of using local churches as places for people to sleep during District meetings as a way to cut down costs.

I'm all for options, and that is one, but I must be honest and say that my preference is a bed. I just think we ought to be able to find less expensive beds, be able to cut the registration fee and still have a good meeting.

Is there any way that there could be alternative options as far as hotels go? Have the ritzy hotel and have a Days Inn as the other option?

When are we going to acknowledge that the best way to get people to participate is to not have too many financial obstacles in their way?

Even More On The District Meeting

Hello again my dear readers.

H Sofia reminded me that I had not included the price of meals into my analysis of the upcoming CMwD annual meeting. And I must thank her for that.

Lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday seem to be the only meals included. But where does that leave all us hungry souls on Friday when we arrive in St. Louis? Up ---- creek it looks like to me. So that means one must add something to our $621.14 total for a meal on Friday. Let's assume that you can get a meal for $15-$20/person. (might be pushing it there, as I don't know if there are any restaurants around the hotel and you know the price of a hotel restaurant is going to be more than that) So the price of dinner on Friday will be anywhere between $35 and $50 depending on taxes and tips.

Let's add it up again friends. $621.14+$35=$656.14. Or it could be $621.14+$50=$671.14.

So that means a party of two can do District Assembly for the low, low price of $700. (almost)

And yet we talk about wanting to grow. Growth and expansion of representation doesn't happen when it costs $700 do be a part of things.

It's District Meeting Time

Hello dear readers.

I'm looking over the brochure for the Central Midwest District annual meeting and can't help but think about how, in many ways, hypocritical we are.

Registration for the meeting is $155 for a full-time adult. This doesn't count dinner on Saturday evening, which is $35. So, before adding in the price of the hotel room, the price is $190 per adult. Now let's add in the hotel room. The special price for our meeting is $105/night. If you are going to stay both nights (since our meeting runs Fri-Sun), that comes to $210+taxes (which are 14.83%). That total is $241.14. Let's imagine that a couple wants to come to the meeting. Let's add it up, shall we. $155x2=$310. Add in the price of a room which will be $241.14. Add in the banquet at $35/person for a total of $70. The grand total for 3 days at a UU meeting will be $621.14.

$621.14?!?!?!?!?!?

This total, my friends, doesn't even include the cost of getting to St. Louis for those of us who are not locals.

$621.14

And yet we seem to talk a lot about trying to include as many UUs in the process as possible. Why don't we quit telling that tall tale. If we wanted more people involved, we would find a way to do this less expensively.

I know......if you volunteer for two hours the registration gets reduced to $115. Even if both people in my scenario above volunteer, the price is STILL $541.14+expense of getting to St. Louis.

As much as we don't want to talk about it, we don't want you if you can't afford to be one of us.
(and yes, dear readers, I have the same complaint about GA)

Birthday Thoughts.....and More Thoughts On General Assembly

Hello dear readers.

Yes, your trusty servant shares her birthday with Honest Abe and Charles Darwin. I must say that that's hard to live up to.

Anyway.....a couple of thoughts that went through my mind as I was walking about in the bad weather here today......
-Why was Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "My Momma Told Me" running through my head?
-Weather really does change one's mood

But on to the GA stuff........
I'm trying to understand those who say that there's nobody at fault here. I'm sorry friends but somebody must be responsible for this mess. (I'm only talking about on the UUA side, this is NOT about Homeland Security)
I don't know how many of you remember this little bit of news.....but.....the GA Planning Committee went to the UUA Board sometime in 2007 and asked if it would be ok to move the 2010 GA, which is set for the Twin Cities, to another city if their labor issues were not resolved.
(long story....but my understanding is that they have been resolved)
I bring this up only to ask the following question.....since the Planning Committee was given assurances that the security checks would be gone, when they saw that they weren't (in 2005 or 2006), why did they not do the same thing they did with regards to the 2010 GA? The Planning Committee could have gone to Board and asked for the exact same thing. And, if they had done it early enough, they could have gotten out of this mess and moved GA to a different city.
This, my dear readers, is why I believe somebody must be responsible for this situation. And let me state for the record that I don't blame or fault the GA Staff; this is not their mess. They have to live with it just like those of you who will be going to GA.

Real ID and General Assembly pt.3

Hello dear readers.

As many of you can tell by now, my mind gets twisted around things and won't let them go. This whole showing ID to get into the convention center is one of those things.

If you live in a state that cannot/does not comply with the Real ID law (there are 5 that have said they will not comply and 15 that might not be able to comply), then come May 11, you are going to have problems entering federal buildings, not to mention getting on a plane.

With the convention center being in a federal security zone, I have no doubt that Real ID is going to be enforced.

I doubt that any members of the GA Planning Committee read this blog. If by chance any do, I beg you to find out what the implications of Real ID are going to be on the convention center and get that out to the wider UU community fast.

As for those of you who are planning to go to GA, make sure your Passport is in order. And if you need an updated one, jump on it. It takes 4-6 weeks for you to receive it once you've turned in everything you have to turn in, so that means you have only a few more weeks to work it out.

Bring Your Passport or, Real ID and General Assembly pt.2

Hello dear readers.

Big thanks to Joel Monka for the link to the Real ID pages. It just shows how confusing this really is.

But now we can talk about economic issues related to General Assembly. Joel, in his response to my question, says that he is going to bring his Passport just in case. While I think that is a good idea, that brings up this point. There are some of our fellow UUs who don't have Passports.

What's a Passport running these days? $100 or so???

So on top of all the other costs associated with GA, some of our fellow UUs might have to pop an extra $100 or so just so they can enter the convention center. Interesting.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Real ID and General Assembly

Hello dear readers.

I have a question for those of you in the know: if one lives in a state that does not/cannot comply with the Real ID law.....how will this affect one's ability to enter the convention center in Ft. Lauderdale?

Dewey Defeats Truman

Hello dear readers.

To be honest with you, I didn't watch anything about the "Super Tuesday" vote (I was much more inerested in watching House), so I didn't know anything about the results until about an hour ago.

The only thing I can think of is: Dewey Defeats Truman

It has been reported that HRC sent out a press release saying that it was a big night for her in Missouri (after the AP called it for her)only to have the vote go the other way. While I do blame the media for calling states too early, everyone should learn from 1948 and never say anything before all the votes are in.

But then.....how would cable news fill 23 hours of the day??????

Why UUs Need Lent

Hello dear readers. No rant today.

Everyday Unitarian on their blog asks whether or not UUs need Lent and comes down on the side of no we don't, but it's good nonetheless. Well dear readers, I come down on the other side.

UUs NEED Lent.

There are not many times during a year that UUs are asked to SACRIFICE anything, if they're asked to at all. Lent is all about sacrifice and what that sacrifice means. And I think that's a lost virtue and one that UUs need to recover.

In the 20th century U/U/UU thing of running away from anything that remotely smacked of Christianity, too many of the old virtues got thrown away. Sacrifice, service, duty, honor, commitment.....in the 19th century Unitarian and Universalist world all these words had meaning. They were considered good things. It is my hope that they will return.

Youth Are Nice, They Just Don't Grow A Church

In rant mode, it comes across that I am against youth programming. Or at the very least I am making this an either/or situation. That was not my intention.

Let me state this plainly dear readers. I am not against children/youth and their programming.

I say(and continue to believe) that if a church wants to GROW, they must have a substantive ADULT program. No matter what size their children/youth program, a church does not GROW through said children or youth. They GROW through ADULTS.

This my dear readers is my rant.....there seems to be a backwardness about this that infuriates me. UUs run around in circles talking about wanting to grow then do everything that is antithetical to that growth.

But I shall shut up now before I start another rant.

Growth Happens Through ADULT Programming, NOT Youth Programs

Hello dear readers.

I looked at the Winter 2008 issue of Interconnections today and the front page article is about growth through youth programs. So friends, I'm going to go into rant mode again.

Growth happens through ADULT PROGRAMMING, not Youth programs.

I know that there must be somebody out there who reads the studies on church growth. I know there is somebody out there who knows that the growth happens when there is substantive programs for adults (whether they have youth to bring or not).

I know that there has to be somebody out in UU-land who knows that all of this talk of children/youth and family programs leaves out those who are NEITHER. Where is the programming for them?

Singles ministry anyone? How about elder ministry? Empty-nesters? Partnered with no children? Don't these people exist in our churches? Where is the outreach to them?

Alright.....rant's over. Talk amongst yourselves.

Stop Treating Your Church Like the Sierra Club, or Why Tithing Matters pt.2

Oh my dear readers! I was going through UUpdates a few minutes ago and came across this:

Let me suggest a modest proposal which, I believe, can help solve the financial problems of the Unitarian Church of (blank). The proposal is this: take this congregation off of your “charity” list! Do I have your attention yet? If not, I beg you! Remove this congregation from the list of causes and services you support, it doesn’t belong there.

Amen and Hallelu to that!!!!!
Your church is NOT the Sierra Club. (I'm not picking on the Sierra Club, so no comments along that line please) Your church SHOULD hold a different place in your life and deserves to be seen that way.

It's nice to see more UUs talking like this. Gives me hope that one day UUs will actually ASK people to give more than 5% to their church.

Bless you dear minister at the Unitarian Church of (blank). I hope you get everyone in your congregation's attention.

Are We the Post-Modernists????

Hello dear readers.

While in class today we talked some about postmodernism/postmodernists. One of my classmates asked if there was any denomination that would be considered postmodern. I said that I didn't know of any Christian denomination that was, but that in a lot of ways Reconstructionist Judaism can be. In the ensuing conversation our professor said "In many eyes Unitarian Universalists are considered postmodern." I was stunned (although I don't know why I was).

Are we really post-modernists? I've always considered us the most modern of the Modernists, but I could be wrong.

What do you think?

Las Vegas Was Burning! Las Vegas Was Burning!

Is it just me? or did any of you, my dear readers, think of Sodom and Gomorrah when the news came over the airwaves that the Monte Carlo hotel was burning earlier today?????

One thing must be said though, everyone in the hotel was evacuated safely. Isn't that wonderful? All emergency services departments should learn from that.

Been Out Of The Loop

Hello dear readers.

I've been out of the loop since early last week. I'm waiting to see the minutes of the UUA Board meeting which was this past weekend. That should make for some interesting reading.

But, my friends who are members at First Unitarian Church tell me that there's something going on there. They haven't told me what, but I can't wait to hear.

I'll post more soon.

Hey Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

Hello dear readers.

I was going through a little list of blogs that I try to read on a regular basis and noticed that The Lively Tradition hasn't written in a while.

So.....LT.....where are you? Inquiring minds want to know.

Why Tithing Matters

Hello dear readers.

While I was scrolling through UUpdates earlier today, I came across this:

“We, the members of the Unitarian Church of Staten Island, challenge YOU, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, to a high-five challenge.” This means, they challenge a majority of the pledging units of First Church to give at 5% of their annual adjusted income.

5%?!?!?!?!? The challenge is for 5%?!?!?!?!?!? This is all we're asking of members of our churches? 5%?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This, my friends, explains why the megachurches are building multi-building complexes and UUs can barely build outhouses. 5%?!?!?!?!?!?

When did UUs devalue tithing? And why did this happen? If you want quality you must give money to it. The work of the church needs money. The facilities require upkeep; this requires money. If you want staff, you must be willing to pay them a reasonable salary. And the challenge is for 5%?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Call me old-fashioned, but we need a new(old) attitude. If you believe your church matters to you, you need to give it enough so that it can do its work without worry.

Bibles Bibles All Over The Place

Hello dear readers.

Since we've been talking about the Bible so much, I decided that it would be a good thing to look at all the different Bibles available at your local big-name bookstore (I'm not counting Christian bookstores in this because they normally only carry a few).

Your local Barnes and Noble can get you copies of the following Bible versions:
-the Amplified
-Contemporary English
-English Standard
-Geneva
-God's Word
-Good News
-Holman Christian Standard
-the Jerusalem
-King James
-Living
-the Message
-New American
-New American Standard
-New Century
-New International
-New Jerusalem
-New King James
-New Life
-New Living
-New Revised Standard
-Phillips Paraphrase
-Revised English
-Rheims-Douai
-Today's NIV

By my count, that makes 24 different versions. What a choice for UUs to pick from. If you were going to buy one, which would you choose?

So Many Versions, So Little Time; or More Than Just King James and His Bible

Hello dear readers.

I had no idea that there would be so much discussion on Bible translations. This is very heartening to me; I'm going to add a label because of all this discussion.

It seems that I will keep having to say this: for STUDY I use either the NRSV or New Jerusalem Bible. I used to study with the New American Bible, but somebody related to me got my copy and I haven't bought a new one yet. I own copies of the King James, New King James, NIV, NRSV and Revised English Bibles. They all help me in some way. And there are a couple that I plan on getting in the not-to-distant future.

My point about the King James version was that I liked it for the poetry of it. I know it is not the most literal translation (King James had his motives), I just like it. And while I think it would stretch kids' minds to have to slog through 17th century English, if an RE program chooses to go with a different translation, more power to them. As long as the kids get some Bible, I don't particularly care which edition they get.

So let's talk Bibles and the editions we like and don't like and why.

How Most UU RE Does Kids A Disservice

Hello dear readers.

I have been asked to elaborate on how I think that UU RE does a disservice to kids. This will be a short post on it and depending on reaction I might post more later.

First.....I think most UU RE ignores the fact that we live in a particular culture. We are Westerners (at least we were the last time I looked). And yet most kids who come out of UU RE cannot talk intelligently about the foundational stories and myths that make up Western culture. Before you can do really good interfaith work, you need to know something about where you come from.

Second.....most UU kids are woefully ignorant of their own history. (I could say the same thing about most UU adults) Things happened before 1961 and it would be helpful if UU kids got a good grounding in that and yet there seems to be little effort to get kids to see that they are a part of a line (or tradition).

On the social justice side, UU kids have no idea that they are part of a tradition there either. How many of them know about the Social Gospel movement? Or the U/U beginnings of insititutions like the Red Cross? They aren't the first Us/Us/UUs doing this type of work and they won't be the last and they need to know that.

There are many other things I could talk about but these are probably controversial enough.

Discuss as you wish.

King James, His Bible and Proof-Texting

Hello again dear readers.

In my last post I said that I would proof-text out of the KJV in my next post, and so I shall. Fausto did most of his proof-texting out of the book of Matthew; I will do one from Mark and one from Acts.

Mark 12:28-32.........
28 And one of he scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heard, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he.

Acts 10:34-38........
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

As you can see, I tried to use verses that carry both Unitarian and Universalist themes. Of course, all this is a matter of opinion, so I'm open to all who want to correct me.

Like I said before, I definitely know the limitations of the King James version of the Bible. That's why I use the NRSV and New Jerusalem for study. For poetry, I use the King James. There's something about the thee-s, thou-s and thy-s that works for me.

King James and His Bible

Hello dear readers.

I'm going to follow Fausto's lead and do a little proof-texting with the King James Bible but just thought I would talk a little about the KJV and why it's still important.

I do recognize that the KJV is not the most literal translation of the Bible. The Revised Standard Version, the New Revised Standard Version and the New Jerusalem are better if you are looking for more precise translations. For the sheer poetry of it though, especially in places like the Wisdom and Poetry books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Lamentations, Song of Solomon and the like), the King James can't be beat.

Here is Song of Solomon 1:2-7 out of the KJV:
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee, the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: they upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

Here it is out of the NRSV:
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.
3 your anointing oils are fragment, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you.
4 Draw me after you, let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exault and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.
5 I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sum has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!
7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?

Now I know it's a matter of opinion which one sounds better, but to my ears, the King James comes off one's tongue better than the NRSV.

I know there are problems with the KJV. I think, however, that UU children MUST be familiar with it in order to understand so much of Western literature that we do them a disservice by not teaching it to them. But of course, I think most UU RE programs do kids a disservice anyway.

Proof-texting in the next post.

Why They Won......or Body Language Matters

I've thought about it some more and have come to the conclusion that all the analysis of Iowa is much too complicated.

Dear readers here is a simple explanation of why those who won won: they both have approachable smiles. And in a lot of areas of life, politics especially, approachability is one of the determining factors in who gets ahead and who doesn't.

Never underestimate the power of a smile. When a person is genuinely smiling, it radiates off them in waves. And if you want a good test of authenticity, have a toddler around. They can tell better than most who is really feeling something and who isn't.

More later......stay tuned........

Here I Am Baby......Signed, Sealed, Delivered.....I'm Yours

Hello dear readers.

I got to see the end of Barack Obama's speech in Nashua today and kept thinking just how important music is to a gathering. The use of Stevie Wonder (one of the best that R&B has produced) was a good idea. People who are already hyped-up will just bop along to the music and be happy.

So let's talk about the role of music in our churches. What are we doing right and what are we doing wrong?

Why We Should All Read, and Know, The King James Version of the Bible

Hello dear readers.

In their comment to my last post, Anonymous pointed out something that I've believed for a long time: the King James Version of the Bible is pure poetry(and the basis for much of Western Literature). And as much as UUs like poetry, the KJV really should be heard more often from our pulpits.

I was raised a fundamentalist. Until the New International Version became the standard read in most conservative churches (now they use all sorts of versions), all little fundie and evangelical kids quoted the KJV. (I think mainline kids did too) And while I now use the New Revised Standard Version or the New Jerusalem for study, when I'm in a tough spot and need to pray or meditate, I always quote the KJV to myself.

So....all you RE directors should push for your kids to learn the KJV. It comes in very handy later in their lives. And it will help them understand just how beautiful Barack Obama's Iowa speech last night was and why it was so moving to so many.

There Is Power...Power....Wonder Working Power....

Hello dear readers. I'm sitting up listening to Barack Obama's Iowa speech and just have to say this (I will explore it more later).......

There truly is wonder working power in black preaching.

If you get a chance to do this.....sit back and close your eyes and listen to Barack make that speech again. (tape it if you can.....I'm sure C-SPAN will replay it over the weekend) The cadence of it alone makes it soul stirring. But then listen to the words. Really listen. Whatever your political stripe, these words formed an inspiring speech.

More later.....stay tuned..........