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Notes from GA 2003
By Mindy Whisenhunt, Director of Religious Education:
I'll echo Russ' and others' sentiments about General Assembly this year.
It was amazing, overwhelming, and inspiring. I went to GA this year
thinking about Jason Lydon, the young UU who is still in prison for
protesting the School of the Americas. (His release date is August
9 and then he will serve as UUA youth programs specialist.) Jason was
present with me (in spirit) for all of GA as an example of someone
living his UU values. I couldn't help but think about Jason as I attended
the Service of the Living Tradition in Boston's Fleet Center (the highlight
of GA for me). It was amazing to see so many UUs (the largest gathering
of us in the history of time!) together. I was inspired to look around
and see the past, present and future of our denomination there. I loved
it when we lifted our voices in song - it made me think about what
a difference we make when we're together. It reaffirmed my belief in
this liberal faith of ours and in the importance of living our values.
I was able to attend some wonderful workshops as
well. First was "Storytelling
and Spirituality" with Josh Searle-White. I enjoyed listening to Josh
weave his wonderful tales and I look forward to sharing many of them
with you too!
Second was "Lifespan Religious Education and Growth: Inherent Connections" with
the Rev. Scott Prinster, the Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, DRE Dori Davenport,
and Dr. Angela Markert. During this workshop, the panel talked about
why RE is important to our congregations and their growth. They mentioned
that RE broadens and deepens our faith, gives outreach and support to
the "unchurched," increases commitment and stewardship to beloved
community, helps us do social justice work by living out our faith, and
finally, pointed out that ALL we do in a congregation is education, and
that this education helps us "transcend the limitations of middle
class capitalistic culture to become more fully human."
Third was "Designed in or Designed Out?" with the UU Accessibilities
Committee (including the Rev. Helen Bishop and Wendy von Zirpolo). This
workshop overloaded my circuits with food for thought. The panel talked
about how we need to be more aware of the faulty human designs in the
world that keep ALL people from being included, and that until ALL are
included, our theology of "wholeness" is damaged. One of the
books I am reading because of this workshop is "Waist High in the
World: A Life Among the Non-disabled" by Nancy Mairs. I highly recommend
this book and look forward to the continuing dialog we have here at FUSS
about ensuring ALL are included in our beloved community!
Finally, I attended Jim Scott's workshop on an introduction to his very
ambitious project, "Earth and Spirit." Jim has compiled over
200 songs to be included in this multi-volume set. I am hopeful we will
be able to use it soon.
I was also able to spend a little time (there's never enough to see
everything at GA!) in the exhibit hall. I brought home some new curricula
and wonderful books. Check them out of our library! Here are the book
titles: "Teach to Reach," by Craig Mitchell; "Ten Amazing
People and How They Changed the World," by Maura Shaw; "UU
and Me, Collected Stories," by Betsy Hill Williams; "Freeing
Our Families from Perfectionism," by Thomas Greenspon; and "It's
so Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families," by
Robie Harris. The curricula are: "Articulating Your UU Faith," by
Barbara Wells and Jaco Ten Hove; "Race to Justice: A Racial Justice
and Diversity Program for Junior High," by Robin Gray and José Ballester
y Marquez and "Coming of Age," by Beth Brownfield and others.
I hope I'll get a chance to talk about all of this with you! In Peace,
Mindy
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