This is the text of the report delivered by Leia Durland-Jone, Director of Faith Development, to the congregation of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist on June 2, 2019 As this is our annual meeting, it is a time for me to reflect with you specifically about this year in...
Tomas Manto: “The Garden Show” Painting is different from other methods of making art because to paint is to solve a problem of light on canvas. I begin a work by causing myself problems and the rest of my time is spent solving those problems, hopefully coming to some fresh...
This is the letter I sent to the members (both formal and informal) of the congregation I serve regarding my decision to end our mutual ministry as of the end of this church year (June 30th). If you’re interested, you can read the formal announcement to the congregation, as well as the reflections I...
May 17, 2019 Dear TJMCUU, I am writing to share important news that will impact every member of the TJMCUU community. The last several years have been challenging ones for our church. Our congregation has been split around fundamental issues, many of which have impacted our vision of what we...
I wrote this in response to the article “Judge: Statues are war memorials” that was published in the Daily Progress on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019 Judge Richard E. Moore has determined that the statues of Lee and Jackson are, in fact, war memorials, and as such are protected. “It does...
I recently had the privilege (and good fortune) of being asked to read and review the Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd’s new book, After the Good News: progressive faith beyond optimism (Skinner House Books). I was going to read it anyway — Nancy is one of my favorite Unitarian Universalist writers — so I was excited...
Registration is open until June 23 SUUSI will be held from July 14-20, 2019 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. The theme for 2019 is “Sacred Spaces.” SUUSI is the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute, an intentional community of UUs and kindred spirits. For over 65 years we have come...
This week both Charlottesville and Albemarle High Schools were the target of online threats. Parents were notified that the schools were taking precautions to keep our kids safe. A spokeswoman for the city schools, “acknowledge[d] and condemn[ed] the fact that this threat was racially charged.” “Racially charged” does not begin to...
Last week I wrote a bit about the social justice ministry IMPACT (or, “Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together”). I noted that it’s an example of congregation-based community organizing, a form of community organizing that leverages the power of faith communities (in which large groups of people are already gathered) to affect...
Every organization, every community, even families, over time develop language that makes perfect sense to those who know, yet which can be totally opaque to those who don’t. Often a newcomer is able to pick up the meaning through context — like a new word you come across the meaning...