Summer - Canadian Unitarian Council

Transcription

web edition
the can adian
unitarian
Newsletter of the Canadian Unitarian Council Vol. 53 • No. 2 • Summer 2011
One of the core principles promoted by congregations of the CUC is a “free and responsible
search for truth and meaning.” This is key to realizing the other principles, such as promoting
“the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process…”, “the goal of world community
with peace, liberty, and justice for all”, and “respect for the interdependent web of all existence….”
To make the search for truth and meaning effective, especially for such important issues as the
preservation of our environment, biodiversity, and climate change, the public requires access to
the best and latest results of scientific inquiry.
Admittedly, scientific results are rarely if ever the final truth, and biased reporting is not uncommon for research paid for by commercial interests. However, there is an established procedure
in science, one involving peer review, verification and reproducibility of published results, and
ample opportunity for scientific debate and challenge, that has proven an effective if not always
efficient path to a reliable base for new knowledge and inquiry.
Public institutions and governments are the main source of funding for untainted research,
and research for which there is little prospect of direct industrial application. The public needs
and deserves access to the scientists and their results involved in this research, and in this technically-advanced society, that access should be immediate—not subject to weeks of bureaucratic
review. Increasingly common attempts by governments to constrain information that may run
counter to political objectives, and to tailor scientific communication from its scientists to serve
their agendas, are damaging and counter-productive.
In order to evaluate scientific reports and understand what constitutes peer-reviewed consensus, the public needs unbiased reporting that is free of political, commercial, and religious bias.
In 2006, just months after the Harper government came into power, it advocated as its No. 1
policy statement for government communications (according to the Treasury Board) to: “Provide
the public with timely, accurate, clear, objective and complete information about its policies,
programs, services and initiatives.” Unfortunately, this policy has been counter-mandated by
more recent directives and actions.
It used to be that government scientists were encouraged to share their results with the
public, and journalists could simply call the scientists for clarification and elaboration.
Furthermore, the 15 journals of the National Research Council would issue regular
press releases about results of interest or concern to the public. However, that has
all changed during the past three years, according to articles on the CBC News’
website and in several newspapers. In 2008, new government rules required
that press releases have prior approval of the Privy Council, and Carolyn
Brown, the former manager of NRC journals, reported that when
submitted for approval, her routine press releases were being
rejected or delayed by months, so as to become useless. After a few such frustrating experiences,
she decided it was not worth the effort
to prepare the releases, and
she resigned her
position.
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the c an ad ian
Unitarian
Vol. 53 • No. 2 • Summer 2011
http://www.cuc.ca/canu
ISSN 0527-9860
The Canadian Unitarian is the newsletter of the
Canadian Unitarian Council. It is free to all members for whom the CUC has a current address.*
The Canadian Unitarian reports on newsworthy
events in the denomination, including the annual
conference each spring. It attempts to reflect all
segments of Unitarianism and Universalism in
Canada. We welcome all submissions; however
publication is based on the criteria of newsworthiness, relevance to readers, length, and balance.
Signed letters to the editor will be included, after
being edited for length and content.
* Non-members can subscribe to The Canadian
Unitarian for $15 CDN or US. Send name, address,
and cheque to CUC office.
Canadian Unitarian Council
Conseil unitarien du Canada
100-344 Dupont Street
Toronto, ON M5R 1V9
Toll-free Phone Email
1.888.568.5723
416.489.4121
[email protected]
Opinions expressed in The Canadian Unitarian are those of the contributors. Sources and
numerical values reported within articles have
been verified by the authors.
The case of Natural Resources Canada Geoscientist Scott Dallimore and the weeklong delay in his permission to discuss results published in the international journal Nature (about flooding in northern Canada some 13,000 years ago) was widely
reported. It was strongly criticized in Nature, itself, by Kathryn O’Hara, president of
the Canadian Science Writers Association. According to O’Hara, access to information requests showed a policy enacted in March 2010 that, “stipulates that all federal
scientists must get pre-approval from their minister’s office before speaking to journalists who represent national or international media. The pre-approval process requires
time-consuming drafting of questions and answers, scrutinized by as many as seven
people, before a scientist can be given the go-ahead by the minister’s staff.”
O’Hara concluded in her Nature editorial, “there is a need to return to a procedure
that served us well in the past. It means working without cumbersome and propagandistic media lines, and trusting that scientists, journalists and press officers know
what they are doing, are good at their respective jobs and will not work from a script
that restricts the spirit of inquiry or accountability. Access to scientific evidence that
informs policy is not a luxury. It is an essential part of our right to know.”
More recently, as reported in The Globe and Mail (February 2, 2011), water expert
Prof. Helen Ingram resigned from the Alberta oil-sands panel that was formed to
monitor environmental concerns, partially because there were so few scientists on the
panel but also because all communications from the panel had to pass through, and
be cleared by, the office of Environment Minister Rob Renner.
The present federal government has shown an almost fanatical drive to control all
messages coming from its agencies, and to ignore or act contrary to the best advice of
its professional civil servants. Other examples have been seen in its reversal of policies
by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Statistics Canada policy on census long
forms, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission on internet providers, and
actions contrary to advice of three national police organizations on gun registrations,
to studies of drug addiction on safe inoculation sites, as well as to the preponderance
of scientific research on correctional programs and rehabilitation, and CIDA advice
on the funding of international aid organizations.
The muzzling of government-funded scientists has several detrimental effects.
• It denies the public access to important information that they in fact funded, information that may be critical in judging dangers of climate change, stem-cell research,
use of gene manipulation, or the need to take action on a wide range of issues.
• Since the reports that pass government screening are often politically manipulated,
at least in appearance if not in fact, the public has less faith in them and less motivation to support government-sponsored scientific investigations.
• It is a natural extension to assume that all scientific reports are politically manipulated and that none can be trusted. They become viewed as mere opinions and
the opposite conclusions may be equally valid. Media feel compelled to present a
‘balance’ of ‘both sides of the argument’ without regard to whether both sides are
equally supported by evidence or scientific consensus. This enables funded special
interest groups to raise doubts or cynicism about any damaging science reports.
It blinds the public to the nature of the scientific process and represents a serious
disservice to the search for truth.
The critical evaluation of scientific results is challenging but necessary for a wellfunctioning society. Any message manipulation by government officials for political
or profit incentive undermines the critical service that scientific research can provide
to society.
Bill Baylis,
for the Social Responsibility Committee
Unitarian Universalist Church of Olinda, Ruthven, on
Printed on Canadian-made, acid-free,
recycled paper (100% post-consumer fibre)
Letters to the Editor
C a n a d i a n U n i ta r i a n C o u n c i l
B OARD O F TR U S T E E S AND S TA F F
Although currently in the Netherlands, I’ve
belonged to various fellowships and churches
in Canada prior to 1998.
I very much enjoyed what Executive Director
Jennifer Dickson said about the responsibilities
of fellowships and churches across Canada in
The CanU summer 2010.
Author Erich Fromm warned of the pitfalls of
abandoning our own power and responsibility
in his book, Escape from Freedom.
To have spelled out very clearly what the role
of the CUC can be, versus the desires of some to
enter a dependant relationship, can only set the
stage for the long-term health of all involved!
Hank Hulsbergen
I have hopes that two sensibilities will be addressed in [this issue’s] spread on Canada’s
relationship to natural resources:
undisturbed. But I do not know relative track
records: successes, failures, percentages of
overhead, other.
President
Gary Groot
Vice-President
Ellen Campbell
Treasurer
John Michell
Mike Curtis,
Vancouver, bc
In response to “Seed Saving to Feed the World”
in the spring 2011 issue, I certainly admire the
good intentions behind this and similar articles.
However, such simplistic and polemical accounts of complex problems do a disservice.
Claiming corporations and capitalism are
the primary cause of mental health problems,
and making primitive agriculture the answer to
food security, are questionable propositions at
best. I would hope we could explore issues with
more balance, and sometimes even celebrate the
ways in which our society is the best realization
of our basic ideals that has ever existed.
1. A reminder that Canada’s aboriginal shaGary Duim,
mans routinely honour that which is around
Peterborough, on
us. A shaman begins a ceremony by directly
acknowledging various elements. For exam- To be precise, the article claimed that massive
ple, “we name the bees, they who fertilize farmer suicides in India could be blamed on
flowers bringing us fruit and who bring us the failure of genetically-engineered crops, and
honey.”
proposed that the loss of seed diversity was a threat
to food security.
2. In leaving a legacy or donating to a conservaBut we second your call for balance and welcome
tion fund, I’d like to be able to compare these all submissions.
funds. For instance I am interested in groups --Editor
that set lands and waters aside to remain
Secretary
Glenda Butt
Social Responsibility Liaison
Leslie Kemp
Curtis Murphy
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Kristina Stevens
Minister Observer
Rev. Kathy Sage
Youth Observer
Micaela Corcoran
Executive Director
Jennifer Dickson
Congregational Servies Programmer,
Central Region
Helen Armstrong
Office Administrator
Karen Claney
Youth and Young Adult Programmer
Ariel Hunt-Brondwin
Congregational Services Programmer,
Eastern Region
Kelly McDowell
Director of Resource Development
Katheen Provost
Director of Finance
Philip Strapp
Director of Congregational Services
Linda Thomson
Communications Director
Ben Wolfe
UN Photo/Jess Hoffman
Congregational Services Programmer,
the West and British Columbia
Rev. Antonia Won
The C a n a d i a n U n i ta r i a n
Editor
Raquel Rivera
Graphic Designer
Kim Chua
Better representation at the United Nations
Canadian UUs will be gratified to learn that
the CUC has signed an agreement to play
a bigger role in Unitarian influence at the
United Nations.
The agreement between the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA)
and the CUC allows for, among other things,
a designated CUC staff person assigned to
Canadian participation in United Nations
activities; Canadian-centred communications
and a Canadian Advsory Council; seats on a
new advisory council for the new UU-UNO department of the UUA; and control of Canadian
financial matters.
As CUC Executive Director Jennifer Dickson
put it: “Canadian UU values and the values of
liberal religion will have more impact in a world
that needs them!”
Issue Proofreaders
Warren Scott, Stu Whitney
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President’s Message
Art Brewer
Looking Upstream
When I was in my early twenties, I worked as a medical doctor in charge of a hospital in
what was then Zaire—often treating illnesses that would be easily prevented in Canada.
I remember at one point being overwhelmed by huge numbers of newborns dying of
tetanus. When I visited the region where the infections were coming from, I found that
villagers had started putting cow dung on the umbilical stumps of all the newborns to
make the cord fall off more quickly.
Finding the source of the neonatal tetanus and putting an end to it was my first experience in what is known as ‘upstream’ work—finding the root source of an issue and
changing the system to appropriately address it. Unlike much of the work I was doing
in Zaire, my work with those villagers involved no dramatic surgeries or miracle medications. In fact it didn’t even look like the normal practice of medicine. My job was to
be patient, to observe, and to engage people in conversation. But the results were more
effective and broad-reaching than the treatment of the individual cases that lined our
hospital corridors. Systems matter.
Churches and church organizations are systems too. At the same time as the dayto-day tasks need to be done, someone needs to take up the challenge of stepping back
from the busyness of all that work to think ‘upstream’. That is the kind of work that the
CUC Board is charged with doing. It takes patience—on our part and on yours—as we
endeavour to know the diverse group that we serve. But like the preventative work in
Zaire, the results can be significant—even transformative.
In Zaire, seeing small infants die of preventable illness was the impetus for me to look
upstream to find out why. A deep belief in the value of our liberal religious tradition for
our society today was the impetus for me to serve on the CUC Board—to look upstream
in addressing our potential.
At the same time as you have seen (and will continue to see) the return of services
to congregations with the hiring of new staff, your Board is looking upstream to try to
discern needed improvements or corrections to these services. We must examine needs,
but also how we address those needs as we work to fulfill our mission of “growing vital
religious communities in Canada”. We on the Board do not take this charge lightly and
we know that it is something that we cannot do in isolation. Our job requires that we
have patience, observe the system carefully, and engage people in conversation.
A significant part of this conversation will occur at the upcoming symposium on spiritual leadership next May. We look forward to learning together what effective spiritual
leadership might look like, and how that might re-align the priorities of the CUC. I ask
everyone involved—both our ministers and the various lay leaders alike—to participate
in our chorus of dynamic community building, both at the symposium itself and in
conversations leading up to it.
I am in awe of the community we have as Canadian UUs and the excellent work that
has been done over the last 50 years in Canada. I am confident that, with your help and
patience, the Canadian Unitarian Council—our national organization—can and will
serve to build on past successes and provide the necessary tools to ensure the growth of
vital religious communities over next 50 years and beyond.
Gary Groot,
President,
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The Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 2 • Summer 2011
Message from the Executive Director
This edition of The Canadian Unitarian demonstrates again the commitment to independent thinking shared by Unitarian Universalists across Canada and beyond. Our diversity
of views reflects Canada’s political reality, a concept we embrace, protect, and often work
with courage and integrity to enhance.
I am by nature politically optimistic, and believe that we have in Canada a broad culture
and tradition of pluralism that equips us to contribute to the new world. And it is my view
that Unitarianism brings spiritual vitality to this tradition, and might therefore bring to
the world a more positive pluralistic vision of the future than we may have seen so far.
You’ll see several consequential issues discussed in this edition of The CanU. The
cover story calls for an effective and meaningful search for truth in the free discussion
of results from scientific inquiry—especially critical for information on the preservation
of our environment, biodiversity, and climate change. You’ll also see discussion on,
RAQUEL RIVERA
Society and Spirit
• the legacy of uranium mining that continues to haunt northern communities
• stewardship and sustainability of natural habitats
• whether Canada wastes its natural resources
• the connection between natural resource exploration and our demand
And many other thoughtful articles and viewpoints on environmentally sensitive issues,
generously shared by Unitarian Universalists and friends from across the country.
As well as these, we here at the CUC are approached directly with ideas and advocacy
that appeal to our social consciousness and desire to help change challenging circumstances. Recent requests for UU intervention include:
• A request that Canadian UUs speak up for positive change for Canada’s factory-farmed
animals. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is inviting Canadians to comment on
Growing Forward 2, their proposed policy framework that will define the future of
agriculture in our country. Unfortunately they are still ignoring the very serious impact
that current farming practices have on animals, your health, and the planet. This is an
opportunity for Unitarians throughout Canada to speak to Agri-Food Canada about
our concerns around food production in our country. Fellow Unitarian Henry Bergh
(1813-1888) was the founder of ASPCA and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children. Send a letter and stand up for farm animals now. The deadline for receipt
of responses has been extended to September 30.
• The Government of Canada is looking for congregations (Constituent Groups) to take
on available refugee sponsorships from Iraq. They are willing to fast-track a number
of these cases but they need sponsorship groups.
• As well, the CUC has been awarded intervener status on two current appeal court cases,
one concerning the issue of free speech in relation to sexual conduct, and the other a
constitutional challenge to s.241(b) of the Criminal Code (which currently penalizes
assistance with suicide by up to 14 years incarceration).
As together and individually we consider, engage, refute, and address these and other
examples of our ‘social responsibility’ commitments, let’s think about how they might
(or might not) impact, be better supported by, and strengthen our local, regional, and
continued on page 6
national mission and purpose.
5
continued from page 5
The CUC will convene its first-ever Spiritual Leadership symposium in
Ottawa next May. Delegates, trustees, ministers, religious educators, youth,
and young adults will examine and explore participation and leadership, as
we reflect on our vision and mission.
Through our temporary lives the great currents of history run. Let us keep
the channels open and free so not to obstruct purposes greater than our
own. Let us keep our minds set upon the high goals that here bind us into
one sharing fellowship of loving hearts. Amen.
Rev. Carl G. Seaburg
Jennifer Dickson,
Executive Director,
Art brewer
CUC Board of Trustees
Front row, left to right:
Curtis Murphy, Glenda Butt, Leslie Kemp, Ellen
Campbell, and Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Back row, left to right:
John “Mich’ Michell, Kristina Stevens, Gary Groot,
Jennifer Dickson, and John Hopewell
6
United in Learning in Halifax
thanks to UUCH website
Fifty people gathered at the Universalist Unitarian Church of
On the day of the workshop, a diverse group was gathered;
Halifax for the Pastoral Visitor Workshop, Unity in Learning, last people from many denominations and churches (Catholic, AnApril 9. That fifty people chose to be at a church workshop on glican, United Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran, Baptist,
a beautiful spring day is one thing; that 80% of them were not Baha’i, Buddhist) as well as volunteers from hospitals and other
UUs is a testament to their keen interest in the subject, and proof community organizations.
that there are points of convergence where faith lines become
Rev. Fran Dearman (interim minister, UUCH) and Rev.
blurred and common themes and issues can be identified and Catherine MacDonald (minister, United Memorial) began and
discussed collaboratively.
closed the day with an interfaith prayer. Fay Louch and Susan
Earlier in the year, the Caring Committee of the UU Church MacAlpine-Gillis made a great team and kept things flowing in
of Halifax applied to the West Trust Fund for financial support a responsive style, amidst enthusiastic discussion on topics such
to hold an interfaith workshop. We identified that lay pastoral as active listening, body language, ‘good’ and ‘not-so-good’ pasvisiting is an important aspect of church life and that church toral visits, grief and the dying, and development of lay pastoral
people everywhere encounter friends, family, and church teams. We realized going in that this one-day workshop could
members who are ill, grieving, dying, or struggling, and who only briefly touch on the topics and issues, but might serve as a
need support. In addition, it was noted that many people are catalyst for future workshops and information sessions within
uncomfortable with the idea of hospital or pastoral visiting. “I the community.
don’t know what to do” and “I don’t know what to say” are oftMy personal interest in inter-denominational and interfaith
overheard comments in church circles everywhere. Hence, the collaboration probably fueled this aspect of the workshop. I
idea was born and nurtured: to offer a venue where one could believe that one key to strengthening Unitarian Universalism
learn basic skills, network with others in a workshop setting, in Canada lies in creating and seeking opportunities where
and allow seed-sowing for future educational events.
local churches find common ground, allowing us to work and
With news of our successful grant application, the work lay learn together. This not only serves to raise the UU profile, it
ahead to create a well-organized event which might raise the also helps heal negative perceptions of religious institutions in
profile of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, and our increasingly secular country. I take my lead from Unitarian
demonstrate that we can offer meaningful hospitality to the Adlai Stevenson’s inspiring words:
larger community.
Planning became key and no detail was overlooked: a spring
… difference, in fact, is one of the healthiest and most
date was chosen; two gifted and complimentary co-facilitators
invigorating of human characteristics without which
were approached and confirmed—Rev. Dr. Susan MacAlpinelife would become meaningless. Here lies the power of
Gillis, pastoral theology professor and minister at Cole Harbourthe liberal way: not in making the whole world UnitarWoodside United Church, and Fay Louch, staff chaplain with
ian, but in helping ourselves and others to see some of
Spiritual Care at QE II Health Sciences Center in Halifax. A vigthe possibilities inherent in viewpoints other than one’s
orous publicity campaign was launched; a handbook was created
own; in encouraging the free interchange of ideas; in
to be a take-home resource for all workshop participants; other
welcoming fresh approaches to the problems of life; in
details were addressed, such as catering, preparing workshop
urging the fullest, most vigorous use of critical selfpackages, recruiting volunteers, web registration, etc.
examination.
While we had every hope that there would be interest in the
community, we had no idea just how broad that interest would
Helen McFadyen,
turn out to be. As the central contact for registration, I was
Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax,
overjoyed at the enthusiastic response; the list of participants
seminarian for UU ministry at the Atlantic School of Theology,
grew. We determined that 50 was the maximum number we
and workshop organizer
could reasonably accept; some people were turned away because
of the demand: Fay Louch is now planning two additional
workshops.
7
8
Art brewer
phil weigand
michael battenberg
art brewer
michael bettenberg
thanks to m. battenberg
phil weigand
art brewer
phil weigand
michael battenberg
ACM 2011: Trust the Dawning Future
1 Author and Economist David Foot gives the keynote address.
2 Jane Ebbern, Liz James, and John ‘Mich’ Michell, in conversation.
3 Gorgeous smiles from Marlo Turner-Ritchie and Kelly McDowell,
during Friday’s registration.
4 Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela, opens the ACM with her sermon, “We’re
going to need a bigger boat”.
5 Junior youth enjoy some quiet time with games and crafts.
7 Signing in for the youth conference, CanUUddle XI.
8 Call to Sunday service: the Bucket Drummers of the Regent Park
School of Music perform outside Convocation Hall.
9 ACM choir practice at the Church of the Holy Trinity, behind the
Eaton Centre.
art brewer
6 Rev. Julie Stoneberg reads the Recognition of Service on Sunday,
with Lorna Weigand.
10 Sunday service at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto downtown campus.
11 The Knight family: sponsors of the Knight Award, recognizing volunteers who have furthered UU principles at the national level.
12 CUC founders Phillip Hewett, ‘Bunny’ Turner, and Charles Eddis
blow out CUC’s 50th anniversary birthday cake.
kim turner
kim turner
13 Celebrating 50 years of the Canadian Unitarian Council!
9
“Words make you think. Music makes you
feel. A song makes you feel a thought.”
Yip Harburg (1896-1981),
American poular song lyricist
10
the Civil Rights movement. The historical, social, and political
context of these songs provided a framework for a deep, communal experience.
The workshop participants sang in a wonderful Sunday
service that was filled to capacity. When you feel the walls of
your church resonate and vibrate with the richness of such a
chorus, you know you have witnessed and taken part in something special.
People come back again and again to work with Ysaye. Her
musicality is exceptional, with a vocal range spanning many
octaves. She carries a rich, resonating, powerful presence and
projects great patience and acceptance. Her sense of humour is
evident as she shares stories, songs and her life experience. She
opens others to their own sharing, and to self-examination.
So what does it bring to your church to do an event like
this? The covenant between those involved in the planning
and management of the event is a wonderful model—how we
do the work is as important as the endpoint. For the congregation and participants, it brings fun, outreach, music, and some
challenges—to shake up people’s thinking and enrich their lives.
Music ministry has amazing potential to carry the word and the
work of UUs through Canada and the world. Yes, we do have
beliefs to share with the world. Let’s sing about it!
Margo Ellis, Vice-President,
Unitarian Church of Montreal
alison hall
alison hall
The Unitarian Church of Montreal’s minister, Rev. Diane Rollert,
dreamed of hosting Ysaye Barnwell and her workshop, Building
a Vocal Community®, since she participated in one of Ysaye’s
workshops a number of years ago. It was obvious this event had
touched her deeply, as it does all of those who get the chance to
experience Ysaye’s work.
But doing an event like this takes a lot of planning, patience
and persistence. I joined our church in January of 2010 after
moving to Montreal in the previous fall. A lifelong Unitarian
from the US, I’ve been a cultural activist and musician, and
have produced music and art events for many years. I took up
the challenge of making this event happen.
We got through the first hurdle of scheduling, always a
challenge with a performer like Ysaye Barnwell, who tours as
a member of the renowned Sweet Honey in the Rock, an allwomen, African-American, a cappella ensemble. We found a
weekend—a year from then—squeezed between some exciting
events that Sweet Honey in the Rock had planned.
A year of careful planning and organizational work paid off
with the production of an exciting and inspiring three days
of learning and singing over the first weekend in April. More
than 90 people attended, from all over Canada and a few from
the US.
Teaching in the oral tradition, Ysaye led us in singing rhythms,
chants and traditional songs from Africa and the diaspora, as
well as a variety of songs from African-American culture, including hymns, spirituals, ring shouts, gospel, and songs from
milieu. Au lieu d’engager un organisme communautaire, j’ai
décidé d’insérer cette approche dans un contexte spirituel en
proposant un programme exploratoire à l’Association unitarienne de Peterborough.
De braves bénévoles ont accepté de se joindre à moi pour
cette aventure et nous nous sommes retrouvé/es lors de cinq
séances de deux heures de mars à mai 2011. Cet article est
trop court pour parler en détail de la série. Je ne peux offrir
qu’un simple résumé de l’approche suivie. J’ai envisagé la série
comme un voyage anthropologique au sein d’une contrée peu
connue de l’appartenance afin de découvrir les ingrédients essentiels au développement d’une culture et d’une structure de
l’appartenance.
J’ai retiré deux enseignements majeurs de cette exploration.
En premier lieu, le thème de l’appartenance permet de créer
Dans le cadre de mon travail professionnel, j’ai la chance de une vision claire et imagée de ce dont on parle. Les participant/
pouvoir intégrer trois domaines de recherche qui me tiennent es de la série ont affirmé que pour développer un sentiment
à cœur : l’insertion sociale, le développement communautaire d’appartenance à un groupe, il faut y « être vu/e, entendu/e, et
et la formation des adultes. Ces passions font que je cherche estimé/e ». Cette définition, riche en verbes, a généré de captivaninlassablement à mieux comprendre ce qui mène à la promotion tes conversations. L’inclusion, par contre, a tendance à engendrer
d’organisations communautaires et de groupes inclusifs, ouverts des définitions plus abstraites qui limitent la capacité de certain/
sur le monde. Ce questionnement, je le partage avec beaucoup es participant/es à imaginer ce qui les lie directement au sujet.
Cette définition introduit une autre dimension qu’il importe
de collègues et souvent on se demande pourquoi, en dépit de nos
de noter: le lien très intime qui existe entre appartenance et
efforts répétés, nous ne semblons guère progresser.
Une analyse des facteurs en jeu dépasse de loin la portée amour—lien confirmé par les recherches que j’ai faites sur
de cet article. Je tiens simplement à indiquer qu’en dépit de l’appartenance. J’en ai déduit que l’appartenance est un sujet
certaines avancées, il n’existe pas de formule incontestable ou éminemment spirituel. Ce n’est pas étonnant puisque la spiritude méthode infaillible pour promouvoir l’inclusion. Avec mes alité porte, entre autre, sur notre rapport avec les autres. Qu’un
collègues, je continue à explorer de nouvelles approches et pistes groupe unitarien ait éclairé cette dimension de la question de
l’appartenance est tout à fait révélateur.
de recherche.
Qu’en conclure? Cette observation me fait dire que, peut-être,
C’est dans cet état d’esprit que j’ai décidé de tester une
nouvelle démarche au printemps dernier. Plutôt que d’aborder ce qui manque aux travaux sur l’inclusion au sein des organismes
directement les questions d’inclusion, je me suis dit qu’il serait communautaires, c’est une discussion ouverte et engagée de la
intéressant de mettre l’accent sur le sentiment d’appartenance. dimension spirituelle du sujet. Il est possible qu’en l’absence de
Après tout, les communautés inclusives sont supposées favoriser cet aspect, on ne puisse réellement progresser. On se voit alors
le développement d’un profond sentiment d’appartenance parmi limité à des avancées superficielles, sans jamais pouvoir entrer
leurs membres. De plus, j’ai pensé que cette entrée en matière dans le vif du sujet… Est-ce le cas ? Peut-être… C’est définitivepermettrait d’établir un point commun entre les participant/es ment une nouvelle hypothèse qui m’interpelle.
étant donné que nous cherchons en général, d’une manière ou
d’une autre, à nous identifier aux autres.
Joëlle Favreau,
Non seulement ai-je modifié le thème de mon exploration,
Cheffe des services communautaires et du centre de
j’ai aussi cherché à ancrer cette recherche dans un nouveau
formation Compass à la YWCA Peterborough
« Etre vu/e, entendu/e et estimé/e »
CUC friends are special
people who help the organization meet its annual goals
supp ort the CUC , become a friend!
name
address
city
province
postal code
Will you become a friend?
I would like to donate $
Please send me more information
Thank yo u for yo ur supp or t
http://www.cuc.ca/friends
Clip and send with donation to: CUC, 100–344 Dupont Street, Toronto, on, m5r 1v9
through direct financial gifts.
11
Fundraising is not a profession; it is a gift I was given.
12
I became a Certified Fund Raiser Executive, one of the few
thousands in the world. My career path took me everywhere. I
managed a $15 million campaign for conservation, when ‘being
green’ was very new. I raised funds with some of Quebec’s most
prominent women for the YWCA. I had the privilege of working
with some of Canada’s renowned politicians and corporate leaders, and raised funds for international aid at CARE Canada.
You see, acts of philanthropy take many forms. They might
include donating money to a charity, volunteering at a
local shelter, or raising money to donate. What is important is the result. How does the person making
a donation feel? How does the person asking for a
donation feel? And how does the person receiving
the donation feel?
I feel privileged to be a fundraiser, being able to
play a role in bettering humanity. And not only do I do
this as a profession, I also strongly believe in doing it as
a volunteer. So I remain involved on boards of not-for-profits,
fufilling roles over the years such as volunteer solicitor for the
Soup Kitchen, and volunteer Deputy National Commissioner–
Development with Scout Canada.
I am honoured to be able to share this passion with the Canadian Unitarian Council, its member congregations, and each
individual UU. I think that together, we can continue to share
our gifts and show our love by taking part in the betterment of
humanity.
Kathleen A. Provost,
Director of Resources Development,
leslie gordon
Richard kirsh
For me it all started when my father asked me to help him sell
chocolates for the Lions’ Club. It’s not the selling of chocolate that
I remember; it is how it made me and others feel. I was happy to
sell the chocolate because I knew what the funds raised would
do for needy families; and those buying the chocolate felt like
they were doing something important to help. My father was a
generous man and this was one of his gifts to me.
Fundraising is the activity of soliciting and gathering contributions, as money or other resources, by requesting
donations from individuals, businesses, charitable
foundations, or governmental agencies. Though
people have fundraised for centuries, there was no
course of study for fundraising when I was at school.
I graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in political science and a certificate in Public Relations.
My real education in fundraising was acquired in
the not-for-profit sector. Fundraising was an emerging
profession, and I worked with professional firms who developed some of today’s tools and science of fundraising. I worked
with board members who challenged my thinking. All of these
people gave me the gift of inspiration throughout my career.
I will always cherish the post-it note left for me by one executive director, after a lengthy debate on methods, which also
touched on my own concerns and self-doubts. To this day, whenever things get difficult I pull it out. It simply reads, “Y not U”.
It was after managing and organizing golf tournaments,
direct mail programs, and capital campaigns that I realized
the idea behind fundraising is ‘philanthropy’, which directly
translated from Greek, means “love of mankind.” I realized my
daily work was about creating opportunities to have the same
feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment as I once had when I was
selling chocolates.
Building Schools in Guatemala and Honduras
The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto has facilitated development projects in Central America since 1997, with the goal
of building understanding between people and improving the
social, economic, and living conditions of people in the poorest
areas. We do this primarily by helping with the construction of
community facilities that have been requested by indigenous
NGO’s in Guatemala and Honduras.
Since 1999, Toronto First has worked in a rewarding partnership with World Accord, a Waterloo based charity, and the
Community of Christ, learning that what we have in
common is more important than our differences.
To date, over 400 Canadians have participated
in Construction Expeditions, including over 100
Unitarians from 22 congregations (Saint John to
Vancouver), contributing over 1,000 person-weeks
of volunteer labour and $300,000 in donations for
construction materials.
Volunteers have had fulfilling, first-hand experiences,
working with local people in mountain communities. They’ve
built more than 50 schools, training and community centers,
and homes. They’ve carried and laid more blocks, mixed more
cement, sifted more sand, and bent more re-bar than they
thought possible. They’ve worked with the warm sun on their
backs, to the sound of happy, chattering children playing— and
sometimes helping too.
Participants experience conditions in remote mountain communities where people live much like they did hundreds of years
ago. They witness the difference that effective international
assistance makes in people’s lives. They have the opportunity
to visit the ancient Mayan city of Copán. They experience delicious local dishes, lovingly prepared by our cook, featuring: rice,
beans, tortillas, plantain and stews; juicy, field-ripened pineapples and tree-ripened mangos, and fresh juice. The evenings
are set aside for relaxing and enjoying the company of
fellow-volunteers from across Canada (who often become close friends). These are quiet times, for reading
a book, playing a friendly game of cards, or heading
outside to enjoy the absolute night—the blackness
and the sky full of stars. Construction Expeditions
volunteers usually go to sleep early and easily.
This winter Construction Expeditions is planning
three more family-friendly excursions, to make a positive
difference in the lives of others—and in our own.
Richard Kirsh,
First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
Two week trips:
January 14–28; February 11–25; and March 10–24, 2012
Teams of 12 from across Canada.
Construction Expeditions to Central America
Richard kirsh
Far left to right:
•A typical house or one-room school requires 100 batches of
hand-mixed cement over the course of a two week trip.
• Building two additional classrooms for a primary school in
Horconcitos, Honduras.
• In Guatemala and Honduras, construction is considered men’s
work. Seeing Canadian women building inspires the local girls,
and sometimes women, and gives them licence to participate
in a non-traditional activity.
Anyone in reasonably good health;
18 to 75+; youth under 18 travel with parent or guardian.
Construction skills and Spanish not required
Work comparable to do-it-yourself renovations;
requires some stamina.
Billeting at the headquarters of our local partner.
Warm showers, tasty meals, safely prepared, and safe water.
Costs: $2,000/person for: room, board, local transportation and
construction materials.
Airfare additional (typically $900 – $1,300).
Costs eligible for tax receipts.
Applications available by e-mail or
through the World Accord web site.
$1,200 non-refundable deposit.
More Information:
Richard Kirsh
[email protected]
416-767-5837
www.firstunitariantoronto.org/centralamerica
www.worldaccord.org
13
Multi-Generational Magic
We have wonderful teachers in our children’s program at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria.
Last year, when the planned curriculum for our nine to 12 year olds was not working, the teachers sat down with the children and asked each of them what they wanted to do at church. Their
answers: learn more about mythology, do crafts, explore environmental issues, go outside, and
more. At first it seemed difficult to put it all together, but there was one idea that could be made
to link with all the others: learn more about the ocean.
We began to weave together a new curriculum. It was multi-disciplinary, based on our
Seventh Principle, and woven with components from our various sources, including our
Judeo-Christian roots and other world religions. The group
transformed; suddenly there
was enthusiasm!
The Oceans Project began late last church-year and was
Victori
so successful, we continued it this year. In January, when
a Ti m es
Colonis
Letters
the church’s Environment Committee decided to create a
t
to the
March 1
editor
2, 2011
display about the Enron Pipeline that threatens the health
D ea r Ed
i
tor,
of our local ocean, the Junior Youth class got involved. To
learn more about it, the class hosted members of the com-R-e-:--N-o-Tanker
mittee as well as a guest speaker from a local environment
s—Keep
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With the help of a multi-generational crew of volunteers,
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t will b
ill aff
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they prepared sandwiches and other goodies to sell at the
tr y, to
fraid t
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hat an
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Congregational Meeting, earning $360 in the process.
life, f
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like multi-generational magic!
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The Junior Youth wanted to raise more awareness,
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and composed a letter to the editor of Victoria’s daily
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With the Enron experience, we were all reminded
nitari
an
(Lini J
that working for change takes determination and
ohn-Hen Church of Vic
toria
derson,
Tuli Po
Sean va
rcher,
a great deal of courage. Sometimes it can be overn Gesse
Emma Le
Sp e n c e
l, Ti m i
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r Quayl
whelming. It’s important to maintain a strong
lu Fast
ron Bri
e, Mari
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sense of hope. For inspriration we looked to ‘ecoan, Kei
a Alexa
ran Marr
nder,
ett-Hit
heroes’—people working to make the world a betch)
ter place. There are all sorts of great stories about
Canadian eco-heroes on PlanetFriendly.net (www.
planetfriendly.net/heroes.html#a).
After working on ocean health, we brought our focus home. Our church kitchen
is full of amazing volunteers who serve delicious snacks and meals. Sometimes people don’t eat everything on their plate, and I was bothered by the amount of food that was going into the garbage. I asked
the Junior Youth if they could help me with my personal dream of creating a composting system at our
church. They agreed!
That’s when more multi-generational magic began. No sooner did we announce the plan during another Time with the Children, then the Environment Committee offered their support to us. Through
a series of conversations, a little research, and a lot of goodwill, progress was fast. Within two months,
our church became the proud owner of a composter that can accomodate cooked food, without tempting
pests. Someday we hope to grow a few vegetables in that compost!
Faye Mogensen,
Director of Spiritual Exploration and Learning for Children and Youth,
First Unitarian Church of Victoria
14
Becca Cloe
At left:
Eva Jordison (right) and Doug Enneberg with Becca Cloe at
TheologiCON 2009.
Eva Jordison is nearing the end of her two-year term as Co-Chair of the bc
region’s Youth-Adult Committee (BC YAC). The Canadian Unitarian
asked her to free-associate—on the job and what it’s meant to her.
Significance of the BC Youth-Adult Committee
The BC YAC has provided me personally with opportunities to develop
my skills and comfort in leadership positions, which is invaluable. I
don’t think I could have learned that in such a safe and encouraging
environment elsewhere. For that alone, I personally thank the BC
YAC.
In terms of regional importance, in a recent BC YAC discussion,
we were talking about how empowerment of youth (as well as adults,
especially youth allies), communication between youth throughout
the region, providing resources to those youth, inspiring them, and
reflecting our UU principals were what we considered our main goals
to be. For a group of youth, a young adult, and a few adults to come up
with—and commit to—those goals is, in and of itself, inspiring.
ng
You
8
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g
a
(
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)
5
–3
ime
p!
gn U
i
S
to
victoria uu young adult camping retreat
camp pringle, shawnigan lake, vancouver island, bc
september 23rd to 25th
Community building,relaxing and spiritual deepening at beautiful Shawnigan Lake, partway between Victoria and Nanaimo.
Just bring a sleeping bag.
Bring your own skill or interest, to make this weekend special.
A contemporary worship workshop will be held on Saturday
afternoon. Young adults who wish to bring their children,
contact us for details.
Costs (to cover food, which we will make ourselves):
$60 early-bird rate by end-August, $65 in September.
Saturday-only day rate: (lunch, dinner and workshop) $20
early-bird rate by end-August, $25 in September.
Bursaries available—just ask!
Feats, exploits, and other accomplishments
I was excited to be part of getting trainings happening (such as the
Leadership Development Conference this past March) and have also
had the honour to be on staff and planning for large regional/district
conferences, including the American Pacific Northwest District
(PNWD). What I’m really looking forward to at the moment, is being
a Co-Dean for the bc Fall Regional Gathering, as well as being on
staff this summer at the PNWD GoldMine Leadership School, which
bc youth attend.
4th annual young adult weekend
Teamwork with fellow Co-Chair
Doug [Enneberg] and I have actually only been working together
for a couple of months now. He’s responsible and totally on top of
what needs to be done, when I’m not always quite there. We’ve been
pushing hard together, even to have summer BC YAC conference-call
meetings, when some churches don’t even meet over the summer.
We’ve got this.
A weekend of fun and connecting. Every year has been a little
different, but in past years we’ve thrown dance parties, traded clothes, played pseudo-sports, and held small services.
Naturally we also enjoy the splendor of the Unicamp site by
going swimming, apple-picking, hiking, roasting marshmallows, and exploring the caves. Significant others and children
are welcome, contact us for more details.
Getting involved
bc youth are the bomb. There’s no avoiding it. What is the lesson
learned from that? Move to bc. Or instead… the fact that bc youth are
actually involved in creating events and a culture in which we want to
be, is why we’re awesome. Which means that the key to awesomeness
is getting involved, making the decisions about what you want to do
and/or learn. Getting involved, even just attending youth conferences
that are filled with cuddling and safe space, makes you even more
awesome than you already are.
There will be one pickup from the Vancouver-Victoria ferry,
and pickups in Victoria out to Shawnigan Lake.
Contact [email protected] or register online
through the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200050746681924
unicamp, honeywood, on
september 16th to 18th
Cost: $65 (covers the cabin fees and food, which we enjoy
cooking together). Bursaries are available if finances are a
barrier for you.
Contact Dayvid Racette-Campbell [email protected] or
416-929-2647 or register online through the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223298127699359
15
A Unitarian Controversy
thanks to charles eddis
Book Review of
Stephen Frichtman:The American Unitarians and Communism,
by Charles W. Eddis
Can be ordered from
www.lulu.com/buy.
Price: US$ 19.95
Even a casual glance at the history of the movement to which we belong shows how many skirmishes there have been over religious and political issues, either with external antagonists or
between internal factions. Both are graphically illustrated in a fascinating new book by Charles
Eddis, Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Church of Montreal, who himself participated in
part of the story he describes, and later undertook several years of detailed research to provide
a complete and balanced picture.
Stephen Fritchman: The American Unitarians and Communism covers a period during and
after World War II. Although the action took place south of the border, and Charles was one of
very few Canadians to be directly involved, there are several reason why readers in this country will relate easily to the story. At the time in question the Unitarian movement in Canada,
such as it was, was closely integrated with the American Unitarian Association and tied to its
fortunes. One illustration of this is that the youth organization at the Toronto church to which
Charles originally belonged was called American Unitarian Youth (AUY). The Boston-based
executive director of this organization was the Rev. Stephen Fritchman, who was also editor of
the denominational magazine, The Christian Register. Fritchman was accused of following a
Communist line in both these capacities, which prompted his dismissal from the
editorial post, reaffirmed after a bitterly divided debate at the AUA annual meetings in 1947. This division of feeling continued for many years, with Fritchman
being seen by his partisans as a victim of witch-hunting.
The questions raised here are still very much a part of the scene with which
we have to deal today, as they have been for centuries. The Unitarian stance has
been both liberal and radical, but the two are by no means synonymous. A radical
approach can be either liberal or illiberal, and in taking such an approach Unitarians have often had to work uneasily or more happily alongside individuals or
organizations that are in fact illiberal and dogmatic, though professing common
ideals. Such common ideals were professed by Communists in the thirties and
forties of the last century, and unwary liberals could be easily co-opted to their
totalitarian means of pursuing them (I too write from personal experience, having
had to wrestle with the same issue in England during the same period).
The basic issue is one of whether the end justifies the means. The Stalinist
form of communism which had emerged was completely ruthless in its means,
but some liberals closed their eyes to this in the interest of their concern for social
justice. One could cite more recent examples of the same process in our relations
with other bodies; Eddis mentions but does not elaborate on events twenty years
later when it was at the Los Angeles church, where Fritchman was then minister,
that the Black Caucus came to birth and adopted similar procedures.
Stephen Fritchman: The American Unitarians and Communism depicts sincere
but fallible persons on all sides trying to deal with a situation in which a real threat was seen
by some as primarily a threat to the established order of society and by others as a threat to the
basic values that have always been at the core of a Unitarian approach to life. In recounting
the scene out of which these opposing interpretations emerged, Charles Eddis has performed
a real service.
Rev. Phillip Hewett
Minister Emeritus,
Unitarian Church of Vancouver
16
Meditation on Space
by Kate
Marshall Flaherty
Modern science now knows what sages of old have always known:
that, in the body, there is more space than matter.
—Tony Murdock, Towards Stillness
I consider the space between the atoms,
then think of the gaps in things.
My thoughts leaping across the rift
between synapse and dendrite,
my breath playing through emptiness,
chasms in communication
when no words bridge the divide
between us.
What do I make space for in my life?
Reflection:
filling of my pauses with pondering.
Sleep: the dreamscape
where my images can float
in a vacuum of nonsense and memory.
Walking in nature:
in open fields under endless sky,
I see pockets of forest in the dense and droning city.
Silence:
the pause at the top of my breath—
longing for the inhalation to escape,
to sing out a breathy tone:
exhale, let go, make
even more space
for meditation on space.
Cover design & artwork: Catherine M. Stewart
Kate Marshall Flaherty guides
Golden Rule retreats for youth,
leads Writing as a Spiritual Practice
workshops, was a founding member of the Children’s Peace Theatre,
and lives in Toronto with her family.
where we are going is her fourth book
of poetry.
“Meditation on Space” is reprinted
from Trust the Dawning Future (Canadian Unitarian Council, 2011),
a poetr y chapbook released for
the 50 th Anniversar y ACM 2011.
Copies are available from the CUC
office in Toronto, on.
Please send your submissions of short poems to the Poetry Editor, [email protected]
17
mary cramer
will join Rev. Shawn Newton in examining how religious communities address barriers to peace-making.
The audience will reflect the diversity of the speakers.
Holding the event on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 is
motivated out of a desire to transform this date. Ideally,
this event will be one of a series, so that the conversation that begins on 9/11 will deepen over time.
Faye Perkins
Huronia Sings-4-It
While the Huronia Unitarian Fellowship in Barrie , on,
is among the smallest of UU congregations in the
CUC, we are seeking constructive engagement with
the community around us by offering our energies for
the common good.
Music Director Sandra Ruttans signed up Huronia for Canada Sings!, so that every few weeks we are
hosting a neighbourhood singalong at our downtown
location. This collaboration links us with a recognized
network of informal choral events Canada-wide; we
provide free, healthy entertainment, helping others to
North Hatley WOWs ‘em all
After three years of cancellations of Weaving Our Worship workshop in our region, the Unitarian Universalist
Church of North Hatley decided to host a one-day
version in early June, called the WOW of Worship. We
invited folks from around the region and over the bor- Building the new sanctuary for Victoria First: part of the photo show commemorating the congregation’s 50th
anniversary in June.
c a n a d a
a c r o s s
der. In the end we were 22 participants from five congregations, and six attended a supplemental Saturday
evening session on Creative Writing for Worship.
It was a nice little cluster, but it feels like we only
scratched the surface, and some of us are looking forward to sequels and complementary sessions at future
gatherings, such as at Eastern Regional Fall Gathering
in Fredericton, nb.
Keith Baxter
Kingston: so near, yet so far
The Kingston Unitarian Fellowship is moving only two
doors down the street, while moving into a wonderful
new stage of its existence. This spring, the Fellowship
purchased a 15,800 sq. ft. building, which it will renovate to accommodate the growing congregation. Now
the congregation is awash with activities necessary to
sell its current building—and develop the commercial
rental space in the new building that will help to pay
the mortgage.
Lakeshore is Moving!
The success of the spring capital campaign allowed
After 25 years of renting space in a large West Island us to begin transforming the building, which was built
United Church building, Lakeshore Unitarian Univer- as the Steelworkers’ union hall. Members are looking
salist Congregation in Montreal is moving to a new forward to a spacious sanctuary, RE area, kitchens, oflocation. It is now renting space from the Norwegian fices, and even a living room—a place where we can
Church Association, which owns a former Presbyterian continue to host the local Jewish Reform congregation
church in the Montreal borough of Lachine. They of- and Quaker meetings.
fered a lower rent, for a huge sanctuary and a large
hall. Jean Plfeiderer
This presents an array of new challenges. It moves
us further east, although most of our current members
are more concentrated in the west. We have to find a
way to project warmth and welcome in the large space. Left to right:
But it has a good aura, and wonderful acoustics—so • Brides to-be ride in pride, on the UU float in
Edmonton’s Pride Parade. Rev. Brian Kiely of the
we are beginning a new adventure!
Unitarian Church of Edmonton ‘officiates’.
Susan Czarnocki
18
c a n a d a
a c r o s s
c a n a d a
Colombia, whom we sponsored through the
federal government’s private refugee-sponsorship program. This journey began with
a call from Liliana Castaneda, asking for
help for her sister and family, for whose
safety she feared. The Board-approved
sponsorship provides financial settlement
assistance to the family for one year. At the end of a process that began in
January 2010, it was a very moving experience to
finally meet Soffi and Julian and their sons Camilo
and Santiago in June. The congregation sang “Spirit
of Life” in Spanish to welcome them. We also hosted
a baby shower—Soffi was expecting—and a healthy
baby boy arrived just a few weeks later. The family is
now settling into life in Kitchener with the help of
sister Liliana. Another big event for our congregation was the receipt of a $75,000 grant from the federal government’s
Enabling Accessibility Fund, to install an elevator in
our building. The amount is about half of what we will
need to complete the renovation, so we will be looking
a c r o s s
c a n a d a
a c r o s s
enjoy golden oldies as well as familiar melodies used to raise additional dollars internally. An architectural
in the Unitarian songbooks. We promote these events firm is drawing up plans for us.
with a sidewalk sandwich board, and on our website
and the Canada Sings! website.
Margaret Insley
This musical project echoes the GO-4-IT campaign
created some years ago by CUC past-president Kalvin Spaces for Sharing at Winnipeg
Drake; “GO ON! GO DEEP! GO UP! GO OUT!” Going The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg
out means, for us, creating synergistic partnerships started the summer with the dedication of its new
outside of the denomination to maximize our collec- deck and patio, with access onto the backyard. A festive strengths and to extend our reach toward common tive spirit prevailed as Board president Craig Edwards
purposes.
and Rev. Millie Rochester cut the ribbon. The church
Qennefer Browne stands on the bank of the Assiniboine river; during the
dedication it was running as high and as fast as anyone
Reaching Out (and Going Up) at Waterloo
could remember.
At our June 26 service, the First Unitarian Congregation
Another big development this spring was the formaof Waterloo joyfully welcomed a refugee family from tion of two new Chalice Circles, continued on page 20
Peace Pole at Toronto First
Our traditional September water service marking the
beginning of the new worship year, will also include a
dedication of the new Peace Pole at the First Unitarian
Congregation of Toronto, a project of its Social Justice
Committee.
The Peace Pole, which contains the message “May
Peace Prevail on Earth” in six languages, has been installed in the garden near the front door. It symbolizes
the oneness of humanity and our common wish for
a world at peace. Peace Poles are the creation of the
World Peace Prayer Society, an affiliate of the United
Nations.
On September 11 Toronto First is holding a Peace
Encounter, where leaders of the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, and Mennonite (Christian) communities
warren andrews
a c r o s s
liz james
c a n a d a
thanks to Brian Keily
s
New Ways of Worship at PEI
The Unitarian Fellowship of Prince Edward Island looks
forward to returning to our regular biweekly format in
September.
Inspired by the local Baha’i group, we started using a
devotional format, where people bring readings, music,
or whatever, and group-participate rather than all layled complete services. This has worked really well for
us, and allows a small group to maintain its existence.
We hope, in time, to regain our population.
However lay chaplaincy is very active. I am a lay
chaplain with the Fellowship, and performed a wedding
at Christmas, will do three more this summer, and have
another booked for next year!
Chris Vessey
• Fabulous faces from all ages’ time in RE, at the
Unitarian Congregation of Saskatooon.
•Huronia Unitarian Fellowship hosts a Canada Sings!
neighbourhood singalong series.
19
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continued from page 19 or small group ministries. One
is a daytime group, specifically aimed at the needs of
people who cannot attend evening gatherings. The
other is aimed at the needs of the growing young adult
population in the church. More group formation is
expected in the fall.
Roger Rochester
is more academic, and a third that is more spiritual or
action based. We are excited to try something new, and
learn more about ourselves in the process!
Liz James
Edmonton: 36 years of Same-Sex Weddings
Members of both the Westwood Unitarian CongregaNew Sundays for Saskatoon
tion and the Unitarian Church of Edmonton played a
Prompted by the high ratio of kids to adults, as well large role in this year’s Pride Week Events. Inspired by
as the demand for more small group activities, the an idea from the Halifax congregation last year, about
Lifespan Learning team has planned an Enriched 30 of us marched and staged a same-sex wedding on
Sunday Service Format at the Unitarian Congregation a beautifully decorated float while wedding guests
of Saskatoon, taking inspiration from a US congrega- handed out ‘invitations’, for anyone who might wish to
tion.
have their wedding with us. Edmonton Unitarians were
On Sunday mornings starting this fall, all ages will celebrating 36 years of performing such services. The
gather in the Sanctuary, for half an hour of multi-gener- wedding kiss was very popular with the crowd and was
ational worship time. The kids will then have their own an oft-repeated part of the ceremony. The couple—
group circle during the sermon. After a snack, all ages two young women—plan to be married for real next
will be invited to RE: the kids will go to their usual colour summer.
Days later, Rev. Anne Barker and Rev. Brian Kiely
groups, and the adults will choose between three distinct adult RE streams. We have moved congregational participated in a religious diversity panel discussion
response out of the service into one of the RE streams at the University of Alberta. The purpose was to show
(a forum), and will work to offer another stream that positive religious alternatives open to GBLT people.
Rev. Brian Kiely
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Two New Emeriti for Ottawa First
Rev. David Pohl was conferred the honour
of Minister Emeritus by the First Unitarian
Congregation of Ottawa on April 13, 2011.
Rev. Pohl served the congregation from 1961
to 1971, as a dynamic preacher, able administrator, and beloved pastor. It was during his
tenure that the congregation relocated from a
small sanctuary in central Ottawa to a sixacre campus on the west side of downtown
Ottawa, with a much larger sanctuary and
enough land to eventually locate an apartment complex for seniors and a daycare
center for pre-schoolers.
Rev. Pohl preached the Sunday sermon
on May 8, in which he recalled that 40 years
ago, the press still covered sermons deemed
newsworthy, or controversial:
“When I preached on The Ethics of Civil
Defence, criticizing the promotion of back-
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yard bomb shelters in a nuclear age, the city’s professional musical community and her
civil defence director called to express not persuasiveness… and was always a willing
only his disapproval, but outrage.
participant in our sometimes crazy efforts
“In the late 1960’s, a diplomat from the US to raise the profile of this project.”
Embassy attended a service here in which I Barry Read noted, “Jane is a professional of
reiterated my condemnation of the Vietnam the highest degree with great expectations
War. Learning that I was an American citi- for her choirs. But she also has an approachzen, he drew me aside at the coffee hour and ability that belies [her] strength, rigour, and
accused me of being ‘a traitor.’”
integrity… making beautiful music of the
Rev. Pohl closed with the observation: “In highest quality.”
this glorious and free land, in this beautiful
While Jane will be deeply missed, we are
capital city on the route of the voyageurs, and glad that she will remain part of our larger
in this house of cedar and glass that shelters a UU movement as she assumes the role of
free religious community, may you continue Director of Music at the Unitarian Church of
to honour your congregation’s legacy even as Calgary, Alberta. We hope to honour Jane’s
you dream new dreams for the ever-changing legacy here by maintaining a high standard
future and the children who succeed us.”
of excellence in our music program.
A farewell ceremony and service was held
on June 5, 2011, celebrating Director of Music
Rev. John N. Marsh,
Jane Perry’s 11-year tenure. In recognition of
Minister
long and meritorious service, she was named
Director of Music Emerita.
During the ceremony, Margaret Linton
and Barry Read paid tribute. Margaret
Linton recalled her work with the Steinway
fundraising committee. “She arranged a
special fundraising concert series, drawing on her extensive connections with the
20 The Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 2 • Summer 2011
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thanks to Liz james
thanks to Liz james
Lighting the rainbow candles during Children’s Worship at
the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon.
The Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon celebrates a service
dedicated to procuring funds for a well in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Certified Green Kelowna hosts BC Fall Gathering
After a three-year effort, the Unitarian Fellowship of
Kelowna is celebrating its certification as a Green
Sanctuary. Kelowna is the fifth congregation in Canada
and the first in British Columbia to be certified by the
UU Ministry for the Earth.
The Fellowship received a generous bequest from
Rev. Rob Brownlie last year. The congregation voted
to use some of the money for our church building,
improving its energy efficiency, as well as updating he
sanctuary and the children’s RE rooms. We have also
renovated our website! Check out our new dynamic web
pages at www.unitariancongregation.org/wordpress/.
And we cordially invite all to join us for the bc Fall
Gathering October 21 – 23, 2011, hosted by the UFK in
cooperation with the Kamloops Fellowship. Threads
we are planning include contemporary worship and
music, homelessness, financial continued on page 22
r o s s
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c a n
thanks to diane rollert
gional Gathering. It was an action-packed eral Meeting in June, the congregation agreed
weekend and great fun to welcome fellow to a second trial year as we begin to work on
Unitarian Universalists from across the re- policies and changes to our by-laws.
gion. In May, more than 20 of us attended
Our Social and Environmental Concerns
the CUC Annual Conference and Meeting. Committee has been actively supporting a
Participants brought back much inspiration, local day centre for the homeless, and keepwhich will carry us through the coming fall. ing its eyes on international projects as they
As minister of the UCM, I was honoured to arise, such as supporting Haiti.
Lively Times at Montreal
deliver the ACM Confluence Lecture.
The congregation raised nearly $7,000 for
This has been a busy year at the Unitarian
We’ve completed our first trial year with Oxfam last January and recently received
Church of Montreal. We’ve welcomed eight a new governance structure, developed with a framed certificate from the organization
new babies into our midst. Families with Dan Hotchkiss’s book, Governance and for its efforts. We’ve hosted an Empty Bowls
young children have been helping to set up Ministry in mind.
event that raised more than $10,000 this year,
new initiatives, especially in Religious EduChanging governance is no easy task and as well as a Fair Trade Fair. We also have
cation. We’re also excited to see our Young there are many people engaged in the process. been named a Blue Ribbon congregation by
Adult group coming together under new We are learning as we go. At our Annual Gen- the UU-UNO.
leadership.
Significant milestones for us this year
Our redesigned website is bringing in
include the retirement of Nicoline Guerrier
many newcomers on Sundays, and our enwho has completed her six-year term as a lay
ergetic Hospitality Committee keeps things
chaplain. Nicoline is working on her studies
hopping after services. Our new Music
for the UU ministry. We are very proud of
Ministry Collective has been planning conCurtis Murphy, a member of our Young
certs, hosting workshops (such as last April’s
Adult group and our Youth Programme Coamazing weekend of singing, history, and
ordinator, who was elected to the CUC board
heart with Ysaye Barnwell), raising funds to
in May as the representative for the Eastern
replace the hammers in our famous Laliberté Winter holiday service at thea Unitarian
Region. Curtis has just begun his studies for
piano, and increasing music’s presence in all Church of Montreal, celebrated in the
the UU ministry.
tradition of a Mexican Posada. Their Maria
aspects of congregational life.
was truly pregnant and truly named Maria,
Rev. Diane Rollert
In fall 2010 we hosted the Eastern Re- and gave birth to her baby on December 28.
21
events—we hosted regular speakers on
environmental topics such as the Transition initiatives.
3. Involved in outreach programs in the community at large—we provided space for
community meetings and had members
participating in the annual Guelph Speed
River Clean-up.
Guelph wins Green!
The Unitarian Congregation of Guelph Weekly e-bulletins and e-newsletters also
(UCG) was presented with a Green Sacred help bring the environmental message home.
Space (GSS) Award during Transition UCG partners with various environmental
Guelph’s Resilience 2011 event on March organizations and encourages tool and car26.
sharing cooperatives, Freecycle initiatives
The Green Sacred Space Award recogniz- and Community Shared Agriculture (CSA)
es the contributions that faith communities programs.
make toward creating a sustainable environUCG is also reaching toward the sun.
ment. In order to win the GSS Award, UCG By September 2011 we will have installed
solar panels (and have launched the sale of
met three stringent criteria:
debentures
to finance this project), and are
1. Completed practical actions—we comcontinuing
to travel further along the path
pleted a lighting retrofit, and built a polto
becoming
an official ‘Green Sanctuary’ (a
linator garden.
program similar to the EcoSchool program in
2. Engaged in numerous local sustainabilthe Unitarian Universalist tradition).
ity and energy conservation educational
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The Green Sacred Space Award sponsor,
Guelph Hydro Inc., was joined by representatives from the Trillium Foundation and
Greening Sacred Spaces Waterloo/Wellington/Dufferin for the presentation. To us, The Green Sacred Space Award
means we’re being supported to do this
work—in our own congregation and together
with other earth-honouring congregations
who recognize the interdependent web of
which we are all a part.
We know our living planet’s ecology is a
wonderful metaphor for our individual and
complex spiritualities and this award gives
us even more incentive to do more greening
of our sacred space in the coming year.
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Helen Prinold
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Thank you to the CUC, and other congregations
continued from page 21 stewardship, a concurrent session for OWL training, and a youth conference. Hope for contributions to the annual Sharing Our Faith
collection.
to see you there!
Wayne Broughton
Heather Stefanek
Kamloops Sings Praises
A Sharing Our Faith Grant was awarded to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops, which was
used to assist with the newly formed choir. Under the
leadership of Choir Director Margaret Waldon, they
spent several months rehearsing for regular worship
services as well as a special musical service which was
presented to their congregation on May 1.
The program consisted of popular songs from the
Unitarian Song Books, Singing the Living Tradition
and Singing the Journey. It included a special arrangement of “Sakura #177”, in remembrance
of the people of Japan in the aftermath of the
earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Also
a couple of choral pieces: “Song, circling all
the earth” and “Deep in our hearts” from
Wind of Change. The choir members shared
their reasons for singing and love of music,
and their particular favourite UU song.
We are a small congregation of around 30
members, and one third of us sing in the choir,
including three couples!
22
Biggest Numbers for North Shore
Annually in May, North Shore Unitarian Church in
Vancouver holds a goods and services auction to raise
funds towards the church’s operating expenses. In
keeping with this year’s mission goal of “welcoming
all to our caring community” and in awareness that
‘radical inclusivity’ is one means toward that goal, the
auction organizers succeeded in making FUNdFEST
a more multi-generational and celebratory event than
ever before.
They sought out offerings that would appeal to
young families—such as a beach party for parents
and children—in recognition of our many new
young families that have been visiting regularly
this year. In this spirit, one church member made
a cash donation to FUNdFEST to be used
by members who might not be able to
participate for financial reasons. Although
the recipients were never disclosed, the
congregation as a whole was very moved
by this gift.
Perhaps it was these factors, and the the hard
work of the committee, that allowed it to be
a c
Currently the Greening Sacred Spaces local network comprises more than 100 faith
communities in Waterloo, Wellington, and
Dufferin Regions. Network members are
invited to free quarterly training meetings,
have access to free downloadable resources,
receive information about energy-efficiency
and energy audits, funding opportunities, and
upcoming environmental events. 10 GSS awards are granted in areas across
Ontario where Greening Sacred Spaces
programs are active (Waterloo Region, Wellington County, Toronto, Ottawa and Eastern
Ontario, Hamilton, and Peterborough). For
more information or to join the free Greening
Sacred Spaces Network, go to www.greeningsacredspaces.net.
Transition Guelph is Canada’s second
official Transition Initiative, joining Peterborough, on, in May, 2009. Transition towns
commit to reducing their carbon footprint,
embarking on a joint journey to a lower energy
future. The transition movement continues
to grow in Canada and around the world,
with over 275 official Transition Initiatives
worldwide. For more information go to www.
transitionguelph.org.
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Changing the world can begin with something as simple as discussion over a slow meal
of potluck dishes—and a salmon caught by
a local fisherman.
That was the idea behind the first in a
series of Potlucks for Progressives held this
February at the First Unitarian Fellowship
of Nanaimo (FUFON).
Tasha Sutcliffe of Thisfish and Eddy
Carmack, organizer of the Bottle Drop and
Mosquito Fleet, joined potluck participants
in roundtable discussions during the event.
Thisfish is a tracking system that lets
you trace the fish you buy—back to who
caught it and where, where it was processed,
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Kathryn-Jane Hazel
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mary cramer
Christine hammonds
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Nanaimo: Tag a Fish, Trace an Oil Slick
and the restaurants and retailers who stock
these fish.
The Mosquito Fleet is a team of small
fishing boats that will monitor the changes
in the ocean ecosystems as global warming
occurs, while the Bottle Drop will show where
oil spills could flow.
These projects are designed to connect
fishermen, urban dwellers, and scientists
who study climate and the ocean waters off
the bc coast, explained renowned ecologist
Buzz Holling, one of the potluck organizers
and a member of FUFON: “We want to
implement identifiable actions that will help
our children and grandchildren adapt to the
large economic, environmental and social
changes that are coming.
“The causes are global, but the impacts are
local, and it’s on the local level that we can
effect change.”
The newly-formed Kamloops Choir, of the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops.
First Unitarian Church of Victoria’s Rev. Melora (left) and
Rev. Shana, wearing their new stoles made by quilters Liz
Graham and Pat Kinrade, and weaver Kjerstin Mackie.
our most financially successful auction ever, and an
enjoyable evening for the largest number attending
in many years.
Another event was that our Purchase and Sale Agreement fell through on March 31 after more than three
years of hoping, but congregants are not disheartened;
we maintain our resolve to continue seeking a purchaser for our property. The majority of members remain
committed to becoming a more visible and accessible
church in some as-yet-to-be-found location.
Victoria First: New Ministers and 50 Years-Old
The First Unitarian Church of Victoria held the installation of our new co-ministers, Revs. Shana and Melora
Lynngood on March 4, 2011. Rev. John Millspaugh from
Winchester, Mass. preached the sermon, Rev. Stephen
Epperson from Vancouver gave the Charge to the Ministers, and Rev. Antonia Won of the CUC gave the Charge
to the Congregation. The Chalice Choir and Children
and Youth choirs provided the music. Special guests
included Rev. Jane Bramadat, Minister Emerita, Rev.
Don Vaughn-Foerster, our Interim Minister, Rev. Phillip
Rev. Stephen Atkinson Hewett, our Interim Minister in continued on page 24
23
continued from page 23 1991, and Rev. Marvin Evans,
the first minister of our church 50 years ago.
On June 17, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with
a ceremony and a multi-generational dance. During the
ceremony, we featured special music by all the choirs,
funny stories from the past, and the four change points
in the life of the church.
The four change points were: buying our first
church building in the 1960s; lifting that building
and excavating underneath to create rooms for the
Religious Education program; carrying the flame in a
hurricane lantern, in a relay-walk from our downtown
church all the way out to our new church property, led
by the church secretary, who carried the membership
book for the entire five-hour walk; and building our
new sanctuary. We illustrated the change points with
power-point photographs and re-enacted the carrying
of the flame.
The ceremony also included recognition of those
who have been members for more than 40 years, elders,
ministers, past-presidents, lay chaplains, RE directors,
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Beacon bids goodbye, but keeps a fun tradition
Beacon Unitarian Church in Coquitlam, bc, said goodbye to Rev. Katie Stein Sather on July 19th, after eight
years of her ministry. We will miss her. We are in the
process of searching for a part-time contract/developmental minister to start in January 2012. This year will
be one of change and possibility for Beacon. We enter
it with a mix of hope and trepidation.
On a more joyful note, Beacon hosted another fabulous Family Camp at Sasamat Lake in June, with lots of
kids, families, and friends from all the Lower Mainland
churches. We sang, ate, swam, canoed, roasted marshmallows and wieners and generally had a great time.
We look forward to continuing this annual tradition for
many years to come.
Sue Sparlin
a c r o s s
Clockwise from top left:
•The First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo welcomes
their newest lay chaplain, Anne Morrison. Howard
Rose, Chair of the lay chaplaincy committee, led the
installation.
•Rev. Katie Stein Sather dedicating Beacon Unitarian
Church’s newset member, Jacob Stroecel.
• Gathering after the service, at the First Unitarian
Universalist Church of Winnipeg.
karin carlson
thanks to sue sparlin
russell mcneill
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and music directors. The sanctuary was decorated with
paintings and fabric art by 17 members of our church
who are artists.
Suellen Guenther
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Canada’s Bounty: Nature and Natural Rescources
Energy and Mining: Canada’s Bedrock?
The alteration of nature in Canada often results in employ over 680,000 people, and contribute to the
the loss of forests, marshland, fertile agricultural trade balance $75.5 billion, $25.8 billion, and $20.1
areas, depletion of fish stocks, the damming of billion, respectively.
rivers and the destruction of migrating species.
In Canada, an enormous amount of resources
Canada Yearbook 2010 reports that alterations of is invested in the traditional business of resource
natural waterways provide 65% of our hydro en- development—at the expense of technologies that
ergy. Land-based uranium mining provides 15% of will serve us in the future. According to The Globe
nuclear-based energy (in Ontario that figure jumps and Mail (June 30, 2011) Canada’s rank in R&D
to 53%). The tar sands contribute 44% of total do- spending is lower than Sweden, Korea, Finland,
mestic oil production. About 68% of oil is exported, Japan, Switzerland, the USA, Denmark, Germany,
mostly to the USA (20% of its consumption). All France and Austria, and our ranking is dropping.
aspects are currently an indispensible part of the
A completely new business model for society
economic health of Canada.
would need to be developed to maintain what we
We need to better understand the impact of consider our standard of living, and at the same
this. Apart from the ecological consequences of the time improve environmental regulations and
explored materials themselves, we need to distin- enforcement.
guish short-term and long-term consequences on
No democratic government can be expected to
the natural environment.
do that unless business and the population demand
In this author’s opinion, exploration for resourc- it. A White House recommendation in June 2011
es (mining) will, in the very long term, still allow called for drastically higher gasoline mileage for
the earth a chance to establish a new ecology. The cars. The Washington Post (June 26, 2011) reported
exploitation of nickel near Sudbury has destroyed that response from industry was that “we need
the surrounding area, but major reclamation is to preserve affordability, vehicle choice, jobs and
successful. Coal mining areas in the USA and safety as we improve fuel economy.”
Germany have been reclaimed. The tar sands kill
Finally we need to consider the enormous waste
huge areas (not to mention the significant social of resources. The feeding frenzy on oil reserves is
damage they cause), but Suncor claims that of the ecologically and strategically indefensible. It should
530 square km, 65 had already been reclaimed in be unacceptable to massively burn hydrocarbons—
2009. The Alberta Government holds reclamation creating carbon dioxide and global warming—the
securities from industry.
way we do. Hydrocarbons are a high-energy source
(At the same time we must also recognize the for life. They are an inexpensive raw material for
effect of urban sprawl. For example, the land dis- plastics, pharmaceuticals, and new biological apturbed by oil sands by 2009 is only half that of the plications under development. Instead, we choose
agricultural land that has been subsumed by the to burn them up to feed inefficient engines or
city of Edmonton, according to Canada Yearbook buildings—to sustain a distorted sense of comfort
2010.)
or necessity.
To complain about explorations is not sufficient
Exploration for resources serves our collective
unless at the same time we agitate even more human greed for growth. The business community
strongly for the reduction of our demands on these —which means directly and indirectly most of
same fronts. We are conflicted by incompatible us—needs this growth to pursue our concept of
business and ecology models. On the one hand, what is a proper standard of living. We need glothe discovery of a major oil field is celebrated, bally persuasive forces to stimulate a new collective
while on the other, it is understood that more oil spirituality.
will cause an even faster decline in the existing
environment.
Fred Lautenschlaeger,
Energy and mining is vital for Canada’s econFirst Unitarian Congregation Toronto
omy: the government budget depends on these
(and part of the urban sprawl)
incomes and the associated employment. According to the Canada Yearbook 2010, of the Gross
Domestic Product’s 1,233 billion dollars, natural
resources account for 12% (energy 6.8%, minerals 3.3%, and forest 1.9%). These three resources
25
Mining Abroad: The Ugly Canadian?
Local development. Community consultation. Corporate social responsibility.
Terms such as these have recently become a key component of PR strategies for any international mining company seeking a social license to operate. In today’s globalized mining industry,
several of Canada’s most well-known and robust mining companies are vocal signatories to various
international declarations on transparency and accountability. Many are listed on sustainability
indexes and are recommended holdings for ‘socially responsible’ investors. They promote their
voluntary contributions to community development, which include such initiatives as building
wells, running drug awareness programs, and providing jobs for local people.
But despite this shift in image—from cold, hard corporations that seek only high profits for
shareholders, to caring, community-oriented enterprises, improving the lives of local people—
grassroots resistance to Canadian mining companies operating internationally has only become
louder and stronger. We need to listen to these voices in order to get an accurate picture of Canada’s
international mining industry.
In Guatemala, Vancouver-based Goldcorp’s Marlin Mine has severely contaminated the water,
resulting in serious health impacts on the municipalities of San Miguel Ixtahuacan and Sipakapa.
The crackdown on local resistance movements has shown total disregard for human rights; attempted assassinations, threats, and other violent reactions to peaceful protests, tear at the social
fabric of the community.
In the Philippines, thousands of fishing families were devastated when the Canadian-owned
Marcopper mine dumped 200 million metric tons of tailings into the Calancun Bay, destroying the
fishing industry and resulting in record-high levels of mercury and lead in the local population.
In Tanzania, Toronto-based Barrick Gold has been found complicit in the shootings of several
artisanal miners that were trying to access the mineral deposits in waste rock on which they
depend for their income.
Evidence of the environmentally, economically, and socially destructive impact of Canadian
mining can be found all over the world. But we can find hope in the resistance of community
groups that are tireless in their efforts to hold Canadian mining to account.
In 2005 in Sipakapa, Guatemala, the absence of meaningful consultation seeking the consent
of indigenous people, resulted in community groups holding a popular referendum (known as
a consulta) on the mine. Thousands of residents cast their vote, and over 98% of voters made
it clear that they did not support mining on their land. This movement of communities taking
ownership of their right to self-determination through popular democracy is growing, and now
over 50 communities in Guatemala and several communities elsewhere have found their voice
through the consulta.
Across the globe, resistance takes the form of mass protests, lengthy blockades, legal action,
issuing complaints to international bodies, calls for international solidarity, and countless other
creative actions that aim to bring attention to the impact of mining on local communities, the
environment they depend on, and our obligation to support these efforts by calling our companies
to account. These communities have alternative visions for their own development—but we all
need to do our part in tearing down unjust structures that stand in the way of their realization.
Let us never surrender our critical mindset when faced with false development schemes that
seek to distract us from the cries of those that refuse to let destructive and unjust mining practices become their only option. For true local development comes not from a foreign-imposed
operation but from an empowered people. Community consultation is not sufficient if it does
not recognize the right of a community to say no to mining. And corporate social responsibility
is no replacement for accountability, justice, and genuine solidarity.
Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt,
Eastern Region Coordinator for
the Student Christian Movement of Canada,
has just finished an internship with MiningWatch Canada
www.miningwatch.ca
The Courtenay River Estuary: Rich Past, Hopeful Future
Stewardship and sustainability are ‘ecobuzz’ words that are preserve and restore a beauty of nature that is primed for a return
rapidly becoming mainstream as Canadians think more about to abundance (www.projectwatershed.ca). Major industries along
fresh water resources. Thank goodness!
its shores, contributors to a steady decline during the past 75
We are accustomed to hearing that one-fifth of the world’s years, have been removed. One example is a large sawmill near
fresh water sources are located within our boundaries, but less the bridge with log storage where the Estuary met the ocean at
comfortable with the fact that only 2.6% is in southern Canada Goose Spit. A large, obsolete cement tower along the western
where most of us live. We know that rivers were the highways shoreline road, has also been removed.
In 2010 five local governments—a city, town, village and two
for voyageurs and explorers that resulted in a vast country of
2,000,000 lakes, bordered by three seas and the American rural districts—adopted a new Comox Valley Regional Growth
land mass. But few of us realize that 22,000,000 people live in Strategy plan that received a 2011 provincial award for its sustainwatersheds, where at least 10% of the local water flow is critical able management component, including the Estuary, to insure
to their lifestyle, according to Canadian Geographic’s web sec- future protection.
And now we know that pre-contact aboriginal populations livtion on watersheds.
Rivers and lakes are important reservoirs of fresh water but it ing along the shores managed this highly productive estuary for
is estuaries that most directly reflect the Unitarian principle of centuries. A major archeological study is being prepared by two
“respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we local workers for publication. It demonstrates that the Courtenay
are a part”. Estuaries are nodal points, the most fertile spots on River Estuary possesses the remains of thousands of wood stakes,
the planet. These brackish bays, in which fresh and salt waters comprising a coordinated system of fish traps, that utilized the
mingle, host insects, plants, bushes and trees, tadpoles and ma- tides. Two distinct intertidal fish trap types have been identified:
ture fish, small and large wild animals, migrating birds—and the Winged Heart and the Winged Chevron. This suggests that
families of people—because they are bountiful and beautiful the ancient inhabitants of this area had an extensive fishery using
passive fish trap systems. The researchers (who wish to remain
places.
We are estuary residents who live along the Courtenay River unidentified for the present, during their final work on their
Estuary, at the base of one of the 595 watersheds in this country. manuscripts) conclude that harvesting was based on knowledge
Only three kilometres long, the Courtenay River is one of the of fish behavior, understanding and replication of sophisticated
world’s shortest navigable rivers. The Comox Glacier dominates engineering principles, and an appreciation of sustainability
our Vancouver Island Valley from its position in the Beaufort that operated for more than 1,300 years. This significant study
mountains. Two major watershed rivers join near the northern stimulated the formation of a community committee to propose
Condensory Bridge at 1st Street in the City of Courtenay; the National Historic status for these trap systems. The Project
moveable bascule 17th Street Bridge is the southern crossing Watershed Society has assembled stakeholder representatives
and sponsors the committee. UNESCO World Heritage status
near Comox Bay.
In this small urban area, a heart-shaped estuary has supported might also be an achievable goal.
British Columbia has more than 25,725 coastline kilometers.
life for millennia. It is the second most important estuary in British Columbia, after the huge Fraser River, with some geologists The Courtenay River Estuary is one of the most precious nodal
arguing that it comprises the northern boundary of that massive points. From a biodiversity perspective, it is threatened but not
outflow. In the middle part of the last century, this was one of lost. If these 21st-century stewards achieve their dream, they
the prime sports fishing destinations in Canada.
honour an aboriginal tradition that sustained life throughout
British Columbia has 442 estuaries, but only eight are consid- many seasonal rotations. The legacy for all Canadians, including
ered Class 1. The classification is based on habitat size, intertidal other species in the interdependent web of existence, will sustain
biodiversity and use by fish and waterfowl. The Courtenay River abundant life for future millennia of diverse inhabitants.
Estuary provides habitat for 145 bird species (more than 70,000
birds), 218 plant species, 29 fish species (including all five speBetty Donaldson,
cies of pacific salmon) and innumerable species of intertidal
Professor Emerita, University of Calgary, and
animals (clams, worms, and microbes). It is the major stopover
Paul Horgen,
for migrating trumpeter swans.
Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto,
The Comox Valley Project Watershed Society has been conserve on the Project Watershed Board of Directors.
cerned with restoration of all local watersheds, but for the last five
Betty Donaldson is a member of
years has focused on the Estuary. An environmental stewardship
the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship.
group, it works with local governments and the community to
27
Ghosts and Orphans: the legacy of uranium mining
The good old days weren’t always that great. Past mineral resource extraction practices have left us
with a witches’ brew of environmental problems that continue to haunt northern communities.
Consider, for example, uranium mining in northern Saskatchewan dating back to the 1950s.
Uranium ore, when brought to the surface, contains a mixture of compounds of uranium and its
various radioactive decay products that have accumulated over the millennia, as well as several
chemically toxic elements such as arsenic.
Uranium238 has a very long radioactive half-life (four and a half billion years). It is constantly
throwing off alpha particles that leave it transformed into thorium, which is itself radioactive. This
sequence continues through 14 successive decay steps before a stable, non-radioactive isotope of
lead is reached. So uranium ore contains a mixture of all of these radioactive materials, the bulk
of which need to be removed before the uranium product is shipped away for refining. The ore is
crushed and milled close to the mine, and the unwanted contaminants are left on site as tailings,
in the form of a fine sand-like material. The problem then arises—what to do with these tailings,
which still contain radioactive materials with half-lives of hundreds of thousands of years.
A sad example of how tailings were handled fifty years ago is the Gunnar mine site, close
to the shore of Lake Athabasca. Uranium was mined there from 1955 to 1963, initially from an
open pit and subsequently from underground workings. The rim of the pit was separated from
the lake only by a narrow ridge of bedrock. Over 4 million tonnes of tailings were created during
the operation of the mine and mill. At first these were dumped in a nearby depression. When
this was full, a new, shallow dumping site was used. Unfortunately, from there, tailings flowed
or drifted into Langley Bay, a narrow arm of Lake Athabasca.
In those days uranium mines did not have to be licensed (although their product, as a strategic
material, was certainly regulated). When the mine closed in 1963, little or no de-commissioning
took place. The mine pit was flooded by blasting a narrow trench in the rock that separated it
from the lake. Water flowed into the pit and eventually also flooded the underground workings.
The channel was then blocked with waste rock. And this was how the site was abandoned, and
still remains, with wind-blown radioactive tailings spread over a fairly large land area and drifting into the lake.
The owner of the mine, which operated without environmental restrictions, is no longer in
existence, and the site is designated as an orphan site. This means that dealing with the problem
falls back on government and taxpayers. But it isn’t at all obvious how the site should be treated.
There are questions about whether disturbing the lake sediment, where contaminants have accumulated, would actually cause more problems than it would solve. Some of the tailings could be
put into the mined-out pit, but there isn’t room for all of it. The Saskatchewan Research Council
has been contracted to develop a reclamation plan for Gunnar and several other similar sites. It
will be costly and difficult, and there isn’t consensus about what degree of clean-up is acceptable.
Project CLEANS’ (Cleanup of Abandoned Northern Sites) website, at www.saskcleans.ca, reports
on this process.
We should note that the modern uranium industry is highly regulated. However it is still
dealing with extremely long-lived radioactive waste materials which need to be kept isolated for
periods of time far exceeding the experience of human history.
Ann Coxworth,
Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon, volunteers as
Research Advisor to the Saskachewan Environmental Society (SES)
Teztan Biny: A Sacred Place
Lorna Elkins
Taseko Mining still wants to develop Prosperity Mine—and (June 10, 2011) quoted the Tsilhqot’in as saying: “This equally
bc’s Premier, Christy Clark, publicly declared she is in favour damaging proposal was submitted with zero consultation with
of it. Taseko revamped their previous proposal in February 2011, the Tsilhqot’in Nation, who in fact received the submission after
renamed it New Prosperity, and announced their intention of it had already been sent to both governments.”
re-submitting their proposal to the Canadian Environmental
Perhaps more of us should oppose the New Prosperity mine.
Assessment Agency (CEAA).
Prosperity Mine would have needed a huge subsidy from BC
If the New Prosperity mine is approved, it will provide ap- Hydro to be economically viable, and there is no reason to beproximately 375 direct jobs, with an annual payroll of $30 mil- lieve that New Prosperity will be any different. As BC Hydro is
lion, in the economically depressed Williams Lake area in the a crown corporation, this subsidy would come from you and me.
Interior of bc,. Per Taseko’s website, New Prosperity has proven Simon Fraser University faculty member Dr. Marvin Shaffer
reserves of 5 million ounces of gold and 2.4 billion pounds of estimated in The Tyee ( July 9, 2010) that the cost could be as
copper. These are products that each of us use every day in our much as $20 million annually. Those 375 jobs also come at the
industrial civilization. Every time we flip on a computer, tea cost of a First Nation’s lifeway, a grizzly bear habitat, the loss of
kettle, air conditioner, or microwave, the electricity is delivered fish and fish habitat— and, generally, with colossal destruction
through copper wires. Gold is used for various industrial pur- of the environment.
poses as well as for jewellery. So this revised proposal is a good
Why doesn’t Premier Christy Clark choose to subsidize envithing, right? Not so fast.
ronmentally friendly projects instead? (I’d like to propose Terra
Talk about destroying nature to acquire natural resources: preta—a human-created soil additive made from charcoal and
Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) is a sacred place for the Tsilhqot’in, who compost that is incredibly fertile and—even better—sequesters
have fished, hunted, and gathered medicines on it and around carbon.) Do we, as a society, believe that we can ignore natural
its shores, just as their ancestors did long before British Co- limits to growth?
lumbia was settled. Taseko Mining proposed to drain it in their
A paradigm shift is possible; if we change ourselves, and work
original plan. Their new and improved proposal surrounds the to make a change in the world with loving kindness, we are not
trout-filled lake with an open pit mine and tailings dump. The doomed to destroy nature and consequently, ourselves.
original Prosperity Mine proposal was roundly rejected by the
CEAA and by the Conservative federal cabinet as it was extremely
Tuula Helin,
destructive to the environment and to the traditional lands and
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops
lifeways of the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
The Tsilhqot’in Nation doesn’t see New Prosperity as an Visit Tuula Helin’s blog: www.connexionsandcontradictions.
improvement on Prosperity Mine. The CBC News’ website blogspot.com, or email her at [email protected]
Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) is important to the Tsilhqot’in Nation, who place great emphasis on preserving their culture and their way of life.
29
Potatoes vs. An Open Pit
Imagine the area of about 1,200 soccer fields and you have a size together and calm down and appreciate that they might get a
similar to that of the proposed mega-quarry near Melancthon, golf course out of this.” Mayor Hill wrote a letter of concern
North of Shelburne, on, and only three kilometres away from and complaint to Premier Dalton McGuinty in response. The
our 55-acre Unitarian summer Unicamp, in Honeywood, on. If deadline of April 26 for official letters of objection to Highland
the proposal goes through, prime agricultural land will be dug and the Ministry of Natural Resources was then extended to July
up to create the biggest open-pit mine in Canada, and likely the 11. Over 2,000 letters were sent.
second biggest in North America.
The Highland Companies have two years to reply to every
How did it come to this?
letter. If their response is unsatisfactory, it may be rebutted with
About four years ago a hedge-fund operated company based in another letter to this effect, copying the Minister of Natural ReBoston, The Highland Companies, bought 7000 acres of prime sources. Be assured this powerful US-based company will fight
agricultural land with the supposed intention of farming, grow- hard for their perceived rights to the valuable Ontario limestone.
ing, and processing potatoes in the Township of Melancthon. It is that same limestone that makes the land prime potato land,
About three years ago they announced an interest in extracting providing great drainage, and preventing the potatoes from
limestone. This would be accomplished by digging a pit of 2300 rotting. This fact alone should give us a hint that restoring
acres, going deeper than 200 feet below the water table.
the land on the bottom of the quarry after extraction—as has
There are a number of concerns should the mega-quarry go been promised—will not in any way bring it back to its orginal
ahead. Drilling into the aquifer will likely affect the quantity prime and Class-1 condition, nor will it be suitable for growing
and quality of water supplying local wells, springs, as well as potatoes.
the headwaters of rivers such as the Nottawasaga, Saugeen, and
The international online petition organization Avaaz has colthe Grand River, which reach millions of people in Ontario. A lected over 100,000 signatures to put pressure on the Ontario
whopping 600 million litres of water would be used every single Minister of Natural Resources. Despite past deadlines, there
day to minimize dust. Every single day 4000 trucks would drive is still an opportunity to keep the pressure on: sending letters
over the mostly gravel roads in the area, and the noise level of to your MP and MPP, and organizing events and protests will
ongoing blasting to extract the limestone would likely have quite get the attention of the media. This is a fight for years to come,
an impact on the quality of life for residents.
unless laws are changed by the government and the people
In response, the North-Dufferin Agricultural Community of Ontario, to give priority to valuable agricultural land over
Taskforce (NDACT) was formed by the local citizens, alerting mineral extraction.
the friends of Unicamp about the proposed quarry. We spread
the word to UU congregations in Ontario.
Ellen Papenburg,
The Highland Companies demolished over 30 homes,
past president of Unicamp
which they had let go derelict, and removed many old-wood
moderator FriendsOfUnicampStoptheQuarry egroup
lots (“normal farming practice” they claim). According to their
join us [email protected]
promotional video they intend to plant new woodland around
the quarry.
I’ve attended the Melancthon town council meeting every
month since September 2009, and was present when we heard
that The Highland Companies finally filed their application on Related links:
March 3 of this year. Now the NDACT, Unitarians, The Council www.ndact.com
of Canadians, conservation groups, First Nations, and many www.stopthemelancthonquarry.com
miningforthetruthinmelancthon.blogspot.com
more can take action.
The government needs to hear that Melacthon does not want www.melancthontownship.ca
a mega-quarry. Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources, Linda search on facebook for “Stop the Quarry”
Jeffrey, showed support for the mega-quarry when she told
Melancthon Mayor Bill Hill that he, “should get the community Background info from the other side:
http://www.highlandcompanies.ca/index.php/site/
Economic Efficiency and Canada’s Water
Human activity is having profound consequences on the earth. Our overuse of many natural
resources is leaving a much-degraded planet for future generations. For many in religious and
environmental groups, this can only be tackled by a profound change of values.
Another perspective on how we can take better care of the earth comes from the economicsbased notion of efficiency. Anyone who has managed a household or business knows that being
efficient means putting ones resources to their best use and minimizing waste. For example, a
congregation using a coffee pot so leaky that 10% of the coffee spills onto the counter each Sunday,
wastes coffee and human resources (those who clean up the mess). In economics, we would call
fixing the leaky coffee pot an example of a Pareto improving action: one that makes some people
better off and no one worse off; it’s an easy decision.
Efficiency can guide the stewardship of the earth’s natural resources too. Water is one example
(but the arguments apply equally to other natural resources). If we look at how water is priced
and consumed in Canada we can conclude that we use water very inefficiently. Water prices are
far too low and, as a result, water is wasted.
According to economist Steven Renzetti, in his report Wave of the Future: The Case for Smarter
Water Policy (C.D. Howe Institute-Institut C.D. Howe, 2009), it is costly to supply clean water
to people. There is the building of infrastructure to bring water to homes, the monitoring and
checking of water quality, the cost of treating water so that it can be safely consumed. Municipal
water agencies collect revenues to pay for these costs through various charges levied on customers. However the amount of revenue collected from these charges does not cover the basic costs
of supplying water to users. In 2007, revenues collected by water agencies in Canada covered
only 70% of reported costs. In addition, most Canadian cities have failed to maintain and replace
aging water supply networks, which causes losses through leakage and signifies future repair
costs. Finally, the reported costs put no dollar value on the water itself.
One important economic principle: resources will be used inefficiently if they are not priced
to reflect their true costs. A comparison of water prices across nations shows that Canadian water
prices are much lower than in many European nations. The most recent comparison available is
for 1999, which shows average water prices in Germany of about $2.16 per cubic metre compared
to Canada’s average of about 31 cents. In Germany, consumption of water in liters, per person per
day, was about 125 compared to a figure for Canada of 325 litres per person per day. In addition, a
significant number of Canadian households (about 35% in 2004) pay a flat monthly rate for water,
no matter how much they use. Studies have shown that moving from a flat fee to a price per litre
consumed can cause household water consumption to fall by half. When the true cost of water
is included in the price, many people would stop watering lawns, for example, and businesses
would find ways to reduce water consumption.
The economic efficiency argument holds that charging a price for water which reflects the
true cost of using the resource is the surest way to ensure that we will not waste it. The payment
should cover the cost of delivering water resources to homes and businesses, and a user cost to
reflect the scarcity of water in particular regions.
Charging a higher price for water is not as easy a decision as replacing a leaky coffee pot. What
about people who can’t afford to purchase water at what would be considered an efficient price?
Our UU principle of justice and equity calls on us to ensure that everyone has access to food,
clean water, and shelter. Rather than subsidize water consumption as we do now, I’d advocate
for better income redistribution so that everyone has enough to purchase necessities including
water, food, and shelter. It is also possible to establish an escalating price rate on water, beyond
a certain mimimum of units needed to meet a household’s basic needs. This can help eliminate
the impact of increasing water prices on those who can least afford it, while promoting conservation and wise use of the resource for all.
To use the earth’s resources wisely we must use them efficiently.
Margaret Insley,
First Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo and
Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Waterloo
31
Message from UUMOC
Symptoms and Soul
Religion in the ecological epoch will need to be based on a Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Llewellyn Vaughansense of deep communion with all beings—through empathy, Lee reminds us that in western culture, “the core of Spiritual
through the power of the heart, through our deepest intuition Ecology is an understanding that our present outer ecologiof the sacred pulse of life and the sacred nature of the cosmos. cal crisis is a reflection of an inner spiritual crisis… a lack of
It will be a religion in which heart and mind combine. It will be awareness of the sacred within ourselves and within all of
a religion of celebration and joy.
life [that] has created an inner wasteland as real as any outer
landscape. We cannot redeem our physical environment” he
Henryk Skolinowski, A Sacred Place to Dwell asserts, “without restoring our relationship to the sacred.”
We live in ‘interesting’ times: times of radical transition,
amidst early evidence of a global consciousness shift. The
uniquely relevant theology of our Seventh Principle, as Rev.
So often these days I hear us asking the ageless religious David Bumbaugh wrote (UUA World 1995), “calls us to
questions: who are we, what is our calling, how shall we reverence before the world—not some future world but the
define our mission and vision? Soul questions. And while miraculous world of our everyday experience… It bespeaks
we search for answers as individuals and as congregations, a world where—because all things impinge on all other
I believe we are called as a religious movement to respond things—everything matters.”
to the soul needs of our age. To remember that the ‘anima
So we work to clean up pollution, protest the tar sands,
mundi’—the spirit of our times—along with the scarred and protect endangered species, lobby to pass legislation declarsacred Earth, is equally in need of healing.
ing water a universal human right, attending in myriad ways
A strong commitment to environmental justice is a to the symptoms of a pervasive, systemic spiritual crisis.
natural for Unitarians and Universalists. As individuals and As wise religious activists, let us not become so busy we
as faith communities, we typically express our longing for neglect what empowers us for sustained action and renews
environmental and social justice with social and political our spirits for the long haul. Healing the spiritual malaise of
action on many fronts, locally and in every region of Canada, our age calls us in ‘celebration and joy’ to savour the world
extending our concern to all corners of the globe. A religion we seek to save. This is work best nurtured in supportive,
of celebration and joy?
multi-generational community.
Faced with the enormity of the mandate to save an entire
In the words again of Joanna Macy, “It is a privilege to be
planet, the miracle is how many manage to not only retain joy alive in this time when we can choose to take part in the selfbut avoid burnout. What inspires us, keeps us going, restores healing of our world.” Could it be that our Seventh Principle ,
us in the face of daily frustrations, set-backs, defeats, justice “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which
denied or delayed?
we are a part”, points us toward balancing and integrating
I believe it is our encouragement of each other in com- our work for eco-justice with an authentic eco-spirituality?
munity, doing the inner work that sustains the outer work. May it be so!
Maintaining hope by celebrating what Buddhist teacher and
activist Joanna Macy calls a basic “gratitude for the gift of
Rev. Carole Martignacco,
life… the primary wellspring of all religions.”
Unitarian Universalist Church of North Hatley
We would do well to intentionally integrate more spiritual
renewal, a reawakening of wonder, reverence and awe for
the sacred earth into our environmental activism. Writing in
The Huffington Post after the failed initiatives of the 2010 UN
32
London hosts Falun Gong Practitioners
Thanks to Mark Konrad
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Falun Gong practitionBefore the children of the UFL went off to their separate
ers David Song and Hongmei Lu finished speaking. They had religion education classes, David and Hongmei demonstrated
come at the invitation of the Reverend Myron Andes, minister of a simple Falun Gong exercise that children and adults could do.
the Unitarian Fellowship of London (UFL), for one of the year’s Spontaneously, all the members of the congregation stood up
Social Justice Sunday sermons. This sermon was titled “Falun and joined in. Young and old members all stretched and swayed
Gong: A practitioner’s experience in the People’s Republic of and moved in unison.
China”.
When asked what we can do to help stop the persecution of
David and Hongmei related how loss of jobs, false arrest, Falun Gong members, David and Hongmei suggested the we
harassment, imprisonment, and torture—all at the hands of the speak out about the plight of Amnesty International Political
Chinese government—are among the possible fates awaiting a Prisoner, Zhisheng Gao (高智晟). In 2001 Zhisheng Gao was
Falun Gong member who refuses to give up the faith.
named one of China’s Top Ten lawyers by the Ministry of Justice
What started off as a small sect in 1992, initially embraced for his work defending victims of medical malpractice and farmby the Chinese government, now has more than 100 million ers whose land had been seized for redevelopment. But in 2005
practitioners throughout China. With such large numbers, it is Zhisheng Gao began defending members of unofficial Christian
rumored that the Falun Gong’s membership exceeds that of the churches as well as adherents of Falun Gong. After accepting
Chinese Communist Party by 30 million.
these highly controversial cases, his license to practice law was
Contrary to Politburo beliefs, Fasuspended, the Chinese governlun Gong members have no politiment shut down his 20-member
cal agenda, wishing only to be left
law firm, he was harassed, unjustly
alone to practice their three main
detained, and tortured by the Chitenets, Truthfulness, Compassion,
nese secret police.
and Forbearance. Unfortunately,
Since then, over the years, Zhishthe Chinese government believes
eng Gao has been arrested, prohibthem to be a destabilizing threat
ited from publishing or speaking
to the social order. As a result,
out, imprisioned, and tortured.
since July of 1999, the governIn February 2009, he was taken
ment banned the practice and has
away again for interrogation by the
waged a ceaseless campaign to
Chinese secret police and was not
discredit and ultimately wipe out
seen until he resurfaced in the
the group.
Shanxi province of the People’s
David and Hongmei have both
Republic of China in March 2010.
been victims of government opSeveral days later he disappeared,
pression and spoke openly about
and as of this date, his whereabouts
their respective experiences. David
remain unknown.
served three years in a government
David and Hongmei circulated
prison, and Hongmei was arrested,
a letter of concern on behalf of
held, and questioned by security David Song and Hongmei Lu share their religious Amnesty International political
police for a short period. David told practices and their experience with the Unitarian Fel- prisoner Zhisheng Gao (高智晟).
the assembled congregation about lowship of London.
And after such a passionate preslife in one of the three Chinese
entation, members of the UFL
prisons in which he was incarcereagerly signed on. Hongmei says,
ated. A light was on 24 hours a day in his small cell, which he Zhisheng Gao is a true hero to members of the Falun Gong
shared with as many as 20 other prisoners at a time.
community, more people should know about his plight and do
He and the others were forced to do labor for 12 to 15 hours a something to help. She urged members of the international comday, in some cases making products for western markets. Before munity to call on the Chinese government to immediately and
his spellbound audience, David lamented his experience mak- unconditionally release Zhisheng Gao, and David added “… and
ing ‘cargo’ pants under unbearable prison conditions. David stop the persecution of the Falun Gong members!”
explained that, “ …cargo pants are those long pants that can be
Then, with a bow to their audience, David Song and Hongmei
converted to short pants that many of the western people seem Lu finished their presentation to thunderous applause.
to be wearing in Canada…” David warned us that some Chinese
products are produced by Chinese prison slave-labor and that is
Mark Konrad,
why the product can be sold so cheaply. Somebody, somewhere
Unitarian Fellowship of London
is paying a very high price.
33
Tips & Tricks:
Designing your Congregation’s New Website
At the UU Fellowship of Kamloops, we’ve redesigned our website: www.uukam.bc.ca.
Our three month project was accomplished by a team of volunteers and a professional.
The completed design specifications and text were handed over to a professional web
designer, who completed the website in three weeks for a very reasonable price, and
now updates our website once a month.
Here are some tips we learned along the way:
• Research web design. The best internet source I found was called The Best Damn
Web Marketing Checklist. With this, I was able to highlight all the areas where we
needed to make changes.
Support the Lotta
Hitschmanova
Legacy
Fund
Plant the Seeds
of our
Survival!
• Visit every UU website in Canada, and as many as you can in the US. Along the way
you will get design ideas and menu names . It is a good idea to treat any website as
copyrighted, even if it doesn’t say so—another reason why it’s best not to draw too
heavily from only one website.
• Who is going to design and maintain the website? A volunteer, a professional, or a
combination of both? We decided to hire a professional to design the site and update
it monthly, while we supply the content. We felt that this would ensure a professional look to the website, plus it would avoid future problems with maintenance
volunteers moving, taking holidays, or burning out.
• If you must update more frequently than once a month, it would probably be advantageous to have a Content Management System. This costs more to install, but
then a trained volunteer can easily update the website.
• Photos. Whatever you do, make sure that the photos are of the highest quality with
good composition and lighting, and they send the desired message. If you don’t have
a decent photo, then do without. It is also best to obtain permission from people in
the photos before posting them to the website.
• Graphics. For free chalice graphics, go to UUA Chalice Art, and CUC Logos &
Fonts.
I hope you find some of this helpful. Enjoy the journey!
Anne Neave,
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops
Contact: David Rain
1-800-565-6872 x 231
[email protected]
or visit
www.Dr. Lotta.ca
34
book design & layout
brochures, posters, calendars…
…my tech department
design for print & web | digital media
[email protected] | (514) 257 6785
Inform
Advise
Advertise
Put your business or service
mes sage in The Canadian
Unitarian and reach Unitarian
Universalists across Canada
and into the United States, in
print and online. Contact the
Canadian Unitarian Council at:
[email protected] or 1-888-568-5723
for more information.
35
Tribute to Kathryn ‘Kay’ Cook
Kathryn (Kay) Cook was widely known as a wedding
officiant in Toronto. Appointed a chaplain by the
congregation of First Unitarian Church in 1973, she
quickly gained popularity among couples seeking
non-traditional wedding ceremonies.
Buttressed by the feminist movement and the
liberalization of Canada’s divorce laws, she began her
career by offering an alternative to the conventional
church wedding. She believed that committed couples
deserved the sanctity of marriage in spite of differences in ethnicity, race or religion. She conducted
commitment ceremonies for gay couples long before
the Ontario Court of Appeal eliminated the ban on
same-sex marriage in 2003.
Send Address Corrections and Returns to [email protected] or to:
CUC, 100-344 Dupont Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1V9
Canada Post Agreement #40009492
from the Lives Lived Column of
The Globe and Mail
(Oct 28, 2010)
I met Kathryn Cook in 1977. As a Unitarian lay
chaplain, she officiated at my first wedding. I
was so impressed by her ability to make everyone
feel relaxed as she conducted our ceremony with
such grace. It was at this ceremony that I became
intrigued with the idea of becoming a chaplain
myself. I let the idea simmer in the back of my
mind and carried on with my career as an arts/
educator and performer.
For my second marriage, my fiancé and I
asked Kay to officiate (I’ve often joked that she
gave me a discount the second time as the first
marriage didn’t take). This second wedding was
an intimate ceremony and Kay helped to make
our living room a sacred space as she blessed our
union with words of wisdom and inspiration on
our special day.
A few years later I was asked to help team-teach
a drama workshop for children. My partner was
Kay Cook. We had a wonderful time teaching
the class together and I told her of my dream of
becoming a chaplain. She mentioned how much
it helps to have a theatre background to do the
ceremonies. She helped me brainstorm ways that
I could get licensed.
Inspired, I decided to start a church called
The Music Church in the hope that after a few
years the congregants might elect me as chaplain.
Our creed was, no Dogma just great Karma. We
sang uplifting music and gave thanks. We had
some amazing musical guests and we traveled
to restaurants and through people’s homes for
about two years. But I began to burn out, as I was
doing almost all the duties of keeping The Music
Church alive. I was too busy to give a thought to
chaplaincy work.
When I felt the calling to do services again I
had a brochure made and Kay helped me find
source material and gave me a copy of a book she
wrote to help couples plan their own wedding.
Kay helped me officiate my first wedding at the
North York wedding chapel on Valentine’s Day.
It was such a thrill to perform this ceremony
with my mentor.
A couple of years later Kay told me about a
new Unitarian congregation starting up in the
Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto that would
be needing lay chaplains. So I visited and I fell
in love with the Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation and its fabulous minister,
Rev. Wayne Walder, and I have been there ever
since.
After shadowing Wayne and taking training
sessions, I became their first lay chaplain. One
Sunday I was giving a talk on how I became a lay
chaplain and I invited Kay—I wanted her to know
how grateful I am to her for helping me achieve
my dream. After the service so many people came
up to her to say hello and tell her that she married
them and many of their friends.
I was so shocked to hear that Kay passed away
last year. I never got a chance to say goodbye and
thank her for guiding and nurturing me to do
this wonderful work. She was unique and special,
and I will always remember her in her beautiful
gowns, speaking words of wisdom and love.
Thanks Kay.
Naomi Tyrell,
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist
Congregation

Summer - Canadian Unitarian Council

Transcription

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