Half Empty, Half Full or Refillable? 

At this year’s MidAmerican Regional Assembly, held virtually on April 30, CB Beal shared a number of insightful and inspirational concepts. The idiom for their talk was the glass half empty-half full idea, and that our individual perspective determines how we see what is frequently assumed to be a dichotomy. CB posed a different idea; that there is opportunity for things to change if we change our perspective – if we see the glass as REFILLABLE! For UUs this offers the opportunity for community expansion. To reject a first response of NO and embrace the chaos and creativity that comes with YES. To paraphrase Margaret Wheatly, we can’t be creative without being confused. 

What do I/we need to be well and healthy and to refill my/our glass? CB suggestions the following: 

• Knowing that others care/ that I feel love 
• To have a sense of purpose and experience the energy from taking action on that purpose 
• The capacity to be in the moment so I/we can share with others whose relationship and encouragement makes me feel whole.  

These are especially important given the challenges and hurt of the past few years! 

Another concept CB shared is “preemptive radical inclusions” and the idea that salvation in the form of human material liberation for this world is for everyone. All of us means all of us! We must understand collective care versus radical individualism and that our choosing collective care means rejecting intolerance and embracing community care. That the freedom to say whatever one thinks is counter to our principles so we must balance our individual desires with a will to ensure a place in the space for everyone. 

CB posed some questions that are worthy of contemplation by each of us: 

• What broad injustice am I committed to fighting? 
• What do I risk to make justice happen? 
• What if it requires me to change?  

My question to us: In this time of pandemic fatigue and societal challenges, how can we support each other to make change and keep our efforts refillable? 

Reported by Carla Williams 

About CB Beal 

CB Beal is a white, fat, queer, non-binary religious and social justice educator, writer, storyteller, and speaker. CB was the 2019 recipient of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Angus H. MacLean Award for Excellence in Religious Education. They make their home in a farmhouse library loft in western Massachusetts and consult with individuals and organizations to increase consent culture, equity, and justice in the world. You can find them online at Justice and Peace Consulting. 

Now is your opportunity to join thousands of UUs, both in-person or virtually, at the 2022 UUA General Assembly (GA). UCE is looking for members interested in serving as delegates. Whether attending in-person or virtually your participation supports your personal development and our congregation’s growth and development, which in turn supports our mission to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.

Delegates are asked to commitment to the following:

1. Study: https://www.uua.org/ga/congregations/delegates
2. Read and review the proposed issues for the assembly
3. Attend Preparing for General Assembly workshop(s) about planned issues to discuss and understand the congregation’s response/concerns
4. Attend plenary sessions (business meetings) at assembly and vote as appropriate
5. Contribute to a consolidated report back to the Board and congregation after the assembly (major vote results, new resolutions, significant theme messages)

Delegates must be UCE members. Click here and provide your information if you are interested in serving as a delegate.

Funds Available for Delegates and Non-Delegates Attending General Assembly

Leadership development funds are now available to support both in-person and virtual participation for adults and youth in the 2022 General Assembly scheduled for June 22 through 26. Funding supports registration fees and in-person travel, lodging and meal expenses, as well as expenses for gatherings during GA for those participating virtually.

Complete the UCE’s Scholarship Application online form or download the fillable pdf and email it to Kathy Underwood, Director of Lifespan Faith Formation at KUnderwood@ucevanston.org.

As a congregation and as an association we cannot endorse any political party or candidate without endangering our tax status. However, we can participate in activities to encourage people to get out and vote. The UUA affiliated organization “UU the Vote” does just that. We mail out reminder cards to lists of voters in various races around the country to remind people to get to their polling places. Visit the “UU the Vote” website to add your email to their contact list. 

I’m Lee Bannor and I’m a member of the Unitarian Church of Evanston. In 2008 I was a volunteer answering the phones in the Obama campaign office. A few days before the election the woman sitting next to me, who had been there on several previous occasions, said she would be glad when the election was over so she could get back to her day job. I asked her what her day job was.  

She said she was the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago. It was Nina Grey. I responded that I went to UCE and so did “Dick back there” (Dick Whitaker). A couple other people spoke up and said they were members of Unity Temple. A couple more said they were members of the Hinsdale Church, etc, etc. In total, about a third of the volunteers were UUs! Clearly, we are a small but mighty faith. 

Happy New Year! The Denominational Affairs Team (DA) kicks off 2022 with a renewed sense of purpose which includes expanded communication with the Unitarian Church of Evanston (UCE) community. Watch for regular articles about DA activities and stories about UU work at UCE and beyond. Our team seeks to strengthen ties between our congregation and the larger association. We alert our members to resources offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and encourage participation in local, regional and national activities. DA maintains a flyer on UU organizations that thrive in and support our UCE community. Check out the updated version here.  

Spotlight on UU Organization: The MidAmerica Region of the UUA provides congregational life services to approximately 187 congregations, 3 emerging congregations, and 10 covenanting communities across 13 states. In a year of adaptation, these services include relationship building, leadership development, faith formation, cultural competence, and support for dismantling systemic white supremacy culture, as well as coaching in stewardship and conflict transformation. The Friends of MidAmerica monthly newsletter offers a wide range of information and resources. Check out the January 2022 issue here and consider signing up for regular updates. 

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has commissioned a study of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is comprised of our Principles and Purposes and is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA. 

The Article II Study Commission is hosting monthly public conversations with a panel of speakers. Those in attendance are provided a survey link to provide the Study Commission with their thoughts. 

Thursday, February 24, 2022, 7:00 pm: A Conversation on Inspiration 

What are our founts of inspiration? Where have we drawn them from, how have they developed in our history as a faith, and which ones speak to us now? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on inspirations.  

Thursday, March 24, 2022, 7:00pm: A Conversation on Purpose 

What is our mission as Unitarian Universalists? What are called to do in the world? How do we, as individuals and as an organization, answer that call? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on purpose. 

Friday, April 15, 2022, 7:00pm: A Conversation on Values 

What shared values do we have as a faith? What common dreams need to be reflected in a new Article II? Complete this Zoom Registration in advance to attend the panel on values. 

Background Information: 

Our current Principles and Purposes as listed in Article II of the UUA Bylaws were last revised in 1987. At General Assembly (GA) 2017, there was discussion of amending the Principles to add the 8th Principle, addressing racism, and an amended 1st Principle, addressing non-human life. The 5th Principle was the subject of a report in 2009, which dealt with the ways in which GA and other UU gatherings do and don’t embody an inclusive democratic process. The 7th Principle has also been the subject of discussions about possible amendments. In response to those discussions, in 2020 the UUA Board established an Article II Study Commission to conduct a review and consider revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. 

The UUA Compass conference held on-line in early December gave about 200 UUs nationwide the chance to reflect on their values and beliefs.  The event opened with statements from four non-UUs:  from a public health expert, from two members of the Rising Appalachia musical group, and from a self-described “queer black trouble-maker”.   They spoke about what religion and faith means to them and their interactions with UU activities and individuals.   

A panel of UUs responded to what they’d just heard.  The group consisted of young adult UUs, a religious educator and clergy members.  But perhaps the heart of the conference was the chance for UUs from across the country to share their personal beliefs and reactions to the speakers.  Opening with affinity groupings, the chats interspersed throughout the conference moved on to give small groups of attendees the chance to share ideas and experiences from their congregations. 

At the end of the event, time was set aside to specifically hear about and reflect on the Article II Study Commission.   A proposal is to be made to the UUA Board by January of 2023 not only on the viability of an Eighth Principle supporting racial equity, but on revisions to Article II in its entirety –  UU values and sources, along with our principles.  This event gave attendees a chance to have their voices heard in this process. 

All in all the event was another demonstration of how on-line gatherings can foster dialog among UUs from across the country, and do so in a way that makes it much easier for those of all income levels and of all ages to participate. 

Submitted, Jane Bannor, January 2022