Interweave Continental

Unitarian Universalists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns - Chapters in more than 40 congregations, vatican visite, and 200+ families of all kinds across Canada and the US.

First Time Visitors

Welcome to the Interweave Continental web site! We’re glad you’re here. We hope you find something that sparks your interest and helps you grow and deepen spiritually.

We are

A spiritual community actively working toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognizing that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. We hold an abiding interest in celebrating diversity and improving the well-being of our world, ourselves, and all around us. We are an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association(UUA) and Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles guide our work. By providing and supporting leadership and working in collaboration with other organizations of similar vision, we strive to connect and nurture all Queer individuals, communities, and groups and their allies.

You can read our Mission/Vision statement.

Interweave Continental was founded in the early 1970s and has a rich history.

We are led by a volunteer Board who covenant together to run the organization according to the Interweave bylaws.

Join us

Become a member

Interweave Continental is a membership-based organization. Membership has many benefits. You can join Interweave Continental in one of two ways: as an individual membership or as part of an Interweave Chapter.

Participate in discussions

Interweave sponsors three email discussion lists through the UUA: general discusson, bisexuality concerns, and support for chapter leaders. Anyone can sign up to join the general and bi lists; if you want to join the chapter leaders list, you’ll have to be approved by the moderators (don’t worry; if you’re part of a chapter or interested in starting one, we’ll approve you—being moderated simply keeps the focus on chapters). Click on a list name to join!

There are also several UUA-sponsored lists of interest to queer folk. Again, click on a list name to join.

For a list of all UUA-sponsored lists (you may find a few more to your liking!) click here.

Participate in community discussions on this website.

Come to Convo or General Assembly
Each year, we hold an Interweave Convocation that brings together folks from around the continent. Convo features a keynote address, workshops, small group discussions, worship services, and plenty of time to network and learn from one another. Interweave also has events at General Assembly, including a dinner and workshops. Our sermon contest winner gives their winning sermon, and we present the Mark deWolfe Award to a UU who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to improving life for queer folk. Get more detail on the upcoming Convo and GA on our Interweave Continental Events page.

If you are not out in your current faith community

Living Openly in Your Place of Worship [PDF 600KB]* from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an excellent resource for considering whether or not to come out, what to do if you can’t come out, and how to come out if you decide to. It has an excellent list of queer-friendly resources specifically for Unitarian Universalists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mennonites, Brethren, United Methodists, Presbyterians, Cathoics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and other Christians.

Resources

Some of these sites have inspirational quotes, sermons, recordings, and pointers to other resources for spiritual growth and celebration. Some of these sites have information on Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist ideas, thought, and what is being done on various fronts.

Web Sites

UU blogs

http://www.philocrites.com/archives/000587.html - Philocrites annotated guide to UU blogs
http://uupdates.net/sites.php - List of Syndicated UU sites, mostly UU blogs
http://kinja.com/favorites/uublogs
http://www.globeofblogs.com/?x=topic&topic=513

Unitarian, Universalist, Unitarian Universalist: what’s the difference?

Interweave Continental respects the cultural differences between Canada and the US, and between the Canadian Unitarian Counsel / Conseil Unitarien du Canada (CUC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

The CUC uses “Unitarian and Universalist”, “Unitarians and Universalists”, “Unitarianism and Universalism”.
The UUA uses “Unitarian Universalist”, “Unitarian Universalists”, and “Unitarian Universalism”.
We often honor these cultural differences by using phrases like “Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist” when referring to people or congregations across both denominations or in the ICUU.

About Interweave Continental

Interweave Continental is a membership organization actively working toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognizing that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. We are an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association and UU principles guide our work. We value and affirm the lives and experience of Queer people of faith, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, income level, and ability. By providing and supporting leadership and working in collaboration with other organizations of similar vision, we strive to connect and nurture all Queer individuals, communities, and groups and their allies.

Interweave Continental Governanc

Interweave Continental governance is based on a series of documents, groups, and meetings. This table attempts to summarize the role of each document or group.

People or Document What Do They Do? How Are They Changed?
Committees, Task Forces, etc.
Fulfill the charge from the body which created it. (e.g. Board, Member Meeting, etc.)
Report as charged, or to the body which created it.
The Interweave Continental Board or the body which created the committee, task force, etc. can change its charge or dissolve it.
Portfolios
(including Officers)
Run the affairs for which they hold the portfolio between Board meetings.
Report on their portfolio at each Board meeting.
The Interweave Continental Board defines the portfolio descriptions in the Standard Operating Procedures.
At a Member Meeting:
Elect new Officers.
Elect new Board members.
Change the Bylaws.
Interweave Continental Board
Runs Interweave Continental between Member Meetings.
Maintains the Standard Operating Procedures.
Meets:
In person February/March the day after Convocation, June during UUA General Assembly (UUA GA), Fall for the Board Retreat.
By phone the afternoon/evening of the first Sunday of each month, any other time that a telephone meeting is called.
By email throughout the year.
At a Member Meeting:

Elect new board members.
Approve the next year’s budget.
Change the Bylaws.
Pass a motion establishing direction for the Board and/or organization.
Interweave Continental Standard Operating Procedures
Succinctly lists responsibilities of each Portfolio including responsibilities that the Board has defined but are not in the Bylaws, empowering the holder of each portfolio to carry on that part of Interweave Continental’s business between meetings of the Board.
Succinctly lists information about events from documents such as the Bylaws and Articles of Organization.
Suggest changes to members of the Board.
At a Member Meeting, propose changes to the Bylaws.
Agendas and Minutes
Authorizes expenditures and sets limits (by line item and overall) for the Interweave Continental Board for the next year.
The Board presents a proposed budget to the Member Meeting, which passes a final budget.
Interweave Continental Member Meeting
Can change the Bylaws.
Can set direction for the organization, which the Board then implements.
Elects members of the Board, including the Officers.
By approving the annual budget, sets parameters for the Board.
The Board schedules at least one Member Meeting a year, usually at Convocation.
Interweave Continental Bylaws
(and Attestation Form)
Empowers the Member Meeting to modify the Bylaws and run the organization.
Empowers the Board to run the organization between meetings of the membership.
Empowers the President to run the organization between meetings of the Board.
Empowers the Vice-President to run the organization in the absence or inability of the President.
Either the Board or Member Meeting can initiate changes to the Bylaws.
The next Member Meeting can ratify changes to the Bylaws by a 2/3 vote.
Interweave Continental Articles of Organization
Interweave Continental, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation chartered in Massachusetts. The Articles of Organization are the basic set of rules defined when Interweave Continental was incorporated, including that Interweave Continental is a non-profit, tax-exempt religious and educational organization supporting and educating about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

II 4. (u) requires an annual accounting of all corporate transactions, which we do by filing US IRS Form 990.
II 4. (q) supports the Bylaws requirement that changes to the Bylaws be made by the [[Interweave Continental Member Meeting|Member Meeting.]
Changes may be made by the Board or its officers filing ammendments with the office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
UUA

Principles and Purposes
UUA Governance
CUC

Principles and Sources / Les principes et les sources de notre tradition religieuse
Vision Statement
By-Laws & Business
Establish overarching principles and purposes of each denomination, and detailed rules by which the denomination is governed. Of particular interest to Interweave Continental are:
UUA Bylaws Rule III, Section C-3.8. Independent Affiliate Organizations
Established and changed by
Annual UUA General Assembly (GA)
CUC Annual Conference and Meeting (ACM).
Massachusetts General Laws
These laws govern all corporations that operate in Massachusetts, whether they were formed there or not.
These laws specify that the corporation must have the equivalent of the following officers: President, Treasurer, Clerk (also known as Secretary).
The Clerk must be a Massachusetts resident.
Changes may be made by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
If the Legislature makes any changes to the parts of these laws that apply to non-profit, tax-exempt corporations, those changes apply to Interweave Continental.
Laws of the US and Canada
Canadian laws govern all people and corporations in Canada.
US laws govern all people and corporations in the US.
The US Internal Revenue Code of 1954 governs all non-profit organizations in the US.
The US IRS Determination Letter:

Confirms that Interweave Continental is classified as a 501©(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization under US law, and that donations to Interweave Continental are tax deductible by people filing taxes in the US.
The IRS evaluated the Articles of Organization, Bylaws, and the first 5 years of Interweave Continental’s US IRS Form 990.
“You are required to make your annual information return, Form 990 or Form 990-EZ, available for public inspection for three years after the later of the due date of the return or the date the return is filed.”
US laws are changed by the US Congress passing new laws.
Canadian laws are changed by the Canadian Parliament passing new laws.
If the US IRS determines that Interweave Continental has engaged in activities (e.g. endorsing specific candidates for public office in the US) that disqualify it as a 501©(3), Interweave Continental will cease to be a tax-exempt corporation and have to pay taxes as a for-profit corporation.

Contact Us

Email us: mailto:interweave@interweavecontinental.org

Interweave Continental
45 State Street #380
Montpelier, VT 05602

Membership

Interweave Continental is a membership-based organization. Benefits of membership with Interweave Continental include:

How to Join

There are two ways you can join us:

Chapters

If you have a GLBT group in your congregation or community, whether it is called Interweave or not, you may affiliate with Interweave Continental. Affiliating with Interweave Continental connects you to similiar groups in other parts of the country while also tapping in to the broader resources of Interweave Continental.

There are currently more than 50 Interweave Chapters across the U.S. Click to see a complete list of Interweave Continental Chapters.

The annual rate for Chapter membership is $100.00.

To Join as a Chapter

  1. Download and complete a membership application

  2. Send the completed application and a check payable to Interweave Continental to:

Interweave
45 State Street #380
Montpelier, VT 05602

Want to Start a Chapter?
Download this brochure for tips on how to start your own Interweave Chapter. (.pdf) En Espanol(.pdf)

Events

The annual gathering of Interweave Continental includes:

BGLTQ-Related Events at UUA General Assembly, June 25-29, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

Click Watch This Event to receive
email when this information is updated.
As we get information about what workshops, etc. will be offered at GA, we will post them here.

The Full GA Schedule will be available on UUA.org on May 1 before GA.

Interweave Convo

Click Watch This Event to receive
email when this information is updated.
Will be held in California, Feb. 13-15, 2009. Save the date!

More details soon!

The annual gathering of Interweave Continental includes:

Leadership training for Interweave Chapter leaders (current and prospective)

General Assembly 2007 in Portland, Oregon, U.S., June 20-24

Links to event coverage have been added, where available.

Thursday
June 21

08:30a.m.
10:00a.m.

Open Space Orientation
during Plenary II (RealVideo|Windows Media), OCC Hall C ( map)

“… It is essential that the voices of bisexual, lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and questioning Unitarian Universalists, as well as heterosexual allies, in attendance at General Assembly in Portland be part of the Open Space process…” -Invitation to Interweave members

10:30a.m.
12:00p.m.

Open Space Domains (Open Space Technology - Early Days)
Workshop #2060, OCC Room F151 ( map)

Identify issues or topics that relate to the central question, “In today’s complex world, what is our mission as a faith community?” and schedule further discussion in designated meeting times and spaces.

2:45p.m.
4:00p.m.

Bisexuality Curriculum for Adult Religious Education
Workshop #2060, OCC Room F151 ( map)

This workshop is to introduce the curriculum put together by Unitarian Universalists about bisexuality. This curriculum is a great way for congregations to work on becoming more welcoming as well as to learn more about issues facing members.

Will They Come Back? Radical Spiritual Hospitality
Workshop #2070, OCC Portland Ballroom 253 ( map)

A transgender person, 6’4”, in high heels. An interfaith multiracial family. A person with hearing loss. What does radical spiritual hospitality mean? What would our congregations be like if all the people who would be UUs, could be UUs? What can we do?

Open Space Workshop I
“In today’s complex world, what is our mission as a faith community?”
(Invitation)

4:30p.m.
5:45p.m.

Beyond Categorical Thinking: Promoting Diverse Ministries
Workshop #2085 OCC Room E143-E144 ( map)

Ministerial Search is a daunting process. What if our best ministry match means we call a Latina minister? Someone who is bisexual? Someone on medication? What is ministry in our congregations like for these ministers? How do search committees balance the needs and biases and live our UU values?

5:30p.m.
7:30p.m.

LGBT and Friends Meet & Greet (Appetizers, Coffee, Iced Tea, No Host Bar)
Hobo’s Restaurant & Bar, 120 NW 3rd, between Couch and Davis

“The First Unitarian Church PRIDE Group extends some Rose City Hospitality during what we hope will be your Wonderful Time in our Fair City. Please join us and make some new friends. Hobo’s is in one of Portland’s Historic Buildings in our Old Town/China Town neighborhood. (2 MAX stops, 2 short blocks walk from Convention Center)”

Friday
June 23

1:00 p.m.
2:15 p.m.

Crossroads: A Discussion of Race and Sexual Identity
Workshop #3030, OCC Portland Ballroom 251 ( map)

People of Color and White Bisexual/Gay/Lesbian/Trans people face similar issues and quite different issues. This workshop is an opportunity to hear stories that speak to the issues that come up as well as to bear witness to the problems of racism within other communities

Saturday
June 23

10:45a.m.
12:00p.m.

What’s It Really Like?
Workshop #4014, OCC Room F152 ( map)

UUs are considered open minded when it comes to bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender issues. But what is it really like for BLGT clergy in our association of congregations? Come hear the panel talk about their experiences.

Stirring the Oatmeal: Serving All Families
Workshop #4009, OCC Room E145 ( map)

Rev. Hope Johnson asks, “What do you need to stir your oatmeal?” How can faith communities be the tools families need to sustain and nourish themselves? What do we do to keep families in congregations and what do we do that draws them away? Family Matters Task Force will facilitate discussion.

1:00p.m.
2:15p.m.

Welcoming Congregation, Marriage Equality: The Journey Toward Equality
Workshop #4041, OCC Room B116 ( map)

How have we made a difference? What work is still left? With all the work we have done on Welcoming Congregation, Marriage Equality, and Living the Welcoming Congregation, what have we done well and what is next? We will hear stories of success and look to the future.

4026 Open Space Convergence II
Create a 1-sentence mission statement for one of these seven words: “transform,” “humility,” “anti-racist,” “honor,” justice," “peace,” and “equality.”

5:30p.m. 8:30p.m.

Interweave Continental Banquet
Location: Holiday Inn Convention Center, which is five blocks from the Convention Center.

Purchase tickets at the Interweave Continental boot in the exhibit hall. Try to do it early in GA, as we often sell out.

Highlights will include the winning sermon of the Interweave Continental Sermon Contest and the presentation of the Mark DeWolfe Award.

GA 2007 Program Schedule (PDF, 128 pages)
Oregon Convention Center (OCC)

Open Space Statements

To promote and support spiritual transformation of individuals and communities so as to serve justice.
To imagine and realize a just global earth community of all beings.
To bring unity out of the many with mindfulness and respect by actively promoting compassionate communication.
Endow liberal religious scholarship, enabling globally relevant spirit and justice centered lay and professional ministries.
UU’s proclaim a call for fearless commitment to love, truth-seeking, peace and justice.
Our commitment as a spiritual community is to provide pathways to personal transformation.
To promote UU values and engage the world to hasten the transformation to Earth community.
To move from domination to a new paradigm of partnership and sustainable Earth community.
Connecting to the sacred, weave multi-cultural/intergenerational partnership, transforming the earth community through love and justice.
To foster networks of spiritual growth among UU’s through congregational life and non-congregational organizations.
Build and grow antioppressive/ anti-racist faith community that embraces and is accountable to marginalized people.
Support, integrate, and retain youth and young adults to keep our congregations vibrant and growing.
Change our relationship with the Earth from one of exploitation to one of sustainability.
We promote, teach, and practice right relations as essential and fundamental to our faith.
Recognize that youth are the lifeblood to the continuing vitality of our faith and community.
Covenant to deepen our spiritual practice, explicitly connecting our faith with action.
Create a culture of peace and justice to support and sustain the web of life.
Our religious communities become truly intergenerational as faith development is recognized as a lifelong task.
As UU’s we must now lead the turn from our current Empire Culture to Earth Community.
Empowering us to act courageously, transforming the world into a just, peaceful, non-oppressive community.
Transforming the world through courageous love, cooperative action, and humble power.
To create an engaging, vibrant community of all ages that will grow and thrive to transform the self, the faith, and the world.
The denomination must support, empower, hear, and minister to and with its children and youth.
To enable congregations to live lives of meaning and purpose through experiencing the sacred, spiritual practice and service.
We will transform lives and communities by practicing listening and being open to what’s now.
Thoughtfully and openly connect all in interdependent community through transformative vision of peace, justice, compassion.
To effect change, we must affirm and recognize individuals of divergent experiences by listening respectfully.
Infuse congregations with a spirit of love, hope, and justice; transforming lives to form beloved community.
To create an inclusive and multicultural spiritual community that acts to transform lives through loving relationships.
To grow inclusive communities of faith which transform
Convo 2007 February 9-11, in Atlanta, Georgia, US
Here is what participants said about Convo 2007:

Major Highlights
Interaction of different generations
Safe space that allowed emotional sharing* Hearing personal stories
Saturday flowed well
Mandy Carter, our amazing keynote speaker
Community
Diversity
Challenging conversations
Small group interaction
Games
Stretching
Hearing do-able things
Starting music from OurSong
Worship and learning new songs
See Monkey (it’s a game; you had to be there!)
Hospitality
Food
P-FLAG

What Was Missing or We Would Have Liked to Have Been Different?
Music and dancing Saturday night
High tea
“Normal” from HBO, or something like that
Small groups with different people
More interaction with people from the church
More singing in worship
More games and fun
Scheduled free time/socilization/networking
More spiritual aspect
More people
Concurrent youth conference
Attention to “Freedom to Marry” day
More physical involvement interspersed with talking
More emotional involvement

Something You Learned
Intentional integration of generations leads to authentic integration
Bonding with youth and young adults around games
Maybe someday my home can be as safe as this place
Wondering about weeping/bursting cultural barriers that suppress feelings
The UUA survey of youth showed bisexual youth were more involved in leadership in the youth movement
Importance of renewing the Welcoming Congregation
Connection of small groups with touch groups
P-FLAG and playing the media
It’s still difficult for young people to come out
The importance of connection and support for youth and young adults
Take time to make friends
Take time for self
Our church needs a connection with national Interweave.

Small Group Ministry at Interweave Convo 2007
Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, President, Interweave Continental

How do you encourage and support deep connection among folks who come together for a weekend and may never see each other again? How do you draw newcomers into an established group that has met year after year? In short, how can you make a weekend workshop or conference better?

With small groups, of course.

For the last twenty-five years, Interweave Continental has held an annual Convo (short for “convocation”), inviting UU’s from all over the continent to come together to consider issues of concern for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. This year, as we reached out to bring in more young people, we added small groups to our schedule as a way to build connections and give attendees the chance to process their experiences. In this experiment, we were following General Assembly and some other groups I’ve participated in, including Small Church Conferences and Ministers’ Retreats in the Southwest District.

The process was designed to deepen people’s experience, to increase their connection with others, and to allow them an opportunity to process what they learned. Because we wanted to create a mix, especially across age groups, we randomized the groups, using colored dots on name tags. This meant that people weren’t in groups with the friends or partners they arrived with. Instead, they had to meet new people. Another way to group people, of course, is to assign them in advance. That’s the strategy we use at Ministers’ Retreats, creating groups whose members have a mix of time in ministry, type of ministry, and cluster.

For Convo’s small groups, board members served as our facilitators. Their job was to keep things moving, to watch to make sure everyone got an opportunity to talk and to listen, and to generally monitor the functioning of the group. I provided them with session plans, including opening and closing words, check-in suggestions and discussion questions. Ideally, facilitators should meet for an hour beforehand to discuss the plans and how to relate in the groups, and once during the weekend, perhaps over a meal, to process how the groups are going.

Groups had three meetings – an hour on Friday evening, a half hour on Saturday morning after a keynote speaker and workshop, and an hour late Saturday afternoon before dinner. In the first session, people introduced themselves and got to say something positive about what was happening on queer issues in their congregations, as well as talking about their hopes and concerns for the conference. The second session allowed reflection on a highlight of the morning, and questions about making Interweave more inclusive particularly of various age groups – a major theme for the weekend. The final session provided a time to reflect on the overall experience and how people would bring their learnings back to their congregations.

Participants wanted more! Next year, we may plan for an additional group Sunday morning, and perhaps more time on Saturday morning.

Many folks reported the small groups were the highlight of their weekend, even though they loved other parts too! On top of that, people went home with new friends they hope to see again next year.

Sermon Contest

Each year, the Interweave Continental Sermon Contest rewards the best sermon in support of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender issues. Entries must have been first preached before a UU congregation between the first Sunday in April of the previous year and the first Sunday in April of the current year.

Here is an outline of what needs to be done:

Decide where and in what form to accept submissions. (e.g. SermonContest@InterweaveContinental.org)
Publicize the Interweave Sermon Contest:
See Interweave Sermon Continental Contest - Sample Call For Submissions
Interweave Continental Email Lists.
UUMA ministers’ chat list and seminarians’ chat list. (These are closed lists; ask a member of each list to post the announcement.)
Receive and acknowledge each sermon.
Recruit judges (3 or more).
Photocopy sermons and mail all of them to all the judges with the deadline for returning opinions to you.
Tally the judges’ votes as they are returned.
As you approach the deadline, prompt judges to respond.
Work with the other judges to reach a decision.
Announce the winner.
Tell the Interweave Continental Board the winner’s name.
Inform the winner and invite them to deliver the sermon at the Interweave Continental Banquet at General Assembly.
Inform the other contestants of the results, thanking them for submitting their sermons and inviting them to enter again in the future.

Publications

Curricula
Bisexuality Curriculum
InterweaveWorld
Here are recent issues of our InterweaveWorld newsletter. You may download, copy, and reproduce them, so long as content and formatting are left unchanged. All articles are copyrighted. You must get permission from the editor to reproduce the content in another medium. Enjoy!

Winter 2008
December '06/January '07
October/November '06

Pamphlets
These documents are copyrighted, but you are welcome to download, print, and distribute them, but you are not allowed to change them without permission of the copyright owner. Most are formatted to print on both sides of a single sheet of paper, then fold to make trifold brochures. Unless marked otherwise, these materials are in PDF – Portable Document Format. To read or print them, you need to download the Acrobat Reader.

Interweave Continental About Interweave Continental: Why join? How do I join? Where can I get more information?
Cómo iniciar un grupo BGLT Un manual para ti y para tu congregación. Attención: Las páginas pueden aparecer estropeadas. Imprima las páginas, reúna ellas, grapa ellas, y todo se hará claro.
How to start a BGLT Group A handbook for you and your congregation.
Note: Pages may seem out of order. All will become clear if printed, assembled, and stapled down centerfold.
Who’s Who Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns and Interweave Continental: Who we are; what we do; how we are funded.
¿Quién Es Quién y Qué Hacemos? Oficina de Intereses Bisexuales, Gays, Lésbicos, y Transgenéricos y Interweave Continental: Quiénes somos; qué hacemos; cómo nos financiamos.
IW and OBGLTC Compared Similar to “Who’s Who,” answers to a common question: How does Interweave Continental differ from the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns at the UUA? Which group should I contact? Why do both exist?

Sprituality & Religious Education for Lifespan Faith Development

For Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists, Spirituality and Religious Education include everything that contributes to your growth as a spritual person, every experience that leads you toward greater connection to your own body, mind and spirit; and to the world, people, and issues around you.

Worship Resources
You may use the following worship resources with acknowledgement of the author. If you have a worship resource to contribute, please add it here.

Chalice Lighting 2007/08/30

Other Articles On This Site
We hope that the articles listed below will contribute to your understanding of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist thought and understanding. We hope they will spark your interest or help you deepen your own spirituality.

Template: articles are mostly in the archive of news items that have been featured on this site.

Articles in category “Spirituality”
There are 15 articles in this category.

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Template:2006 Fall UUA Socially Responsible Investing Teleconferences
Template:2006 UU Allies for Racial Equity
Template:2006 Young Adult UU Survey closes September 8
Template:2006-09-18 is National Coming Out Day
Template:2006/09/21 Book Review - Bi Men: Coming Out Every Which Way
T cont.
Template:CUC ACM 2006 Gender and Sexual Diversity
Template:Connect With Unitarians Across Canada 2006/10/09
Template:Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth 2006/08/13
Template:FUUSE Covenant
Template:GA 2006 Interweave Continental Workshops
Template:Hurricane Katrina One Year Anniversary
T cont.
Template:News Reel 2006
Template:October 11: Ground Truth Gatherings
Template:Pastoral Letter: We Are Called to Continue the Journey - Leader
Template:Youth Ministry Survey Results Online

News Archive

Contents
1 Bisexuality Curriculum Released
2 Carolyn Glenn dies at 84. Brought Hospice to the US
3 Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective On Same-Gender Marriage
4 Federal Courts Strike Down Oklahoma’s Adoption Invalidation Law
5 General Assembly 2007 Responsive Resolution: Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination
6 Action of Immediate Witness: Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with Transgender Inclusion and Protection
7 2007 Interweave Sermon Contest Winner: Rev. Jennifer Crow
8 Sinkford’s Call to Support the Matthew Shepard Act
9 Bisexual health: An introduction and model practices for HIV/STI prevention programming
10 Unitarian Universalist President Celebrates Victory for Marriage Equality, June 14, 2007
11 A Call to Support the Matthew Shepard Act
12 Sinkford Applauds New Hampshire Civil Union Law
13 UU Clergy Join Nationwide Call for BGLT Equality; House of Representatives to Vote on Hate Crimes Bill
14 90% of Canadian Unitarians and Universalists in Welcoming Congregations
15 A Statement from UUA President Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, on Joint Chiefs Peter Pace’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Comment
16 Portland, Oregon, US in June: UU University and UUA General Assembly
17 2006 News Archive
Bisexuality Curriculum Released
2007 November 2: Interweave Continental today released the first edition of its new Bisexuality Curriculum. Go to InterweaveContinental.org to find out how to download it to use in your congregation or community group. (posted 2007/11/02)

Carolyn Glenn dies at 84. Brought Hospice to the US
Carolyn Glenn, mother-in-law of Interweave Continental Board member Alan Hamilton, died at 84 on 2007 October 6 of pulmonary disease, one week after celebrating her 60th anniversary. She graduated from nursing school during WWII and earned a Masters at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, US. Forty years ago, Glenn made a lasting contribution to society when she helped introduce the concept of Hospice in the United States.

Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective On Same-Gender Marriage
Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective On Same-Gender Marriage, Massachusetts Edition, directly addresses the very real concerns about marriage equality, civil rights, and religious faith that members of the black community often wrestle with when thinking about same-sex marriage, and explains why marriage equality is consistent with the values that the black community holds dear – and how equal marriage rights fits into the larger struggle for equal rights for all human beings. >>MORE (posted 2007-10-19)

Federal Courts Strike Down Oklahoma’s Adoption Invalidation Law
The Adoption Invalidation Law, which was passed and signed into law by Governor Henry at the end of the legislative session in 2004, would have effectively nullified legal adoptions by same-sex couples who live in Oklahoma and theoretically all who may travel through the state. Last week, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling striking down an Oklahoma law that could have stripped parental rights from gay couples with adopted children. MORE>>

General Assembly 2007 Responsive Resolution: Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination
The UUA does not govern its member congregations; it is governed by the decisions of our congregations’ representatives at General Assembly. UUA representatives limit their official work to subjects of Social Justice Statements passed by General Assembly. While a few GA Resolutions mention transgender people and the UUA has done some work in this area, GA Resolutions grounding anti-oppression work on gender identity have been considered less solid than on sexual orientation / identity. This resolution provides more solid grounding.(resolution text) (Take Action!) (posted 2007/23)

Action of Immediate Witness: Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with Transgender Inclusion and Protection
General Assembly passed a resolution in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), specifically with protections for transgender people. This is the first year that ENDA has gotten into committee without deleting protections for transgender people, and it comes in the same year that the city of Largo, Florida, US, fired its City Manager, Steve (now Susan) Stanton for deciding to become a woman. Many UU congregations, especially in Florida, protested this firing. In response to that event, GA passed this ENDA resolution and one Confronting Gender Identity Injustice. (resolution text) (Take Action!) (posted 2007/07/23)

2007 Interweave Sermon Contest Winner: Rev. Jennifer Crow
Interweave Continental is proud to announce the 2007 winner of its annual sermon contest: Rev. Jennifer Crow, for I Believe in You My Soul. Rev. Crow grew up in Maryland; came out at age 17, after arriving at Smith College; found Unitarian Universalism in Northampton, Massachusetts; attended Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, Illinois. She is currently Associate Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York, where she and her partner, Loretta, are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. On June 23, 2007, Rev. Crow preached the sermon at the Interweave Continental Dinner, held during General Assembly 2007. (posted 2007/04/02)

Sinkford’s Call to Support the Matthew Shepard Act
The Matthew Shepard Act would make a profound difference in the lives of many Americans, but to become law, the bill must next pass the Senate. Find out how you can help. FULL ARTICLE >

Bisexual health: An introduction and model practices for HIV/STI prevention programming
Sexual health issues affecting bisexuals have been largely ignored and underrepresented in academic and professional literature. Many bisexuals have negative experiences with health care providers, whether it is because they are afraid to come out to their providers or because their providers give them improper or incomplete information on HIV/STI prevention. Download the full publication.

Unitarian Universalist President Celebrates Victory for Marriage Equality, June 14, 2007
Today’s decision by Massachusetts lawmakers to defeat the marriage amendment is a cause for great rejoicing. On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I want to thank the legislators who did the right thing by preserving the Massachusetts Constitution and keeping our marriage laws free from discrimination. This decision makes a profound difference in the lives of thousands of couples and families in this state, and it shines as a beacon of hope for same-sex couples across the country. Marriage is a civil right. -Rev. William Sinkford President (posted 2007/06/17)

A Call to Support the Matthew Shepard Act
On April 17th I joined two hundred religious leaders in Washington DC to support equal protection for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender (BGLT) persons and person with disabilities from violent hate crimes. […] The Matthew Shepard Act would make a profound difference in the lives of many Americans, but to become law, the bill must next pass the Senate. To help make this happen, I have signed a letter from religious leaders urging our Senators to approve the bill soon. I invite my colleagues to join me by adding your name to the letter. Concerned lay persons are encouraged to take action by sending a letter to the Senate to express your support. MORE>> (posted 2007/06/17)

Sinkford Applauds New Hampshire Civil Union Law
On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I applaud the legislators and governor of New Hampshire for acting to recognize and to protect the loving commitments of same-sex couples. Today’s victory is an inspiring example of how the democratic process can work to ensure fairness and respect for all families.

I congratulate everyone who has worked — and who will continue to work — toward full Marriage Equality in New Hampshire. Civil unions represent an important first step, but true equality will come only when the institution of marriage is completely free from discrimination. Marriage is a civil right.

UU Clergy Join Nationwide Call for BGLT Equality; House of Representatives to Vote on Hate Crimes Bill
On Tuesday, April 17, seventeen UU ministers and UUA President William G. Sinkford met in Washington, D.C., to join over 200 religious leaders in lobbying for BGLT equality. Religious leaders from across the country and from diverse faith backgrounds lobbied members of Congress to end workplace discrimination against BGLT people by supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and to pass a much-needed hate crimes bill, bringing inspired presence, strong leadership and prophetic witness to the struggle for BGLT equality. MORE>> (posted 2007/05/03)

90% of Canadian Unitarians and Universalists in Welcoming Congregations
As of April 2007, 90% of Canadian Unitarians and Universalists belong to congregations which have completed, or embarked upon the Welcoming Congregation program! (posted 2007/05/01)

A Statement from UUA President Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, on Joint Chiefs Peter Pace’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Comment
2007/04/03 I am deeply disappointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s recent homophobic remarks. General Pace’s comments were profoundly disrespectful to gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans, including the thousands in uniform who are serving with honor in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. What saddens me the most is that Pace’s comments, while offensive, are well within the bounds of the US armed forces’ anti-discrimination guidelines. >>MORE (posted 2007/04/03)

Portland, Oregon, US in June: UU University and UUA General Assembly
June 19-20 UU University, June 20-24 UUA General Assembly. (posted 2007/04/03)