ANZUUA Newsletter
September 2024 |
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Welcome to the ANZUUA Newsletter! This is a regular email newsletter from ANZUUA (The Australia and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association). Please subscribe, if you haven't already!! See the subscription box at the end of this newsletter. The subscriber list will not be shared or used for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time with the link at the end of the newsletter. If you received it from your congregation, you will need to contact them directly. You are also welcome to offer items of interest for consideration and inclusion in the newsletter. Thank you for reading! |
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G'day and Kia ora to all our readers, and welcome to the September 2024 newsletter! |
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As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the interdependent web of all existence, and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We respect the diversity of religious traditions and spiritual paths that enrich our world, and celebrate the diversity of beliefs and values that enrich our communities. Let us collectively aspire to foster a sense of community, understanding, and compassion that will bring us closer together, inspire us to embrace diversity, and empower us to make a positive impact in our local and global communities. |
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BUUF/ANZUUA retreat at Springbrook, Queensland The weather was beautiful and the rainforest lush at Springbrook where 18 Unitarian Universalists came together for fellowship and nourishment. There were representatives from the Brisbane Fellowship, the Auckland Church, the Melbourne Fellowship, the Sydney Spirit of Life Fellowship, and one from Canberra. As it happened, the full ANZUUA committee was present with one exception. Highlights of the weekend were an inspiring shared service on Sunday morning, various bushwalks near and far, and music provided by an injured Gill E. with her guitar, mellifluous voice, and excellent repertoire. |
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There was also a general discussion which started with a summary of the implications of the Unitarian Universalist Association (American) revising it's articles of incorporation, replacing the Seven Principles. [We the congregation affirm and promote: (1)The inherent worth and dignity of every person; (2) Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; (3) Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; (4) A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; (5) The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; (6) the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; (7) Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.] with a new "values statement", represented by this graphic: |
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The only formal connection between ANZUUA's member congregations and the UUA is that the Auckland church is an international member of the UUA. Otherwise, this change need not affect any of our operations. There was general consensus that we in ANZUUA feel the Seven Principles are too valuable to set aside and that the new value statement needs to be investigated by individual congregations. There was then an animated discussion of ideas for strengthening our existing communities. Ideas: focus on the "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" (4th principle); free billboards in the community with UU messages; Facebook groups; connecting with partner organisations (Quakers, universities, LGBTQI+ groups); welcoming, and asking what newcomers are looking/hoping for. Next year's retreat will be in the same place on 15-17 August 2025. Mark your calendars! |
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International UU Network Facilitator The Leadership and Design team (the group that has been laying foundations for an international network of U/U groups) is happy to announce that Esther Mukera, from Kenya is to be the first U/U Global Network Facilitator. Esther was chosen after careful consideration from an unexpectedly wide range of applicants. She is an enthusiastic member of the Unitarian church in Kenya led by Rev Justin Magara, and has experience in high level management roles, as well as awareness of the diversity of contexts, resources and cultures across Unitarian Universalism. The role is initially a 12-month position that will focus on creating the virtual spaces for building community, as well as laying the foundation for building future ways of coming together. The Network Facilitator will not necessarily be creating new programs or planning conferences. Instead, they will support all of us who are dedicated to the global U/U community in identifying and facilitating opportunities for collaboration and growth. |
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Child Protection Policy All congregations are reminded that they should have a child protection policy that accords with their state or national guidelines. This applies even if no children attend currently as a member or new participant might arrive at an event with a child without prior notice. It was noted that Auckland Unitarians have a policy, but congregations in Australia need to check on requirements in their state. |
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ICUUW Members Gather in Romania Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists from across the world are meeting together in Cluj Napoca (Hungarian: Kolozsvár) in Romania for the 2024 ICUUW convocation in early September, with around 140 people attending. ICUUW, the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women is a nonprofit global organization focusing on global women’s rights and empowerment. They hold special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and representatives who attended the UN meetings will be attending. Renee Hills from Brisbane is on the board and is attending the convocation. The next newsletter will include a more detailed report on the convocation. |
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News from travelers in the Unitarian homeland of Transylvania, Romania Renee and James Hills have joined a 6 day tour through rural Transylvania prior to the ICUUW convocation commencing. This is Unitarian heartland, and the first day of the tour visits Torda (Turda), the place where in 1568 the Diet of Transylvania, under the influence of Unitarian theologian and preacher Francis David and the leadership of John Sigismund, the first prince of Transylvania, issued the world's first edict of religious tolerance at a time when religious wars were raging throughout the European continent. They are discovering the deep history of the Unitarian movement beginnings and are visiting some of the sites where key events unfolded. With over 80,000 Unitarians in the small region of Transylvania, there is a lot to discover, and they will report in the next newsletter. |
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Climate Change Action The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) is a grassroots organisation that mobilises people of all faiths to take effective action for climate justice. They have organized a national Conference, ‘Earth Wisdom: Hope in Action’. In Sydney on October 4 - 6 in Sydney, so please consider attending if you can. See https://www.arrcc.org.au/ for details. |
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Our NZ and AUS UU Communities |
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UU Connect Information ANZUUA has established UU Connect as a way to help people engage with Unitarianism whether they are in an area with no local fellowship, or are close to a church/fellowship. The UUConnect.pdf document on the ANZUUA web site fileshare (takes a few seconds to load) includes: Websites Zoom options to services Training opportunities Pastoral care options Retreats Podcasts
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A listing of the congregations that make up ANZUUA can be found here: https://www.anzuua.org/findingus. We will share news of a selection of UU communities each month. You are encouraged to send any news from your community that you’d like to share in the newsletter to Lynn at lynnjkelly@gmail.com. |
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Melbourne UU Fellowship Our members are spread throughout Victoria, so our services are run as hybrid in-person and Zoom sessions. Ralph Catts, a qualified facilitator with the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, conducted the Transformation Game on Sunday 25th August at the Kathleen Syme Library. |
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Taupo ReportWe are delighted to welcome Lorne Casebeer from Cornell College, Iowa, USA. He is in his final year of a Religious Studies bachelor degree program and interested in UU ministry. He will be co-leading our zoom room service on 23rd September at 7pm NZ time (topic tbc) and helping create our in person services for the next 2 months. I was delighted to lead a retreat for UUs from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland in August and led a similar 'Breathing The Spirit of Life' service for Thomas Paine UU Fellowship which Brisbane UUs and Auckland Unitarians held earlier this year You can see the Youtube recording HERE. |
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