Our fifth UU principle reminds us of our covenant to affirm and promote the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. We at Fourth Universalist have spent this past year living out this principle through our participation in denominational affairs. Many of you attended our Principles and Purposes workshop series last year where we helped shape the future of our faith. Many of you also discussed and voted upon whether to pass the two draft Congregational Study Action Issues on to the 2008 General Assembly for a vote. It is now time for Fourth U to take the next steps on both of these issues.
The UUA Commision on Appraisal (COA) has posted its draft revisions to our Principles and Purposes and has asked that all Unitarian Universalists read this draft on the UUA website and send their feedback. The draft will also be posted in the sanctuary on the Denominational Affairs board. All comments are due to me by October 16 and will be reviewed by the COA soon thereafter.
Also, at our 2008 General Assembly, delegates from our congregation and others voted to choose our denomination’s next Congregational Study Action Issue: Ethical Eating. Thanks go to all at Fourth U who shared their views. At our next congregational meeting, on October 26, we will spend some time talking about this process and ways in which we might study and take action around the issue of ethical eating.
I am looking forward to our progress this year on these projects and on other ways to better connect us to our larger denominational community. Please be in touch!
Ryan Novosielski
Chair, Denominational Affairs Committee
Help Light up the Night at our Annual Auction, scheduled for Saturday, November 22, at 6:00 PM. We selected The Wedding Party as this year’s charity recipient. The Wedding Party (www.theweddingparty.org) is an organization that is dedicated to legalizing same-sex marriage and closely aligns with the activism at Fourth U.
The final ingredient needed to make this evening a success is you — ALL OF YOU. Please come and lend us your support – and have a really fun evening.
Click here for the invitation and RSVP form
If you cannot attend, please show your support by making a donation to the Auction Benefit. You can fax this form to 212-579-6375 or submit it by e-mail to 4thuauction@4thu.org.
For more information on any aspect of the auction, you can email Liz Wolfe at lwolfe@wintecgroup.com or call her at 646.334.9427.
In order to better serve the community at Fourth U, we would like to ask people to volunteer to be a Greeter/Usher. Please contact Joe Tigner at jctbay17@aol.com if you would like more information.
Light Up the Night! The Fourth Universalist Society presents our Third Annual Auction Gala: AN EVENING OF LOVE, LIGHT & LOOT on Saturday, November 22, 2008, 6:00 – 10:00 PM
To make this evening a success, we need donations of goods and services. Show your support of 4th U by soliciting donations from local businesses or contributing something of your own. This year, 10% of our auction proceeds will benefit The Wedding Party (www.theweddingparty.org). The Wedding Party is an organization that supports and celebrates same-sex partnership, and educates the public on the need for equal marriage rights.
4th U members and friends will carry our banner in the NYC Pride March 2008 on Sunday, June 29 after church. We line up at 1:30 PM on 53rd Street, between 5th and Madison Avenues (see the NYC Pride web site for more details). We are Section 14-9, marching with other Religious/Spiritual Groups in Section 14.
Interweave is a group of LGBTQ people and straight allies working to end oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, with the recognition that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. 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 will meet on the first Sunday of each month, right after coffee hour.
For more information about Interweave, please contact Ashley Burczack at aburczak@gmail.com
