Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York

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

The Best Friends Animal Society received $50.00 in contributions from members of Fourth U who made donations on 9/28.  Best Friends is the largest nonprofit animal rescue and welfare organization in the U.S., finding new homes for animals deemed “unadoptable” by other shelter organizations.  UUs have heart!