EUU Retreat Celebrates 30th Birthday!

European Unitarian Universalists (EUU) celebrated its 30^th Anniversary the weekend of 9 to 11 April at their Retreat in Oberwesel, Germany and Executive Secretary Steve Dick was there on behalf of ICUU.

His presence was particularly appropriate as Steve was one of the founders of EUU along with Ron Diehl and Leon Spencer back in 1980. The three American Unitarian Universalists had arrived in Europe when English language UU activity for expatriates was at low ebb after considerable previous activity. When key individuals had returned to the USA, some UU Fellowships had faded away.

Steve had the idea of developing a strong but flexible central organisation that would sponsor semi-annual Retreats and support the development and sometimes redevelopment of UU congregations. Three decades later, that central body is still going strong and is a charter member of ICUU.

Although many EUU members are expatriates from North America living in Europe, there are now a significant number of European nationals in its membership. Another defining feature is the considerable “at large” membership of people living where they may be the only UUs in the area. Participation in the twice a year Retreats becomes something of a congregation for them.

The “Retreats” have retained the same basic shape over the life of EUU. Individuals and families from all over Europe travel for a weekend to a conference centre or hostel somewhere in Europe for a mixture of theme talks, social times, workshops, worship and other communal events.

Religious education for young people is an important feature and an RE director and volunteers run a full programme for the kids.

The pattern of these weekend events has changed little over the years, but notably twice as many people attend than before. The Anniversary Retreat was attended by nearly 100 folks.

Recently retired UUA Minister Wyman Rousseau was the theme speaker for this gathering. He spoke on poetry and led the Sunday morning service, preaching on Emerson.

Steve Dick was introduced and welcomed on the Friday evening by Martha Hicks, editor of the EUU Newsletter and a member nearly since the start. Steve gave greetings and congratulations on behalf of ICUU and he led the Sharing of Joys and Concerns that is a key part of the ingathering at a EUU retreat.

The next EUU Retreat is planned for October 29-31 2010 in Mittelwihr, France (near Colmar) with UUA President Rev Peter Morales as the Theme Speaker. Anyone is welcome to attend EUU Retreats.

More information about EUU, the Retreats and member UU Fellowships in Europe can be found at www.europeanuu.eu.

EUU/ICUU Rites of Passage Workshop

How to Create and Lead Rites of Passage – Training for Lay Leaders

In Unitarian and UU communities around the world, people are in need of appropriate and meaningful ceremonies to mark major life transitions such as marriage, death, and dedication of children, as well as other less common transitions. Sometimes we have a trained minister to lead us in the rituals and ceremonies, sometimes lay leaders may wish to lead or are called to serve.

Using materials and experience from the Lay Chaplaincy program of the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), EUU, in partnership with ICUU, is pleased to offer a 1-day chaplaincy training for lay leaders and ministers from ICUU member groups. The training will immediately follow the ICUU Theological Symposium, and take place at Rolduc Conference Center, on Saturday, July 17, 2010, from 9 am - 4 p.m. Participants will be asked to prepare for the training by reading materials sent to them ahead of time. The training will include theological reflections on rituals, practical advice for officiating, and practice sessions.

This training is open to all members of ICUU affiliated organizations. You do not have to attend the symposium to attend this workshop.

Presenters will include the Rev. Brian Kiely, a chaplaincy trainer for the CUC (and ICUU president), and Rev. Jill McAllister, ICUU Program Coordinator.

Cost per participant: 50 Euros, includes reading materials (electronic), lunch and refreshments

Registration is now open for the Saturday training. If you want to attend this training, please send an email to Chris Heinrichs at pcheinrichs@googlemail.com. We will collect the 50 Euros at the door. Sending an email to Chris will sign you up for the workshop.

You will receive reading material for preparation in advance of the course. This will be sent electronically

Note: It might be possible for a small number of participants to stay overnight on Friday and/or Saturday. To check if there are any rooms left and to reserve a room, please contact Rolduc directly at www.rolduc.com. Please do not make any travel plans based on staying overnight at Rolduc unless and until you have booked accommodation using the website’s online facility.

Chris Heinrichs and Tina Huesing

ANZUUA/ICUU Congregational Workshop

From evening of 20^th to 22^nd August ANZUUA, in partnership with ICUU, will be holding a congregational growth workshop in Brisbane , Australia.

This workshop will be geared towards small congregations , to maximize their opportunities to build strength and cohesiveness in their congregations either with or without a full time minister. The workshop will be residential and be costed at $300A per participant for accommodation, meals and program.

For more information including registration details, please contact Pauline Rooney, ICUU Vice President at vicepres@icuu.net.

Notes from the British General Assembly

Top: Brian Kiely and Rev. Bob Wightman, Preisdent of the British GA at the ICUU Display. Bottom: Delegates deliberating in Nottingham.

Nottingham, England, April 10. It has been a great privilege for me to be a guest of the British General Assembly this year at their Annual Meetings. And even greater privilege was an invitation from the Ministerial Fellowship to give the annual John Relly Beard lecture. My topic was “The Center and the Circle: The Challenge of International Ministry”. My lecture made two points. The first is that we are not a single global faith, but a collection of indigenous liberal religious responses shaped by local history and context. The second concerned the wide variety of understandings of the word ‘ministry. With such variation among us in educational opportunities and local need means there is no one definition of ministry. The upcoming minister’s conference in the Netherlands in July will be a first attempt to discuss these mutual concerns on a global scale.

I am pleased to announce that I will be presenting this lecture again as the ICUU’s first ever “Webinar” within the next few weeks. There will be a live broadcast over the Internet, but the broadcast will be archived and available to anyone at their convenience. It’s completely free and only requires a good Internet connection. Executive Secretary Steve Dick will be sending out notice and access information in the near future.

The British GA meetings.
Although we can read about how each group does their business, there is nothing quite like visiting another national group’s meetings. The UK Unitarians have been unfailingly gracious and welcoming to me. It has been especially interesting for me as a Canadian. Our meetings are about the same size (about 400 people). And while many issues facing the GA and the Canadian Unitarian Council are the same, the solutions and approaches are quite different. Again this is a reflection of the differences between the cultural contexts and the history of each organization.

Several hundred Unitarians are gathered on the beautiful campus of the University of Nottingham. Designed to be environmentally gentle, the wood covered buildings are set amidst ponds and marshes and wild water birds. The buildings are light and airy making the setting a real pleasure. They have fed us very well, too!

The meetings run from Thursday afternoon through Sunday lunch. There are business meetings in the mornings where the delegates on the Assembly receive reports and debate motions concerning justice issues and essential business. This year the meetings have also included delightful audio-visual looks at a handful of congregations around the UK, personal views created by the congregations themselves.

Afternoons are filled with workshops by various standing committees on topics like Worship, the historical society, the ministerial committee and various spiritual and justice topics. I am looking forward to participating in a labyrinth walk later today, a favorite spiritual activity for me.

Evening programs included the Anniversary Service celebrating ministry and a social night. I am told there will be a Beatles tribute band at tonight’s affair!

During the business meetings, we were also introduced to some of the exceptional web work being done by James Barry. He has redesigned and simplified the General Assembly’s website, but has also created an easy way for UK congregations to setup and maintain their local sites simply and easily. We are exploring the possibility with the BGA to see if some of that skill and talent can be used by ICUU member groups.

The largest issue facing the BGA at this time seems to be one of direction. As with most national groups, money is a concern as is membership numbers in local congregations. The meetings started with the Executive presenting a document called ‘Difficult Decisions’ in which they laid out a shopping list of services that would cost an additional £140,000. Delegates were invited into an extended consultation on which should be priorities and how the money should be raised. As I write, no decision has been taken, but it will be interesting to see what options our UK co-religionists choose to do.

Robin Hood Tax Campaign

British Unitarians have given their support to the “Robin Hood Tax” campaign to establish a tax levy on international bank transactions to create a fund to combat international poverty and fight climate change. It will also raise funds to stop cuts in vital public services.

The Robin Hood Tax is based on an original idea by the economist James Tobin. A tax of 0.05% on the billions of pounds sloshing around the global finance system every day through transactions such as foreign exchange, derivative trading and share deals can raise hundreds of billions of pounds a year.

The British General Assembly is one of dozens of voluntary sector, trade union and faith organisations who are supporting the campaign.

Ideally the campaign would like to see an international system of transaction taxes, but there is no need to wait. Individual countries – and the European Union – can easily get started now. Rather than wait for international agreement, it is hoped to build the Robin Hood Tax country by country.

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is in touch with similar campaigns in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and in particular the USA, and with groups operating at EU and global level. All are at different stages of development, and it would be especially good to see more campaigning in the global south.

It would be valuable to know if other members of ICUU are currently involved in this campaign or are interested in working with us on it. This could help stimulate and better co-ordinate campaigning and show solidarity within our global Movement

If you wish further information on the Robin Hood Tax http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/

Please do feel free to get in touch.

Derek McAuley
Chief Officer
General Assembly Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
Dmcauley@unitarian.org.uk

New ICUU Information Resource

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) has launched a new email mailing list for the circulation of announcements about ICUU as well as news about developments in Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism in other countries.

It is not a discussion list and emails will only be posted by ICUU staff.

Subscribing to the list is a great way to keep up with international liberal religion and ICUU programs and activities.

Anyone is welcome to be a subscriber.

To get this information delivered directly to your email inbox, sign up at:
http://www.icuu.net/events/mailing_list.html.

ICUU Presence at UUA GA in Minneapolis

ICUU Executive Secretary Steve Dick and Program Coordinator Jill McAllister will represent ICUU at the 2010 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association from June 23 to 28 at the Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Attendees can meet Jill and Steve at the ICUU booth in the UU International Organizations Village (Booth #227) in the exhibit area at the Assembly.

ICUU will host a number of special events in the Village including a live quiz show on International U*U ABCs (win a t-shirt), Face to Faith Encounters and a challenging session on How Not to Be A U*U Tourist. Special guests from U*U groups in other countries will also make an appearance.

The schedule of events and other announcements can be found on a special website set up at www.UUinternational.org.

ICUU will share the International Village at the UUA General Assembly with the International Convocation of UU Women, Project Harvest Hope, UU Global Aids Coalition, UU Partner Churches Council, UU United Nations Office and the International Resources Office of the UUA.