ICUU Founders Vision Awards

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists is 15 years old and in commemoration of that achievement, we celebrate fifteen men & women pivotal in founding the worldwide network of Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist (UU) groups and organizations.

Recognizing that they come from and continue to support significant local and national UU communities as well as international connections, ICUU representatives will present Vision Awards to these prophetic people at the national meetings of their home organizations.

ICUU recognises that the implementation of its sustaining vision depended on many other people as well and that the vision cannot grow for the future without the dedication of many others to come. Therefore it is expected that further ICUU Vision Awards will be given in the future.

The following persons are to be honoured at the indicated national events:

Canada (Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meetings Toronto May 2011):
Herman Boerma
Ellen Campbell

EUU (event & date to be determined):
Gevene Hertz

Germany (presentation event & date to be determined):
Wolfgang Jantz

India (presentation event & date to be determined):
Carleywell Lyngdoh

Philippines (presentation to be determined)
The Rev Rebecca Sienes

Transylvania
(presentation event & date to be determined):
The Rev Szabó Árpád
The Rev Kovács István

United Kingdom
(Annual Meetings Swansea April 2011):
Christine Hayhurst
The Rev Cliff Reed
The Rev David Usher

USA
(UUA General Assembly Charlotte June 2011):
The Rev John Buehrens
The Rev Polly Guild
The Rev Jill McAllister
The Rev Kenneth MacLean

Global Chalice Lighting for April 2011

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 92nd in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.

All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.

It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.

This Global Chalice Lighting is distributed by the ICUU in response to the recent Japanese earthquake and its aftermath. In popular Japanese mythology earthquakes are caused by the great fish, Namazu, who lies imprisoned underground beneath a huge stone. This reading is to be used during April 2011.

AFTER THE GREAT WAVE
For Japan, March 2011

Namazu, the Great Fish, stirs
and the earth quakes.
Tsunami, the Great Wave, races
to the shore.
Harbours are engulfed, and towns
and villages and farmlands.
The fragile, perilous works of humankind
are assailed and shaken.
Nature’s power and human folly have
combined.
People are filled with fear. They suffer
ruin, devastation, and death.
Human weakness is exposed. We feel
helpless in the face of so much grief,
so much suffering.
And yet we cannot afford ourselves
the luxury of despair.
We are here to say that, in us, the
universe cares for its children.
We are here to reach out in love
to the people of Japan;
to unite our spirits with theirs in an affirmation
of hope beyond apocalypse.
And to do what we can.
And so we kindle our sacred flame.
-Rev. Cliff Reed
16th March 2011

Concern for the People of Japan

Dear Friends,

Like many around the world I have been watching the events in Japan with sadness and growing concern. The quakes and the tsunami have ripped apart so many families. Perhaps thousands have died, and countless numbers have been injured, displaced and have lost their homes and livelihoods. As one who has never endured a natural disaster, it is difficult for me to understand what it must be like for the survivors.

In the short term there is need for emergency relief, but in the longer term there is also a concern brought about by the damage to nuclear reactors. There have been so many natural upheavals in the last year or two that perhaps it is time for humanity to rethink how we produce and manage the resources we use to live and build wealth.

And as always happens with these events, we are starting to learn of the miracles, the selfless efforts of rescuers, and the courage and simple generosity of common people. It is in these small things that I find hope for the human race. It strengthens my belief in the essential goodness of people.

There is not an ICUU member group in Japan, but there are some UU contacts and many with whom we have friendships and alliances through the IARF and other interfaith contacts.

I ask you to join me in offering prayers, thoughts and good wishes for the people of Japan. And for those of us in a position to offer more support, please contribute through various legitimate charitable organizations such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent and funds created by the UUA and IARF.

Rev. Brian Kiely

President, International Council of Unitarians and Universalists

Kenyan UUs Given Emerging Group Status

The ICUU Executive Committee (EC) has granted Emerging Group Status to the Kenya Unitarian Universalist Council (KUUC) following an application from that body. After an extensive discussion, the EC unanimously voted to grant Emerging Group Status to the KUUC.

This is only the first step in the building of a relationship that could ultimately lead to full membership.

It is the policy of ICUU that new groups are admitted as emerging groups and after a period of time and as part of a developmental process can later be considered for provisional membership.

Emerging Group Status is a way we can recognize the start of our formal relationship and represents our intention to work with a new or reorganized faith body in further developing their Unitarian Universalist community. It does not come with any voting status or right to send delegates, but the EC does have the discretion to invite observers from the group to any meeting.

ICUU is encouraged that the KUUC continues to be open to involvement and participation from the other UU groups in Kenya that have so far not joined in this initiative. We live in hope that this preliminary step can be a catalyst towards the inclusion of all our UU brothers and sisters in Kenya around one table, independent in organization but united in love.

From Steve Dick, Executive Secretary on behalf the ICUU Executive Committee

Urgent: News of Christchurch, NZ UUs

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS INFORMATION AS APPROPRIATE TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Christchurch, New Zealand, was hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Monday, February 21. Following on the heels of another quake just six months ago, plus many aftershocks, this quake was the most devastating so far, given that the epicenter was only a few miles from the city center.

News from the Unitarian Universalists’ of Christchurch is quite limited at the moment. ANZUUA President Peter Ferguson has been in New Zealand this week, and reported the following from his contact with Derek McCullough, leader of the Christchurch UU congregation, immediately following the earthquake:

"I have spoken to Derek this morning at 8.30 am NZ time. Derek and Rebecca (his wife), his mother and Rebecca's parents are all physically uninjured. Sadly their home has been destroyed by the earthquake, and at this present time they are leaving for safe accommodation in the country."

ICUU President Brian Kiely sent the following message to Derek McCullough and ANZUUA colleagues:
“Dear Derek and all Members and Friends of the Christchurch community,

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the earthquake that struck your homes and your city today. On behalf of your Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist co-religionists worldwide I send our thoughts and prayers on your behalf. Selfishly we hope that no one in your community has been seriously hurt or suffered great damage, but on a wider scale we hold all Christchurch residents in our hearts.

Tragedies like this anywhere in the world stir our emotions, but those feelings are heightened when it happens to people or places we know or have visited.

In the days ahead may things go as right as they possibly can and may you all find some joys to celebrate.”

PLEASE NOTE A “Causes” page has been set up on Facebook and UUs around the world are encouraged to show their solidarity with our sisters and brothers in New Zealand by joining the cause.

You can also make a donation through the “Cause” and all funds donated will be sent on to Christchurch. You can appreciate they will need our assistance, moral and financial, at a difficult time like this.

The Cause Page can be reached by going to the following web page:
http://www.causes.com/causes/583046

The ICUU will post news and follow-up information as it becomes available.

Thinking of our faith colleagues in distress and need,

Kind Regards,

Steve Dick & Jill McAllister

Nominations for ICUU Executive and Nominating Committees

To all ICUU Member Groups,
Greetings from the Nominating Committee:

In February 2012, the ICUU Council will meet in The Philippines and will elect a new Executive Committee and Nominating Committee. We hope that all member groups are already considering whether they will nominate a candidate for one of the positions.

Here is some information you may find helpful when you discuss whether to nominate someone:
• The offices are not ceremonial positions, and all members of the Executive Committee are expected to have time to attend regular meetings (mostly online but one meeting a year involving travel) and carry out the work of ICUU, much of which is done using the internet.
• Candidates for the election must be nominated by their own member groups and the nomination must be seconded by another member group.
• More than one person can be nominated for each position.
• All properly nominated candidates will appear on the ballot.
• The Nominating Committee will consider all the nominations and recommend a slate of one or two nominees for each office. The committee works to recommend a slate that is qualified and balanced both geographically and in terms of skills needed to carry out the work required.
• Job descriptions for all positions are available from the ICUU Executive Secretary (execsec@icuu.net).

The seven current members of the Executive Committee of ICUU are the four officers:
• President: Brian Kiely – Canada
• Vice-President: Pauline Rooney – ANZUA (Australia and New Zealand)
• Secretary: David Gyero – Transylvania (Romania)
• Treasurer: David Shaw – Great Britain
and three members-at-large:
• Nihal Attanayake – The Philippines
• Femi Matimoju – Nigeria
• Celia Midgley – Great Britain

All of the current officers except the treasurer have expressed the wish to run again for office. They must be nominated by their own groups. This does not prevent other groups from nominating other candidates for office.

The three current members of the Nominating Committee are.
• Gevene Hertz (EUU – European Unitarian Universalists)
• Pearl Greene Marbaniang (India)
• Gordon Oliver (South Africa)
The members of the Nominating Committee are not allowed serve consecutive terms, so three new members are needed.

Please consider now whether you may want to nominate someone from your group for any of the positions – including the Nominating Committee, which also performs an important role and actually helps shape the future of ICUU.

Timeline

Before Feb 15: If you think you may want to nominate someone, even if you are not sure, please contact me (Gevene Hertz), or the other members of the Nominating Committee, or the Executive Secretary of ICUU, Steve Dick, so that we can discuss the nomination process, send you the proper forms and answer any questions. We can also discuss what offices your candidates might be best suited for.

Email addresses for all of us are at the end of this letter. We can also be available for discussions using Skype.

Remember to check to make sure that the person is willing to be nominated and understands the duties of the office.

Before June 1: You will have to get the official approval of your group and fill out a proper nomination form.

You will also have to arrange to have another group second the nomination.
Both groups may need time to approve the nomination, for example, this may involve talking to your board or other governing body, so you need plenty of time.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Gevene Hertz, Convenor of the Nominating Committee
Frydenlundsvej 49, DK 2950 Vedbaek, Denmark
Telephone: +44 4589 4184 (evenings or weekends)
Email: gevenehertz@gmail.com

Pearl Greene Marbaniang pg_marbaniang@hotmail.com

Gordon Oliver gordonroliver@metroweb.co.za

Steve Dick execsec@icuu.net

Seasonal Message from ICUU President

Dear Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist friends around the globe,

Looking back at 2010 I can only reflect on what a turbulent place this planet of ours is. Our climate has brought remarkable disruptions what with earthquakes and mudslides, piles of snow covering much of Europe, volcanoes erupting, droughts and floods in different parts of the world.

And then of course there are the human created problems of war and poverty and the like.

In times like these it is easy to sink into despair and wonder why we bother to even try.

And then Christmas comes with all of its promise and hope. For some of us it is the renewal of a divine covenant marked by God's promise fulfilled. For some of us it is the simple miracle of birth. As American Religious Educator Sophia Lyon Fahs once wrote, "Each night a child is born is a holy night - a time for singing, a time for wondering, a time for worshipping."

However you understand the promise of Christmas, I invite you to embrace it this year. Set aside your differences. Make peace when and where you can. Pray for the blessings of the divine and hold your families and friends close.

I have been reminded to celebrate what we have instead of worrying about what we want. This past weekend, four different families in my congregation were touched by death. I am spending this week before Christmas preparing both holiday services and funerals. Each of these services reminds me to approach Christmas with reverence and to celebrate the blessings of the people in my life.

This seems to be a year when the world needs Christmas and all of its blessings. May yours be filled with the warmth and laughter that comes from recognizing the real gifts in your life.

Rev. Brian Kiely
Unitarian Church of Edmonton
President, International Council of Unitarians and Universalists