U/U Judicatories

You Are Welcome: Every Child is Our Child Site Visit

This year the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office sent three office members, UU-UNO Envoy Coordinator Kamila Jacob, New York University Social Work Intern Jacklyn Booth, and Fordham University Social Work Intern Anida Fregjaj to Ghana for the annual Every Child is Our Child Program Site Visit. This site visit was a unique opportunity for staff and interns to engage the community at different levels, to learn from the experiences of community leaders, families and children, and to bring these stories home. Following is the beginning of a collaboratively written diary of the experience. Read more about the relationships strengthened and built, the challenges that exist in the communities and the lessons brought back to share by clicking on each day below.

Kamila Jacob, Jacklyn Booth and Anida Fregjaj

The car ride from Accra to Odumase, where the Every Child is Our Child (ECOC) program is located, provided the first opportunity for us to observe our surroundings. As we moved from the urban region to more rural spaces, the potholes began to act as streetlights. Slowly, the poverty became more apparent and we were struck by the socio-economic disparity surrounding us as we drove through the landscape. A huge walled-in mansion on one-side of the road, what seemed to be a pile of aluminum and clay rubbish (but was actually a home) on the other. And yet, the marketing and display of the shops alongside the roads was impressive; it was easily accessible, organized, and aesthetically pleasing. Again our eyes traveled to the half completed construction sites, some looking abandoned (with plant life starting to take over) while others sheltered families. We couldn’t wait to start our journey in Odumase.

Our day by day diary:

Day 1: Saturday: Meeting with the Queen Mothers and ECOC Children

Day 2: Sunday: Ghanaian Spiritual Culture and Engaging Families and Communities

Day 3: Monday: Visiting ECOC Schools and Exploring Universal Education through the eyes of Teachers

Day 4: Tuesday: Spending Time with two students Grace and Macy; Meeting the ECOC Board

Day 5: Wednesday: Expanding Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Intervention in Ghana: Local and National Levels

Day 6: Thursday: Departing Thoughts and Future Work

Read more…

(more…)

Posted by:

Africa, International U/U Organizations, UU-UNO

Be the first to comment

Inspired by Indonesian Unitarians

IMG_0029_2

The Unitarians of Indonesia are an inspiring part of our global faith with tremendous commitment, good organization, an evangelical attitude, and a strong focus on ministry with youth and young adults. It was a pleasure to visit with them for 4 days in April 2013.

IMG_0019_2

Gereja Jemaat Allah Global Indonesia (JAGI) - the Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia, was founded in the mid-1990’s by Rev. Aryanto Nugroho and currently has around 500 members.  Rev. Nugroho has published highly regarded theological books, and is very well connected in interfaith circles and with national leaders.

IMG_0006_2

JAGI is headquartered in Semarang, where the church owns and operates a large building that houses the sanctuary, classrooms, offices, a library, and space for a future NGO. A maternity clinic – Bhaki Ibu – operated by the wife of the founder of the church sits across the street from the church building; Mrs. Nugroho estimates that she has been a midwife at more than 200,000 births.

JAGI is administered by a National Leaders Board that includes a Council which supervises a Board of Elders and an Executive Board (responsible for daily operations).  JAGI has 8 ordained ministers and an executive director. It consists of 4 Churches (Semarang, Jakarta, Solo and Sukorejo-Pasuruan) and 3 Mission Areas/Fellowships (Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Klaten). Semarang is the most established congregation and at the center of JAGI. (more…)

Posted by:

Indonesia, International News, International Resources, U/U Judicatories

Be the first to comment

Dublin Unitarian Church: Walking the Talk

Currently located in Dublin, Ireland, Ron Campbell and his partner Vicky have been members of the UU Congregation of Princeton for over 34 years.  Below, Ron shares their moving experiences with the Dublin Unitarian Church.

I have thought of myself as a Unitarian Universalist (“UU”) ever since my college days over 50 years ago. In fact, I entered through the Unitarian door prior to our 1961 merger with Universalism. My wife Vicky and I were married in a Unitarian Church over 48 years ago in Detroit, MI.

dublinchurch4Thus it was that, when I was offered an assignment from my company to work in Dublin, Ireland, we were delighted to discover the Dublin Unitarian Church (“DUC”) on St. Stephen’s Green in the City Centre of Dublin. We were warmly welcomed when we went there the first time last November. Especially inspiring was witnessing the DUC’s strong and active leadership in the greater Dublin community, working to heal the wounds and scars of the decades-long religious and political difficulties, commonly referred to as “The Troubles.”

Not only were we welcomed, we immediately had the opportunity to attend a seminar recognizing Francis Hutcheson, a long overlooked native son of Ireland, who had spent several influential years in Dublin at the start of his prominent early 18th century career. This seminar was organized in large part by members of the DUC and involved the unveiling of a plaque honoring Hutcheson on a historic old church. Hutcheson seems to have been overlooked as one of our key pre-Unitarian forbearers, who had espoused and strongly influenced the free thinking egalitarian principles of our 18th century Unitarian founders and spiritual ancestors. (more…)

Posted by:

Europe

3 comments

Burundi Unitarians Respond to Devastating Market Fire in Bujumbura

Untitled1

On January 27th a devastating market fire razed thousands of businesses in Bujumbura, Burundi, effectively straining the country’s economy for weeks, if not months to come.  The minister of the Unitarian Church in Bujumbura, Rev. Fulgence Ndagijamana, shared the following information.  People’s Church in Kalamazoo, MI is coordinating contributions to the church to support its response to the devastation: Update: The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) is now coordinating contributions.  Contributions sent to the Kalamazoo church will be delivered to Burundi via ICUU.   Online you can donate with credit cards or from your bank account via PayPal to treasurer@icuu.net or checks may be sent to the ICUU Finance Department, att: Susan Greeberg, PO BOx 300, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706 USA.   

Rev. Fulgence Ndagijamana in the Bujumbura Market, November 2012.
Rev. Fulgence Ndagijamana in the Bujumbura Market, November 2012.

It’s 7 Am on Sunday morning (January 27, 2013).  Many people are still sleeping and others are getting ready to go to different churches.  I get a text message from Nepo, one of our church members.  The text is very short “Pastor, the central market is burning”!   Under chock,  I made a few phone calls to check on the people I know who work in the market or who have relatives or parents working there. Some were not aware and others were already in town hoping against hope to save something!I kept working on the last details of my sermon and I left for church at 9am.  As I was driving outside the gate, I could see a huge black cloud and people say it was over 20 meters high.  I met neighbours who under chock were just watching the fire 6,5 kms away. (more…)

Posted by:

Africa

Be the first to comment

New Khasi Unitarian Hymnal Published

Great news from Rev. Khlur Mukhim!  May the music be a blessing.

Dear friends,

Being a member of the standing Hymnal Revision Committee (HRC), I feel lucky I could attend yesterday the special meeting of UUNEI officials and some other church members at Jowai.  Graced by the President and the General Secretary of the Union, the occasion was led by Mr R Pariat and Mr L.Laloo (the Chairman & the Secretary of the HRC respectively) in which Rev Carleywell Lyngdoh, Seniormost Minister of the Union released the newly edited Khasi Unitarian Hymnal.  I cannot think of any better time to have this much awaited edition completed and released now before we wind up our Quasquicentennial celebrations next month during our Annual General Conference.  This edition has come after a long time and only few old copies are available in most churches.  Our organizers should take note and be careful to avoid stampede in our hymnal counters when all our churches and fellowships meet at Jowai next month! (more…)

Posted by:

India, International News

3 comments

Dire Situation for Gays in Uganda

Last week in Uganda the piece of legislation known to the world as the “Kill the Gays Bill” passed in Ugandan parliamentary committee. The bill can be voted into law any day and the Ugandan House Speaker has promised to pass the bill as a “Christmas gift” to the Ugandan people. Since 2008 when Uganda was inundated by high profile western Christian fundamentalists who preached against homosexuality in large conferences, a growing homophobic sentiment has taken hold in Uganda. Harsher punishments for homosexuals have overwhelming majority support in both Ugandan public opinion and government. This bill would represent a barbaric regression for Uganda’s human rights record. Besides directly punishing homosexuals,  sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) advocates and LGBT allies, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance warns that the bill would have a disastrous impact on the country’s HIV response.

The Bill
The bill proposes harsher punishments for homosexual acts, advocacy and even allies. The original bill calls for the death penalty or life prison sentence for “aggravated homosexuality” –defined as when one of the participants is HIV-Positive, or considered a “serial offender”. The bill also prohibits any public support for LGBT rights. Concepts like pride, anti-gay bullying, gay safe sex initiatives or LGBT outreach would all be illegal. The bill also criminalizes those who do not report homosexuals. Parents, teachers and even priests would be punished if they don’t report someone who tells them that they are gay. Landlords who rent to gay people would face up to three years in prison. Finally, and most insidiously, the bill exonerates those who kill gay people if they feel threatened; promoting the kind of mob killings and lynchings that lead to the death of Ugandan Gay Activist David Kato last year. (more…)

Posted by:

Africa, Uganda, UU-UNO

Be the first to comment

Exploring Faith-Based Social Justice in Burundi

The following post was written by Rev. Eric Cherry, director of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s International Office. Cherry was one of the leaders of the UUSC-UUA Supporter Journey to Tanzania and Burundi. 

Service-Learning trips through the UUSCJ are a terrific way for UUs to get to know the social justice strategies and methods of partners around the world.  Many of the partners that UUCSJ interacts with through S-L trips are secular in their approach.  But, some of them are faith-based – and even Unitarian/Universalist.  In those cases, the experience for trip participants offers a unique opportunity to connect spiritual practice and faith with outreach ministries.   And, introducing the team of UUCSJ service-learners in East Africa to the leaders and members of the Unitarian Church of Burundi was a great example of that connection..    Together we explored the ways that Unitarianism is pursuing social justice work in Burundi.

The Unitarian Church in Burundi was established by Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana in 2002 as a liberal religious alternative to the dominant Roman Catholic presence in Burundi.  Rev. Fulgence is, in fact, a former Dominican novitiate who discovered Unitarianism while studying in seminary.  After leaving seminary and pursuing a correspondence with a Unitarian minister in the UK he was inspired to start the church in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura.

Since then the congregation has grown in strength, numbers, and outreach ministries.  In 2011 the congregation dedicated the first Unitarian church building constructed in an African country in decades.  And it serves as a home for their church services, as well as a meeting place for activists.

The outreach work of the church has taken many forms including:

  • Capacity Building and Advocacy work with Burundi’s Batwa community
  • Domestic Violence prevention through workshops and other intervention
  • Supporting Micro-finance initiatives
  • Partnering with a local School
  • Establishing scholarship programs for University students
  • Leading a coalition of Unitarian churches in development in Francophone African Countries

All of the congregation’s work is done in the context of the slow recovery – and the struggle for truth and reconciliation – taking place in Burundi following its Civil War.  Burundi needs liberal religious leaders, and the Unitarian Church in Bujumbura is serving that role.

During the visit we were inspired by meetings with a former combatant who now operates a small restaurant, and a team of women who are operating a vegetable stall at the women’s market in the city – all beneficiaries of the church’s micro-finance initiative.

We also visited the local school that the church is partnering with.  Here, nearly 2000 primary school students have found a secure place to begin their educational journeys.  Through assistance from its partners, the Unitarian Church has helped the school bring electricity to its classrooms – and will now attempt to set up a water system for the school.

Participants in the University scholarship program also met with us.  They explained how nearly all of them were the first people in their family to attend University, and that completing a degree is the fastest way to escape poverty in Burundi.  We were inspired by the path they have chosen.

And, on Sunday, we gathered for church with 60-70 Burundian Unitarians.  The singing was fantastic, the prayers were social-justice centered, and the sermon by Rev. Fulgence was prophetic.  He took a text from Jeremiah which advised those surrounded by devastation to build up their cities, and display show signs of hope.  The members of the Unitarian church clearly appreciated and embrace his message.  We visiting friends are challenged to do the same as we return to our homes.

Cross-posted from the UU College of Social Justice blog.

Posted by:

Africa, Service Learning, UU College of Social Justice

Be the first to comment

Love, Dedication, and the Constitution of Tanzania

The following post was written by Patricia Jones, manager of UUSC’s Environmental Justice Program. She is currently coleading the UUSC-UUA Supporter Journey to Tanzania and Burundi.

The Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP) is hosting a UUSC-UUA delegation of supporters in Dar es Salaam this week. Participants will join TGNP in their work on the constitutional process in the country. Tanzania’s political parties passed a very controversial law in 2012 that sounded the starting bell for the country to adopt a new constitution by the end of 2014. You may think three years is enough time. TGNP and civil society do not.

Yesterday we met with the founding members of TGNP and learned about their groundbreaking programs to raise awareness, mobilize grassroots constituents to demand their rights, and change law and policy to make the rights of women and men more real. The current constitution was adopted in 1977 and amended during the years since, but it contradicts itself, especially concerning the equality of men and women. In Tanzania, women may not inherit property, and marriage age for girls is 14 and for boys is 18 — but the constitution provides that all Tanzanian children have the right to education to the fullest of their potential. These “gaps,” as the Tanzanians call them, are just some of the issues TGNP is working to change. They want to see the human rights of the people — including the right to water, to health, and to education — more clearly expressed.

But they first had to reform the law that guides the process. In Tanzania, the constitution, all the laws, and the court decisions are in English. English is taught in secondary school, so Tanzanians who complete primary school only (to age 14) do not learn English. TGNP and their coalition partners at the Civil Society Constitutional Forum (CSCF) worked to require that the constitutional process be conducted in Swahili, the language the vast majority of Tanzanians use in daily life.

TGNP and CSCF are conducting civic education on the constitutional process. However, that is another “gap,” as they point out. The law passed by both ruling and opposition parties limits and regulates civic education. TGNP and CSCF must apply to conduct civic education on the constitution, disclose their funding for the program, and have the content authorized by the Constitutional Review Commission. If they violate this process, they could be fined 5 million Tanzanian shillings or be jailed for 3 years. This while the political parties are openly passing out talking points during the “open forums,” the first step in the constitutional process.

During our delegation visit, we saw boxes of the current constitution in Swahili at the  CSCF offices we visited. They had printed them and are now distributing them. TGNP and CSCF want the time table changed; they want to slow the process down so people can learn about their constitution and what is at stake, and then be able to form their own opinions. The parties want to have the constitution wrapped before the 2015 elections.

Who knows what other surprises are waiting in the wings. Possibly land reform that would give away large parts of Tanzania to major foreign farming firms? That would privatize water rights? Diana, the director of CSCF, assured us they will include the human right to water. She had been without water in her home for the past week.

The delegation was inspired by the dedication, insightful analysis, persistence, and what cofounding member Subari termed the “love” that they express through their work. I agree, Subari, it is one of the highest expressions of love to dedicate your time and heart to changing the highest law of the land, the constitution.

Posted by:

Africa, Service Learning, UU College of Social Justice

Be the first to comment

Eager Anticipation: Prepping for Trip to Africa

The following post was written by Evan Seitz, senior associate for service-learning programs with the UU College of Social Justice.

I am not graceful when preparing for trips. I fret about everything from which type of trail mix to bring to whether our hosts will meet me at the airport. However, for the upcoming UUA-UUSC supporter journey to Tanzania and Burundi my usual pre-trip jitters have been largely replaced by eager anticipation. I have never been to Africa, and I can’t wait to visit two great partners: the Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP), based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Assembly of Christian Unitarians of Burundi (ACUB) based in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Tanzania is currently rewriting its constitution and our partner TGNP is working on including language on the human right to water in that new constitution. Our delegation will be meeting with TGNP leaders to hear firsthand their stories on this process. We will also be visiting community partners of TGNP that have struggled to access safe, sufficient, affordable water for daily human consumption. At the end of our visit with TGNP, we will be visiting a representative of the Tanzanian Water Ministry to express our hope for a successful inclusion of the right to water in the new constitution.

In Burundi, we will be meeting Rev. Ndagijimana Fulgence, the minister of the newest Unitarian Church on the African continent. ACUB has an active social outreach ministry, and we will be meeting with community members who have benefited from this service. There will also be plenty of time to meet with members of the congregation. I am personally most excited about attending the service on Sunday; it will be only my second Unitarian service outside of the United States.

I am also looking forward to spending eight days with a stellar group of supporters and social justice activists. The seven delegation members come from all regions of the United States and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Joining me as trip leaders are my colleague Eric Cherry, director of the UUA’s International Office, and Patricia Jones, manager of UUSC’s Environmental Justice Program. Return for more updates from me and other delegation members as this exciting journey unfolds.

Cross-posted from the UU College of Social Justice’s blog.

Posted by:

Africa, Service Learning, UU College of Social Justice

Be the first to comment

Unitarians in North East India Celebrate 125th Anniversary

On September 18, 1887 Hajjom Kissor Singh started the journey of organized Unitarianism in North East India.  And, on that same day in 2012, 125 years later, the anniversary celebration and worship of the members of the Unitarian Union of North East India were spectacular.  It was an honor for me to participate in many of the Anniversary events – along with Derek Mitchell (the Director of the UUA Holdeen India Program) and Richard Van Duizend (Past-President, UU Partner Church Council).  Together we brought a message of solidarity, faithful partnership, and commitment to a shared future from the UUA and its congregations to our brothers and sisters in North East India.  And, we returned with a sense of awe at the strength and hope of Unitarianism here – as well as inspiration from the unrestrained joy and pride that members of Unitarian Churches feel for their faith in this part of the world.  I am a better UU – and I expect all of us are – by virtue of experiencing the faithful example of Unitarianism during this anniversary.

Shillong Torch Parade
Shillong Torch Parade (click for photos)

Among the special events that took place was a parade through the streets of Shillong a few days ahead of the anniversary.  1,000 Unitarians, representing every congregation in the UUNEI – some traveling 10-12 hours to attend – marched through Shillong amidst cars and trucks with immense lit-up flaming chalices on their roofs.  We sang Khasi songs, cheered and laughed throughout the 5k parade.  And upon arriving back at the Madan Laban Unitarian Church the festivities exploded into music and dance.  I don’t know that I’ve ever had as much fun being a Unitarian.

On the night before “Unitarian Day” – a special Holiday in the state of Meghalaya – we gathered in the town of Jowai which is home to the UUNEI’s largest church, and the location from which Hajjom Kissor Singh organized Unitarianism.  The church gathered for an evening service, followed by festivities in members homes.   At one of those homes we shared a prayer of gratitude for a child who had recently been declared cancer-free following treatment for leukemia.  After some socializing a guitar came out, along with some song books, and the men in the room began singing some of our favorite UU hymns (brought back to the Khasi Hills by Rev. Helpme H. Mohrmen after his visit to a recent UUA General Assembly).  I have never heard Blue Boat Home sung so sweetly.  And it was a beautiful surprise, as they reached the chorus of another song, that the women who were gathered on the balcony of the home suddenly joined in like angels – almost from out of nowhere.  Such a special evening – among many

Unitarian Day 2012On Anniversary Day itself there were three church services – morning, afternoon, and evening.  Each service was SRO (standing room only) – or nearly – and included excellent anniversary sermons/prayers and music.  Between services we visited some of the most elderly members of the Jowai church.  And, just prior to the evening service, a torch procession through Jowai took place.  There may have been another 1,000 Unitarians participating – not only with lit-up chalices – but with more than 125 flaming torches (like Birthday candles) as well.  As we processed through the town I couldn’t help but wonder: What could inspire 1,000 US Unitarian Universalists to do something similar with the same immense pride and joy?

Umru Unitarian ChurchThe visit continued beyond ‘Unitarian Day’ including a trip to the remote Umru Unitarian Church and School in the Ri-Bhoi district that straddles the border of Meghalaya and Assam, and many other events in Shillong.

My deep thanks are extended to the President of the UUNEI, Rev. Derrick Pariat, as well as the UUNEI’s General Secretary, Rev. Nangroi Suting, and many other committed Unitarians who taught me – a life-long UU from the US – about the depth and power of our global faith in a unique way.  What a precious gift.

Posted by:

India

Be the first to comment