PWR Congregations in the NewsGod above politics: Local churches oppose Trump seeking to 'destroy' Johnson Amendment
"Elizabeth Stevens, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse, feels the separation between church and state is a part of the fabric of this nation. 'Religious pluralism is one of the values of this country, and that means all
religions,' she said. Stevens went on to describe how religions, from Catholicism to Buddhism, are independent from each other and from the state, which she said is an important relationship to maintain."
Read more in the Daily Evergreen
Fresno's faithful on front lines of protecting undocumented immigrants
"Sanctuary churches have been making national headlines in other cities, including a Unitarian church in Denver that sheltered an immigrant who sought sanctuary after skipping an appointment with an immigration agent. 'I think the biggest question is, 'Will the current administration respect what has been the practice, that if there are refugees on a church campus, that they won't break that sanctuary, enter and arrest,'' says the Rev. Tim Kutzmark of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno."
Read more
in the Fresno Bee
Banners fly over I-25 as group supports immigrants, refugees and keeping families together
"Nearly 200 people gathered at Washington Park in Denver on Saturday to rally and march in support of immigrants, refugees and keeping families together. Jeanette Vizguerra and Ingrid Encalada Latorre, who are seeking sanctuary at the First Unitarian Society of Denver and Mountain View Friends Meeting respectively, spoke to attendees before the march by phone. Both women thanked supporters in Spanish."
Read more in the Denver Post
'Valve turners' get warm welcome
"They didn't look like heroes. But the so-called "valve turners" — five climate activists who got themselves arrested on Oct. 11 when they broke into oil company control stations in four states and simultaneously shut off pipelines carrying Canadian crude into the United States — got a heroes' welcome from a Corvallis audience Saturday night. More than 150 people filled the sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis to hear a presentation from the five activists, who looked more like unassuming middle-aged professionals
than dangerous eco-guerrillas, and a sixth person who was arrested for assisting them."
Read more in the Corvallis Gazette-Times
New book 'True South' looks back on civil-rights movement and 'Eyes on the Prize'
"Two days after the "Bloody Sunday" march in 1965, when African-American protesters in Selma, Ala., were battered by police on national television, Martin Luther King Jr. led another march across the same bridge. Among those at that second march was Henry Hampton, a 24-year-old official with the Unitarian Universalist Church. Hampton was proud to be there — and then, like many in the march, was baffled when King and the march's leaders halted, knelt in prayer and turned around."
Read more in the Seattle Times
 Tools Available Now at uucsj.orgAs UUA, UUSC and CSJ develop new campaign strategies and the tools and trainings to support them, we are coordinating our efforts to make it easy for our constituents to find what they need. A common website is under development to host these resources, and will also offer a way to amplify and share strategies and resources coming from UUA regional staff, UU State Action Networks and congregations.
Resources that have already been developed are available at uucsj.org, under the tab "Act": "Tools for Sanctuary and Solidarity".
In particular, we'd like you to know about the following:
The Congregational Action Guide has a range of activities, links and support resources and will be updated continually.
For churches interested in declaring Sanctuary, we have a completely updated Sanctuary Toolkit that will answer many of the questions that arise and offer practical guidance and support. We have also recorded two webinars on the topic with Katia Hansen of UURISE: one focused primarily on the discernment process and the other offering a practical guide on getting there. Both include Q and A and presentations from members of Sanctuary congregations.
Beyond sanctuary, the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love has created Protect and Defend Organizing, a rich compilation of suggested actions, grassroots groups and strategies widely applicable in a range of congregational settings. UUSC has recorded two webinars as a survey of options for action, including but not limited to the offer of physical sanctuary.
2018 Justice Trip needs a justice project!The PWR is working on a Pacific Western Justice Project Trip. The Advisory Panel for the 2018 Pacific Western Justice Trip is searching for a project or congregational initiative that needs some help.
Details are still being worked out, but here's what we know so far:
Who: Up to 20 high school youth and adults
Time: July 2018
Duration: One week
Location: Pacific Western Region
Is your congregation involved in a justice project that could use some help? Have you identified a need in your community? Contact Katie Covey, PWR Justice Trip Lead, at justicetrip@pwruua.org.
Worship Attendance Increase Focus GroupFor those of you experiencing a Trump Bump (increased seekers and perhaps membership engagement), or as I like to call it, the Lifting of the Veil or the 21st Century Great Awakening — would you be interested in being part of a virtual, regional focus group? Your Pacific Western Regional Staff has prioritized designing and curating resources to help you navigate these times. We want to hear how this increase has changed
your congregation's understanding of membership, pathway to membership and/or your congregation's sense of mission. We want to hear how you are responding to the increase, what's working, what's not, and what you need to succeed. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Tandi Rogers at trogers@uua.org
Chalice Lighters Across the RegionThe Pacific Southwest District's Winter Chalice Lighter Call is going toward the renovation of rooms at First UU Church of Los Angeles. Assistance from Chalice Lighters will allow them to bring two lovely but badly-worn rooms back to attractive shape. They
will become spaces that communicate UU values with beauty and warmth.
The Pacific Central District's Winter Chalice Lighter Call opened February 20. For their inaugural call under the new program, they are supporting a new type of ministerial internship program. Funds collected from this call will be held by the district until an application comes from a suitably sized congregation to run this trial internship program.
The Pacific Northwest Winter Chalice Lighter Call raised grant money for the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Twin Falls, ID to replace the roof and make additional urgent repairs. The generosity of Chalice Lighters in the Pacific Northwest will help attract future UUs needing a liberal religious home in a religiously conservative community.
BriefsSkinner House Books, the imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association, invites members of UU communities to submit proposals for the Spring 2018 inSpirit title. The inSpirit Series was previously known as the Meditation Manual Series. Meditations can be prose or poetry, humorous
and personal, or formal and liturgical. Each prose meditation is typically between 200 and 650 words. Poetry meditations should be no longer than 54 lines each. All meditations should be suitable for both private reflection and public worship. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2017.
Are you interested in receiving regular updates with tips and resources on compensation, staffing, and personnel matters? Sign up for Compensation and Staffing News, a new monthly publication from the Office of Church Staff Finances. Developed with supervisors and human resources teams in mind, topics may also be of interest to administrators, finance committees, and others who assist with employment matters.
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