Casual Comments from the Minister – March 2011
We’ve been talking about change at a theoretical level for several months now and the time has come to move to discussing it at a personal level. Big change is just around the corner for all of us! The first Sunday in March you will begin the process of searching for a new minister in earnest and in just four months I will complete my service as your minister. That means we need to spend this last time together with intentionality. I see three things we need to do:
- Let’s make certain that all the good work we’ve done together establishing shared ministry is firmly in place. We have worked together so well, building a strong, healthy congregation that I know this part of our last months will be easy work. Still we don’t want to become complacent — work still needs to be done.
- We need to plug holes and tie up loose ends [finish those projects we’ve started]. Two that come to mind are the communications issues and the adult education program for which we’ve received a UUA grant. Please, please fill out the communications survey which is on line and will be available in the church office. We need your input in order to adjust the communications program so that it meets everyone’s needs and preferences. And plan on attending the “Green Theology” class which begins this month and ends with a weekend workshop in April.
- We need to say good bye. The UUMA covenant calls for me to “disappear” for a period of time so that you can do the work of transition and then welcome in your new minister. And I intend to live up to that covenant. It may seem harsh to some of you, but it is the only way to make this transition as healthy as possible. We need to acknowledge that there will be a hiatus during which we will not be in relationship and if, in the future, it is appropriate for me to be part of this community again, it will be in a very different relationship. Because we often find partings difficult and painful it is tempting to ignore them. What I learned a long time ago, from a very wise teacher of mine, is that if we say goodbye, fully owning up to whatever emotions that brings out, we will be able to move forward in a healthy fashion and we will have honored the importance of our time together as minister and congregant.
We’ve done so much good work together — let’s complete our time with the same integrity, energy, and love that has characterized it for the past thirteen years! I do not know yet what I will be doing next year. I have several “irons in the fire” but it is too soon for them to materialize. I promise I will let you know when I have determined my future course.
In the meantime, may you…
Go shining,
Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – February 2011
Birdie Reed and I celebrated with Jan Meslin [from Tapestry] and Lee Sanchez [who preached at OCUUC during the month of January] that the case against them for civil disobedience in Phoenix last July was dismissed. It is a great pleasure to know that the courts in Phoenix as well as many of the people of Arizona were sympathetic to the efforts we made in opposition to state law 1070.
One of the best things to come out of this whole situation is the new name that we were dubbed with: “The Love People”. Because so many of us wore our “Standing on the Side of Love” bright yellow tee shirts, we [Unitarian Universalists] were very visible as part of the protest. I am very aware that not everyone agrees with the protest — let’s face it the problem of immigration is a complex and controversial one. But what I hope we can all agree about is that “standing on the side of love” is part of what we do as UU’s. It helps me when faced with almost any situation to ask myself, “what is the loving thing to do here?” I know when I can identify that position I will be acting, as well as thinking and believing, in accord with our UU principles. They are borne out of a commitment to be in the world in a loving way. In fact if everyone was willing to make choices about what matters in life from the perspective of doing the loving thing, I know we’d have a more peaceful world. I’m proud that that is what I understand we are called to do. In love, we can disagree with one another respectfully, move to action with courage, and resolve differences non-violently. In love, we know that we will be listened to, comforted, and supported when life is giving us lemons. What more could we ask?
On February 13, we are going to devote our service to the subject of love. I originally planned this because the following day is Valentine’s day, but as I thought about it, it became obvious to me that I don’t ever want to restrict my definition of love to only romantic love. We can fill our lives with all sorts of love — romantic, to be sure, but also family love, friendship love, and justice love. Several of the worship associates will join me in doing readings that day, and I hope you, too, will find it inspiring to spend some time thinking about the huge breadth that is defined as love.
In the meantime, may you…
Go Shining,
Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – January 2011
It’s another New Year and time to take stock of life. I know that this time frame is only an arbitrary one — not a real break in our routine, but if it serves to move us to introspection, so much the better. We need to consider what is going on, what we re doing with our lives, what we should change, what we should keep, and perhaps most of all, what we want to manifest in our lives that we’ve let slip by us. Anything that encourages us to this work is a good thing!
I always go through all the drawers in my bedroom at this time of year and I’m always surprised at how much “junk” has accumulated. I usually give up the task before I get to the kitchen, but that too is undoubtedly an indicator of how much has gone the way of good intentions. I know I start out with the right idea — “let’s get something important done and let’s be more organized about it this year!” but I also know that The Time Being [see the sermon for January 2, 2011 for an understanding of the caps on those words] soon takes over and I return to my usual routine. I need the impetus of an event like a changing number in the year to spur me to at least some consideration of my patterns.
And perhaps most important, I need a goad to my complacence so that I will accomplish something new, something daring, something different, and I’m not stuck in what easily becomes a deep rut. So I invite you to consider what is missing in your life. What would you like to change? Don’t make unrealistic resolutions which just encourage you to stay in the pattern you currently have and invite you to berate yourself for slothfulness, indecision, timidity, or a host of other things. Instead look for something that you could add to your life that will truly make it better. Make it something that is doable, and design it in a way that is either fun or in some other way desirable so that you will actually stick to it. Example: I know life would be better if I got more exercise, but what a dreary thing. In my mind riding the stationary bike or working a routine of machines at a health club is more torture than anything else. I know that may not be true for you, but it certainly is for me. So this year I’m going dancing — that will give me the good exercise and a lot of fun.
And I’m assuming since I’ve put it up on the website for all to read I’ll need to actually do it! Check in with me from time to time to keep me honest. And find something wonderful to add to your life [and if you already have too much to do that could be doing nothing occasionally] that will make this a truly joyous year for you.
In the meantime, may you…
Go shining,
Karen
Casual Comments From the Minister – December 2010
I attended the UUA President’s Council meeting this past month and it was exciting to hear directly from Peter Morales [UUA President] about his vision for our movement. It was also very interesting to hear from leaders in other congregations what they were doing. And while there were many interesting projects and activities, I was proud of what I could report about our congregational efforts.
Most of our conversation revolved around social justice and how we might live out this part of what our Unitarian Universalist principles call us to do. We are thinking ahead to the “Justice GA” scheduled for Phoenix in June of 2012. That said, we brainstormed some more general interests and problems we might be involved with as well. The top suggestions from this body were:
- Increase quality and quantity of communication with and among congregations, including social media & technology
- Sponsor or pilot programs or trainings in use of technology and web tools
- Sponsor participants on Just Journeys or other international service trips
- Increase opportunities for service trips, including for ministers and youth
- Host receptions for traveling UUA leaders
- Create curriculum for economic competency “O.W.L. for money”
It is ironic to me that many congregations are having difficulties transitioning to newer methods of communication — it was actually reassuring that we aren’t the only ones struggling with this issue. And I’m excited to see that there is interest in doing just journeys [trips to lands where poverty and oppression are rampant and help is badly needed], especially to make it possible for those who need financial assistance to join these ventures.
Peter’s goals include support for our ministry — making certain that it is ready for the multi-cultural world that is increasingly the world we live in, and also to promote growth in our denomination so that our voice may be heard loud and clear. We have work to do — exiting work, prophetic work, and work to create the beloved community wherever we are.
In the meantime, may you
Go shining, Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – November 2010
The new study/action issue for the next four years is immigration reform. If you are anything like me, you haven’t figured out what the way to reform our current policy and practice ought to be. For one thing, our current policy [USA] isn’t upheld in most instances, so it’s not even entirely clear whether or not it is reasonable. And then there are states like Arizona that enact laws relating to immigration that invite law enforcement personnel to profile according to race — and in that case, I don’t care if the policy on immigration or documentation is a good one or not. As long as we are profiling and making decisions based on skin color, eye shape, or other physical characteristics there is a problem with the law. So I think it’s wonderful that we’re going to have a chance to explore this topic — to study it as a group and hopefully come to an understanding of what will work in a fashion that is just, equitable, and compassionate [that’s our second principle if you don’t recognize it!].
The watchword in all of this for me is “fairness”. I’m hoping we can come to a conclusion that treats everyone involved fairly. That will include those who are here undocumented, those who are here and following the established procedure for citizenship or the right to work, and those of us who have been citizens since birth — all of us are entitled to a solution that is fair. Here’s what the UUA is saying about this subject:
Our current immigration system is broken. Families are torn apart through a tremendous backlog in family-based immigration and unjust detentions and deportations. Workers’ rights are eroded by flawed guest worker programs. About 11 million undocumented immigrants are living and working within U.S. borders without a path to citizenship. Clearly we need comprehensive immigration reform now.
The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations has been explicitly on record in support of more just immigration policies since 1963. In a statement entitled “Immigration,” the 1963 General Assembly recognized that the outdated system “contradicts the founding principles of the nation and is at variance with national needs and international responsibilities.” In dozens of resolutions over the years, the Association has affirmed that:
- All people—without regard to immigration status—deserve access to fair wages, education, housing, healthcare, and other social services; and
- Immigrants are at high risk for being denied basic rights and services and thus warrant our special support.
The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee joined with 60 other religious groups in signing the Interfaith Statement In Support Of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (PDF <http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/interfaith-cir-statement-final2.pdf> ). The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations is also one of the more than 20 members of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/ [taken from the UUA website]
I’m looking forward to lively discussions on this topic in the next four years. I hope you will share your thoughts with me.
In the meantime, may you
Go shining,
Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – October 2010
I’m delighted to report to you that the UUA has granted us over $5000.00 to create a course in “green Theology”. We will be assisted in this effort by Dr. Michael Hogue, faculty member at Meadville Lombard Theological School, Reverend Kent Doss, minister at the Laguna Beach UU Fellowship, and Mike Harmanos, chair of our Green Sanctuary Committee. All of you will be invited to participate in this wonderful venture.
The reason I’m telling you this now is because we are about to celebrate Association Sunday at OCUUC. This annual event raises funds to support congregations and districts in doing good work and it is from this fund that we are receiving the grant mentioned above. It is a wonderful indication that we are indeed an Association of Congregations, not a bureaucracy of people who are distanced from those of us sitting in the pews [or filling the pulpits!]. We are fortunate to have these resources available to us and it is my fervent hope that you will once again support the UUA in their efforts.
Taken from the UUA website is the following statement: “Proceeds from this year’s Association Sunday special collection will go to ensuring that our faith thrives for generations to come. Beginning in spring 2010, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) will embark on an in-depth strategic review of leadership and growth in order to develop an action plan to strengthen our community for future generations.” And what could be more important to OCUUC as it begins the transition from my ministry to the next one you will call!
Peter Morales, UUA President, has enlarged upon the above statement, saying,
“We want congregations that are spiritually deep places where strong and enduring relationships can flourish, and that are engaged in their communities as sources of moral vision and effective action. We want our religious homes to be truly multi-generational and reflect the racial and cultural diversity of the wider world. And, we want professional religious leaders who are visionary, spiritual, innovative, and diverse.”
I believe that OCUUC is already a vibrant, spiritually deep community and I know that you will continue to grow in that direction this year and beyond.
In the meantime, may you
Go shining,
Karen
Special Report: In Response to the Planned Burning the Koran
I am deeply saddened and very disturbed at the reports of the minister in Florida who is planning to burn 100 Korans on Saturday as part of his commemoration of 9/11. I am sad because I know how many people there are in our world who are striving diligently to be inclusive, respectful, and loving in their approach to people of other faiths. Interfaith work has been a significant calling for me and many religious leaders and it is disheartening to see this act of hatred and disrespect publicized so prominently — it is an act that is antithetical to all who are striving to live in peace with respect for the worth and dignity of others.
I am also sad that a community of people that I have found to be loving, peaceful, and welcoming to others are being targeted because of the actions of a few fanatics. Every group has a fringe of fundamentalists and often they live and work in ways that do not fit the mainstream understandings of the entire faith group. To condemn all because of the hostile and destructive acts of a few is to violate, at the very least, the first, sixth, and seventh principles we espouse as Unitarian Universalists [respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people, work for a world of peace, justice, and liberty, and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part]. I try to live by those principles and I know you do too, so it is abhorrent to me to see someone who claims to represent a religious group violating them.
And I am disturbed that anyone would think the way to protest the acts of 9/11 was to burn the holy book of a faith tradition. No matter what any of us may think about sacred writings, they are each sacred to a group of people who are striving to live their lives decently and with a sense of morality. To defile that book in any way is to disrespect the people who believe in it. It is an individual’s right to do so [according to the Bill of Rights], but that doesn’t make it right. It is also our right to object to this action.
It was good to hear Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton report that many, many people were expressing outrage at the intention to burn the Muslim Holy Book. I definitely want to add my name and voice to that number. I want to stand with those who are supporting and sympathizing with the Muslim community that is suffering this outrage. My heart is with them. Through the Newport Mesa Interfaith Council, I have signed a letter of support for the Muslims in our area that will be sent to the local press.
We must stand for those who are being oppressed and this is certainly such a case.
Go shining,
Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – September 2010
Our new study/action item is a controversial one: immigration! I found that out when I preached on my experience in Arizona last month. I intended to be talking about injustice [not immigration per se] dealing with a law I [and others] perceive as targeting certain people because of race and overlooking others because of race. The subject of injustice is a powerful one for me and I know it is for you, but it is not the same thing as the subject of immigration. I will stand up against racism and the injustice that occurs because of it no matter what the specific situation is. On the other hand I’m not ready to take a specific stand on immigration reform at this point because I don’t know enough [yet!] to make that stand effectively. And that, of course, is the reason that we have study/action issues, instead of just “action issues”. I apologize to anyone who may have thought I was talking about immigration itself this past week — I needed to make myself clearer. It’s humbling for me as a former English teacher to realize that I can be inaccurate in this way [although I think humbleness is a good thing occasionally!], but it is a good lesson to learn.
Meanwhile we do need to think about immigration reform. Whether it is a particular passion of yours or not, it is going to be a much talked about [and argued about] topic in the months to come. I’m so glad that the association delegates voted to define it as our next study topic and I hope it will engender a discussion group right here at OCUUC. Some of the questions that have already been suggested for study include:
- What are the definitions of refugee, migrant, permanent resident, citizen, non-immigrant, and undocumented and documented immigrants?
- Is international law concerning migrants and refugees (mainly the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions) adequate for people seeking asylum in a current context?
- What underlying factors contribute to global migration? And where are we complicit or accountable in these factors?
- What is the economic impact of immigration on countries and on individuals?
- For what reasons are immigrants arrested and incarcerated? And once incarcerated, how are individuals and families treated in detention centers?
- What are our positions on the enforcement of national boundaries?
- What are the myths and realities regarding immigrants?
- What role do racism, hate and intolerance play in driving immigration and enforcement policies?
- Are there ways that immigrants enrich the social fabric of the country in which they settle and in particular the United States?
- Using UU principles and values, what would be a just and humane immigration policy?
These and other questions intrigue me and I look forward to sharing thoughts, feelings, and ideas with you as we explore the subject of immigration in the near future.
In the meantime, may you
Go shining,
Karen
Casual Comments from the Minister – June 2010
I’m planning to spend May 29th in Phoenix at a big rally opposing the Arizona Immigration Law that is so discriminatory. It is a great pleasure to me that many of my colleagues from other UU churches in California will also be there along with all the Arizona UU clergy. This is the most important way I know to live out the fifth principle we affirm: support for the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large.It is not enough to vote.It certainly isn’t enough to complain to one another when injustice occurs, and it would belie everything I believe in to stand by because I live in California and the problem is in the next state over.Real support of the democratic process means standing up for what we believe when the opportunity arises.Real support for our denomination means coming to the aid of congregations in another state who are needing help to protest an injustice in their area.And so I will go to Arizona, along with lots of other UU lay people and clergy, and many like-minded citizens to say this law is a travesty that we do not want to see exist anywhere in the world, much less in the United States.
The other reason I’m going is to work for a world of justice, liberty, and peace. I believe along with Martin Luther King, Jr., that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and I am heeding the lesson of Martin Niemoller who pointed out that when we don’t stand for the other, we risk there being no one left to stand for us when we are oppressed. So I am going to Phoenix to live out our sixth principle as well as our fifth principle.
I feel honored and excited to have this opportunity to live my faith — it is the spirit that moves me. I’m writing this before the trip, but it is serendipity that I will be preaching on May 30th about the importance of “doing” when the spirit moves us. By the time you read this I’ll probably have told you all about it! In the meantime, may you
Go shining,
Rev. Dr. Karen Stoyanoff
minister
ocuuc
org
P.S. A video was made by the UUA of this important event and I wanted to share it with you!
Casual Comments from the Minister – May 2010
We’ve come to the time of year when we do denominational things — like District Assembly this past weekend and General Assembly coming up in June. Amidst the drama and excitement of both these events there is a strong message that we all need to be aware of: we are more than just a small group of souls gathering at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church! It’s always been exciting for me to get together with other UU’s and to see both our similarities and our vast differences. We talk about celebrating diversity a lot, and if I look around when we’ve gathered from across the region or the continent, I can see that diversity incarnated. We gather strength from our solidarity and from our differences — as former UUA president, Bill Sinkford says — we are better together! This past few days we’ve faced a disturbing development in our neighboring state of Arizona. A seriously punitive measure has been passed and signed into law in that state. It would discriminate against people of color in a major way. In the District business meeting we talked about what measures we might take to express our concern about this law. It was heartening to me to see how willing we were to discuss, debate, and disagree with each other about the wording of the resolution [there was no disagreement about the substance of our concern — the motion passed unanimously!]. We need to be able to speak out, honoring both our diversity and our common purposes. To give up either one of those would be a travesty. Our fifth principle calls us to support the democratic principle in our congregations and in society at large and that mandate means we have to be able to have open discussion. The democratic process is much more than just voting and accepting majority rule. It is bound up in our willingness to speak out, to take action, to stand for [or against] and to discuss with the hope of finding common ground. That’s what we did at District Assembly and I’m proud to be part of it.
Sometimes the work is difficult and sometimes the cost is high — we might accidently offend someone or even lose a friend when we stand strong for what we believe. No matter the work must be done, and I believe that with respect for our first principle [the inherent worth and dignity of every person] we can find ways to work through our differences and move to new high ground. As the song we love to sing says, “we know the way will be hard and the road will be muddy and rough, but we’ll get there.” In the meantime, may you…
Go shining,
Karen Stoyanoff
ministerocuucorg (ministerocuucorg)
