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Newsletter of the Canadian Unitarian Council Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

unitarianthe canadian

Yes indeed, it does. At the Unitarian Church of Montreal (ucmtl), we started out by worshipping at the altar of the coffee urn, which has recently progressed to worshipping at the groaning side-table. Although we used to fuel conversation with notoriously weak coffee, we’ve moved on to aromatic free-trade coffee and an array of tempting dishes. Why? Because so many church events are held after the Sunday service; people can’t go to meetings on an empty stomach. How can you speak up for social justice with ten tummies rumbling around you?

All it took was a group of friendly foodies. Suddenly, we were hosting minor and major events. We are blessed with cooks who have a range of talents. Need bread? Ask Paco. Want soup? Talk to me. John’s the guy if you want to put on a potato bar. We have hosted many Loaf’n’Ladle lunches. And then there’s Maychai with her exquisite chocolate orange cheesecake. Some people use the term ‘to die for’ when speaking of an amazing dish or meal. We like ‘to live for’ better.

Here’s how we do it: The ucmtl Hospitality Committee has no budget from the church. Money is raised through pay-as-you-can donations by congregants who stay for lunch. Regardless of the event, we only ask that people give if, or what, they can. Proceeds are then used to host future events.

Recruiting is important. We started out with a core group of five people. We now have a total of 32 members because you can’t have a team of five serve 120 people every second Sunday. Does this sound like the voice of experience—or maybe just the voice of five tired people? The best recruit-ing line yet: “Do you have a springform pan?” “Yes,” comes the reply. “Excellent! Do you think you could fill one for me on January 10? We’re doing a fundraiser to replace our piano hammers.”

“Yes,” is again the reply. “Oh, great! Look, while we’re at it, can I add you to the list of Hospitality Committee members?” Your volunteer is looking dazed and confused by now, in the din of Phoenix Hall, after the service in the sanctuary. Recruiting 101: Get’em while the going’s good!

So where does the community part come in? Nobody wants to talk to a psychiatrist: it looks as if, horror of horrors, there might be something wrong with you. Even talking to the minister can be a bit daunting sometimes: “Um, if you have a moment I’d like to chat about my love-life/dying parent/unsatisfying career...” But if you’re cutting carrots (julienned not coined, please!), assembling turkey wraps, or stirring a soup, you can engage in some comfortable chin-wagging with your fellows, while on the road to foodie heaven.

In 2010–2011, the ucmtl Hospitality Committee hosted 41 events, serving between 90 and 220 people each time, with an average of 120 on Sundays. We help other committees, such as the Social and Environmental Concerns Committee (secc) to raise funds that pay for ucmtl’s mem-bership in Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice. We help out at memorial services, host major birthdays and other milestone events, and provide free lunch on New Member Sundays. We also provide the bread for Bread Communion Sundays and generally respond to any food requests, be they from the minister, the Caring Network or any other committee.

Basically, the ucmtl Hospitality Committee works with other committees to promote outreach and foster a sense of community. Working in close cooperation with ucmtl vice-president Margo Ellis, we jointly hosted the Eastern Regional Gathering in November 2010 and the Ysaye Barnwell Workshop Weekend in April 2011. And we co-hosted the opening of the ucmtl Stairwell Art Gal-

Does Food Create Community?

http://www.cuc.ca/canuISSN 0527–9860

The Canadian Unitarian is the newsletter of the Canadian Unitarian Council. It is free to all mem-bers for whom the CUC has a current address.* The Canadian Unitarian reports on newsworthy events in the denomination, including the annual conference each spring. It attempts to reflect all segments of Unitarianism and Universalism in Canada. We welcome all submissions; however publication is based on the criteria of newsworthi-ness, relevance to readers, length, and balance. Signed letters to the editor will be included, after being edited for length and content.

* Non-members can subscribe to The Canadian Unitarian for $15 CDN or US. Send name, address, and cheque to CUC office.

Canadian Unitarian CouncilConseil unitarien du Canada

100–344 Dupont Street Toronto, ON M5R 1V9

Toll-free 1.888.568.5723Phone 416.489.4121Email info@cuc.ca

Opinions expressed in The Canadian Unitarian are those of the contributors. Sources and num-erical values reported within articles have been verified by the authors.

Unitarianthe canadian

Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

Printed on Canadian-made, acid-free,

recycled paper (100% post-consumer fibre)

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lery with the Music Ministry Collective in May 2011. To the dulcet sounds of the ‘No More Blues’ band, we served wine and cheese for all!

Food is love.Nancy Kleins,

Congregational Treasurer & Chair, Hospitality Committee

Read more about Food (Glorious Food) for socially-and environmentally-aware eaters, from page 24 of this issue. Food-related reflections also appear En français, in the minister’s column, and

Religious Education.lo

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ucmtl truffle maven and hospitality Committee member with her mother, Nancy Kleins.

the Sunday worship service of the Western regional Gathering, Edmonton, ab.

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Canadian Unitarian CoUnCil Board oF trUStEES and StaFF

PresidentGary Groot

Vice-PresidentEllen Campbell

TreasurerJohn Michell

Secretary Glenda Butt

Social Responsibility Liaisonleslie Kemp

Curtis Murphy

rev. Jessica Purple rodela

Kristina Stevens

Minister Observerrev. Kathy Sage

Youth ObserverMicaela Corcoran

Executive Director Jennifer dickson

Congregational Development, Central RegionHelen armstrong

Office AdministratorKaren Claney

National Youth and Young Adult Programming & Ministry Developmentariel Hunt-Brondwin

Congregational Development, Eastern RegionKelly Mcdowell

Director of Resource DevelopmentKathleen Provost

Director of Finance Philip Strapp

Director of Congregational Development linda thomson

Communications DirectorBen Wolfe

Congregational Development, the West and British Columbia rev. antonia Won

tHE Canadian Unitarian

Editorraquel rivera

Graphic DesignerKim Chua

Issue Proofreadersdavid Hudson, Jean Pfleiderer

Fritchman’s Canadian SojournSeveral of us here enjoyed the summer issue of The CanU, with its many in-depth articles. I especially appreciated the Rev. Phillip Hewett’s erudite and philosophical review of Rev. Charles Eddis’ recently-released book, Stephen Fritch-man: The American Unitarians and Commun-ism (Lulu.com, 2011). The question of whether the ends ever justify the means is still with us. When we are all UUs we at least share the Prin-ciples, thus having common ideals on which to start the dialogue.

Also, there is a Canadian aspect to this story worth mentioning: Rev. Dr. Stephen Fritchman spent four or five months at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto in 1970, when Rev. John Morgan was on sabbatical. I was the Direc-tor of Religious Education at that time and have kept photos, a few sermons, and even a personal letter from Steve, as well as a speech by his wife Fran on Woman’s Day. Many at Toronto First found his sermons and presence inspiring.

Fritchman’s autobiography Heretic (Beacon Press, 1977) adorns my bookshelf, joined now by Eddis’s latest research. Fritchman was on the aua staff (hired 1938 for Youth activities) and in charge of their newsletter, The Christian Registrar (1942–1947), which was an influential position. Because he was sympathetic to social-ist ideals, seemed to be a communist ‘fellow-traveller’, and did not print opposing views, he got into hot water. Even the aua President, the Rev. Frederick Eliot, was suspected of socialism for defending him for quite a few years.

In 1951, when serving the Los Angeles Church, Fritchman was brought before the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities (of the McCarthy era witch-hunt fame). This Committee also tried to persuade the congregation to fire him. But his church stood firm. In 1954 the L.A. Church declined the questionable California ‘loyalty oath’ which at that time was connected to Mc-Carthyism. Along with several other religious bodies, they lost their tax exemption, but after four years, the Supreme Court finally restored it and the lost taxes. What a great example!

letters to the Editor

Fritchman never did join the Communist Party according to his autobiography, but what if he had? Who cares? Two leading church members I have worked with in Victoria were card-carrying members in the early days, before the truths of Stalinism were public knowledge. Both are praise-worthy Canadian Unitarians. Many of us are proud to be called socialists.

Stephen Fritchman was an outstanding minister and fighter for human rights and dignity for most of his long life. The UU Ser-vice Committee recognized his contributions to social justice; UUA World magazine called him one the 20th century’s giants of liberal religion; and in 1976 the uua awarded him their most prestigious annual Award for Dis-tinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism. Toronto First was lucky to have him for five months.

Christine Johnston, First Unitarian Church of Victoria,

(1963–1997 at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto)

Re: “The Work of a Lay Chaplain” (spring 2011)I have just read your article in which you quote the poem by Max Coots, whom I once knew. He was occasionally our visiting minister in Kingston, on, when we were a struggling Uni-tarian Fellowship in the 1940s and 50s. I lived there for forty years and have been a Unitarian since 1939.

I have always admired Rev. Coots and would love to know more about him.

I have cut out Max’s poem and shall keep it by me.

Margaret Shortliffe

Rev. Max Alden Coots (1927–2009), Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton, New York, is the author of Seasons of the Self, a collection of poems (Skinner House Books, 1971). More on his life and work can be found at:www.uuma.org/blogpost/569858/100058/In-Memory-.-.-.-Max-Alden-Coots-1927–2009-.htm

4 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

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Where We Are—Where We Want to Go

Board work is like a three legged stool, with each leg representing one of three jobs that the Board must do to be effective. The first leg is the development of good policies—sort of like developing a good operating system for a computer. Over the last several years the Board has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and energy to that task. For those who are inclined to programming ( as opposed to using) computers, the current policy manual is available on the cuc website for your inspection. Much like the patches and updates we see now and again for the computer systems we use, there will be occasional changes to the policy manual. But for the most part the development work is complete!

This is allowing your current Board the luxury of focusing on strengthening the other two legs of our stool—knowing where our member congregations want the organization to go, and monitoring to see if we are getting there. The monitoring schedule will soon be in place and available for all to view on the website as well. Today I would like to share with you the efforts the Board is making to connect with the membership, to understand the directions you want us to go in our ‘bigger boat,’ as described by Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela in her homily delivered at the acm 2011.

The Board has traditionally connected with member congregations by contacting the presidents and ministers in advance of the face-to-face Board meetings held in September, February, and May. In addition we try to visit member congregations at least once in a three-year term, and we try to connect with people at the regional fall gatherings and the annual meeting.

This year we are adding two new initiatives. The first annual Congregational Survey was sent out this spring. Although the survey needs to be more user-friendly, the in-formation gleaned from the results provided us with a richer understanding of where people wanted us to focus and where we currently are as an organization. The established information-gathering systems, combined with the results of the survey, allowed the Board to instruct the executive director to focus 80% of staff time and budget on four organizational goals:

Resources for religious exploration and spiritual growth1.

Resources to nurture leadership2.

Resources for social sustainability3.

Resources for multi-generational appeal and relevant life-stage ministries 4.

The executive director and staff are now working on a revised Work Plan to reflect these priorities, which should be available by the end of December for all to see.

Finally, we anticipate that the Spiritual Leadership Symposium , which will be held in Ottawa next May, will not only be a time for individual deepening but also an opportunity for us to gain further insights into where member congregations want the cuc to go. I would like to encourage each congregation to begin considering which current and emer-ging leaders should attend, in order for all of us to get the most out of the Symposium. Stay tuned; there will be more information available in the very near future.

The boat has left the dock. Come join in the voyage!

Gary Groot,President,Canadian Unitarian Council

President’s Message

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Message from the Executive Director

Survey, Symposium, and Freedom of Speech

Freedom of SpeechDuring 2005, William Whatcott distributed flyers door-to-door in Saskatchewan expressing his concern regarding the spread of tolerance towards gays and lesbians through the education system. Mr. Whatcott suggested that laws should be enacted to prevent gays and lesbians from teaching in schools. And he declared that exposure to gays and lesbians would endanger children. This resulted in complaints to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, which referred the complaint for determination by a human rights tribunal. The finding of contravention by the tribunal was upheld by the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, but was subsequently overturned by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, in turn, appealed this decision with the Supreme Court of Canada.

Last week I attended the Supreme Court when it heard from lawyers for the Commission, for Mr. Whatcott, and for several intervenors.

Mr. Whatcott took the position that the restriction infringed on both his freedom of speech and freedom of religion under the Canadian Charter of Rights. Several argued that the restric-tion within the Human Rights Code should be struck down for various reasons.

In opposition, the Human Rights Commission argued the restriction is constitutionally valid, relying on a similar decision of the Supreme Court from 1990. The Commission and several intervenors also argued that instances of hate crime had risen in Canada since 1990, and that the protection of vulnerable minori-ties is as relevant today as in 1990—perhaps even more so.

The Supreme Court accepted written intervenor submissions jointly submitted by the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon (ucs). We argued that religious freedom should not insulate messages of hate from consequences under the Human Rights Code, and that sexual minorities deserve the same level of protection as any other protected group.*

A panel of seven judges from the Supreme Court heard the matter and are expected to release a decision within about one year. It is clear that the result in this case will impact Canadian

society for decades to come. It was an honour to represent the values and commitment of Canadian UUs at the proceeding. In this issue of The Canadian Unitarian, ucs also reflects on the experience.

Congregational SurveyThanks to the many who responded to the first annual Congrega-tional Survey, despite the difficult timing and technical glitches. Future surveys will be sent earlier in the year, and questions will be revised to make them more accessible.

The Board and I are clear that this is a good investment of everyone's time. Regular surveys give all members a real oppor-tunity to influence the future of cuc, and help in the assessment of performance and progress, year-by-year.

SymposiumPlanning has been launched for the Spiritual Leadership Sym-posium in May 2012, which will include themes of intergen-erational shared ministry, social justice as spiritual practice, and the culture of leadership—you’ll find more details in the following pages. Now is an excellent time to identify delegates in your community, and to consider what spiritual leadership means to each of us.

Finally, in honour of the harvest season, The Canadian Uni-tarian has gathered a number of articles on the theme of food, for socially- and environmentally-conscious eaters. May this spread inspire thought and action, and further our apprecia-tion of good food and the community it

6 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

continued from page 5

In June of this year there were 40 respondents to the Congre-gational Survey. From these, the Board has learned that our defined objectives are seen to address the critical issues. We’ve also learned that the top three resources regarded as most im-portant for Canadian UU communities are:

Nurturing leadership within our communities1. . . . . (63.2%)

Religious exploration and spiritual growth2. . . . . . . . (48.5%)

Benefitting the wider community 3. in which we operate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (34.4%)

We learned that the cuc activities considered most crucial to its function as the national voice for UU communities are:

Professional and volunteer leadership development1. . .(70%)

Spiritual and theological deepening2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (65%)

Membership retention and growth3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (50%)

Strengthening congregational vitality4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (35%)

Inter-congregation communication, 5. cooperation and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (25%)

These results have been taken into account in the Board’s defin-ition of its priority outcomes, and will impact the direction and allocation of resources within the cuc Work Plan for 2012.

Respondents also offered ideas and information that are help-ing the cuc focus on how best to fulfil the Board’s strategic outcomes.

What We Heard From You Results of the Congregational Survey 2011

In particular, we know that respondents want: Clear vision and mission •

Increased and effective communication among board, staff • and congregations, and between congregations, to share information and resources, and to ensure that leaders and congregations are kept informed about events and news

Recognition that members and congregations are yearning • for spiritual, theological, and intellectual deepening

Support and resources for smaller, lay-led congregations, • and for distinct communities like religious educators, music directors and lay chaplains

Nationally-led action on social justice issues (although • there is recognition that consensus on such issues is hard to achieve)

Leadership and volunteer development as a priority •

More of the timely and skilled services that are being • provided by cuc staff

The first annual congregational survey has also helped to create some benchmarks that will help the Board track achievements. As the survey is refined over the next few years, it will provide solid comparative data to guide us in building the best possible cuc for the benefit of all.

Thank you to all respondents for your participation in the first annual Congregational Survey, and we look forward to hearing more from everyone in the future.

creates. Also, please visit USC Canada (usc-canada.org) for news on October’s meeting of the UN Committee on World Food Security in Rome.

Canadian weather is changing, our spiritual leadership is growing and the laws of Canada are evolving—as are we all. Jennifer Dickson,

Executive Director,Canadian Unitarian Council

Thanks to Arif Chowdhury of Fasken Martineau Du * Moulin llp, who worked pro bono on the case.

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in Vancouver, toronto, and Montreal, the occupy Movement found receptive ears and willling voices.

What began in the Wall Street financial district of New York City this September sparked Occupy protests in Canada and around the world. Many found voice during a time when increasing numbers of Canadians are anxious about their future and are questioning whether governments' and corporations’ decisions are truly for the benefit of the majority.

The Canadian Unitarian Council has resolutions that speak to many issues that are related to protesters’ concerns. Economic Justice, Environmental Integrity, Globalization, Peace, Democ-racy, as well as Racial, First Nations, Religious, Metis and Inuit Justice and Equity are areas where we’ve spoken out, using our collective voice to identify shortcomings in public policy.

The protesters took to the streets to draw attention to the fact that for too long, many of our systems have failed to protect the most vulnerable among us. According to a recent report from the Conference Board of Canada, the gap between rich and poor is growing much faster in Canada than it is in the United States (even though the US currently has a larger gap).

Canadian Unitarians recognize that it is both a moral and religious imperative to speak out when we see social, environ-mental, or economic injustice —our principles demand we do this. A central requirement of effective democracy is an engaged citizenry. We are seeing democracy in action!

Gary Groot, President, & Jennifer Dickson, Executive Director,

Canadian Unitarian Council

Images of the Occupy Movement

Today, along with those who occupy the public square, we call for a vision of a nation where all people can have a roof over their heads, food on their tables, quality healthcare, and a living wage. We ask to live in a country whose most important resource is its people, and where each person is treated with respect.

The Occupy protests are a wake-up call and we add our voices to the sound of that alarm, knowing that when we come together with others, our voice is stronger. Together we believe that we can repair a broken system in Canada. May we, working together, change our country with our compassion, our good will, and our willingness to make our voices heard.

Rev. Julie StonebergPresident,

Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada (uumoc)

(excerpted from the uumoc letter of October 21, in support of the Occupy movement of protests

begun this September)

8 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

Leading up to the Spiritual Leadership Symposium in May 2012, please help us all to begin reflecting on ways and means for finding and fostering leaders in our communities. Here are some examples:

first unitarian church of hamilton held a full-day leadership development retreat that provided inspiration and hands-on workshops for congregants. 80 people attended. first unitarian congregation of toronto holds workshops for Committee Chairs on how to recruit members. first unitarian congregation of waterloo uses brainstorming sessions to plan events and programs. The sessions end with the question “what are you willing to do?” This helps to confirm commitment to action. At each meeting of the Council of Chairs, a new ‘leadership tool’ is presented with a 20- to 30-minute exercise, fostering a culture of learning. universalist unitarian church of halifax es-tablished a Leadership Fund to assist congregants in attending various leadership programs and events such as cuul School, the cuc acm, and other cuc workshops. The church also set up a system that allows congregants to donate their Aeroplan points to finance youth travels to cuc events. kingston unitarian fellowship ensures leadership succession in their annual canvass by staggering the terms of two co-chairs: one providing guidance to the incoming co-chair. The following year, the second co-chair leads and mentors the new co-chair. Thus, no one need serve in the role of chair for more than 2 years, while smooth transition and new leadership is fostered in the congregation.

Please share the events, systems, or strategies your congregation employs: contact Leslie Kemp, Planning Committee, at leslie@cuc.ca

Leslie Kemp

How Does Your Congregation Foster Leadership?

The long weekend in May is traditionally the time for our national community to gather for a range of diverse presentations and workshops, under the umbrella of the cuc Annual Conference and Meeting. For the year 2012, this weekend will be dedicated instead to a Spiritual Leadership Symposium, a special collabora-tion between the cuc and UU Ministers of Canada (uumoc).

What is Spiritual Leadership? During recent conversations with UU leaders two themes have emerged: spiritual leadership models how to live out our values in the world as distilled in our seven principles; and spiritual leadership helps us to discern meaning in our lives.

The Symposium will be an opportunity to explore more fully what spiritual leadership is, and how it can be practiced within our congregations and our movement.

The goals of the Symposium are to:Share ideas and approaches related to spiritual leadership1.

Inspire transformation in our congregations and in our 2. movement

Discern our future as a Canadian UU movement and the 3. role of the cuc in fostering this

The Symposium has the potential to begin a process of renewed spirit and leadership in our movement. Let’s begin the dialogue about Spiritual Leadership ahead of time, through regional gatherings, face-to-face conversations, on the internet, and here in The Canadian Unitarian. Leading up to the Symposium, con-gregations are invited to organize opportunities for dialogue and conversations about what spiritual leadership means to you.

We also invite you to identify existing, new, and emerging leaders of all ages within your congregations, and support them in attending the Symposium. Who do you want to encourage to be delegates and Symposium participants?

Planning Committee for The Spiritual Leadership Symposium

Spiritual leadership Symposium 2012

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Our Spiritual Leadership Symposium So Far

planning:

program deSignThe content of the program will reflect the principles of spirit-ual leadership. We will open on Friday evening with a keynote presentation. There will be many opportunities for structured conversations. We anticipate using a range of participatory methods such as open space, world café, art and music, and small group discussions.

PLANNING COMMITTEECUC Board Curtis Murphy (Montreal) Leslie Kemp (Vancouver)

UUMOC Rev. Shawn Newton (Toronto) Rev. Shana Lynngood (Victoria) Rev. Diane Rollert (Montreal)

Youth Kaleb McNeil (Saint John, nb)

Young Adult Casey Stainsby (Montreal)

CUC Staff Jennifer Dickson Ariel Hunt-Brondwin Linda Thomson Jorge Moreira Facilitation Advisor Diana Smith (Victoria)

Religious Educator Lynn Sabourin (Vancouver)

program:

The Symposium will open the evening of Friday, May 18 follow-ing the cuc Annual General Meeting on that day. It will close on Sunday, May 20.

Friday, May 18 evening: Symposium opening (keynote presentation)

Saturday, May 19: large and small group sessions

Sunday, May 20: worship services, large and small group sessions

Sunday, May 20 evening: Symposium closing

SYMPOSIUM THEMESIntergenerational Shared Ministry

Value and share leadership from across the age spectrum • in the work of our religious communities

Understand the term ministry, not just as an operational • task but as a religious expression

Social Justice as Spiritual PracticeSocial justice as a spiritual practice for individual UUs•

How congregations can have impact on their wider • communities

How the broader UU movement can have impact on the • wider world

Culture of LeadershipShifting the culture of leadership from the status quo • towards a transformative approach that aligns needs of the congregations, communities, and the world, with the gifts of people in our congregations and movement.

Congregational ParticipationThis will be a multigenerational event:

Youth, young and older adults•

Board and committee leaders•

Parish Ministers•

Religious Educators•

practical information:

VENUEThe Annual General Meeting of the cuc and the Symposium will take place at The Westin Ottawa, from Friday, May 18, through Sunday, May 20, 2012.

REGISTRATION-KEY DATESMarch 31, 2012 Early registration deadlineApril 17, 2012 Deadline for hotel bookings

ACCOMMODATIONThe cuc has reserved rooms at The Westin Ottawa at special conference rates. Rooms must be booked by April 17; to receive the discounted room rate, be sure to mention that you are part of the cuc conference, when you book.

RATESTraditional: $119 Deluxe: $169Premium: $139 Extra Person: $20

10 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

“I’ve come to believe that ‘preaching to the choir’ is exactly the right thing to do.

If I can help those who already share certain beliefs and dreams sing their song a

little clearer, a little more confidently, I know they will take that song back to their

networks…. We gain courage from learning we’re part of a choir. We sing better

when we know we’re not alone.”

Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science

Take a Breath: Reflecting on Spirtual Leadership

the results of the cuc first annual congregational survey are in.we are listening and are ready to make changes with you.

the cuc needs your support to provide the services you are asking for—

please become a friend today!

Ask a dozen Unitarian and Universal-ist leaders to define the term spiritual leadership, and you might expect to get a dozen (or more!) answers. But from informal check-ins conducted by cuc Board members to lay leaders of congregations, we on the cuc Board have found a great deal of agreement about the intention and potential of providing and promoting leadership that is spiritual—even if use of the word ‘spiritual’ rankles for some.

Responses highlighted two cri-teria: that spiritual leadership models how to live out our values in the world, as implied by our seven principles; and that it helps us discern meaning

in our lives. Leadership that is spiritual, then, provides guidance in the context of Unitarian Universalism. For the individual, this offers help in prioritizing values in a society full of con-tradiction and compromise. For the congregation, this offers maturity and growth so that it can make an impact on its wider community.

The Latin root of the word ‘spirit’ means ‘breath,’ which is firmly based in our lived human experience. As we breathe, we live. In our Sunday gatherings, we practice breathing together—when we read in unison, when we share a moment of silent meditation, when we raise our voices to sing a song. These practices embody spirituality. We each breathe separately, but of the same air; we are just one, but also part of a collective; we strive to balance our keen sense of individualism with the bigger purpose of participation in the voluntary association of a congregation. And our member congregations interact as part of the collective that is the Canadian Unitarian Council. Effective spiritual leadership can lead us, as individuals, to better understand our effectiveness when we work collaboratively with a common purpose. Our covenant of walking together in the work of the world is work that matters. How to be together, to breathe together, this is the heart of the discourse we hope to inspire at the Spiritual Leadership Symposium in May 2012.

I hope representatives from all our member congregations will be part of this journey of dis-covery, joining Unitarian Universalist voices as we sing our song of hope and transformation in a world ready for change.

Rev. Jessica Purple RodelaFirst Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo

Spiritual leadership Symposium 2012

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Alimentation vivante : santé et spiritualité

Le crudivorisme consiste à n’absorber que des aliments chauffés à moins de 50 °C (la température maximale afin de promouvoir la vie). Ce mouvement se décline en plusieurs sous-groupes : instincto permettant de manger de tout pourvu que ce soit cru, hygiénisme insistant sur les combinaisons alimentaires per-mettant une digestion optimale, frugivorisme principalement basé sur d’énormes quantités fruits, végétalisme bannissant tout produit animal (lait, œufs, miel), etc. Son expression la plus à la mode aux États-Unis est l’alimentation vivante végétalienne consistant à ne manger que cru ou déshydraté : légumes, fruits, noix, graines, algues, huiles et pousses de grains, de graines ou de légumineuses. Et, contrairement à ce qu’on pourrait croire, il se trouve maintenant des milliers de recettes aussi variées que délicieuses.

Vous croyez peut-être qu’il s’agit là d’une nouvelle mode passagère, mais détrompez-vous : l’alimentation vivante tire en effet ses lettres de noblesse de l’Évangile de la Paix des Esséniens, démontrant qu’il s’agit là du mode de vie que pratiquait, voilà plus de 2 000 ans, cette ancienne secte juive. Il semblerait que de nombreux yogis vivant dans des lieux reculés se sustentent encore ainsi, suivant une tradition spirituelle immémoriale. Au XIXe siècle, un médecin autrichien soignait ses patients atteints de graves difficultés digestives par le cru, les sauvant ainsi d’une mort certaine. Au XXe siècle, Ann Wigmore redécouvrit cet art et fonda, s’étant ainsi guérie de plusieurs maladies, le très fameux Institut de santé Hippocrate. De nos jours, Gabriel Cousens, médecin, psychiatre, auteur de Nutrition Spirituelle, en est l’un des plus ardents et crédibles défenseurs.

Mais pourquoi manger vivant, vous demandez-vous sans doute. La perspective de résoudre certains ennuis de santé est certainement la raison qui attire le plus d’amateurs. Simplicité et facilité d’exécution en séduisent d’autres, principalement ceux, toujours plus nombreux, affligés d’allergies ou intolérances au gluten ou aux produits laitiers. Il y a également toute une dimension spirituelle qui attend cet explorateur de l’extrême qu’est l’adepte de l’alimentation vivante. En effet, les Évangiles de La Paix nous exhortent non seulement à « manger à la table de Dieu », donc végétarien, mais également à éviter de dévitali-

ser les aliments par le feu : « Ne tuez ni hommes ni bêtes et ne détruisez pas les aliments que vous portez à votre bouche, car si vous mangez des aliments vivants, ceux-là vous vivifieront ; mais si vous tuez pour obtenir votre nourriture la chair morte vous tuera à votre tour. Car la vie procède seulement de la vie, et de la mort ne sort toujours que la mort… »

Très souvent les tenants de l’alimentation vivante méditent et sont socialement très conscientisés, se préoccupant non seu-lement de commerce équitable ou de l’équilibre mondial des ressources alimentaires, mais surtout de leur empreinte écolo-gique (d’où l’achat local, biologique, non-ogm, etc.), et certains vont encore plus loin, mangeant très frugalement ou encore refusant de consommer des aliments hybrides (voir Génèse 1 :29), car sans semence, point de reproduction.

Appréciez par ailleurs toute la spiritualité qui transpire de la recette du célèbre « pain essénien » selon les Évangiles de la Paix : « Humidifiez votre blé afin que l’ange de l’eau fasse sortir le germe de vie puis écrasez votre grain et confectionnez de fines galettes comme l’ont fait vos pères. Laissez-les ensuite du matin jusqu’au soir exposées aux rayons du soleil afin que l’ange du soleil puisse y descendre ».

La place manque ici pour une dissertation sur les effets que pourrait avoir sur la spiritualité un apport alimentaire ni carné ni raffiné, mais vivant, pacifiant, débordant d’enzymes et de vita-mines, frugal et léger – donc facile à assimiler et permettant, de ce fait, une digestion et une santé optimales, la décontraction des tensions, un sommeil réparateur et une étonnante clarté d’esprit. C’est pourquoi je vous encourage à vous renseigner. Après tout, manger 50 % vivant, c’est la moitié du repas en salade, crudités, pousses et fruits au naturel : ce n’est peut-être pas très éloigné de ce que vous faites déjà. Par contre, c’est un sérieux coup de pouce pour le physique, le mental, l’émotionnel et le spirituel.

À ruminer, si j’ose dire…

Noëlle LaissyDirectrice du conseil d’administration

Congrégation du Bord du Lac, Lachine, Québec

12 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

Why use Facebook?

Facebook—is it an exciting new way for your congregation to connect, share information, and build community?

Or is it an ad-cluttered time-sink, that makes a poor substitute for genuine human relationships?

UUs tend to be people who see things from multiple points of view—and that’s helpful when talking about Facebook, because it can be both of these things.

Many congregations have asked lately whether they should make use of social media. A year ago I hesitated, but not any more: the answer is yes, and Facebook is the place to start. The cuc Facebook stream is now an important ongoing part of our own communications. Features introduced over the last few months make it more suitable for non-profit organizations.

There are drawbacks. (It’s still Facebook.) But with its vast reach, easy setup and zero cost, your congregation should plan to be there too.

So, how do you begin? And what will make Facebook valu-able to you?

The cuc page will give you some ideas. Just type “Canadian Unitarian Council” into Facebook’s search box (or visit www.face-book.com/pages/Canadian-Unitarian-Council/30503086075).

Note that I said cuc’s “page.” In the past, there was a question of whether to set up a ‘Page’ or a ‘Group’. In February, that ques-tion was decisively answered. A page now lets you post as your organization. You can let multiple people do this for you. There are other new features too. You’ll find details and instructions at www.facebook.com/pages/learn.php. (If your congregation has a Facebook group, Facebook may have invited you to convert it to a page, and you should.)

In cuc’s stream you’ll see links to news and articles of wide UU interest. One fresh example is nasa honouring a UU scien-tist, the “mother of the Hubble telescope,” with an award previ-ously given only to Einstein, Hubble and Carl Sagan.

You’ll find announcements of upcoming events and trainings, for lay chaplains, owl leaders, Youth and others, with links to details and online registration.

You’ll find videos of talks, and live coverage of import-ant events, such as our 50th Anniversary gathering in May, and our congregations’ involvement in Kairos’ ‘Roll With

the Declaration’ banner train to Ottawa, for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

You’ll find occasional questions and quotations that provoke thought and dis-cussion, and easy links to the Facebook

streams of congregations and related organizations: owl, USC Canada, UUWorld magazine, the UU United Na-tions Office, the Liberal Religious Educators Association, and the Unitarian Universalist Association in the USA.

What makes Facebook worth the effort? It’s fast. You can update your page—and the Facebook stream of everyone who ‘Likes’ your page—in an instant. Facebook messages have a friendly feel, and they can lead people to your deeper and better ways of communicating.

At first, only a few people will follow your page. Don’t worry, spread the word, and carry on. Those first few people are likely to be what Malcolm Gladwell, in The Tipping Point, calls “con-nectors.” Everything worthwhile that reaches them is reaching other people too.

Like most good web tools these days, Facebook makes it easy to track results. For example, the “Page Insights” feature of the cuc page tells me, as I work on this, that we had 9,405 post views in the last month, that we have 35% more active users than last month, and that 240 people “Like” our page so far.

(By the way, do ‘Like’ the cuc page. You’ll see our future posts automatically in your Facebook stream.)

At least eight cuc member congregations are experimenting with Facebook: Winnipeg, Saskatoon, London, Nanaimo, Comox, Don Heights, Peterborough and First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto. (Did I miss you? Let me know.) A few others are online in the old ‘Group’ format.

If you want to pursue this more seriously, there’s an ongoing conversation in the UU Social Media Lab, at www.facebook.com/groups/uusocialmedialab. But remember what wise Facebook users say: “A single conversation across the table with a friend is worth a year’s worth of Facebook status updates.”

Ben WolfeCommunications Director,

Canadian Unitarian Council

13

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canadian unitarian universalist leadership school (cuul school) is the cuc’s own residential, intensive four-day leadership program for experienced and emerging congregational leaders.

goldmine is a Youth Leadership Program developed in 1991 in the uua’s Pacific North West District. In 2009 the cuc piloted this program at the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga and, because it was such a success, we ran it again this summer.

the yes camp is the youth leadership program of the bc Cooperative Association and has been running for over 30 years. It offers week-long summer camps, where bc youth are sponsored by local credit unions and cooperatives.

the graduates and staff of Goldmine 2011: the intensive six-day youth-leadership camp took place this summer in Mississauga, on.

Summer or Other—Nothing Beats Camp

As a Unitarian I am not yet sure of all that I might believe in. The things in my life that are of most value to me are still growing and changing. There is, however, something that I do believe in without equivocation—I believe in camp.

I hold a degree in Outdoor Education and worked for many years as a counselor and leader at a summer camp on Vancouver Island. I have seen first hand that camp has the power to bring us together and create communities where there were only indi-viduals gathered a few days before; ultimately it is an experience that can leave us transformed.

Whatever the location, size, program or theme, all camp experiences have four important elements.

You must leave your home and stay overnight (and usually 1. for longer than just a night or two)

You are asked to share your living, working, and eating 2. space with the group.

You are asked, at some level, to leave part of yourself 3. behind; and to understand yourself as belonging to a new, larger, whole.

It has a defined beginning and end, and when it is over you 4. have to go home.

These essential and fundamental aspects of a camp experience provide a safe container for learning life skills: understanding how to work together respectfully, how to communicate honestly, and how to lead and empower one another.

Cuc’s cuul School Program, the Goldmine Youth Leadership Program, and the bc Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Program (yes camp) are all camps of this nature.

The curricula of these programs are different, but they all share the goal of nurturing and growing leaders through intro-ducing concepts and activities that are, among other things, intended to increase self-awareness. In their different ways, each program seeks to encourage, and provide space for, participants to express themselves freely, to reflect on and share their current beliefs and feelings.

Cuul school has sessions called Covenant groups, or Chal-ice Circles, and these offer participants an exposure to the UU version of small group ministry. At Goldmine the participants have daily Credo Group meetings where they are given time in

small groups to reflect on the credo questions they have been asked to ponder earlier in the day. At the yes camp—which is a secular program—campers gather every night for evening Reflections, a safe time for teens to share the hopes and fears they have with peers. For many, this is the first time they have ever had such an opportunity.

It has been my observation that when this kind of reflection is allowed to happen in a camp-like setting, this combination creates powerfully fertile ground for self growth. As individ-uals begin to feel truly comfortable in their own skin they gain self-confidence and self-esteem. When this valuable experi-ence is combined with learning about leadership, the results are blossoming leaders—not authoritarians, but rather people who’empower, having gained a new responsibility to share their gifts with others in a visionary way.

I saw this growing and deepening happen to participants and staff at each of these three programs this summer. I know that the changes cuul school and Goldmine grads feel, when they go back to their youth groups, committees, and Boards, have a tremendous ripple effect on our communities. In congregational settings, their new self-awareness and self-confidence is infec-tious; because authenticity, leadership, and positive transforma-tion are things we all can believe in.

Ariel Hunt-BrondwinNational Youth and Young Adult Programming

& Ministry Development

14 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

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Greetings from the UCS Youth

The Canadian Unitarian asked for impressions from the Youth of the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon, and impressions is what they gave! Using a big, green bristol board and covering it with writing in all sizes, shapes, and directions, a collage repre-senting one year for Youth in Saskatoon was created. Reproduced here, also in collage form, are their reflections and memories—of taste, sound, events, and accomplishments. Thanks to Bryan Carroll, ucs Youth group advisor, for encouraging this expression, and for passing it on to the rest of us.

…see you next year

One Year in Saskatoon…

15

“Our Healthcare system merits preserving, protecting and expanding.”

So begins the statement by the Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada (uumoc), at their Toronto meeting on May 27, 2011, in anticipation of the 2014 expiration of the current federal-provincial healthcare accord. Discussions are already taking place about what will be included in the next accord. Now is a critical time for voices to be heard on this subject.

In support of the unanimous uumoc statement, and to bring attention to this key moment, Unitarian Universalist ministers shared their experiences of the Canadian healthcare system in a YouTube video called, “Ten Reasons Why We Love Our Healthcare System”.

Brian Kiely of Edmonton speaks as a parent of young chil-dren, while Phillip Hewett of Vancouver gives testimony to the care provided to his wife during her final stages of life. The five-minute video concludes with the complete statement by the uumoc.

Notice of this video and its contents have been sent to the Minister of Health and the official opposition health critic. The statement also contains a call for expanding our healthcare system to include “dental care, vision care, a pharmaceutical program, and a full range of mental health services.”

Discover all ten reasons why the Canadian healthcare system is so esteemed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j22UbkuRePs, or visit YouTube and put “Canadian Unitarian Healthcare” in their search engine. And please let your Member of Parliament and provincial representative know your thoughts.

Rev. John MarshFirst Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Out of the Bottle

by Rosemary Kinley

The bottle said hints of raspberry

and orange, I didn’t taste anything

but disappointment.

We had drifted apart, you with your

lack of contrition and smattering

of kindness and me with my

reluctance to spit out the words

that needed to be said.

Our lives red with sorrow,

white knuckled and pained.

Now out of the bottle, I taste the

fullness of fruit, hints of joy and

discovery

Please send your submissions of short poems to Janet Vickers, poetry editor (poetry@cuc.ca).

Raised in the United Church, Rosemary Kinley learned about Unitarian Univer-salism in 1998, and became a member of the Kamloops Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, serving as their music direc-tor for 10 years.

She moved to Victoria to be closer to her daughter and joined the lay-led Cap-ital Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Rosemary serves on the board, as a mem-ber of the Sunday Service Committee, and is still involved in the music. In addition to writing poetry, she has written a chil-dren’s story about backyard chickens.

16 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

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When a congregation decides to create a mission statement, its members often find themselves plunged into unexpected territory, exploring the meaning of words like community, compassion, diversity, and spirituality. We generally think everyone understands these words in common ways, and yet when we examine them together, we often discover they have more meaning and dimensions than we imagined.

Congregations themselves are like this too—they have more meaning and dimen-sions for people than we might imagine. In one of my sermons, I ask people to put their hands up if they have had a child or grandchild dedicated in the church, gotten married, or paid homage to a friend’s life there, or if they have found comfort in simply being with others as part of the Sunday congregation.

Invariably the last question has the most hands in the air. It is a striking reminder that gathering on Sunday is important. Any Sunday can be a pleasant morning to one person, a call to arms to another, and a life-raft to yet another. To pre-suppose the meaning of church in anyone’s life is a risky thing to do!

The many roles a congregation potentially plays in a person’s life are fascinating, awe-inspiring. Parallels are often drawn between secular non-profits and our Board-governed fellowships and churches as our congregational leaders look to secular wisdom to model decision-making processes for congregations. This is reasonable and wise when the parallel is treated like a metaphor rather than a simile: that there are resemblances, but not direct comparisons, between congregations and secular non-profits.

Leadership is an area where this difference can be seen. In traditional non-profits, Board members are often invited from the larger community for their professional experience and social connections, and rarely from the pool of people served by the organization. The relationships between the roles of Board, staff, and clients are clearly marked and socially separate. Movement between roles within the organiza-tion is limited.

In Unitarian congregations, people commonly move from one role to another or have several roles at once. The person greeting at the door one year may become president the next year, sit on a ministerial search committee another year, and help with the building committee another year. Ideally, as leadership moves from person to person through a congregation, responsibility is modeled as communal, new leaders are encouraged and supported, and the risk of burning out volunteers is eased. Even in small degrees, this fluid nature in our communities helps us to know one another in many different ways, ranging from the intimate moments of small group ministry sessions, to the public forum of our congregational meetings, to sharing the embrace of Sunday worship.

Our various relationships with one another can remind us that we are part of some-thing larger and deeper than our individual existences, particularly important when we must sort out conflicting ideas, attitudes, or beliefs within our own walls.

It is a miracle that congregations exist at all, and yet they exist because of the many ways that we are connected, and the many contributions we make to keep our spiritual communities alive and enlivening. My colleagues and I on the cuc Congregational Development staff believe in the power of our Unitarian communities as places of meaning, hope, and possibility, and are deeply committed to helping make it so.

Rev. Antonia Won,CUC Congregational Development,

bc and Western Regions

The Congregational Connection

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Ebullient participants in the 2011 Vancouver island Women’s retreat.

CU&UWA: Herstory—then, now, and into the future

Herstory was made for Canadian UU women when the Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women’s Association (CU&UWA) was inaugurated May 21, at the acm 2011 in Toronto. On September 21, 2011, the organization was granted Associate Partner status by the cuc.

The vision of the CU&UWA is to have a national and international profile with respect to the personal, public, professional, and political aspects of women’s lives, and will reflect our core denominational principles.

Our mission is in supporting projects that raise awareness about women’s history, rituals, and perspec-tives; developing educational materials that highlight a women-centred lifespan curriculum; granting awards to women, acknowledging the merit of their creative work; and maintaining a monitoring group that functions internally within our denomination, and with an eye to society at large.

Our aim is to be active in influencing and informing policy on issues relevant to women at all levels: local, national and international.

From coast to coast, many grassroots events have built momentum. Concise Portraits of Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women (2006) has been a denominational best-seller. Invisible Influence: Claiming Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women’s History was a conference theme at acm 2008 in Ottawa. The subsequent book of the same title was launched at the acm 2011, and provides a founda-tion for learning about our roots, as well as a Religious Exploration curriculum. The annual Vancouver Island Women’s Retreat and the Prairie Women’s Gathering are important weekends that renew and refresh women’s spirituality and connections.

The CU&UWA National Council hopes to have 100 Founding members by the end of the first year. An early project is the development of a woman-centred service. Your ideas for more projects are wel-comed.

Please contact us: Betty Donaldson, chair (edonalds@ucalgary.ca)Ruth Patrick, membership contact and treasurer (mruth.patrick@shaw.ca)Margaret Linton, communications (mlinton@trytel.com)Gillian Burton, Mary Lu MacDonald, Janice Tait, members.

Margaret Linton, Communications,

Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women’s Association

18 The Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011 19

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Clockwise from top left:

• Clean transport, old-style: this Penny-Farthiing bicycle was one of the many vehicles on exhibit in kamloops, bc.

• sharing the spirit at the eastern Regional gathering, hosted by the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton.

• The Choir sings at the eastern Regional gathering.

• Unitarian Church of Victoria’s Dance of the Decades, featuring music from every decade of its 50-years.

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• Universalist Unitarian Church of halifax enjoys success with their first season in the churchyard vegetable garden.

• harvesting the crop in the uuch vegetable garden.

• kingston Unitarian Fellowship prepares the sanctuary space of their soon-to-be new home.

Glimpses of 50 years at Comox Valleyglimpses of our beginnings as a spiritual commun-ity, photos of founding members, and photos of the different places used for services were the basis of a 50th birthday party held in october by Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship. Poster boards illustrated the growth and varied activities of the Fellowship, which now shares space with Comox United Church. a large birthday cake and many memories were enjoyed before the regular four o’clock service.

organized by the Worship Committee, the service included discussion of the past (Who We Were), the

present (Who We are Now) and the future (Who We might become). Results of a recent survey also tallied the answers to questions, “What brought you to our Fellowship?” and “What will keep you with us”? The day ended with an anniversary Dinner.

Kate Fairley

Victoria First: Mission Possible, Backpacks, and a SwapThis fall the First Unitarian Church of Victoria is con-sidering the question: “What difference is our church here to make, and for whom?” Through sermons, workshops, and activities in the children’s program, we hope to determine our desired purpose at this point in our history, and to articulate that purpose in a concise mission statement.

To support this focus, the theme for our annual canvass was mission Possible, and the brochure for the generosity Campaign began, “This is your mission should you choose to accept it.” The campaign kicked off with an intergenerational dance, in recognition of our church’s 50th anniversary this year, Dancing Through the Decades, which featured decorations and music from each decade, beginning in the 1920s through to the present.

in august, our church sponsored the backpack Project, where our members contributed money to provide local aboriginal children and youth living off-reserve with a new backpack full of school supplies in time for the start of school. The backpack Project is led by surrounded by Cedar Child and Family services, a local native-staffed agency for urban aboriginal people.

over the past seven years, our church contributions have paid for more than 400 backpacks.

We are trying something new in our services auc-tion this spring. The Quimper UU Fellowship in Port Townsend, wa, will offer a weekend in Victoria in their auction this fall and we will offer a weekend in Port Townsend in our auction in the spring. The proceeds from these two offerings will be divided equally be-tween our congregations.

Suellen Guenther

Vancouver: Paths to Well-Being and a Centre of Inter-Faith This year, the adult Religious education program at

the Unitarian Church of Vancouver (ucv) is offering Paths to Well-being: a program of classes, workshops, and sessions that promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

in the past thirty years, psychiatry has shifted to a highly medicalized paradigm of care. mental and emotional distress has been pathologized—defined as chronic disease, or illness— with treatment reduced almost exclusively to a broad array of medications. Re-cent long-term studies are beginning to demonstrate that outcomes for these treatments are questionable, and that long-term use of these powerful drugs can cause a host of alarming side effects.

our program started in may and June, when ucv hosted well-attended public events with the award-winning medical journalist Robert Whitaker, mental

health activist and therapist Will hall, and bc journal-ist Robert Wipond, who specializes in mental-health reporting. The program continues this fall with a C.g. Jung seminar; a listening and discussion group, mad-ness Radio; and weekly restorative yoga and tai chi classes.

Ucv’s Future site Development Committee has rec-ommended that one key way to promote ucv as a vital place to explore religion and spirituality is to become a centre for it. To that end, we’re pleased to announce that the Pacific inter-Christian Community, the Jew-ish seniors alliance, and the inter-spiritual Centre of Vancouver society have entered into extended rental agreements with ucv and have opened up offices on

our campus. ucv members welcome these new addi-tions to our site at 49th avenue West and oak, and we look forward to some creative, shared programming.

Rev. Steven Epperson

Calgary: More Programs, More Green The Unitarian Church of Calgary is starting into an excit-ing time of transition to becoming a Program church; one that has more members, more activities, and at the same time maintaining a nurturing and caring spiritual atmosphere. We held an all-church workshop at the end of october, facilitated by Rev. Robert latham, the minister who presented the in-depth workshop series on transition at the cuc acm in Toronto in the spring.

Calgary has a very active green sanctuary program,

involving groups from across the city with activities to encourage all aspects of a green society. We con-verted our grounds to a xeriscape, which requires no watering, to accommodate our dry climate, and have been hosting monthly movie nights on various aspects of stewardship of the land, as well as encouraging the use of locally-grown food.

Meredith Simon

Fall Festival and a Plentiful Pantry in NiagaraThe Unitarian Congregation of Niagara (ucn) is located close to downtown st. Catharines. We partnered again this year with other downtown churches and groups for the second Fall Festival in october. This event is

an opportunity for the local community to showcase their skills, sell crafts, and sell produce from their gardens. The festival gives people an opportunity to feel welcomed to the area, while promoting the com-munity’s gardens and programs. The ucn took part in this valuable community service and at the same time increased the ucn profile.

our social action Committee has joined with nearby Westview Christian Fellowship to assist in a new project. Women4Women is a group discussion and activity project for area women who are experiencing serious difficulties. one of the economic problems for these women is the lack of accessible grocery stores, which result in the women buying corner-store food at high prices. The solution was opening the Plentiful Pantry, where groceries are sold in

20 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

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riding the Great Green transportation tune-Up: protective headgear, a solar car from the University of british Columbia, and a winning poster.

small portions for a very low price. ucn assists in this project financially, and with volunteers.

Merelie Scott-Armstrong

Cornucopia of Activity at NeighbourhoodMuch has been happening at the Neighbourhood Congregation of toronto. We have produced more than 25 mega-watts of electricity in our first year as a electrical generating station. other green initiatives—in our community and beyond—have been inspired by the success of our solar panels. in November rev. robert latham visited to help us clarify and develop our identity, and in January we hope to implement a new advertising strategy we have been working on with our partner congregation, Don heights.

Five small groups were filled this fall: a hidden Wholeness, Spiritual Songwriting, Simply Pray, Seven Principles in Seven Months, and Soul Painting. and we are delighted to welcome a new administrator, hala riad, and a new director of religious Education, amanda henderson.

this fall, music director Susanne Maziarz began a public women’s choir that will visit the sick and hospitalized. also begun is a Native american flute circle—Grammy nominee and flutist Jonny lipford encouraged us during his visit in august. We’ve also started experimenting with the offering of Spiritual Director roles within the congregation.

Rev Wayne Walder

Hard Work and Creative Dreaming in KingstonWinter is the time for finding comfort in our surround-ings and spending time with family and friends. the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship is spending time with family and friends, but we are finding our surround-ings require some creative dreaming. the move to our new building was delayed due to renovation require-ments.

the committees centered around our regular ser-vices, including the service weavers and our new Soul Matters groups, are finding amazing ways to include all in our services and guide us to our new home. the

Travel Smarter, Live Betterthe Social and Environmental action Committee members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops part-nered with the City of Kamloops and the bc Sustainable Energy association (bcsea) to present the Great Green transportation tune-up at the end of September.

the Great Green transportation tune-Up was a week of events showcasing many fun ways to reduce greenhouse gas emis-sions from transportation. the tune-Up increased awareness, and facilitated a step towards sustainable transportation in the future.

residents were encouraged to increase the efficiency of their vehicles through maintenance, trip reduction strategies, and carpooling. Kamloop’s transit options were highlighted, with user-incentives and free access. the tune-Up promoted alternative modes of travel: walking, cycling, and other clean ways of getting around. and it gave residents a chance to dream about what an ideal future Kamloops transportation system might look like.

activities included: the two-day mara-thon of cinema, the reel Sustainability Film Fest at thompson rivers University; the bcsea-presented panel discussion, the Future of transportation; and the transit treasure hunt , where participants

became eligible for prizes as they traveled the City by bus all week, picking up clues as they went.

there was also the Green your trans-portation Pledge: by reducing vehicle use through car-pooling, biking, walking, or taking transit for one week, participants became eligible for prizes. Cool Wheels was an exhibition of vehicles that featured hybrid and electric cars, and one solar car, as well as scooters and bikes. the bike , bus or boogie was a multi-modal challenge, where each participant used a different means of transportation to complete a set of errands.

our events were an enormous success. We raised over $12,000 in cash and in kind, and welcomed over 500 participants on the final Saturday alone. Most importantly, folks said they had fun taking transit and carpooling!

For more information on the Great Green transportation tune-Up, please con-tact Jim Gordon at jim-joangordon@shaw.ca, or tuula helin at the-cap@shaw.ca.

Tuula Helin

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Gathering for a Mission Workshop at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria; one of a series of eleven.

Student intern minister Jennifer Channin is working with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of ottawa.

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committees involved in renovation, leasing the new office space, and selling of our old building are working tirelessly to position us in a positive manner for the new year. We have discovered that dreams can come true with hard work, time, money, and passion.

to all who desire a place to feel accepted and wel-comed in the Kingston area, please come visit us and share in our dreams.

Cindy Harvey

Ottawa Fellowship Links with Ottawa Firstthe Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of ottawa (uufo) has welcomed Jennifer Channin, a student intern minister who is dividing her time between the First Unitarian Congregation of ot-

In Memory of Jack Knight, 1929–2011 Jack Knight died peacefully on May 24th, 2011 in Guelph, on, following a cardiac arrest at home.

For over 20 years Jack was a member of the First Unitarian Congregation of ot-tawa. Jack and audrey and their children, David and lianne, were part of the wave of young families who found Unitarianism in the 1950s. Jack was involved in church social events, spinning records for dances or cooking for church socials.

he chauffeured liberal religious youth groups (forerunner to the current youth program) to innumerable conferences all over southern ontario and western New york. in those days before seat belts, there would often be seven young people with their sleeping bags and gear squeezed into the Dodge station wagon. one of his proudest moments was when his son David was chosen for a one-year youth residency at the uua in boston.

Jack was active at Unicamp in honey-wood, on, during work weekends, at Saturday night dances as official square dance caller, and as a board member. More recently, Jack had been the parliamentarian at the annual meetings. it was his wish that some of his ashes would be scattered at camp as well as the pioneer Knight Cem-etery in Kent County, on.

ing and the workshops, but best of all were the worship services and discussions. he would argue his points vociferously, wheth-er in truth or as the devil’s advocate.

the Sunday before his death i returned from the cuc 50th anniversary acm in to-ronto and we talked about who was there, and who said what, and how so-and-so was faring. People countrywide were part of his circle of caring.

Jack’s favourite UU principle was “the inherent worth and dignity of every per-son”. he strongly supported Unicamp when a gay/lesbian week was programmed in 1976 (the first UU camp to do so). Dur-ing a 2007 trip to the high Eastern arctic he actually reprimanded fellow passengers who trespassed around inuit homes tak-ing photographs. that brought a stunned silence, and then applause.

his second-favourite principle was “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning”, and he rejoiced when a Sunday service made him think all week. he be-lieved that Unitarianism will grow when we live by our principles.

When The CanU emailed asking for a short article, i could hear him chortling

“My, they must be hard up for news.” and he laughed uproariously!

Elinor Reed Knight

When Jack moved to Guelph in 1979, he had difficulty finding the location of the Guelph Unitarian Fellowship. he would grumble, “Why hide our faith away in a school?” When time came for change, Jack and two others secured the bridge finan-cing to buy a century-old bungalow. he spent many evenings there as part of the renovation team. When the congregation outgrew that first home, he was delighted that the new building was within walking distance of our home.

over the years he taught religious Education classes, served on various com-mittees, chaired finance drives, and served as president. he was able to attend and be honoured at the Fellowship’s 50th an-niversary celebrations this april.

Jack thoroughly enjoyed annual gather-ings of UUs held regionally, nationally, and internationally, and worked on two uua presidential campaigns. he loved the sing-

22 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

continued from page 21 tawa and uufo. We have very much enjoyed her professional support so far, and look forward to contributing to her learning experience as a UU minister.

inspired by our own discussions over the past year, and moved by the leadership sessions with rev. robert latham at the cuc acm, we’ve begun a dialogue on our mission. cuc Congregational Development Pro-grammer Kelly McDowell, assisted by Valerie Cousins from ottawa First, helped 30 of us to begin exploring more deeply why we come together as a (religious?) community.

We are also actively pursuing our search for a ‘home of our own’. our 2010 capital campaign among Fellowship members and friends resulted in close to $600,000 in donations and pledges to our building fund. We know that a building in ottawa East will likely cost over $1,000,000. the board of ottawa First generously agreed that we could extend our campaign to their members this fall. three amazing members of ottawa First volunteered to work with the uufo capital campaign team. We trust that the opportunity to work with ottawa First on these two projects will lead to further activities that will ultimately strengthen our Unitarian voice in ottawa.

Marilynn Kuhn

Montreal: Travelling and Making Connectionsrev. Diane rollert will be supported by our community at the Unitarian Church of Montreal (ucmtl) as she joins many UU’s in the Philippines, and we welcome rev. Carole Martignacco from North hatley, who will be our minister during Diane’s absence.

the men of ucmtl have recently started a pilot circle, and the Groupe Francophone is considering new and exciting ways to reach out to the greater French-speaking public.

in october, the Canadian Unitarians for Social Jus-tice (cusj) participated in the conference Indignez-Vous! here in Montreal, with discussions focusing on joining forces between groups from Canada, Quebec, and First Nations. our home-grown representatives will defend democratic and environmental rights in the face of the complicity of politicians and the economic elite.

Amber Dawn Bellemare

LeaderFULL Fall at FrederictionWhere is the hidden leadership talent in our congre-gations and how do we develop it? the highlight of activities for the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton thus far has been planning for the Eastern regional Fall Gathering in Fredericton the weekend of oct 14–16, on the theme, leaderFUll Congregations.

When the committee put the program together, it was on the basis of the conviction that hidden leader-ship ability is all around us in our congregations. Ways

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First PEACE Symposiumthe Universalist Unitarian Church of hali-fax (uuch) inaugurated an annual peace Symposium on october 30, 2011, to explore themes that will broaden our understand-ing of the meaning of peace and guide us towards its realization. our motivation in establishing the peace Symposium is the belief that peacemaking is the most urgent task facing humanity. Moreover, it is a quest that involves grappling with the fundamental social, political, develop-mental, and environmental issues of our time, since these are often obstacles on the path to peace. in fact the peace in the name is an acronym, standing for Peace, Equality, action, Community and Environ-

ment, all critical components necessary for a full appreciation of the concept of peace. the theme for this first event, Peace and Food Security, was chosen because of the growing threat to global peace resulting from food insecurity in many parts of the world.

in undertaking this project, the Universal-ist Unitarian Church of halifax has joined with two partners: the Unitarian Universalist United Nations office (uu-uno) in New york City and usc Canada in ottawa. it is our intention to provide financial support for our partner organizations as well as the uuch. this also represents an effort to project our congregation into a wider public arena in Nova Scotia.

there were four components to the pro-gram: Symposium speeches and a panel discus-sion; a poster session by high school students featuring portraits of world peace activists; a dinner with a menu that reflected the kinds of foods that were needed to feed the world; and a musical evening showcasing local musicians and choirs that provided a joyful and peaceful

end to the whole day. the Symposium was skillfully emceed by

cbc radio personality, olga Milosevich. the keynote speakers were bruce Knotts, executive director of the uu-uno, and Mark austin, board chair of usc Canada. the panel discussion, moderated by Mark austin, featured Joan bax-ter, Canadian journalist and author who worked in africa for several decades; Marla Macleod, Food Connections Coordinator at the Ecology action Centre in halifax; and Susan Stephen, owner of red road Farm in Scotsburn.

the evening chorale event played under the direction of Vanessa lindsay-botten, and fea-tured soloists Catherine Kinsman, John lind-say-botten, Vanessa lindsay-botten and several choirs, including you Gotta Sing! Chorus, the Chalice Singers, and the Gaia Singers.

all the details about the peace Symposium can be found on our uuch website (www.uuch.ca/first-annual-peace-symposium).

K. Scott Wood

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the Sunday worship service of the Western regional Gathering in Edmonton, ab.

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and means need to be found to bring it out in the open and to encourage it.

a two-stream educational format facilitated this: one dealing with administrative leadership (the tree and roots of our congregations); and one on worship leadership (the flame of spiritual growth). We were fortunate in the calibre of presenters that were at-tracted to our theme, from ottawa, Kingston, halifax, and Fredericton. Moreover, provisions were also made for a youth leadership program and a lay Chaplaincy training program.

We believe that the weekend’s program helped strengthen our ability to keep our Unitarian commun-ities active and meaningful.

John van Abbema & Sheila Thompson

Halifax’s Garden: How Green!how Green is our Garden is the name of the 2010 project planned by the Universalist Unitarian Church of halifax, as part of efforts toward becoming a Green Sanctuary congregation. in May of this year, raised beds were built; soil, peat moss, and manure hauled in; and seed finally planted by the greener enthusiasts of the congregation. the two south-facing raised beds located in the church backyard produced an astound-ing amount of produce with very little coaxing, and even less expertise. over the summer, members were regularly invited to share the bounty of carrots, cucumbers, snap peas, lettuce, tomatoes, and other garden delights.

Helen McFayden

Addictions Ministry in Torontoany addiction is an incapacitating burden for someone to carry, whether it is alcohol or drugs, gambling or eating, sex or love. regardless of the addiction, there are no easy solutions, but there is hope.

this fall, the First Unitarian Congrega-tion of toronto launched an addictions Ministry, with the idea of building a com-munity of recovery and discovery. in addi-tion, members of the addictions Ministry are reaching out across Canada to offer support and information for others who’d like to do the same.

our movement started a couple of

years ago when a few members started an agnostic aa meeting to work with alcohol-ics who were struggling with the concept of a ‘higher power’. last year we hosted a weekly aa meeting at toronto First, which was consistently attended 52 weeks of the year, including Christmas Day. this year we are building a first-response team, as a resource for people in crisis. We are also working to develop a regular group meet-ing to provide follow-on support.

in a quick question to the congregation, posed by rev. Shawn Newton at our re-covery service, we learned that about 70% of those present felt themselves to be significantly affected by their own or other people’s addictions. let’s do something about this problem. if not for those that we love and care about, and if not for our friends and neighbors, then let’s do this for ourselves.

on November 26, 1939, rev. Dilworth lupton preached a sermon at the first Uni-tarian Church in Cleveland, oh, titled, “Mr.

X and alcoholics anonymous”. it became the basis for the first pamphlet used by aa. the following year aa grew from 100 to 500 members.

UUs have been a major force of encour-agement since the earliest days of the re-covery movement through the principles of spiritual dependence, universality, mutual aid, and transformation.

We can do more. Not because there aren’t other solutions available in our communities, but because in the middle of a crisis and indeed, following an addic-tion crisis, Unitarian Universalists are the first best place for us to get spiritual assist-ance. addictions feed on our emptiness; as a community of Unitarian Universalists we know how to help someone fill their void.

if you are interested in starting a group, or would like to receive a list of resources, please e-mail larry.knight@gmail.com.

Larry KnightFirst Unitarian Congregation of Toronto

24 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

food (glorious food)

There is a saying: “the revolu-tion will not be funded.” Well, the food

revolution will not be funded either. It will not be sponsored by Monsanto. It will not be high-tech. It will

probably not involve skyscraper farms or remote-controlled greenhouses. It will not be developed in a lab, or a boardroom, or

in parliament. It will not be on sale at your grocery store. It will not be fast and easy. But it will be fun, and it will be dirty.

A wise friend once told me that the only way to fix our food system is for all of us to become more involved in growing, preserving, and cooking our own food from scratch, using local ingredients.

Participating in growing and preserving our own food takes time, and it takes knowledge. If you know a farmer—or a grandmother—you know how much wisdom and skill is accumulated over a lifetime of working with food. Most of us have lost the skills to grow, preserve, and cook all of our own food. That’s where the next part comes in.

We can’t do this alone. Tasks like canning, drying, and freezing food are meant to be done together. These elements of food production were always done with family or neighbours. And today, many people are doing it

too. Students, people with low incomes, people who work full-time, and people with kids are getting together to grow and preserve

their own food. This work isn’t glamorous, but it’s important and it makes a difference.

Here are a few ideas that can help you start changing your food system this winter:

In November:Start canning late-season preserves with local produce that keeps well. Learn how to make some easy preserves like applesauce, beet pickles, and carrot pickles. This is a good time to look for a few canning supplies and get a book of canning recipes that will inspire you for next summer!

In December:Keep a food diary during the winter and spring. If you know what kind of foods—and how much—you eat, you can better prepare for next winter. Try keeping track of canned tomatoes, salsa, canned fruit, frozen fruit and vegetables, and dried herbs.

Don’t have your own gardening space? Start looking for a backyard or community garden nearby so you can grow your own veggies next season. Some local food organizations have listings of landowners who lend out garden space.

Get Your Hands Dirty

In January:Get a food-preserving group together. Find friends, neighbours, family members, and people in your congregation who want to preserve more of their own food next year. Start talking about what kinds of foods you want to preserve. Find out what expertise you already have in the group, and what skills you will need to preserve the harvest.

In February:Organize a seed swap at your church. Many people save seeds or have seeds leftover from last year that they want to trade or give. This is a good opportunity to learn about growing vegetables from other gardeners. You will probably find that there is a lot of food wisdom already in your congregation.

In late February, plant a few small pots of leaf lettuce and put them in a sunny window sill. Once the leaves are mature, you can cut them regularly and they will keep producing for months. This will also get you in the mood to plant, garden, and harvest in the months ahead!

The food revolution is happening right now, and it needs all of us.

Asha Philar,First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

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Eat Fish! Don’t Eat Fish!

It all seems so complicated these days. On the one hand, fish and seafood are healthy, tasty and versatile. On the other hand, overfishing is depleting our oceans and fish farming is dam-aging our ecosystems. Furthermore, some fish contain high levels of toxic methyl mercury, so maybe it is not such a healthy choice after all.

Seafood lovers, don’t despair. You can save your fish and eat it too. Here are a few simple suggestions that can help reduce your marine footprint without giving up fish and seafood alto-gether.

Avoid red-listed fish. Several organizations have colour-coded systems to help you make informed choices around fish and seafood (Sea Choice, Seafood Watch, Greenpeace). Some also have wallet cards that they will mail you, and smart phone appli-cations. Each organization’s list is slightly different, so you may want to stick to one preferred guide. As well, several Canadian supermarkets no longer sell many red-listed species in their fresh fish sections, with plans to phase them out entirely in the next two years. These include Loblaw, Metro, and Overwaitea Group stores.

Look for reputable, sustainable seafood eco-labels. While far from perfect, eco-labels can help us quickly identify seafood that is probably more sustainable than their unlabeled counterparts.

Beware though: Not all eco-label programs are created equal. The Marine Steward-ship Council (msc) program is the oldest and best-known. msc-certified frozen and canned products are increasingly available in Canada. Also, the Ocean Wise logo is starting to appear on products that the program recommends. I consider both gen-erally trustworthy. I’m less confident about

resources:sea choice: a sustainable seafood program founded to provide information to Canadian consumers and businesses (www.seachoice.org).

Greenpeace: currently runs a Canadian campaign to stop supermarkets selling fish on their red list. (www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/Seafood).

ocean Wise: created by the Vancouver aquarium to educate and empower consumers about issues surrounding sustain-able seafood (www.oceanwise.ca).

david suzuki foundation: science-based education and advocacy group that distributes information on Canadian fishery policies and healthy oceans (www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/oceans).

aquaculture eco-labels. The most common is the Best Aquacul-ture Practices (bap) certification run by the Global Aquaculture Alliance. They certify to industry best practices, which may not reflect recommendations by scientists and environmental groups. As well, the eco-label sometimes only applies to the processing or packing plant, and not to the actual fish farms or hatcheries.

Avoid canned tuna. Unless the tin has a reputable eco-label on it, you can be pretty sure that the canned tuna you are buying is fraught with problems. Some species are overfished and many of the fishing methods result in massive amounts of bycatch, including endangered species. As well, a global survey found that a lot of tuna is mislabeled and may not reflect the variety inside the tin. If you want to keep tuna in your diet, look for Raincoast Trading, Wild Planet Foods, Estevan, and 7 Seas brands. Caution: white (albacore) tuna is often high in mercury.

Avoid Atlantic salmon. Almost all commercially available Atlantic salmon is farmed and there are huge environmental concerns over the open-net aquaculture methods used for large-scale salmon farming. Consequently, farmed Atlantic salmon is red listed just about everywhere. Unfortunately, organic farmed Atlantic salmon may only be moderately better since organic labeling in aquaculture is not well-defined. If you want to buy salmon, choose wild Alaskan salmon or wild Pacific salmon with a sustainability label. msc-certified salmon is also increas-ingly available. As well, SweetSpring brand salmon, available in Overwaitea stores, is sustainably farmed in land-based, closed-containment systems.

Pick a top three or fave five. Identify a few green-listed fish and seafood species from the sustainable seafood guides. Buy them preferentially over other species when dining out or shopping. My own list includes farmed mussels, Canadian Atlantic lobster, Arctic char, mackerel, pollock, wild Alaska salmon, US-farmed catfish and US-farmed tilapia.

Find a sympathetic local fishmonger or restaurant. Some shops and restaurants are knowledgeable about sustainable fish and seafood. Talk to shops and restaurants in your area. Also, the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program has a list of partner restaurants, shops and suppliers that agree to serve or provide sustainable, ocean-friendly seafood. The list is available online at www.oceanwise.ca.

Amanda Strong is a freelance writer specialising in food,

health, travel, and sustainable living. She runs The Mindful Table (www.mindfultable.ca),

a blog that explores local and sustainable food across Canada with a focus on Montreal and south-western Quebec.

26 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

To Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative,

We at USC Canada are very interested in what the Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative is achieving: USC Canada has been part of sustainable agriculture worldwide for decades, through the Seeds of Survival program, which operates in the most marginal communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These farming men and women, though far from Manitoba, have so much in common, from what I have learned about Harvest Moon. USC Canada has also been fighting the uphill battle of cheap, mass produced and often unhealthy and unsustainable food systems, and supporting successful community ventures in local seed banks, organic/sustainable agriculture and small farmer cooperatives.

“Healthy Land, Healthy Food, Healthy Communities.” This is where the world needs to go. This is what I see in the international work of USC. And it is the living, growing and vibrant work of groups like the Harvest Moon Society that is helping get it underway in Manitoba too! Where hunger, injustice and environmental crisis are looming, it is the community-based solutions, grounded in small scale, sustainable food systems that win out time after time: Manitoba, Tamil Nadu (India), Humla (Nepal), Sucre (Bolivia), Douentza (Mali) or Wollo (Ethiopia)—change is coming and it is about time. I am so glad that I was intro-duced to Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative.

Very best wishes, and thank you!

Kate Green, Program Manager,

USc Canada

food (glorious food)

It’s a fact of modern life that few of us are directly involved in the production of the food that sustains us. Even with the renewed interest in community gardens and farmers markets, the urban majority remains isolated from its food sources.

We tend to think of the food producers as being isolated, separated from the museums, sports arenas, and concert halls that symbolize urban centers. But most of our popular culture can be shipped electronically at very little cost, while the capacity to walk out your kitchen door and harvest your dinner cannot be transported at all. Isolation, on the food security spectrum, is mostly found in cities.

However, popular culture—television and the internet—pays little attention to rural areas and the people who live there. Mechanization of agriculture has reduced the number of people required to grow the major food crops, which has eroded the cus-tomer base for small business and the need for public services, leaving many small towns and hamlets unsustainable.

In southern Manitoba, 200 km southwest of Winnipeg, the people in the small community of Clearwater found themselves sliding down that slope. They needed something to infuse new life into their town, something that the urban folks would value and support. The Harvest Moon Society was formed to provide a link between urban people and rural life, to educate the populace about the values of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. They purchased the elementary school (which was being abandoned by the Prairie Spirit School Division) to serve as their base of operations for education, but their classes also involve field work and outdoor activities. This hands-on approach has generated programs that invite urban participation, and even class credit from the University of Manitoba.

Another favourite activity the Society provides is the Harvest Moon Festival. In the last ten years, thousands of people have come to Clearwater to join in the festivities, enjoy locally-prepared foods, view and purchase local art, and listen to home-grown music. It’s a big-time, small-town harvest celebration.

The Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative builds on the success of this festival by connecting urban consumers directly with the farmers who produce the food. Starting with local pasture-raised and grass-fed meats, free of antibiotics and hormones, the products now include organic grains and in-season vegetables. Customers can place their orders online and they are delivered to select locations in Winnipeg on a monthly schedule. Most importantly, this initiative brings urban citizens together with farmers, to build a local food community. No longer passive consumers in an anonymous food and agriculture system, food citizens are empowered through Harvest Moon to get involved in the governance of the project, and ultimately to have a say in the way their food is produced, distributed, and eaten!

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg is glad

Harvest Moon Society: Bringing Farm and City Together.

to play a small role in the Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative. We are the first place in Winnipeg that Harvest Moon chose for a distribution point. Some of our members are regular cus-tomers. Others have gone to the festivals. We are helping our members and our neighbors become less isolated from their food sources.

For more information please visit: www.harvestmoonfood.ca, www.harvestmoonsociety.org, and www.harvestmoonfes-tival.ca.

Roger RochesterFirst Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg

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As Unitarians, we affirm our respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Often, though, we just don’t know how our choices pull on that web. Take food, for instance: it may surprise you, but your food choices constitute by far the biggest effect you have on this world.

A study published in the scientific journal Nature (Oct 20, 2011) emphasizes this fact. Agri-culture, the report tells us, is responsible for fully a third of total greenhouse gas emissions each year, more than any other single contributor. It consumes the vast majority of our fresh water and it is responsible for a very great deal of the pollution in the world. Fertilizer and manure use, the report tells us, have dramatically disrupted nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. Every year, a 20,000 square-kilometer dead zone forms at the mouth of the Mississippi—a direct result of nitrogen-rich runoff from the farms of the Midwest.

In addition, the study reports that 38% of Earth’s terrestrial surface has been converted to farmland. Over a quarter of tropical forests, just under half of temperate deciduous forests, and fully 70% of grasslands have been cleared for agriculture. And still, a billion people don’t get enough to eat each day.

A primary cause of all this destruction, it turns out, is animal agriculture. Most of the land we’ve converted to agriculture has been cleared to provide crops and pasture for farm animals.

A huge portion of agriculture’s contribution to global warming is due to the cattle we raise and the methane they produce. The equivalent of 450 kg

of CO2 per Canadian is belched from Canadian cows each year. And nitrogen runoff? It’s no surprise that it’s a big problem: the majority

of fertilizer goes to feed crops for animals, and once those crops are eaten, the animals generate an awful lot of manure—130 times as much, the World Watch Institute estimates, as that produced by all of humanity combined. Clearly, our choice to eat significant amounts of meat and other animal products has serious consequences. But still, all of this is arguably not the worst of it. For the fact is, in choosing to eat a meat-heavy diet, we’re managing to get an awful lot less food from our lands than they could otherwise provide. In effect, we’re taking food out of the mouths of the poor.

Raising animals for food is incredibly inefficient. This is especially true here in the West, where factory farming is the

norm. The way we raise chickens today, it takes almost two and a half pounds of dry corn, soy and oats to produce one pound of

meat. Eight to ten pounds of similar feed go into an average pound of beef. Cornell University’s David Pimentel calculates that we could

feed 800 million more people from US land alone, were the crops grown for people instead of for animals. Indeed, the Nature report tells us, we could

increase the calories available worldwide per person by 50% if we would simply consume the crops we grow directly, instead of diverting them to animals.

So, why not do it? Why not cut back on your meat, milk and eggs? It’s not hard. There are lots of meat-free recipes available on the internet. Substitutes like Gardein and Tofurky offer tasty alternatives to the meats we’re used to eating. You’d be doing the world a huge favor—not to mention the animals. Conditions on factory farms are truly egregious. And you’ll likely be doing your body a favor, too.

Dave SteeleUnitarian Church of Vancouver

Pass on the Meat, Milk, Eggs—Pile up the Grains, Veggies, and Fruit.

28 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

food (glorious food)

Rapid urban growth that consumes fertile agri-cultural areas is a loss that cannot be recovered. With the increasing cost of transporting food over large distances, the conversion of agricul-tural land should be a major issue in a discussion about food, and food provision to populations.

The National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, expressed that, “Each human on earth lives off the farming equivalent of about a third of a football field today. Population growth and urbanization will shrink the available land base in half by 2050.”

Currently a major protest is ongoing in southern Ontario which has reached gov-ernment decision-makers, and is directed against the proposed development of a very large quarry on agricultural land. The situa-tion reveals the conflict of two primary needs of our society: gravel for housing and road building, versus maintaining agriculturally productive land. This important protest ad-dresses only a very small aspect of the prob-lem when seen in the full context of the loss of agricultural land over the entire Greater Golden Horseshoe Area (ggha), spanning from east of Toronto to Niagara, which hosts one of the fastest growing populations in North America.

In Landscape Ecology (vol. 9 no. 2), Michael Mueller and John Middleton described “an intense three-way landscape use conf lict” between urban, agricultural, and natural uses in this region, and a 30% increase in the population of the ggha is foreseen by 2031. Although by 2015 a minimum of 40% of all residential develop-ment will be within built-up areas, this would still leave 60% to urban sprawl.

Even now, the identification of prime agricultural areas is not based on national need but “in consultation with municipalities and other stakeholders,” ac-cording to “Places for Growth, the Government of Ontario’s 2006 Growth Plan for the ggha”. Recently, prime agricultural land was even re-designated as “Strategic Industrial Employment Area,” against which the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (ofa) protested (as recorded in the ofa appeal to the Ontario Government, of

January 2011): “The ofa voiced its concern and opposition for both re-zoning plans, pointing out the contradiction and blatant violation of the spirit of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Management Plan.”

In a plan prepared under the Ontario Places to Grow Act, 2005, “There is a large supply of land already designated for future urban ,” including

improved transportation. Another major highway similar to the Queen Elizabeth Way artery is under consideration.

According to the 2008 repor t “Regional Municipality of Niagara Growth

Management Strategy,” the region had already reached its population target for 2011 by 2006.

“An increased demand for transportation and logistics-related facilities are anticipated, which will have a significant impact on the future density levels across Niagara industrial business parks.”

The loss of agricultural land will increase the cost of basic food—a major factor in the increasing lifestyle disparity in our popula-tion. Canada already imports nearly 40% of its fruits and vegetables. (That most of it is transported by trucks, and that trucks rank high in the consumption of transportation energy, is another matter altogether.)

The big urban centres are economic neces-sities but are also the long-term liabilities of our time. The Preservation of Agricultural Land Society (people.becon.org) offers some

thought-provoking statistics: 94% of Canada’s lands cannot be farmed, only 0.5% of Canada’s lands are class 1 (meaning no sig-nificant limitations for farming), and less than .004% of Canada’s lands are suitable for growing ten-der fruit. 85% of urban growth has

taken place on classes 1–3 lands and fruit lands, and since 1966, agricul-

ture has lost over 6 million hectares of land in Canada (over 1.5 million hectares

of land in Ontario). Finally, two-thirds of the value of Canadian food imports consists of food already grown here in Canada commercially.

Fred Lautenschlaeger, First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto,

grows vegetables in the good ggha soil.

Where Will We Grow it? Destruction of Agricultural Land

29

Scottish Oatcakes

2 cups oatmeal, medium grind (not rolled oats)¼ cup sugar (or less)½ cup margarine 1 teaspoon salt1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking soda½ cup water

Mix dry ingredients. Add margarine and water. Roll ¼ inch thick on a board covered with oatmeal. Cut into diamond shapes. Bake on a cookie sheet, 350°F (177°C )until light brown, about 15 minutes. Serve with a plate of cheese slices.

Broccoli Salad

3 cups broccoli florets½ cup red onion, chopped¼ cup sunflower seeds, roasted½ cup raisins½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing:½ cup low fat yogurt¼ cup light mayonnaise1 tablespoon sugar (or less)1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice salt and pepper to taste.

Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients. Stir well. Pour over salad and toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours, or up to 2 days

We have to eat to live. That is a fact. But we would all agree there is much more to food than survival. It is, surely, one of the most important components in binding family, friends, and community together.

Over the years, families develop favorite dishes for each holi-day and anniversary. In my family it was the Christmas morning coffee cake and homemade doughnuts for Remembrance Day. We each had a favorite birthday cake; for my husband and sons it was rum cake—chocolate for me. I know we are all trying to cut back on carbohydrates and fat these days, but if we only eat cake at birthdays, we won’t be upsetting our diets too much, will we?

Our UU Fellowship is very small—30 members plus ad-herents. An important part of each service is coffee time. The church supplies the coffee or tea, but we never supply snacks and no one is assigned to bring them. Yet cookies and muffins always appear, just like magic. Cup in one hand, a muffin in the other, we use this time to get to know each other, share personal journeys, or give support to people in need. It is a vital time for our Fellowship. My favorite contribution is:

Food, the Tie that Binds

Our Fellowship depends upon our personal pledges and our annual ‘Bid Nite’ each November. Each of us offers one or more items for auction and the most popular item is food—dinners, teas, lunches or brunches. The highest bidder gets to choose the day and dining companions. We know we are bidding against each other but somehow it all works and provides a lot of fun.

Of course, we begin the evening with a potluck supper. We just love potlucks and arrange them at every opportunity. We never assign anyone to bring a specific dish but we are all aware of eating sensibly and of the vegetarians and dieters in our congregation. This is my favorite contribution, partly because it can be made ahead:

Food has had an important place in religious rituals since time began: Christian tradition has the breaking of bread, as well as the sharing of the loaves and fishes. There is corn and fruit for Kwanzaa, while bread, olives and grapes feature at Jew-ish ceremonies. The inclusiveness of our UU beliefs gives us the opportunity to enjoy the foods associated with all religious groups and, in so doing, bonds us even closer together.

Enid Damer Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops

30 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

Salad with Warm bone Marrow Croutons, one of the many tempting recipes From Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal, by Jennifer Mclagan (harperCollins, 2011).

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food (glorious food)

‘Contract’ is a word Jennifer McLagan, author of the newly-released cookbook Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal (Harper Collins, 2011), uses when describing the relationship between humans and our farm animals: “We’ve domesticated them, that’s part of the contract. On a well-run farm they pro-tect their animals, feed them, give them a good life and a swift death.” In return we receive their products.

This is the foundation of the food-philosphy that inspired Odd Bits, as well as McLagan’s two previous award-winning cookbooks: Bones, and Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient. To fulfill our end of the contract, we should re-learn how to eat the whole animal. McLagan contends that this is not only morally correct, it also means the return of many delicious dishes that are more nourishing than the skinless fillets we are presently cooking at home.

In Odd Bits we learn that pork belly—favourite of professional chefs—is the cut for neophytes because its layers of fat make it virtually impossible to overcook. Recipes for Spiced Lamb Ribs with Beans and Spinach, Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Cider and Rhubarb, and Whole Veal Shank with Saffron, could serve as toothsome cold-season staples on a family menu. McLagan considers none of the recipes to be difficult: “some of them take time, more than any great expertise.”

Moving from head to tail, Odd Bits takes readers on a tour of animal parts, their correct preparation, and some tasty ways to eat them. Whether it’s pork, lamb, chicken, beef, veal, rabbit, or game—cheek, jowl, organ, or rump, Jennifer McLagan guides readers to a better knowledge of the animals they eat.

And even if you already know that tripe is not to your taste, or you never plan to whip up a batch of Chocolate Blood Ice Cream, reading through Odd Bits (and its predecessors Bones and Fat) is fascinating, and offers compelling arguments for better taste and nutrition. A flexible switch-and-replace approach encour-ages home cooks to make a recipe their own—or indeed just use these parts as substitutes in their own favourite dishes. “I wanted to introduce them back and put all that knowledge in one place,” McLagan explained.

With the help of Odd Bits, Bones, and Fat, the chef/food-scholar hopes that people will return to the butcher and start asking for the other parts of the animal, “so that those parts will become more accessible.” She’d also like to see the return of an exchange of food information between vendor and customer:

“We’ve just aged this beef, or, no we don’t have any shank left for your stew, but you could use these neck pieces.” She’d like people to eat local pasture-raised animals exclusively: “It’s more expensive but its better for you.” And eat all the animal because,

“if it’s more expensive you can’t afford, and morally it’s wrong, to throw half of it away.”

For those that are considering shunning meat from their diet altogether as a response to factory-farming, McLagan suggested several reasons for switching to farm-raised animals instead.

“I think humans are designed to eat meat—we’re omnivores, we’re higher up the food chain, that’s just how it is. I don’t think we can live on salad alone because our gut isn’t big enough to

process it.” She pointed out that if we do want to keep eating cheese and milk then we will need to raise sheep, cows and goats, which will need to reproduce, creating populations that need to be culled. “What are we going to do with all that protein—throw it away? I don’t think so.”

She also argued for the efficient use of non-arable land, such as a rocky hillside: “All you need is rain and sun, which makes grass, to produce protein we can eat. [Grazing animals] process all that cellulose and produce this fabulous meat and fat, and we get milk and cream and turn that into butter—another mir-aculous product from animals—and manure too.”

Jennifer McLagan, author of what must be this season’s most thought-provoking cookbook, would like to see us all return to the original contract, re-installing proper animal husbandry and the full use of animals and their products; “we need to buy our meat from people who care about their animals.”

Talking with the Author of Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal

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local-grown food and community are what’s on offer every Saturday, May through october, at the haney Farmers Market in Maple ridge, on.

Bees hover around Crystal and her booth of naturally-scented bath and bodycare products at the Haney Farmers Market in Maple Ridge, on, just as I hover around the market’s hot samosa booth; we’re all looking to satisfy our appetites. I have better luck—Crystal doesn’t give anything to the bees.

I love to hover, browsing the offerings at the Market: the carrots and beets and beans all laid out side by side; the pottery inviting me to make a casserole; the jam jars tempting me to toast. Then there is the teenage chocolatier, offering hand dipped sweets. They are all too tempting.

Even more than the food, though, I look for friends and acquaintances at the Market. Is there anyone I know at the tiny café that’s been set up for the day, or among those browsing the merchandise?

Confessions of Farmers Market Groupie

It’s great to grab a coffee and a scone, sit down and wait to see who shows up. Banners and live music make for a festive and inviting atmosphere. The more I go, and the longer I hang out, the better the chance I have of either meeting a friend, or making a friend.

I was delighted when Maple Ridge opened up another market nearby because I’m a farmers market groupie. It started when I was a child. Our town had a great farmers’ market, and my farmer parents knew some of the vendors. We went most weeks to get our eggs and chicken.

Interest in locally-grown food, particularly organic food, is increasing. Meanwhile there is heightened pressure to develop housing on area farmland that is now growing food. My husband Al Sather joined the Haney Farmers Market Board to work at protecting farmland. He found there to be a vibrant commun-ity, growing each week along with the market. This community extends from the Board and the very supportive town council, to the vendors, to their customers, and to other local organizations, as well as to the citizenry in general.

Eileen Dwillies, the Haney Farmers Market’s long-standing manager, knows the market builds community. “Consumers ap-preciate knowing not only where their food comes from, but who grows it. They talk to the vendors when they come to shop.” She coaches vendors to focus on customer service, to work at building ongoing relationships with shoppers. It will be those connections that bring them back even on the rainy, chilly days.

The Farmers Market specifically encourages both vendors and visitors to get to know their community. Each week a com-munity organization is featured, such the spca, or the recycling society.

Connections to the land, to the seasons, are other aspects of farmers markets. Local fruit and vegetables all come round in their proper time; it’s not flown in from the other side of the world. Citizens begin to develop a sense of place—the place in which they live. They learn what will grow here, and what will not. They learn what crop is available, and when.

People are hungry for more than the food available at a mar-ket; they hunger for connection. The Haney Farmers Market feeds both.

Rev. Katie Stein Sather (recently ended her eight-year ministry with

New Westminster’s Beacon Unitarian Church)

message from UUmoC

spritual food

32 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

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health authorities constantly encourage us to follow a bal-anced diet for the good of our bodies, but we also need spiritual food for the good of our souls—and by soul i mean the deepest, truest expression of each human being. you can decide if it means something more than that.

in the movie Mermaids, Cher plays a mother of two girls; when life gets a bit difficult, she moves her family to another town to start all over again. her idea of food is hors d’oeuvres, so she prepares gherkins and olives on toothpicks, cheese on crackers, mini-meatballs and such for every meal. Eventually this mother learns that a lifestyle that only tastes experience goes nowhere of importance. Sometimes any of us might prefer just a bite of spiritual sustenance: a bit of this or that; something that can be held in the fingers and goes down easily.

in fact, in any single worship experience there are a variety of spiritual tastes to savour; not all of us find them equally nourishing, though each service aims to fill and fulfill, to make us whole, healthy and strong. although most of our congrega-tions do not observe the ritual of receiving communion, many of us come to church in hope of the same sense of renewal that this ritual offers to those in other faiths.

What is our bread? to me it is the substance of the service, all that relates to the message: the sermon, the readings, even the lyrics of hymns when they are chosen as a way to carry the theme.

What is our wine? i would put this differently: what takes us out of our head and into the ‘heady’ atmosphere of direct experience? For me it is all that stimulates the senses: the visuals of flame and aesthetic colours; the faint smell of the chalice candle; the uplifting sound of music; the prayers and meditations that are not-quite-of-this-world; the physicality of standing, singing, sitting, and taking hands (for those who are comfortable with direct touch).

For Unitarian Universalists not all communion occurs within worship itself. Simply seeing each other—taking a moment really to look at each other when we meet—is in my mind one of the offerings that we need the most. We reject anonymity and superficiality. We accept each other while hoping also that we might come to know each other even more deeply; it’s an invitation to open the shutters on who we are and what is ultimate to us. in that atmosphere of mutual acknowledgment, we take risks together: join-ing in hymns even if we’ve been told we can’t sing; sitting together in silent trust; discovering that we are not alone in our insanities; preparing ourselves to hear what might call us away from comfort into courage.

it may be that specific people—minister, staff, lay lead-ers—prepare and lead the service with care, in the hope that those attending will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, encouraged, and strengthened to live through the week with an expanded view of what life can be. Eventually, however, those of you who come regularly on Sunday begin to understand that your very presence is a bountiful gift that sustains others.

remember the ending of the old story: “in heaven, we feed each other.” one goal of Unitarian Universalism is to build as much of heaven as we possibly can here on earth. Whether you bring your hunger or your own best dish for the table, there is more than enough for all of us.

Rev. Stephen Atkinson

North Shore Unitarian Church

The Northern Lights Chalice Lighter Program sup-ports Unitarian Universalists in building healthy and sustainable communities within Canada. The Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada (uumoc) and the Canadian Unitarian Council (cuc) have created this program specifically to nurture grassroots, transformative initiatives.

To do this, Northern Lights recruits and main-tains an ongoing pool of Chalice Lighters—indi-vidual donors who pledge to provide twice-annual donations toward selected projects.

It is a growth program, but the word ‘growth’ is not to be strictly interpreted as growth only in membership numbers: growth comes from strong, consistent, high quality programming, and from congregations developing and fully supporting appropriate internal structures suitable for their present and future size.

Please visit the Northern Lights Chalice Lighter Program’s website (www.northernlightsgrant.ca) for more information. The momentum is building. Become a Chalice Lighter and join the hundreds of UUs who are making real growth possible.

What is a Chalice Lighter?

33

The Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga (ucm) has a long history and association with apples. In 1956 our founders pur-chased our property from a farmer who was operating an apple orchard. There is still a fruit-bearing tree beside our original building. Hanging on our library wall is a beautiful painting by a member of our congregation, depicting a group of joyful children holding hands and circling that very apple tree. The apple theme was reflected for many years in our newsletter by our long-serving minister Rev. Jeff Brown, whose monthly column was titled “Under the Apple Tree.” And so it has been, for over 50 years, that our beloved community has grown and flourished by this apple tree.

At ucm we refer to our religious education programs as Spiritual Exploration (Se), and we are often asked to explain why. Our programs are designed to encourage our children and youth to explore the seven UU principles and to develop, along with their families, their own set of beliefs. Knowing that they are valued members of our beloved community is also an im-portant goal of our program. These goals are accomplished in a variety of ways. Our children attend Sunday morning classes where they explore and search for truth and meaning. We also know that this search is more fulfilling when shared. As many of our members came to our congregation as adults, they often say that they further their UU education through our children, during our many intergenerational services. The teachers also suggest that they learn as much as they teach when preparing for, and facilitating the SE classes.

On a Saturday afternoon earlier this fall, a group of children, youth, and adults set off to the Willis family farm to pick apples. The trip to the farm provided children and adults alike with a wonderful opportunity to explore the orchard and to pick the heritage McCoun apples. The corn maze, pumpkin patch, and wagon rides added to the experience. And this was more than a pleasant afternoon visit; the plan was to buy enough apples to make applesauce to sell at our annual Festive Fair.

But the apples went even further—into our Thanksgiving service, which is a family event to celebrate the harvest. Dur-ing the service, members of the choir retold the story of Johnny Appleseed to the children. Afterwards the children presented everyone with an apple, before rushing off to the kitchen to make apple crisp, which they proudly served at our Friendship hour at the end of the service.

From the simple act of apple picking, we explored the Seventh principle, respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We supported a family who continue to farm their land, just meters away from new home developments of the ever-expanding Greater Toronto Area. We helped our children to share the fruits of their labour and to make a tasty treat from local produce. And to continue that lesson by making applesauce and to sell at our Festive Fair to raise funds to support the work of our beloved community.

Lessons in religious education—Spiritual Exploration—are reinforced beyond Sunday mornings. Picking apples helped us achieve a goal of exploring of our values and principles, strengthening our community connections; and we had a little fun along the way.

Wendy Shusterman,

Director of Lifespan LearningUnitarian Congregation in Mississauga

The Apple: Symbol of Knowledge in Spiritual Exploration

34 the Canadian Unitarian Newsletter • Vol. 53 • No. 3 • Fall 2011

While planning your resolution, some things to consider:

Is it linked to UU principles and sources? Is it ethical?*

Does it have broad appeal for UUs? * A good example is the Resolution for Affordable Housing passed in 2010 (www.cuc.ca/social_respon-sibility/ACM_Resolutions_passed_2010_final.pdf.) If the proposed resolution does not have broad appeal, local or regional action might be more appropriate and timely.

Does the topic need a resolution?* Can action be effected through other means, for example, partnering with other area congregations or community groups?

Is there a similar, previously approved resolution?* If there is, this might be amended or updated. (For past resolutions, refer to (www.cuc.ca/social_responsibility/resolutions.htm)

Does the proposed resolution have the support of one of the categories * of approved proponents (found in Resolutions Process document)?

Does it have a broad base to justify specific actions now and in the * future?

The cuc resolutions process got an update when delegates at the agm in Toronto ap-proved a new process. Here’s what’s new:

One comprehensive process for all types of resolutions.•

An earlier resolutions submission deadline of December 15, to encourage • congregations to discuss proposed resolutions and provide feedback to the proposers.

Five categories of proponents (those who may propose resolutions).•

The establishment of a Resolutions Advisory Committee to work with • proponents through the process.

Feedback and suggested amendments must be given to the proponents prior • to February 28; no substantive amendments will occur at the Annual General Meeting.

An ‘Urgent Resolution’ category now exists for topics that arise after the • December 15 deadline.

The inclusion of an ‘Action Plan’ in any resolution by proponents, so that • follow-up steps are established if the resolution is approved at the agm.

Is your congregation thinking about bringing a resolution to the agm in May 2012? This is a good time to act—the draft resolution needs to be sent to the executive direc-tor by December 15, 2011, to be eligible for deliberation at the agm 2012.

You’ll find all the information you need to plan your resolution in the Governance section of the cuc website. Please refer to the Resolutions Flowchart and the Resolu-tions Process documents.

Vyda NgResolutions Study Group

Making Resolutions: Carrying The Power Forward

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Winona baker’s Japanese-form poetry has been widely published and translated, and has received many awards.

What world-famous haiku poet who grew up in poverty was later celebrated in Japan like a member of royalty? No, it wasn’t an ancient Buddhist monk or a renowned Japanese poet—but a Canadian Unitarian woman, and member of the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo.

Although Winona Baker is not well-known in Canadian liter-ary circles, she is appreciated in Haiku circles all over the world. Her work appears in more than ninety anthologies (including Norton’s The Haiku Anthology), and has been translated into Japanese, French, Greek, Croatian, Romanian, and Yugoslavian. Her poems are archived in the Haiku Museum in Tokyo, the Basho Museum in Yamagata, the American Haiku Archives in California, and the Haiku Collection in the Fraser-Hickson Library of Montreal.

Winona Louise Baker was born in Southey, sk, the sixth of eight children, and moved to the west coast with her family in 1930. When the family moved from Saskatchewan to a 40-acre farm in what is now known as Aldergrove, bc, the conditions of their poverty were more painfully felt through the prejudice of others in the community. Shortly after the children started school there was an outbreak of head-lice and Winona’s family was wrongfully blamed for bringing the infestation.

“Problem Child” is the first poem in her latest collection, Flesh in the Inkwell (Leaf Press, 2010) and it illustrates the pain of be-ing relegated to the margins:

Sometimes I answer her knock

A waif with needs and long face

waits on my WELCOME mat

In another, you can almost smell the

Mingled odours from fringe-farm animals

chickens cows drift into the room.

You can see her “badly cut hair” and “hardly worth washing” hand-me-down clothes. You can feel the misery of an under-nourished child who suffers with sore throat and earaches from

“October to May.” You will sense the urgent need to belong, as you hear her “parroting phrases she hopes will please / smiling at people whose cupboards are full” and feel pity for the girl “who feels damned / for something she can’t remember doing and / goes like a stone where kicked”.

What inspired the poet’s eagerness to learn was the travelling library that came through town every two weeks. “We all went to the corner crossroad and took out two books, it’s probably where my love of words began.” Now Winona Baker has a long list of publishing credits, and many awards.

“Fringe-Farm” to Royal Treatment

Her work often begins by gently finding its way into your heart, then suddenly striking with acute detail on the cruelties we often overlook in the world around us:

moss-hung trees

a deer moves into

the hunter’s silence

In 1989 this haiku won the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Scroll haiku contest, Grand Prize of the World Haiku Festival Contest, which included an all-expenses paid trip to Japan, where she was treated like a queen.

Haiku is one of the most difficult forms of poetry. In the introduction of Tidepools (Pacific-Rim Publishers, 2011), a collec-tion of Japanese-style poems commemorating the annual pacifi-kana meeting on Gabriola Island, editor Michael Dylan Walsh writes “Haiku poets … revel in the visible with their finely honed poems—each one presenting a heightened personal experience of the sights and sounds and smells of the everyday world.”

Take, for example, her wry observation at the opening of a lo-cal mall, from Baker’s collection, Nature Here Is Half Japanese:

mall opening speech

‘Once there was nothing here

but a forest’

The challenge, to the writer and reader, is to lift the essential image from nature to the page, and let the last line whack you in the chest—as so many of Winona Baker’s poems have done.

Janet VickersPoetry Editor, The Canadian Unitarian

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In October, seven judges of the Supreme Court of Canada listened to arguments and submis-sions in a case originating out of Saskatchewan; the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon (ucs) and the cuc acted as intervenors on behalf of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, and were represented by pro bono legal counsel Arif Chowdhury of the law firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin llp in Calgary to whom we are most grateful.

The case goes back to 2001–2002 when Mr. William Whatcott, a known advocate of homo-phobia and member of the Christian Truth Activ-ists, distributed flyers claiming that homosexuals are pedophiles to homes in Saskatoon and Regina. Four recipients filed complaints against the flyer, for promoting “hatred against individuals because of their sexual orientation”.

After an unsuccessful appeal to the Saskatch-ewan Court of Queen’s Bench, Mr. Whatcott filed a further appeal to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (skca).

The skca overturned the Human Rights Tri-bunal finding, determining that the flyers did not violate s.14 of the Code—that the material was not directed at sexual orientation, but rather behaviour, and that the freedom of expression to make such statements should be protected. The case was then appealed by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to the Supreme Court of Canada. The ucs and cuc were granted intervenor status in order to file arguments on behalf of the Human Rights Commission and the full case was heard on October 12, 2011. The Court reserved their decision and we will wait to hear what they have to say.

The ucs and cuc were requested by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to consider applying to intervene in this case. Why intervene? The ucs had received the flyers, as had many congregants. We found the material to be spreading hateful lies regarding gays and lesbians—folks who were our family, friends, and fellow Unitarians. We were also cognizant of Unitarian values and principles, such as the truth not being told until many voices are heard, and protecting the importance of debate, pro-test, and expression in many forms, including religious freedom.

We did not expect that we would all agree on definitions of reasonable limits of expression or the exercise of religious freedom. We did know that we are a tolerant congregation and eager to engage in respectful debate within the context of our covenant of right relations. The case con-

cerns, among other issues: the constitutionality of s.14 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code (which has wording very similar to the Canadian Human Rights Code and many other Provincial Codes regarding the protection of sexual orienta-tion); reasonable limits to religious expression; the tolerance of prejudicial and repugnant ex-pression within the larger plurality of ideas (and when expression crosses the line to hate); the promotion of free and responsible debate about important ethical issues; and the consequences of the responsible exercise of expressing one’s opinions and beliefs.

Easy answers were not forthcoming. The committee involved in the intervenor application worked hard to learn, discuss, and debate within a respectful and civil context—it is too bad Mr. Whatcott could not have done the same. Our able and affable counsel Arif Chowdhury assisted tremendously.

The Supreme Court of Canada may decide that s.14 of the Code is too broad, as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has argued in this case, and strike down the provision as a violation of the Charter.

But protecting the vulnerable in our society should always be a priority. Not everyone is capable of defending themselves against toxic verbal attacks. And it is always important to stand up for those who cannot, or choose not, to stand up for the protection of their own rights and freedoms. As members of a collective we must support and speak for those most vulner-able so that those who choose to remain silent may still feel secure. I think of young people who are struggling with finding their identity—that they should be faced with Mr. Whatcott’s tirade and told to defend themselves, since this is what society has in store for them. I think of the epi-demic of suicide, bullying, and depression, and it moves me to take a stand as the ucs and cuc have done in this case.

The Court may decide to pronounce what constitutes hate speech in our current times, or they may leave that boiling pot alone. We will wait and see.

The ucs and the cuc should be proud of their participation in this case and it is worth praising the efforts of those who have contributed in this social action journey.

Please contact the ucs Office if you’d like to receive an electronic copy of the ucs and cuc factum.

Sean SassUnitarian Congregation of Saskatoon

Human Rights: UCS and CUC File in Supreme Court