SWUUSI 2011 in Summary
Weren't able to make it to SWUUSI 2011? See below for more info on what you missed.
Theme
The Once and Future Church
The Once and Future Church
The
title for this year’s Theme Talks is the Once and Future Church, a play
on words borrowed from T.H. White’s telling of the Camelot myth, “The
Once and Future King”. Our liberal faith was once a powerful influence
on society. It can be again. To do so we must build on a solid
foundation of healthy relationships and roles, not slogans and clichés.
It is an aspirational theme, a reaching for the stars which will give
people a vision of what the free church once was and what it can be in
the future.
Theme Speaker
Rev. Dr. Brent A. Smith
Monday: Once and Future Church: What is the Permanent in the Local Institution?
a. Mission
b. Free Pulpit
c. Free Pew
d. Other Customs and Practices that institutionalize spiritual freedom
Tuesday: Once and Future People of Faith: The Congregation (lay and ordained) as the Transient?
a. The Role of the Laity
b. The Role of the Minister
c. The Congregation as Team
Wednesday: Once and Future Ministry: The Work of the Church
a. Education
b. Service
Thursday: Once and Future Worship
Artist-in-Residence
Rev. Dr. Brent A. Smith
Professor Brent A. Smith
was born in 1954 and raised in Richmond, Indiana, graduating with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from Hanover College in 1976. In
college Professor Smith studied Existentialism, American literature, and
the works of James Joyce, while also receiving All-American honors as a
linebacker on the Hanover College football team. After several years
working in the business world, Professor Smith acted upon a call to the
ministry by entering the Divinity School of the University of Chicago,
graduating with a Masters of Arts degree in 1983, and with a Doctor of
Ministry degree from Meadville/Lombard Theological School in 1984.
While in seminary he studied the works of Paul Tillich, Soren
Kierkegaard, Reinhold Niebuhr, John Dewey, Henry Nelson Wieman, Mircea
Eliade, and wrote his doctoral dissertation on pragmatism and the
religious philosophy of William James under the direction of Professor
David Tracy. Professor Smith was ordained into the Unitarian
Universalist ministry and began serving his first congregation in north
Milwaukee in 1983, and additionally has served congregations in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. In August 2010 he accepted an
invitation to join the faculty of the Liberal Studies Department of
Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. He has published
numerous articles, started one national and one regional publication,
has hosted and helped to write and produce a national television show,
Faith in the Free Church for the Faith and Values Network, has written
numerous curricula, and presented at many national workshops and
seminars. He has been featured in the Sightings online journal of the
Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago, and the Journal of
Liberal Religion, with his most recent article, “A New Birth of
Freedom,” on Abraham Lincoln, here. His web site is at www.drbrentasmith.com.
Professor Smith lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Pat, a lawyer with
Grand Valley State University. They have two grown children, Elizabeth
and Josh.
Monday: Once and Future Church: What is the Permanent in the Local Institution?
a. Mission
b. Free Pulpit
c. Free Pew
d. Other Customs and Practices that institutionalize spiritual freedom
Tuesday: Once and Future People of Faith: The Congregation (lay and ordained) as the Transient?
a. The Role of the Laity
b. The Role of the Minister
c. The Congregation as Team
Wednesday: Once and Future Ministry: The Work of the Church
a. Education
b. Service
Thursday: Once and Future Worship
Dana Clark
A
member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio since
1994, Dana Clark is a multi-instrumentalist with a knack for writing
songs that express contemporary spiritual themes in language that
engages the intellect and music that touches the heart. She created
many of the songs on her CDs “Trust Your Heart to Lead You Home” and
“Disguised as Poetry” as she worked with ministers to tailor music for
their worship services.
Dana says, “I believe music is magic. I believe music can work miracles. I believe music can help us remake the world.” Learn more at her website: www.danaclarkmusic.com. Dana performed several times and also led the choir workshop.
Dana says, “I believe music is magic. I believe music can work miracles. I believe music can help us remake the world.” Learn more at her website: www.danaclarkmusic.com. Dana performed several times and also led the choir workshop.
Sunset Talks
“How This Faith Has Changed My Life”
“How This Faith Has Changed My Life”
This
year’s Sunset Talks presented four diverse Voices of Faith, each speaking
on the same topic, each bringing their own unique stories about how our
free church tradition has changed each of their lives. They are:
His work as a UU Minister in our parish has allowed him to deepen his own spiritual journey, and become an activist for social change. He is strongly involved with Dallas Area Interfaith, the Dallas Peace Center, and has served on the Executive Council of the NAACP. He began his eighth year of Ministry for Oak Cliff this past July.
Rev. Bret Lortie
Rev.
Bret Lortie has served the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San
Antonio since 2007. Bret grew up in Southern California and spent most
of his adult life in the Midwest, primarily Chicago, before moving to
Texas. Ministry is Bret’s second career. His first was in publishing:
as a printing press operator, web designer, digital technologies writer,
journalist, and finally, editor. Before entering seminary in 2001, he
was the managing editor for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists — a
magazine that reports on peace, arms control, human rights, and global
security issues. Bret is also a musician and a pilot and chaplain with
the Civil Air Patrol.Rev. Mark Walz
Rev.
Mark Walz, the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak
Cliff, grew up in Houston and Dallas. Besides his wife of 40 years and
their family, he has had three other passions in his life - theater,
politics, and religion. Mark has always been interested in the
experiences and philosophies that guide people's lives. His work as a
professional actor and director has allowed him to explore great
literature through the venues of stage and film.His work as a UU Minister in our parish has allowed him to deepen his own spiritual journey, and become an activist for social change. He is strongly involved with Dallas Area Interfaith, the Dallas Peace Center, and has served on the Executive Council of the NAACP. He began his eighth year of Ministry for Oak Cliff this past July.
Mr. Randy Lewis
Mr.
Lewis is a student minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa
Oklahoma. A former Baptist minister, he is presently pursuing a master
of Divinity Degree at Phillips Theological Seminary and has recently
completed an MBA degree as well. He is an exceptionally gifted preacher
and brings a unique perspective to the question of “How this Faith has
changed my life?” as he is a relative newcomer to our faith and his
experience is a bridge between lay pursuits and ordained service. Rev. Ellen Cooper-Davis
Rev.
Ellen Cooper-Davis is beginning her fourth year serving Northwoods
Unitarian Universalist church in The Woodlands, TX. A graduate of
Meadville Lombard and the Institute for Spiritual Leadership, Ellen is
also the author of a blog for the Houston Chronicle's Belief section.
Mother of two children under 4 and spouse, Ellen also enjoys cooking,
growing food in her front yard, book arts, and Lady Gaga videos. She
describes herself as a Universalist and declares, “I believe that there
is an inexhaustible, inescapable love that will not let us go. It is
there in every corner of the world. It is there in our moments of
greatest connection and joy. It is there in moments if excruciating
suffering and sorrow. It is there even when we willfully turn away from
it and seek to be isolated, alone and apart.”Workshops Offered
AM Workshops
AM Workshops
Sitting Can Save My Life? Really? A Workshop on Mindfulness - Cathey Edwards
Learning the Night Sky - Paul Derrick
Feed Your Body - Tracy Cook
SWUUSI Choir - Dana Clark
The Times They are a-Changin': UUA and District Governance - Rev. Jonalu Johnstone
PM Workshops
Missional Progressives Reimagining Church - Rev. Ron Robinson
The Almost Church Revitalized: Envisioning the Future of Unitarian
Universalism - Book by Michael Durall - Rev. Chuck Freeman
An Introduction to Hula Dancing - Lonney Corder-Agnew
Janus Legacies - Paul Derrick
Strings and Things - Nancy Cain
Fated and Free: The Doctrine and Theology of Unitarian Universalism - Beth Ellen Cooper-Davis
Debra Garfinkel - Story
Children and Youth Programming
Nursery
This program is for young children who have not yet started attending school, and leads them in a fun time of exploration. The class will be held both outdoors and indoors, with structured activities and time for free play.
Kindergarten through Second Grade
Returning
for her second year as Primary Camp Director, Terry Ward will inspire
our children with tales of UU Superheroes, our history and legacy as
Unitarian Universalists, and opportunities to grow in the Faith today!
Terry will be assisted by John and Beth Hammer!
Third through Sixth Grades: Hogwarts
Julie Tribble, the SWUUSI Hogwarts Head Mistress, will bring the four houses back for another year!
Here is a note from the head mistress:
This year the theme of the camp is “Historia Nos“ (Our stories). We will be looking into what we want our story, as Unitarian Universalist‘s, to be. “Honeydukes” Candy will once again be available for sale in the hall outside of our classroom. It is one of our students’ highlight of the week! We will still have our old favorites of Quidditch, Potions and Transfigurations, and Care of Magical creatures class at the nature center.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the swuusi school of magic!
Sincerely,
Prof. Unita Bakeschtuff
Here is a note from the head mistress:
This year the theme of the camp is “Historia Nos“ (Our stories). We will be looking into what we want our story, as Unitarian Universalist‘s, to be. “Honeydukes” Candy will once again be available for sale in the hall outside of our classroom. It is one of our students’ highlight of the week! We will still have our old favorites of Quidditch, Potions and Transfigurations, and Care of Magical creatures class at the nature center.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the swuusi school of magic!
Sincerely,
Prof. Unita Bakeschtuff
Seventh through Ninth Grades: COA
Ryan
Hoffland will offer a Coming of Age program for Unitarian Universalist
Youth who may not have a COA program at their home churches. The program
will include UU History and Theology, Identity building, and a Credo
Ceremony at the final worship.
Ninth through Twelfth Grades
Building
on the theme of “The Once and Future Church”, the Youth at SWUUSI will
engage in Unitarian Universalist Identity-Building, candid discussion
about our Faith, worship, and service to the community.
SWUUSI is held at Western Hills Guest Ranch in Hulbert, OK.