Use zoom to improve feedback and decision-making

Remember March 2020?

Some people went out and bought toilet paper, I set up zoom workshops! I immediately thought: Unitarians will need to talk.

So I facilitated a weekly zoom practice; a soul matters discussion group and just generally tried to offer people ways to connect.

It’s 3 years later and we and zoom have gone through a lot of changes.

In U/U circles there is much discussion about using more collaborative, open methods for group discussion and decision-making. Some methods congregations are using include: Sociocracy, Convergent facilitation, Gradients of Agreement.

I’d like to offer to share with you some of the new zoom features that can help here.

Because I’m fairly pro-technology, people sometimes think I like it for its own sake. But really as a friend once said, “Mary’s all about connection” and my interest is in supporting “creative interchange” rather than just learning techno toys.

I did a practice run of a workshop recently with some friends/guinea pigs and can now offer this to your congregation. Let me know if that would be of interest.

Before becoming a “professional Unitarian” working for the Canadian Unitarian Council from 2000-2008, I offered team building, meeting management, communications and presentation workshops for 30 years through my own consulting firm Mary Bennett’s Learning Exchange.

Here’s a description of a one-hour workshop introducing some features you may find helpful in your congregation’s journey towards collaboration.

maryunitarian.wordpress.com/zoom-workshops/

Search: a novel by Michelle Huneven

Book Commentary by Mary Bennett, Vancouver, Canada

Search: a Novel by Michelle Huneven (published April, 2022)

Rated PG: alcohol, drug addiction, committee conflict

May not be suitable for Unitarian Universalist ministers in search

In Late April last year, I learned about a new book called “Search: A Novel” with the improbable plot of following a Unitarian Universalist ministerial search committee through their year of meetings, interviews, decision and the epilogue of what happened next to the committee members, the various ministers and the church itself. 

My first thought was: Why didn’t I think of writing a novel based on my experience of being on a search committee some 30 years ago?  In 2008, I actually did write the required 50,000 words to be a NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) “winner” the year I left the job of Executive Director of the Canadian Unitarian Council. But that was definitely “writing as therapy”. I never shared it with another soul. 

Michelle Huneven who is (or was) a member of the Neighbourhood UU Church in Pasadena, California, served on a search committee for an assistant minister and that was when the seed for this book was first planted. 

Of course I had to read it and tell others about it. Our public library has one copy of Huneven’s other books, but due to the number of people requesting this one, wound up with 8 copies of Search. At one time there were 30 people waiting for a copy. I expect all of them were members of my church. 

I soon learned that it had created a stir among UU ministers, some of whom accused her of encouraging others to breach confidentiality, misrepresenting the search process and speaking ill of interim ministry.  Several friends bought copies rather than waiting for the library copies. These were passed around surreptitiously on Sunday mornings. Nothing like telling Unitarians not to read a book, to peak their interest!

The narrator Dana Potowski is a restaurant critic and overall foodie. The book includes recipes from their potlucks and restaurant reviews too. One committee member designs cocktails with a UU twist (The Michael Servetus, The Trinitarian, The Mary Oliver and The Carrie Nation). The committee I was on never had potlucks let alone cocktails. 

Some of us had a need to get together to talk about the ideas in the book, so we organized a cocktail party. Each person had to bring the ingredients for a designer cocktail.  Mine involved Beefeater Gin and I called it the “Hewettarian” in honour of Minister Emeritus Phillip Hewett. 

It’s summertime–a perfect time for a light read and a cocktail party. 

Even though Dana, the character,  laments about “yet another sermon all about love” as Huneven, the author, in her acknowledgements she thanks her husband for his support and the last 4 words in the book are, in fact, “love is the answer.” 

Some links

1. Michelle Huneven’s website with link to book club kit: https://www.michellehuneven.com/search-a-novel
2. UU World 2015 article about Michelle Huneven

https://www.uuworld.org/articles/michelle-huneven-back-course

3. Washington Post Review by Ron Charles: Michelle Huneven’s ‘Search’ offers spiritual wisdom — and cookies (May 3, 2022)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/05/03/search-michelle-huneven-book-review/

4. New York Times review: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/books/review/search-michelle-huneven.html

5) Search: A Sermon by Rev. “Chip” Roush (July, 2022)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIu230oDXRU

Book Discussion

Huneven’s website includes a “generic” book club kit. Here are some suggestions for a Unitarian/UU discussion.

1. Which character do you relate to? Name one comment or action that you find yourself aligned with (whether you’re proud of it or not! We’re all human.)
2. There are a number of instances both by committee members and ministers being “out of covenant”, such as sharing information with people “in secret”, triangulating (talking about someone else); working outside of agreed upon procedures.  Pick one of these instances and offer your commentary on whether it’s excusable, requires accountability or is just no big deal.  If you chose accountability: what and to whom would the person be accountable.
3. Early on, it’s noted that most members don’t know much of the politics of religion. Did you have a “rite of initiation” into church/denominational politics?  Describe it. 
4. Share one reason you think some UU ministers have discouraged people from reading this book.
5. Did you, like Dana, imprint on your first minister? 
6. Have you, like Dana, found everything on Sunday morning is annoying you?

One of the committee members creates UU-style cocktails.

Invent a cocktail with any of these names and serve it at your book discussion group.

1. Freedom, Reason and Tolerance
2. Love in the Centre
3. Universal Salvation
4. TIM (The Interim Minister)
5. The Gadfly

I’d love to hear what you come up with.

Gen Z, Flower Ceremony, 7 Principle Songs–for Kids

It was a great week to travel around the UU-Universe. Here are three of the services I attended this Sunday.

North Shore Unitarian had 3 of their Gen Z’ers deliver the service (with a very proud Dad and youth advisor) supporting as service associate.

I’ve described First Unitarian Portland as “high church Unitarian” and they didn’f fail me for a Flower ceremony. Complete with organ music, robed choir and lovely baskets of flowers across the front–and a very inspiring and informative homily by Rev. Alison Miller. It was actually last week, but I didn’t get there then. I still have an outstanding question about flower communion. Has anyone found a way to keep the flowers fresh? As a gardener I cringe at seeing (and thinking about the metaphors!) the flowers begin to wilt the minute they’re given out. I’ve wondered about collecting a hundred or more plastic containers that come from floral stores. (to self: let it go, Mary!!)

UU Amherst, New York, a current favorite stop on my UU-road trip hosted UU Musician Jim Scott who performed his 7 principle songs for kids.

As usual, I popped into UU Spokane https://www.youtube.com/@UUCSpokane and Vancouver Unitarians https://www.youtube.com/@vancouverunitarians.

On Saturday at 10 am Pacific I attended the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA) service with Rev. Terry Cummings preaching. It hasn’t been posted yet, but if you’re fond of our first source: direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, do check it out, once it’s uploaded.

https://www.youtube.com/@NAUA_Academy

Is your Unitarian church WILD enough for you?

I know some “wild Anglicans” here in Vancouver. They’re in the Salal and Cedar group who are part of the BC Wild Church network. Over the web I’ve met some “wild United Church” folk too.

As I understand it the two key requirements are: meet outside and connect in a circle. I like both of those “rules”. I’m part of the Earth Spirit group through the Vancouver Unitarians but I admit we’re pretty quick to dart inside at the least bit of weather coming our way. Although we do fairly regularly walk the outdoor labyrinths and at least once a year dance the maypole outside.

I’ve now find a couple of UU congregations interested in offering “Wild Church”.

Most recently I notice UU Amherst have begun weekly “wild church wilderness meditation” sessions prior to their regular Sunday service. They use a “lectio divina” approach – reading a poem several times – combined with a check-in (within circle), meditation in whatever way the individuals choose and a time to share at the end. They have two labyrinths on their property–their labyrinths and property are both bigger-and a bit wilder–than ours in Vancouver. When UCV was built in 1964 it was on the outskirts of town, but now it’s a very busy throughfare and while the neighbours have been polite there are people walking by and clearly interested when we’re out there doing ritual. Perhaps our hiking group will morph into a Wild Church, or Wild something or other (Given that we’re considering removing the word “church” from our legal name.)

Here’s a service about Wild Church at UU Amherst

Earth Day and the Wild Church

and I can’t resist including Les Buhite’s talk on labyrinths. (Minister’s spouse, btw).

And from just south of the border, Quimper UU in Port Townsend.

They say: There are 3 mostly equal parts: Greeting/Grounding, Wandering/Wondering, Circling-Up/Sharing.  And advise to bring a chair, a hot drink and dress appropriately.

Links

Wild Church Network

https://www.wildchurchnetwork.com/About-Us

It began as a phenomenon of isolated pastors and spiritual leaders, taking prophetic and courageous steps in their radical vision to leave buildings to connect with the natural world to restore sacred relationship.  As we began to find one another and connect, “wild church” blossomed into an organic, spirit-led and collaborative movement.  We are a network of “churches” affiliated with many denominations and others who are not affiliated at all. Some don’t call themselves church at all, as the word itself can trigger wounds. Others find the word church to be nourishing as it becomes something very different outside of literal and theological walls.

Wild Church BC (associated with United Church) based in Okanagan/Kamloops area

https://www.wildchurchbc.org/

I quickly received an email with offers of support when I sent a note to: wildchurchbc@wildchurchbc.com

Salal and Cedar (associated with Anglican Church)

https://salalandcedar.com/

The book

I’ve read this book. Available from Vancouver Public Library

https://www.victorialoorz.com/book

I posted to my 2000 plus facebook friends about starting something up in my neighbourhood. I included, I know the word “church” can be triggering, and sure enough, 10 of the 12 comments focused on that, but… two people said they were interested.

UU Universe Visits the week of May 25

Last Sunday I woke up early and had my coffee and granola and wondered where would I attend church?

I’m rarely ready for the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, which is 4 time zones away, so decided to get in my U-Tardis* and head there.

I’m always interested in seeing services that shake up what one Unitarian minister once described as “watered down Protestantism”. So I enjoyed that the kids book for the day was broken up into three parts, with reflections from their interim minister interspersed.

The Big Orange Splot Paperback – Illustrated, June 1 1993 by Daniel Pinkwater

North Shore Unitarians “scooped” the book launch for John Vailliant’s most recent book Fire Weather. I thought the Writers Festival style of interview with both sitting in comfortable chairs was an excellent replacement for a sermon written and delivered word for word. When 4 years into joining I was asked to do a summer service I would have welcomed a different approach for the sermon. I’d been delivering workshops and presentations for many years – in colleges and through my consulting practice – but worked from notes and visuals (overhead transparencies back in those days!) The expectation of reading something word for word and expectation to submit it for the literature stall was quite a burden.

The week prior, their Music Director, Alison Nixon, led a contemplative music service. As we try to find formats for Sunday services that are more appealing to younger people, I’m all in favour of these various approaches, at least occasionally.

Tardis is the “phone booth” that Dr. Who travels in. Now that so many congregations are zooming and/or youtube-ing their services, I travel by Tardis rather than Transit on Sunday mornings. Often attending three services plus my 9am poetry group – in the same time it would take to get to my local congregation and home again. (And the coffee’s better here too).

Wild Church, Anyone?

I first learned about “Wild Church” from Unitarians on Vancouver Island. Maybe in mid 2000’s or so, a young adult I’d gotten to know during the time I worked for the Canadian Unitarian Council sent me a note knowing I’d find it interesting. Outdoors! rain or shine! in a circle! All welcome! What’s not to like?

Next I met Rev. Laurel Dystra, Anglican Priest, at an interfaith gathering and learned about the “Salal and Cedar” group here in Vancouver. https://salalandcedar.com/

Perhaps it was on CBC Tapestry that I learned there was a book. So I read that. Church of the Wild by Victoria Loorz. And Salal and Cedar are mentioned there. https://www.victorialoorz.com/

All of the Wild Churches I have found are connected to a Christian denomination–Anglican or United–and use explicitly Christian language, albeit in a very new (or renewed) format. As a Unitarian, it just hasn’t seemed the right place for me. So I’ve just continued with the Earth Spirit circle at my local congregation and initiating things like book groups and zero-waste forums and, most recently, one of the promoters of the All We Can Save circles. allwecansave.earth. But, to be honest, we’re not all that wild.

Popping up all over the land, like wild mushrooms after a spring rain,
 communities are responding to a call from deep within
to change the way we relate to the natural world.
“from a collection of objects, to a communion of subjects”
Thomas Berry

This past Sunday as I was travelling around the UUUniverse, I stopped into one of my favorite congregations, in Amherst New York and discovered their congregation was having a conversation that very day about the possibility of starting a Church of the Wild on their property (which has two labyrinths, by the way). I then googled “wild church Unitarian” but didn’t come up with anything.

Here’s Rev. Michelle Buhite’s service from a year ago introducing the concept to their UU church.

Earth Day and the Wild Church

I love how she engages with the congregation. Here she asks the congregation to share “a book, a story or a song with the word “wild” in the title.”

In case you want to hear it right from the pulpit, here’s the announcement from the board representative: https://youtu.be/O9wkABZc1PU?t=2858 (I have, of course, being me, already sent him an email asking for more information.)

The rest of the service is also worth watching IMHO. As are many other services. I often attend 3 -or more – Unitarian*Universalist services on a Sunday, and this church is one of my top 10.

I got more and more inspired, thinking perhaps the time had come to try to move this forward so I can have a “Wild Church” in my neighbourhood. So I floated the idea to see if any of my 2000 Facebook friends would be interested in getting something going in my beautiful neighbourhood of Kitsilano. I did preface it with “I know the word church can be triggering…” and, yes, that was certainly the case. There were more comments on the word “church” than on the concept, but one artist friend of mine said, “Keep me posted.” Maybe my fb friends and I are going to get something going; maybe it’ll be called Wild Sanctuary. I’ve been in touch with the Wild Church BC group and it seems that (almost?) anything goes and they assure me there are many non-Christians involved. And that one person is so triggered they won’t attend because of “church”.

I got a grant a couple of years ago to organize labyrinth walking and sacred circle dancing at a park right near the ocean in a forested area. This was high covid time, so we kept our distances but even so both activities allowed for space – and also meditative space as well as physical. (I crocheted the “walls” of a labyrinth from plastic bags, as there’s no labyrinth there usually. There was a yoga group and probably a few other groups that met there too. Yes, people were pretty curious but we rarely had any interruptions.

No idea if or where this will go, but if you’re interested, let’s chat.

I’ve joined the (free level) of the Wild Church Network Ecosystem here:

Join the Wild Church Network if you lead or want to lead your community out of buildings and into deeper relationship with the sacred through nature. Our beloved communities includes the entire ecosystems in which we live.  A group membership is $35/month. Join me?