181: Power, Religious Educators and Ministers with Meagan Henry
Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:02 — 47.6MB)
Subscribe: More
This episode of The VUU explores power dynamics between ministers and religious educators and how LREDA Good Officers are specifically trained to counsel and mediate these relationships. We also get into a spirited discussion about the possibilities of shared ministry and collaboration along with the risks for speaking out and the culture of secrecy that can build up. Our guest is Meagan Henry, LREDA Board member with the Professional Support and Good Offices portfolio.
Show notes:
- LREDA (the Liberal Religious Educators Association)
- “If Our Secrets Define Us” by the Rev. Gail Seavey – 2016 Berry Street Essay
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Michael Tino, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
180: Stories of UUs of Color
Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:05 — 50.4MB)
Subscribe: More
Co-editors, Yuri Yamamoto and Chandra Snell, along with contributor Mike Jenkins, join The VUU to talk about a new anthology of 15 authentic stories written by Unitarian Universalists of color. The book is called Unitarian Universalists of Color: Stories of Struggle, Courage, Love and Faith and is available in either a softcover or electronic edition through Lulu.
Show notes:
- Learn more and purchase the book at https://uuofcolorstoryproject.com
- Mike Jenkins, using the name Tr1umph@nt!, explores UU principles using Conscious Hip-Hop music; his debut album is called album “Oilskin Duster”
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Michael Tino, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience, although Yuri’s sound quality is poor due to popping noises during the first 20 minutes of the episode that couldn’t be removed. View the live original recording on YouTube.
180 Excerpt: Yuri Yamamoto’s “Rant” About Privilege
Podcast: Download (Duration: 10:12 — 9.3MB)
Subscribe: More
Yuri Yamamoto wrote what she calls a “rant” in response to Skinner House Book’s rejection of a book proposal for an anthology of stories by Unitarian Universalists of color. Her words go beyond the decision of the publisher and address the privilege that comes out of a broader culture of white supremacy. This is an excerpt from episode #180.
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (on sabbatical), Michael Tino, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been edited for a better listening experience. View the full original recording on YouTube.
179: Black Lives of UU
Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:06 — 51.4MB)
Subscribe: More
Lena K. Gardner, executive director of the Black Lives of UU organizing collective, joins The VUU. Lena and the panel talk about the continual harm being done to Unitarian Universalists of color; how the use of covenant, right relationships and “safety” exemplify white fragility around racial discomfort; Rev. Don Southworth’s letter to the UUA Board of Trustees and Lena’s response; the upcoming UUA General Assembly; and so much more.
Show notes:
- Lena’s response to Don Southworth’s letter
- UUA Board of Trustees April 2017 meeting packet
- Getting Slammed: White Depictions of Race Discussions as Arenas of Violence – article by Robin DiAngelo
- White Supremacy Culture – excerpt from ChangeLink workbook
- How To Tell Someone They Sound Racist – video by Jay Smooth
- My Faith’s Crisis, My Faith Crisis – blog post by Mel Pine
- The Wilderness Journey – video of first-hand accounts of the historical struggle for black empowerment and racial justice within the UUA in the late 1960s
- Bystander intervention training – by Jess Banks
- Undoing Racism – conference by the People’s Institute offered in advance of General Assembly in New Orleans
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Michael Tino, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience, although there is some background noise as Lena was in an airport. View the live original recording on YouTube.
178: Coming of Age with Bart Frost and Hannah Eller-Isaacs
Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:55 — 47.5MB)
Subscribe: More
Coming of Age is a faith formation program for youth that centers on the creation of a credo statement. The VUU welcomes to the show Bart Frost, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries with the UUA, and Hannah Eller-Isaacs, one of the leaders of this youth program at Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, MN.
We talk about the new Coming of Age journal, To This I Give My Heart, and the spiritual journey both youth and adults make together. The book gets its name from a common definition of credo.
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Michael Tino, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience, although Bart’s microphone did not provide very sound quality. View the live original recording on YouTube.
177: UU White Supremacy Teach-In
Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:54 — 48.4MB)
Subscribe: More
Kenny Wiley and Christina Rivera join The VUU to talk about the upcoming #UUWhiteSupremacyTeachIn. Unitarian Universalists congregations are being asked to shift their regularly scheduled Sunday morning worship to participate in a teach-in on racism and white supremacy. Learn more at http://www.blacklivesuu.com/teachin/.
Show notes:
- Informational webinars scheduled for April 13 and 27 at 8 pm ET. Organizers will talk through available resources and answer questions. Congregations who are signed up will get an email with the link. It will also be posted on BLUU’s website.
- Aisha recommends the resource: http://teachingtolerance.org
- Read Dr. King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail”
- BLUU Urges Adoption of 8th Principle in Unitarian Universalism (article on medium.com)
- Congregations can sign up for #UUWhiteSupremacyTeachIn on other dates besides April 30 or May 7.
- Aisha and Christina define “woke” as a white person who comes from a place of non-defensive curiosity, who listens, asks questions, and is willing to risk doing the wrong thing and be called back in
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, Michael Tino and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
176: Alison Miller, Candidate for UUA President
Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:41 — 51.0MB)
Subscribe: More
Alison Miller is the last of the three candidates for UUA President to join The VUU in March. Throughout our conversation, Alison emphasizes the UUA’s need to invest in growth and to make institutional changes.
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley (currently on sabbatical), Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, Michael Tino and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. Tom Schade joins as special host for this week’s episode. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
175: Jeanne Pupke, Candidate for UUA President
Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:47 — 51.1MB)
Subscribe: More
Jeanne Pupke joins us as the second of three candidates for UUA President who will be on The VUU in March. Throughout our conversation, Jeanne emphasizes collaboration and active listening as foundational to her leadership style.
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, Michael Tino and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. Tom Schade joins as special host for this week’s episode. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been slightly edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
174: Black Lives of UU
Podcast: Download (Duration: 57:22 — 52.5MB)
Subscribe: More
Lena K. Gardner and Dr. Takiyah Amin of the Black Lives of UU organizing collective talk about the profound experience at the inaugural BLUU Convening, held March 9-12, 2017 in New Orleans. Learn more about BLUU at http://www.blacklivesuu.com/.
Show notes: Faithify campaign for The UU Global Majorities Collective, a new project by DRUUM (Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries)
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, Michael Tino and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
173: Ministerial Search with Keith Kron
Podcast: Download (Duration: 47:01 — 43.0MB)
Subscribe: More
It’s that time again when Unitarian Universalist congregations and ministers go into search for each other. The Rev. Keith Kron, Director of the UUA’s Transitions Office, joins us to talk about the process, what’s new this year, plus what should be considered even when not in search right now.
The VUU is hosted by Meg Riley, Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Aisha Hauser, Hank Peirce, Michael Tino and Alicia Forde, with production support provided by Terri Burnor. The VUU streams live on Thursdays at 11 am ET.
Note: This audio has been edited for a better listening experience. View the live original recording on YouTube.
