Resources for Getting Involved and Staying Informed
- The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) have joined to launch a humanitarian relief fund to help survivors of the recent Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) cyclone. Both organizations strive to coordinate strategic response to natural or man-made humanitarian crises, especially when rights are threatened or when those in need are overlooked or neglected by traditional relief approaches. Please support this relief effort.
- A resource is available for UU Congregations who are responding to the Global Food Crisis. Please share congregational efforts with the International Resources Office.
- UUA President, Reverend William G. Sinkford, has provided a Flower Communion Prayer entitled "Remembering our International Family of Faith". A resource for congregations that choose to add an international focus to flower communion ceremonies is also available.
- Make use of a Google map that lists U/U congregations around the world.
- Discussion guides are now available for two important books for Unitarian Universalist congregations that have a global vision:
- Empowering the Oppressed by John Sommer explores various organizations involved in social-change movements in India. John is the chairman of the Advisory Board of UU Holdeen India Program. (Discussion Guide (PDF, 8 pages)).
- Most Like an Arch by David Keyes is a collection of the 1996-7 Minns Lectures which examined international church partnerships. (Discussion Guide (PDF, 8 pages))
- Subscribe to our bi-monthly International Resources Newsletter (I-News) to keep up-to-date with news from the International Resources Office.
- Congregations and other organizations that are making financial contributions to international entities may be interested in policy guidelines (PDF) for charitable donations drafted by the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA's) attorney.
- A book entitled The Home We Share: Globalization, Post-Modernism and Unitarian/Universalist Theology published by the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) is available from the UUA bookstore. The book includes the proceedings of the ICUU's international theological symposium held in Kolozsvar in 2006.
- Visit the Advocacy and Witness Staff Blog which includes posts from the International Resources office, or setup an RSS Atom Feed for international related submissions to the Advocacy and Witness blog.
- A Glossary of Microfinance terminology (PDF) has been created by Michael John Looft as part of his work with the UU Partner Church Council (UUPCC).
- The intent of the UUPCC Travel Grant Program is to help facilitate travel between partners by providing monetary grants to prospective travelers.
- Learn about the UUPCC's Community Development initiative and how your congregation can get involved!
- Keep up-to-date with the situation in Burma by visiting Burma Watch.
- Join in the discussion! Read about our monthly SkypeCasts (PDF) and how to join (PDF, 10 pages) the conversation! The January 2008 discussion will be entitled "What's Happening in the Alphabet Soup?" (PDF)
- Keep track of upcoming events with our Google Calendar: If your organization has pertinent events that you'd like to have added to the calendar, please let our office know!
- There are a number of relevant texts available in our Google Books Library!
- Congregations can participate in a torch run event or plan one through the Dream for Darfur Torch Run. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Association collaborated on an event in Washington, DC, December 2007.
- The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists distributes a new Global Chalice Lighting Reading each month. Congregations are invited to use it during worship services, and to introduce it as a Global Chalice Lighting. The ICUU has also created and published a religious education program titled "The Garden of Unitarian-Universalism."
- The UUPCC also has religious education materials for children and adults available for download.
- Visit Counting Prayers to learn how your congregation can join in pledging to offer prayer at every worship service until Millennium Development Goals are met.
- Here is some information regarding Unitarian Universalism that may be of particular interest to emerging Unitarian/Universalist groups:
- The Chalice in Worship (PDF)
- Theology of the Chalice (PDF)
- Covenant Groups (PDF)
- Covenant Groups—Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
- If you are a member of Facebook, you can access the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists by searching for the full name or by visiting our Facebook group. The ICUU also has a Yahoo Group listserv you can join; the group sends out relevant news messages twice a month to members and is an excellent resource for keeping informed about the ICUU.
- The Natalie Gulbrandsen Ministerial Scholarship Fund for International Studies has been established to provide opportunities for ministers and candidates for ministry to engage in meaningful ways in a developing country for academic, interfaith or social justice purposes.
For more information contact international @ uua.org.
Last updated on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
