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Family Network Letter
April 2001
Dear UU Family Network members,
Welcome to the third of our annual Family Network resource packets, Family Justice Advocacy. This collection of education programs and family advocacy materials has been gathered from many of you, family ministry colleagues and social justice advocates. From academia to Capitol Hill, from UU congregations to interfaith allies, we have garnered some excellent resources for you.
The "we" I mentioned is the UU Family Network Advisory Committee whose members include Abhi Janamanchi (minister in Clearwater, FL), Sally Patton (RE Teacher in Winchester, MA), Jacqui James (colleague in RE Department), and Keith Kron (colleague in the Faith in Action Department). Many thanks to them for contributing resources and guiding me to other resources and resource people. This endeavor recognizes and honors the sharing and creativity of every contributor and advisor. It is now given to you with much affection and appreciation for standing with, for, and by UU families.
Family Justice Advocacy resources address some of the most pressing needs of our times – the needs of individual families of all kinds for affirmation and celebration as well as the needs of the whole human family. By welcoming and supporting families with congregational rituals and pastoral care we help families grow in respect, love and responsibility. In this age of mobility family traditions, common to many from their ethnic roots, need to be intentionally nurtured through cooperative living, shalom family activities, and covenant group gatherings. UU families have a mission in the wider community: to help build human solidarity and challenge those forces that undermine our fundamental human unity, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, materialism, militarism.
I am grateful to the UUA and especially my colleagues in the RE Department for two months of sabbatical time this winter. During extended periods of reflection and solitude, I discovered the book From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and the wonderful world of spiritual eldering. With delight I offer my Spiritual Eldering Reflection and Discussion Guide to you with this resource packet.
You are invited to peruse these resources, share them with your professional and lay leaders, and enrich them to address the needs of family ministry in your congregation. Four parts of this resource packet reflect the ways we advocate and act for family justice: family witness, justice education, social service and social action. Many resources included here are excerpted from longer, more comprehensive curricula/programs, but authors, websites, and ordering information are noted for each resource.
Yes, Families Matter! May these resources support your family ministry!
Pat Hoertdoerfer, Children and Family Programs Director |
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