Volume 2018 Number 11
Kukui Lamalama
Ministerial Transformation
At the end of the summer, The Board and our minister, the Rev. T.J. Fitzgerald, decided that we should investigate the possibility of changing our relationships, so that T. J. would become our church's settled minister. A settled minister is one who has been formally voted upon by the congregation to stay in relationship for an indefinite period of time in contrast to being contracted for a specified period of time, or in an annually renewable position. The Board selected seven church members to form the Ministerial Transformation Task Force [MTTF], who were approved at the Congregational Meeting on September 30, 2018. Members of the Task Force: Bill Scarvie, Cheyne Hill, Eleanor Kleiber, Jane Raissle, Kathy Kaknes, Martina Queenth and Nan Kleiber, a formidable force' for an interesting task. Everyone else ducked, thus Nan became the 'leader of the force'. We asked each of the Chalice Circles and Covenant Groups to devote one meeting to discussing this process, and answering specific questions. In addition, members of the congregation who were not involved in these groups were invited to small group discussions, and/or to fill out and submit questionnaires about the process, and their views of the church, its ministry, and it's role in the community. Altogether more than 90 people participated. Members of the Task Force met to tabulate the responses; a summary of the responses was presented to The Board at its meeting on November 13, 2018. The responses were nearly unanimous in their enthusiasm for calling a settled minister to our church, and for having Rev. T. J. apply for this position. The Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday, December 16, will put both of these issues to an official congregational vote. And then, the negotiations begin with T. J. as to how his position is to be reconfigured: Settled minister, to stay as long as he and the Congregation agree. Full time, or continue part time [now 3/4 time]? Compensation?? Minister's rights and responsibilities? Congregation's responsibilities expectations. And probably some other points that we haven't thought of yet. continued on page 2 Continued from page 1 As part of the process of figuring out where we go, together, the questionnaires and notes from all the discussions have been given to T. J., who has read them, been somewhat overwhelmed, I think, and given them back to me, Nan. If you wish to add thoughts to the discussion, please share them with me, or with T. J. Since the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu was formed, and registered as a congregation, first with the American Unitarian Association, in 1953, and then with the Unitarian Universalist Association when it was formed in 1961, we have had a number of settled ministers, including: Bob Fraser, Mike Young, and Jonipher Kwong. We have had several interim ministers, among them: Louise Ulrich and Lee Bond-Upson. The Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald is our first Contract Minister, hired by The Board, rather than called by the Congregation. We are now on the path to modify this relationship, and, as a Congregation, call T. J. to ministry. Please contact members of the MTTF, or T. J. if you have questions or concerns about this process. Church members, please attend the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 16th, to join us in stepping forward into our shared future, possibilities and challenges. Mahalo, Nan Kleiber for the MTTF
The Magazine of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu November 2018
Articles (from members or other UU leaders) submitted to the church magazine will be selected on the basis of their informative and/or inspirational nature or value to the life and ministry of this congregation. The editor has the authority to make the decision to not include a submission. Print versions of the magazine will be limited to selected 4 (or 8 back to back) pages.
Index
Mark Your Calendar - December 16th Congregational Meeting 11:30 - 12:30
Rev. T.J.'s Message: At Once
This week the world lost Stan Lee. He started as a comic book writer and was the creator of a universe of superheroes now called the Marvel universe. Blockbuster movies, millions of comic books sold—there is little doubt about the regard in which our culture holds superheroes. They are titans, or even gods, and their exploits spark debates among children of all ages. My favorite debates involve the very difficult work of deciding which super power I would want if I could have only one. Would it be super strength, teleportation, flying, telekinesis, mindreading, or one of the other powers from among the plethora in the superhero world? But among all these options, a power that I don’t think I ever considered was the power to be in more than one place at once. I’m not sure that it is even one of the powers possessed by any of the major superheroes in the Marvel universe Lee created. And though I didn’t ever consider this a superpower that would be useful in conquering enemies or protecting the world, yesterday I realized how central it really is to doing just that. As many of you know, yesterday our community took part in both the Nu’uanu Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration and the International Transgender Day of Remembrance. Our inspiring artists in The Spirits and our inspiring leader Marie Anne represented our community in an evening decades in the making, when so many communities united to support one another and the work of Bluewater Mission’s Justice Ministry, which actively and effectively provides safety and protection to exploited children. And only a few miles away, a mighty contingent of our community gathered to bear witness to the ways far too many lives of our transgender siblings ended far too soon, as we took part in remembering the lives in the transgender community that were lost this year, and learning ways to support and uplift all the members of our human family. It means something to me, and it should mean something to you, that on the same night, in the same city, at the same time, the same church was in two places at once. In one place, we were one of many churches and faith communities, part of the beautiful faith tapestry woven and warming the Nu’uanu Valley for decades. And in the other place, we were the only local church with a visible presence, bringing love and a message of hope to all. Two places at once. Many people ask me “what is the beloved community we talk about so much?” There is a technical answer about how that term was coined, but the real answer, the deep answer, is very much in the events of last night. It is when human people begin to do superhuman things. It is when mild mannered individuals change into heroes by joining their forces with their accomplices. It is when we show up, when we don’t just tell people we love them, when we show people we love them, in more than one place, at once. Thank you for yesterday. Thank you for being my heroes, friends. Many blessings of gratitude in this season. Rev. T. J.
Ministerial Transformation, continued 2 Rev. T.J.'s Message 3 Chalice Circles 4 A.D.O.R.E.Book Club 5 Justice, Race and Healing 6 O.W.L. 7 Gallery on the Pali 7
Editorial Policy
The A.D.O.R.E. Book Group will meet on Sunday, December 2nd at 11:30 am in Meeting Room #1 (upstairs) to discuss When They Call You a Terrorist; A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors. Feel free to bring your own snack if you want one. The next book for the A.D.O.R.E Book Club will also likely be selected at this meeting. Interested participants should consider "nominating" a text, so the group can vote and determine the next book for study.
Kaka'ako Chalice Circle members and friends recently tried out tricycle riding: Doris, Sue, Susan, Catherine, and Nancy.
Current Locations, Dates & Times: Hawaii Kai: 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 - 8:30 pm Makiki: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Kailua: 2nd & 4th Saturdays @ 3:00 - 5:00 pm Kaka’ako: 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 -- 8:30 pm Pali: 1st & 3rd Mondays @ 6:30 -- 8:30 pm
Kailua Chalice Circle: Jane, Nancy, Leanne, Marie, Melany, Ardith, Kathy, Martha, Rini, Luna, and Nancy.
Mililani's group is in the spirit with Charlotte, Sue, Veronica, Grace, Adrien, Clement, Joanna, Troy and Mauricio.
Chalice Circles
If you are ready to experience being listened to and connecting with others in a way you may yet to have experienced in your life, join a Chalice Circle. Groups of 5-12 people meet twice a month for two hours to explore preselected topics using the deep listening/deep sharing format, each guided by a trained facilitator. Beyond meetings, Chalice Circle participants gather for service and sometimes just for fun. Groups attend concerts together, have movie nights, help members move, respond to illnesses and hospitalizations, provide childcare, attend church work parties, provide Sunday hospitality and more. Always open for new members, there’s a Chalice Circle waiting for you! For more information contact Carla Allison, cbm@hawaii.rr.com, 396-1488.
A.D.O.R.E. Book Club
Above: Saturday night participants with Rev. Traci Blackmon at the University of Hawai'i.
Above: Our Friday night Church of the Crossroad’s participants
Twenty plus UUs and A.D.O.R.E. friends gathered November 9th & 10th for Church of the Crossroads’ biennial Watada Lectures featuring guest speaker Rev. Traci Blackmon. Many messages landed over the two nights with learning shared and deepened during our Sunday discussion facilitated by visiting Jubilee Anti-Racism Trainer Patricia Callair and Rev. T.J.
Shift Paintings by Yvonne Manipon The artists reception was held on November 3rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The current exhibit, Shift, will be on display through November 28th, 2018.
O.W.L.
Above: Lecture Panel: Kaiwipuni Lipe Ph.D., Jonathan Osorio Ph.D., Rev. Traci Blackmon, Meleana Meyer & Kyle Kajihiro at UH’s Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies Halau
This morning at church, I told Charlotte Morgan that we will be offering the Kindergarten- First Grade OWL Program in January. And she said, of course, 'That's a hoot!' The Our Whole Lives program is a positive, comprehensive, age appropriate educational program that promotes sexual health. The topics for the Kindergarten - First Grade program are: learning about our bodies; healthy bodies, safe bodies; many kinds of families; families and feelings; babies and families; birth of a daby; and celebration! The Parent/Guardian organization/orientation program is on Sunday, January 13, at noon, following Second Sunday Lunch. Adults will meet and greet in the Fred Harper Room, to discuss the program, meet the facilitators, ask and answer questions. Facilitators for all OWL programs receive special training on each level of the curriculum, K - 1 through Older Adult. Child care will be available during this meeting. Child care for younger and/or older siblings will be available for all the sessions of this program. Parents and guardians are their children's most important sexuality educators. For the K - 1 OWL program, children and their parents attend the class sessions together, in the same place at the same time. Facilitators provide information, and also model ways to listen to and communicate with children in this age group. Adults and children have very different life experiences, which can make communication, especially about sexuality and related topics, challenging [mostly for adults]. In this OWL class we all have the opportunity to improve our skills. Several parents have asked whether older siblings can attend, and about programs for 2nd and 3rd Graders. There is no official OWL curriculum for these grades, yet. We'll think about what we can offer. If your family wants to participate in this program, January 13 - March 17, please let me know. Application/registration forms are at church, and will soon be available through the OWL page on the church's website. Nan Kleiber [nankleiber44@gmail.com] Mahalo, Nan
Gallery on the Pali
Justice, Race and Healing
First Unitarian Church of Honolulu A Welcoming Unitarian Universalist Church
Submission Deadline: The deadline for both hard and electronic copy for the Magazine is noon on the third Sunday of the month. Bring hard copy submissions to the church office; email electronic copy to: Magazine@unitariansofhi.org Section Word Limits: Please limit your copy to 100 - 200 words. N.B. The editors may edit any submission for content, length, and/or clarity. Mailing Policy: All members and friends with email addresses registered on our website will receive an email notification when the newsletter is uploaded and ready to view. If a member does not have an email address, paper copies of the Magazine are available at the church for Oahu-based members. The Magazine will be mailed to any member or friend upon request and following payment of the subscription fee. Mail Subscriptions: The Magazine subscription fee is $20.00 per year payable in advance . The subscription year runs January to December. New subscriptions will be prorated on a quarterly basis. Publisher: Nancy Schildt Editor and Composition: Jane Raissle Distribution: Suzette Tom
Publication Information
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