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'Spirit of Life' by UFETA Vice-President Rev. Beth Johnson
Dear Companions on the Journey,
What a joy it is to be part of a Unitarian Universalist organization that is working on the ethical treatment of animals. Were it not for UFETA, my experience of being a Unitarian Universalist would be impoverished. I’m personally so grateful for those who started this organization and who were here when I became a Unitarian Universalist. When I first considered ministry I knew my heart was with animals, and I had a deep desire and calling to spend my time doing ministry related to that. It is hard to have a ministry completely devoted to animal rights, and so I had to look around for role models. My first role model was Rev. Gary Kowalski. When I was in seminary I followed him around at General Assembly asking questions about how he did parish ministry and still devoted himself to animal issues. I saw how Gary was a skilled parish ministry and prolific writer, and devoted animal issues and thought, “I can do that.” Well, all but the prolific writing part!
As you know, Unitarian Universalism as a movement has been involved in of all this country’s justice movements. And as you know, it has not been easy and it has taken time for people to understand the urgency and the issues. We are experiencing being on the margins in our denomination when it comes to animal rights – those of you in the trenches know this to be true. I know it can be discouraging for me to see how long it appears we have to go. I remind myself of Unitarian minister and abolitionist Theodore Parker’s words.
In 1853 Parker stated: “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eyes reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”
In doing this work we are asked to live in hope. Now, hope doesn’t mean blind optimism or wishful thinking. Hope means that we don’t know the future. Living in hope means living with openness to possibilities that we cannot predict, but that we influence by the work that we do day-to-day. Hope means that we work toward justice for all beings because we have seen glimpses that the moral arc of the universe, although long, does bend toward justice.
My work with UFTEA is very fulfilling and I appreciate being able to part of it, but I did long to work face-to-face in my own area with others committed to animal issues. In particular I wanted to with other faith traditions. To that end, last year I helped found an organization called Interreligious Voices for Animal Compassion (IVAC) http://animalsreligion.org/. Our purpose is to “promote advocacy and compassionate living on behalf of animals by engaging with a variety of religious, ethical, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives. Our goal is to engage the hearts and minds of people of faith, scholars, faith leaders, and activists on issues facing nonhuman animals in order to expand the circle of compassion beyond human beings, and to empower faithful action.”
IVAC sponsored our first animals and religion conference last April –the first of its kind in Southern California. It was held at Chapman University in Orange California. The conference titled “Do Unto Others…” featured eco-theologian Dr. Jay McDaniel, and writer/activist Karen Dawn. We held an inspiring opening worship and along with breakout sessions, ending with a vegan banquet. We were pleased with this first effort and will be holding the second annual “Do Unto Others…”Conference on April 16, 2010. Our website will be up soon and I’ll keep you posted about our conference and activities through this newsletter and on the list.
It is such a privilege to serve you as president-elect as we keep the faith and continue to work toward bending the moral arc of the universe toward within our faith communities and beyond.
Peace and blessings,
beth
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UFETA Member Spotlight - David Steele
Newish UFETA member David Steele, is a member of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver in Vancouver, BC, where he sits on the Environment Committee and chairs the Social Justice Committee. David is also the Vice President of Earthsave Canada, a non-profit organization that aims to convince as large a portion of the population as possible to move to a plant-baed diet. Earthsave educates the public through its website http://www.earthsave.ca quarterly newsletter, numerous pamphlets and a weekly email update which David produces. Environmental, animal welfare and health effects of our food choices are emphasized. Earthsave Canada also hosts an annual vegan food and educational fair in Vancouver called Taste of Health.
Dave is pictured here with his 16-year-old Aussie, Tasty, who was rescued from a south-eastern university in 1994.
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UFETA Board Member Spotlight - Jennifer Greene
Jennifer Greene has been a Unitarian Universalist for a long time. She was a pre-teen when her family first began attending Cedar Lane UU Church, in Maryland. Now she's in New York, on Long Island. Her home congregation is the UU Fellowship of Bellport; meanwhile, she serves the South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport, NY) as their part-time Director of Religious Exploration.
It was during her time in graduate school, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that Jennifer's eyes were opened to the plight of animals raised for food. When she moved to Long Island, she met Amie Hamlin, another UU and UFETA member, who has been an important influence and good friend; Amie founded Club Veg and is now Director of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food http://www.healthylunches.org. In addition to volunteering for Amie's organizations, Jennifer has been an enthusiastic leafleter for Vegan Outreach www.veganoutreach.org, and in the spring of 2008 she founded Vegan Long Island (http://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Long-Island/), a local meetup group, now with over 200 members.
Jennifer is delighted to join the Board of UFETA. "To me, 'Unitarian Universalist' and 'activist' feel redundant; I feel more spiritually whole when I'm practicing nonviolence in my everyday life and helping others do the same. I'm optimistic that in the next decade, more and more people will take steps to align their choices with their values, thus growing the movement for greater compassion for animals, and hastening the day when billions of creatures don't suffer at human hands simply for taste, convenience, or tradition. For me, what we do to animals is a pressing moral issue. And it's imperative that we address this issue with love and compassion for one another. I see these as deeply moral and religious matters."
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“Reverence for Life” by Rev. Gary Kowalski
Sermon delivered on November 8, 2008
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington
Rev. Gary Kowalski
There are some figures who belong not to any one country or culture but to the world at large. Some are mystics and prophets like Francis and Gandhi, some are musicians like Bach and painters like Picasso, others scientists like Jane Goodall, still others outstanding for their altruism. They seem to transcend their particular time and place and in their differing ways show us glimpses of the good, the true and the beautiful. And it would be rare indeed to find one individual who combined every form of genius—at once spiritual and scientific, both an artist and a humanitarian. Yet one man, Albert Schweitzer, fit that description.
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UFETA Chapter News
From the UFETA Roanoke Chapter Coordinator Susan Thomas:
The Roanoke Chapter of UFETA partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue Association (www.midatlanticpugrescue.org) in October and raised nearly $500.00 to assist in the rescue of abused and abandoned dogs. We are also planning to host a Thanksgiving day vegan potluck for members and friends of our church as well as members and friends of the Roanoke Vegan and Veg Curious EatUp Meetup.
Roanoke UFETA Chapter members from left to right: Susan Thomas, Cais Thomas, and Lori Rehfeldt
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Simply Vegan
Simply Vegan is more than a cookbook. It is a guide to a non-violent, environmentally sound, humane lifestyle. It contains:
* Over 160 vegan recipes that can be prepared quickly! (No meat, fish, fowl, eggs, dairy, and honey)
* An extensive vegan nutrition section on toipcs such as Protein, Fat, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin B-12, Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet, Feeding Vegan Kids, and more...
* Sample Menus and Meal Plans for Vegans
* Food Definitions and Origins including common and uncommon vegan foods, as well as Herbs and Spices.
* Cruelty-Free Shopping including where to buy vegan food, clothing, cosmetics, household products, and books.
You can purchase your copy through The Vegetarian Resource Group linked on the book cover.
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Benji Bean Sprout Doesn't Eat Meat by Sarah Rudy
This beautifully illustrated book is about Benji, a boy who is just like everyone else, except for one thing: he doesn't eat meat! Meet Benji "Bean Sprout" and learn with him as he visits many adorable animals at an animal sanctuary and discovers why he is a vegetarian. Alex and Scott, two boys at school, like to give Benji a hard time. By the end of the story, however, they learn to appreciate Benji and his differences - as well as his favorite meat in the whole world - Neat Loaf!
About the Author
Sarah Rudy is a passionate animal lover. She has been an artist her entire life and this is her first publication.
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I Think There's a Bear Out There
UFETA Board Member Trish Kirk has published her second children's book, 'I Think There's a Bear Out There'.
The story is told by a little chipmunk that likes to sneak out of her den at night. After taking us deep into the dark forest where she greets many animal friends, the little chipmunk confronts her fears when she meets a big black bear. As the chipmunk and bear become friends, she discovers that sometimes those things that go bump in the night turn out to be not so frightening after all.
This is a gentle and compassionate tale of the joys discovered between two unlikely friends.
Click on book for AuthorHouse information.
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From Our Members
Among the many website suggestions passed along on our UFETA listserv, Lois Baum (UFETA Member and President of Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate NY) has alerted us to three fantastic websites:
Help for lost animal companions
"Over the summer, we got a few voicemail messages at home alerting us to someone's "Lost Pet" in our area. The guardian's phone number was given, and this website: http://www.FindToto.org. You simply type in your zip code, and up comes information regarding animals lost in your area."
Humane Myth: Encouraging Truth, Transparency and Integrity in Animal Advocacy
Humane myth is defined as an idea being propagated by the animal-using industry and some animal protection organizations that it is possible to use and kill animals in a manner that can be fairly described as respectful or compassionate or humane.
Alternative to the Heifer Project
It's that time of year again when churches (and others) will promote the Heifer Project. In this article written by UUAM Board Member, Rev. Gary Kowalski, learn "What's Wrong with the Heifer Project: http://www25.uua.org/ufeta/heiferproject.htm
A great alternative, to promote in place of Heifer Project (and other charities that exploit animals) and that does NOT exploit nonhuman beings is: http://www.treesforlife.org.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, UFETA Treasurer, Charlie Talbert shared this:
"Most turkeys, including those raised "free-range", arrive into the world in hatcheries. The truth of these places can be difficult to comprehend. Our brains try to protect us from the dissonance of values conflicting with behavior, so the "facts" of animal agriculture – the enormity of it expressed either in the statistics of the billions slaughtered or in a picture of an individual brutalized – become mind-numbing. The haunting, beautiful, disturbing music background of this 5 min. video can draw one into it, though, with eyes open but maybe not dry. It’s very powerful."
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Your Ideas are Welcomed!
Have you participated in an animal related service or event? Or read a good book? Should UFETA Members or Chapters have any news to pass along for future Newsletters, please email Trish at tkirk@hughes.net.
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Suggestions for Congregational Activity
Please link UFETA's Newsletter and website to your own congregation's regular newsletter, while highlighting your own involvement, as well!
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