A Truly Wind*Breaking U*U Jihad® FAT-U*U-A From None Other Than C.U*U.C Executive Director Mary Bennett?!
Straight from the horse's. . .
A U*U Jihad FAT*U*U*A from none other than *C*U*U*C* aka CUC Executive Director Mary Bennett?!
Why not a Star?
Unitarian*Universalist -- You Star, You!
Have you noticed stars popping up in email messages and articles? Have you wondered, What’s with the stars? At a CUC annual meeting a number of years ago, there was a resolution to change the name to “Canadian Unitarian Universalist Association”. The motion was defeated, but in response to the issues presented, the CUC started using, wherever possible, the phrase “Unitarian and Universalist”. This followed the lead of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists—a naming that took much time and effort in order to be inclusive of U*Us worldwide!
However, some responded, "I’m a Unitarian Universalist—adjective and noun. This doesn’t include me." Also, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax--uses both words, but in reverse order, in honour of their origins as the first Universalist congregation in Canada.
I started using an “asterisk” to mean: “both/and/or/or reversed” and it started catching on. When I say aloud Unitarian*Universalist or U*U the star is silent, since You, Asterisk You! Sounds like an insult, al-though You, Star, You! Is a compliment indeed!
The CUC Board’s Statement of Principles Task Force (www.cuc.ca/sptf) has adopted this as their “shortcut”. Samantha Magnus, youth member, has written an article in the CUC’s Youth Newsletter Busking on the Causeway, that was sent to all congregations, and is also on the web (www.cuc.ca/youth)
Kalvin Drake, also on the Statement of Principles Task Force says, “As well as being visually intriguing, I personally find the "*" useful. When talking about matters U*U, sometimes it's convenient just to say "UU"; other times the "*" provides an excuse to actually talk about the interplay between Unitarianism and Universalism. There are really three (and, I would argue, almost independent) issues:
1. How *do* we brand/label ourselves as a *distinct* philosophical and religious denomination?
2. What is historically accurate for the Canadian *movement*?
3. What is theologically accurate for the current state of the Canadian *movement*?
I would argue that #1 should be driven as much by "ease of recognition" and "ease of pronunciation" as by the answers to #2 and #3! "U*U" works for me on that score. Perhaps it's for the "*" between the "U" and the "U" that people join us.
A popular reading from Singing the Living Tradition at this time of year is #621—Why Not a Star? It says, Who knows what uncommon life may yet again unfold, if we but give it a chance!
”As we enter this season of both light and darkness, let us give “uncommon life” a chance to again unfold. In the way we use language-with intention and inclusiveness in mind — as well in the way we allow mystery and awe and surprise into our lives.
Take care of yourselves and each other, you stars you!
Mary
A U*U Jihad FAT*U*U*A from none other than *C*U*U*C* aka CUC Executive Director Mary Bennett?!
Why not a Star?
Unitarian*Universalist -- You Star, You!
Have you noticed stars popping up in email messages and articles? Have you wondered, What’s with the stars? At a CUC annual meeting a number of years ago, there was a resolution to change the name to “Canadian Unitarian Universalist Association”. The motion was defeated, but in response to the issues presented, the CUC started using, wherever possible, the phrase “Unitarian and Universalist”. This followed the lead of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists—a naming that took much time and effort in order to be inclusive of U*Us worldwide!
However, some responded, "I’m a Unitarian Universalist—adjective and noun. This doesn’t include me." Also, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax--uses both words, but in reverse order, in honour of their origins as the first Universalist congregation in Canada.
I started using an “asterisk” to mean: “both/and/or/or reversed” and it started catching on. When I say aloud Unitarian*Universalist or U*U the star is silent, since You, Asterisk You! Sounds like an insult, al-though You, Star, You! Is a compliment indeed!
The CUC Board’s Statement of Principles Task Force (www.cuc.ca/sptf) has adopted this as their “shortcut”. Samantha Magnus, youth member, has written an article in the CUC’s Youth Newsletter Busking on the Causeway, that was sent to all congregations, and is also on the web (www.cuc.ca/youth)
Kalvin Drake, also on the Statement of Principles Task Force says, “As well as being visually intriguing, I personally find the "*" useful. When talking about matters U*U, sometimes it's convenient just to say "UU"; other times the "*" provides an excuse to actually talk about the interplay between Unitarianism and Universalism. There are really three (and, I would argue, almost independent) issues:
1. How *do* we brand/label ourselves as a *distinct* philosophical and religious denomination?
2. What is historically accurate for the Canadian *movement*?
3. What is theologically accurate for the current state of the Canadian *movement*?
I would argue that #1 should be driven as much by "ease of recognition" and "ease of pronunciation" as by the answers to #2 and #3! "U*U" works for me on that score. Perhaps it's for the "*" between the "U" and the "U" that people join us.
A popular reading from Singing the Living Tradition at this time of year is #621—Why Not a Star? It says, Who knows what uncommon life may yet again unfold, if we but give it a chance!
”As we enter this season of both light and darkness, let us give “uncommon life” a chance to again unfold. In the way we use language-with intention and inclusiveness in mind — as well in the way we allow mystery and awe and surprise into our lives.
Take care of yourselves and each other, you stars you!
Mary
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