Unitarians, UCC Elect Minorities as Presidents

Wednesday July 1, 2009

(RNS) The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC) both made history this week by selecting minority presidents at their annual meetings. The Boston-based UUA elected its first Latino president, the Rev. Peter Morales; the Cleveland-based UCC nominated its first African-American president, the Rev. Geoffrey Black,...

Continue Reading This Post »

Comments (8)

posted by Nicole Symmonds @ 4:53pm Permalink email icon

Email This

Comments

nnmns

July 1, 2009 7:06 PM

In my limited experience most UU fellowships and churches are pretty white but probably open to other folks. I hope these new leaders can get more minorities into the liberal versions of Christianity, where they or anyone can be healthier.

pagansister

July 1, 2009 8:07 PM

Works for me (as a UU) and am sure jestrfyl is pleased also. And I agree, nnmns, that most UU fellowships & churches are predominately white. Hopefully this will help draw more minorities, as you say.

pagansister

July 1, 2009 8:09 PM

Maybe next time...A WOMAN?? UU's have many women ministers, and I guess the UCC also? You can answer that, jestrfyl.

David Pollard

July 2, 2009 9:37 AM

Actually, a slim majority of UU ministers are female, and have often run for the Presidency. In 1992, Rev. Carolyn Owen-Tull came within 50 votes of winning.
Rev. Laurel Hallman is actually pretty conservative (for a UU.) To the extent that the UU Women's Federation actually came out and endorsed Rev. Peter Morales. Otherwise she'd likely have won.

jestrfyl

July 2, 2009 10:54 AM

p.s. at al,
A colleague of mine - a female UCC pastor - recently realized that half of the active (serving congregations) UCC pastors in FL are women. It should be no surprise that we have many female pastors, a significant percentage of all pastors though I am not sure of the exact percentage. Frankly, I am surprised we have not had a female president and General Minister so far. However, Joffrey Black is a great selection, someone who has had a history of holding the reigns to this crazy wagon of a denomination with hundred of horses pulling it. I believe he will be able to guide and inspire us for quite a while. But if I were a betting man, though I am not, I would be fairly sure our next Pres. and Gen. Min will be a woman.

nnmns

July 2, 2009 1:56 PM

Hey, j, how was (is?) sunny Michigan? I hope you had some good Midwestern food while you were there. I'm not sure whether they do brats in Michigan like Wisconsin and I'm not sure if they do casseroles/hot dishes there like much of the midwest but they must have some good local food.

jestrfyl

July 2, 2009 11:46 PM

nnmns
The food was good. I enjoyed some excellent ribs and burgers, as well as some excellent local beer. The real treat was the fresh veggies - our season ended a few months ago. And northern veggies taste different than southern veggies.

Michigan started out so sunny & hot I was not sure I had left home. The Rapids in Grand Rapids were all but invisible. However, by Monday I knew where I was - gray, damp, with a little chill and wind. The river dropped so we could see the rapids, too. It was a good trip. The Synod was everything I expected - the whole range and spectrum.

I just might go back to Grand Rapids some day. And I will be at the next Synod - it's in my backyard, Tampa! But I won't be a delegate (my term is up). If I am lucky, they post me as Guardian of the Cookies - COOKIE!

Green Card

July 17, 2009 1:05 AM

http://www.usadiversitylottery.com

The annual USA Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery makes 55,000 green cards available every year to persons who meet two basic eligibility requirements. Participation in the green card lottery program is open to all individuals worldwide who meet these two basic entry requirements.
www.usadiversitylottery.com