Membership
UUW&R doesn’t really have memberships these days, though you can volunteer to work with the core group anytime. You might consider joining UU Women’s Federation. They are a membership organization and you can join for a donation of any amount: https://www.uuwf.org/donate-join
We’re currently in conversations with UU Women's Federation on consolidating. We're hoping to co-create new ways to move together into the future! We’ve already partnered with UUWF on several projects, including a combined presence at General Assembly.
In the past decade or so, UUW&R has focused on networking among the remaining District UU women’s groups, keeping essential -- and new -- women’s spirituality materials available, and handling publication of the classic curricula and some books. A new structure and funding may help us do even more. We have several curriculum projects in the works. What would you like to see us do in the future? https://www.uuwf.org/survey
More Links
Brigid's Grove (ceremony resources)
Things We Don't Talk About (Red Tent movement documentary)
LucilesRedNotebook.org (UU Women and Religion movement herstory)
Ministerial Sisterhood UU
HEResies UU women's history/herstory archives at Meadville-Lombard (in development)
UU Women's Groups
St. Louis area
UU Women and Religion of the Pacific Central District
SouthWest UU Women - Southern Region
SisterSOUURCE For/by Black UU womxn, lgbtqi+ and nonbinary
International Convocation of UU Women
Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation
Disbanded but some archives online
Florida District (disbanded in 2009 - archives online)
UUWA - Metro New York District
Mass Bay District
Mountain Desert
Florida NorthEast Cluster
Women's Spirituality Group and Women's Drumming Circle, First Unitarian Church, South Bend, Indiana
More UU Women's Groups
(if you would like to be listed, contact the Webweaver)
Sister Circles at UU Church of Eugene, Oregon
Association of Unitarian Women First U of Minneapolis, Minnesota
UU Sisterhood at UU Church of Ft. Lauderdale
In The Company of Women, retreat at Ferry Beach, Saco Maine
Artemis Women's Spirit Circles at UUC Fairfax Virginia
Women's Group at Holston Valley TN UUC
Women's Spirituality Group at First UU Austin TX
Womanspirit Retreat at Las Cruces, NM
in the UK
Revitalizing UU Women's Groups: A How-To Manual
Mission
Our Mission
Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion is dedicated to freeing ourselves, others, and the Earth from traditional, historical, and contemporary oppressive and patriarchal systems. We continue to work together to implement the 1977 UUA Women & Religion Resolution, which calls us to examine and put aside sexist assumptions, attitudes, and language. We extend that work by learning anti-oppressive attitudes, languages, and behaviors.
Our Future
UU Women & Religion ...
CHALLENGES women, men, and children to affirm, defend, and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
PROGRESSES toward our goals, using shared leadership and consensus building.
WORKS to end patriarchal systems, which undermine achievement of a world of peace and justice with respect for every person and for the interdependent web of all existence.
ENCOURAGES each person's own path to spiritual growth
EMPOWERS all people to choose how to change unjust systems, as we walk together toward a new day.
UU Women & Religion is open to all people who embrace our mission. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.
Membership
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
- Information about activities, programs
- Invitations to UUW&R meetings, events
- Opportunities to change the system
Suggested annual donation: $25
Send this form (check payable to UUW&R) to:
Patti Clark, UUW&R Treasurer, 3224 Timmons Lane #165, Houston, TX 77027
Name ___________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City / State (Province) / Zip ________________________________________
Phone________________________ Email ______________________________
UU Society_______________________________________________________
UU District_______________________________________________________
Amount enclosed ___________
Bylaws
GUIDELINES/BYLAWS -- As Amended October 22, 2005
Article 1: NAME
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WOMEN AND RELIGION: An independent affiliate of the UUA
Article 2: CHARTER
WOMEN AND RELIGION RESOLUTION passed by the UUA GA, Ithaca NY, June 23, 1977 (see attachment)
Article 3: PURPOSE
UUW&R is dedicated to freeing ourselves, others and Earth from traditional, historical, and contemporary oppressive and patriarchal systems. We continue to work together to implement the 1977 UUA Women and Religion Resolution.
Article 4: MEMBERSHIP
Any person is eligible for membership in UUW&R who is in general accord with the above-stated purpose and who supports the work of the group.
Article 5: GUIDELINES
UUW&R shall be guided by the Core Group as described in Article 7.
The work of UUW&R shall be carried out by a feminist process as we understand (based on "Peace & Power" by Peggy Chinn and "Shared Leadership" by Elizabeth Fisher)
Article 6: MEETINGS
The annual meeting of UUW&R shall be held at times and places set by the Core Group. Special meetings, social events, public programs, etc. may be scheduled by the core Group or a designated committee.
Article 7: CORE GROUP
The Core Group consists of: District Officers, Officers of W&R at the continental level, Committee Chairs and participants of the Annual Gathering. Any woman is welcome to join the Core Group and assist in the work of UUW&R at any time by committing to do so.
Article 8: BUDGET
The budget for the fiscal year from December 1-November 30 will be established at the Annual Gathering after receiving up-to-date financial statement. Expenditures must have prior written approval from Co-Conveners and Treasurer.
Article 9: NON-PROFIT INTENTION
- Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
- No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code
- Upon dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
Article 9: REVIEW AND REVISION
These Guidelines will be reviewed at each Annual Meeting and revised as necessary.
Certificate of the Officers
Regarding Adoption of the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion
We certify that we are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary of the Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion and that the foregoing pages are the bylaws of this organization as adopted and amended by the members on November 19, 2005.
Rev. Dorothy Emerson, President
Geri Kennedy, Treasurer
UPDATES:
2021 Officers are
Patti Clark, Treasurer
Geri Kennedy
Gretchen Ohmann, co-convener
Article 1: The UUA no longer has Independent Affiliates. UUWR is one of the UUA's "Related Organizations."
Core Group
2023+ CORE GROUP
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Treasurer Patti Clark, Houston, Texas, has served as Treasurer for SouthWest UU Women (SWUUW), and the International Convocation of UU Women. She did double duty as Registrar for the 2009 International Convo. A retired CPA, Patti also manages her condo association. |
Nyx Ember Firbourn, Chicago, IL, is a multi-talented entrepreneur and artist who believes in living her joy! Women's retreats are important in her life. She joined the Core Group in June 2023 after experiencing General Assembly and the energy so many UUs gathered in one place can bring. |
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Geri Kennedy, Seattle, WA, believes in gathering the women. A past UUWR Treasurer, who has often staffed our UUWR booth at GA and saved our hides on more than one occasion, Geri is also currently the Treasurer for International Convocation of UU Women (ICUUW). |
Co-Convener and UUWR Storekeeper Gretchen Ohmann, SW Michigan, is a long-time UU. On Central MidWest W&R she was treasurer, conference liaison, and webweaver, then part-time office manager, computer trainer and archivist. A former CMwD representative to Continental UUWR, Gretchen also worked several years as Administrator for SW UU Women and served one term on the board of the UU Women's Federation. Now retired from her day job as Technology Coordinator for the UUA MidAmerica Region, she is part-time Marketing Director for ICUUW and also designs and hosts web sites. |
Gratitude to past core group members:
Liz Fisher passed on in 2020 and we miss her presence deeply. Best known as the author of the Rise Up and Call Her Name curriculum, Liz was a researcher, writer and social activist. Her deep knowledge of the UU Women and Religion movement helped inform our work over many decades.
See Liz's bio at https://lucilesrednotebook.org/liz-fishers-wr-autobiographical-statement/
Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Manning is a progressive interfaith minister, liturgist and retreat leader. You may have met her at General Assembly in the UUWR booth! She draws upon her experiences as a development director, award-winning television producer, published author and poet, luxury-lifestyle magazine columnist and editor, and former elected official. She offers multi-faceted services to congregations and nonprofit organizations she serves.
2014-15 Core Group:
Pam Backstrom - Iowa (former Prairie Star District/MidAmerica Region)
Susan Bennett - Virginia (Joseph Priestley District/Central East Regional Group)
Treasurer Patti Clark, Houston, Texas (SW District/Southern Region)
Patricia Fahey - North Carolina (SouthEast District/Southern Region)
Kate Gillis, West Warwick, Rhode Island (Ballou-Channing District/New England Region) is a life-long UU. She loves the Women’s Group at Westminster UU Church in East Greenwich RI, is President of Womensphere, the Ballou Channing District women’s group, is a very active member (RE, choir, events) and past president of Bell Street Chapel UU in Providence RI, and goes to Woman Soul at Ferry Beach. She likes The Association for the Study of Women and Mythology and learning about labyrinths.
Molly Nolan - Connecticut (Clara Barton District/New England Region)
Co-Convener and UUWR Storekeeper Gretchen Ohmann, St. Joseph, Michigan
Melinda Perrin - New York (St. Lawrence District/Central East Regional Group)
PRIOR MEMBERS
WOMUUNWEB Editor Helen Popenoe, Bethesda, MD, has been involved in Women and Religion work since 1980 when the Joseph Priestley W&R'ers were so involved with publishing "Reaching Sideways" and the rewriting of the UUA Principles. She served on the District W&R Committee from that time till she retired in 1999(?) after four years of being District Convener. Simultaneously with her later tenure on the JPD W&R Committee, she participated as part of the Continental W&R movement, acting as Co-Convener several intermittent terms until 2004. To become a children's book author with strong female characterization is her present endeavor outside W&R.
Past Co-Convener Rev. Shirley Ranck passed away in 2023. She was a Crone of wisdom and power who has touched the lives of many women through her writing and teaching, the Reverend Dr. Shirley Ann Ranck brought both personal professional insight to her work. Trained in education, psychology and ministry, she drew upon all these disciplines as well as her various personal lives as wife, mother, and single parent to create the female spiritual journey contained in the feminist thealogy curriculum and book, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven.
While working full time and birthing and raising two daughters and two sons, Shirley managed to earn her Master's degree in religious education from Drew University, an M.A. in clinical psychology from City College of New York, a Ph.D. in urban school psychology from Fordham University, and her Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley. She has been an educator and a licensed psychologist in California as well as an ordained minister in the Unitarian Universalist Association. She worked in hospitals, clinics and a county jail for women as well as in private practice. She served as minister in several Unitarian Universalist congregations including Cincinnati Ohio, Mobile Alabama, San Rafael California, Kennebunk Maine, Olympia Washington, Vancouver BC, and Reno Nevada. Shirley was the featured Keynote Speaker at Central Midwest District W&R's WomanSpirit Feb. 2008. She finally retired, and moved to Michigan, passing on in May 2023. We carry her books in our STORE!
Past Co-Convener The Reverend Addae Lee Watson served as consulting minister for the First Universalist Congregation of Southold during her time with the UUWR Core Group. Fondly known as Rev. Addae, she believes that service in ministry is about building bridges between the church and the community, so that pastoral care extends beyond the church walls, enhancing the vitality and growth of our congregations, as well as reinforcing our Unitarian Universalist principles as we live out our values in the world.
Rev Addae received her undergraduate degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco, and her Masters of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry, in Berkeley, California. She was ordained in the summer of 2004 at The Community Church of New York, Unitarian Universalist, after serving as the congregation's intern, and summer minister.
She is a member of the Anti Racist/Anti Oppression and Multicultural Committee of the (UUMA) Unitarian Universalist Minister's Association, (DRUUMM) Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries, and (UUWF) Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation. Rev. Addae calls San Francisco home, where she is enrolled at (CIIS) California Institute of Integral Studies in pursuit of a Ph.D in Philosophy and Religion in Women's Spirituality.
Past Co-Convener Laura Nagel currently lives in California, with her husband Harry. They have two daughters. Laura became a Unitarian Universalist when she was 14, and has been a member of several UU churches as they have moved around the country. She served as board president for First Jefferson UU Church in Fort Worth in 1998, attended leadership school in the Southwest District, and worked for five years as a fundraising consultant for the UUA.
Laura became president of Southwest UU Women (SWUUW) in 2000 and oversaw its transition to a nonprofit and Independent Affiliate of the UUA. She was also very active with the Partner Church Council. Laura is a founder of the International Convocation of UU Women.
Past Grassroots Coordinator and Joseph Priestley District rep -- Nuala Carpenter lives in St. Davids PA, attends Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. She has been a member of the Facilitators' Circle of Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion. She has been involved for 10 years or so and was been the convener from 99 to 07. She has been to several gatherings of the core group, in Boston, Chicago, St. Louis and Portland OR.
Nuala has been a UU since the 70s and has held many leadership roles in her congregation. She was born in Ireland and lives with her husband Mike. Their five grandchildren are the light of her life.
Past GA Events Coordinator Rosemary Matson who passed away in 2014, lived in Carmel Valley, CA, and was a member of the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula. In 1977 she helped passage of UUA Women and Religion Resolution and served as co-convener of the first W&R Continental Committee. Also co-convener of Pacific Central District W&R Task Force. Rosemary initiated and processed the W&R application for affiliate status with the UUA in 2001. She initiated and co-authored the Gender Knot curriculum in 2003. She completed writing a portion of the history of UU Women and Religion movement, as she experienced it.
Past Membership List Keeper Marnie Singer lives in Sunnyvale, CA and is an M.Div. student at Starr King School for the Ministry.
Her roles in W&R (both on the district and continental levels) are former Pacific Central District co-convener, co-organizer of numerous PCD W&R retreats, and keeper of the PCD and continental W&R databases.
Past Co-Convenor Rev. Dorothy Emerson, who passed away in May 2019, was a UU community minister, focusing on economic justice and empowerment. In the mid-1980s she served as co-convener of the Mass Bay District Women & Religion Committee. She founded and directed the UU Women's Heritage Society for many years and edited a book of UU women's writings, called Standing Before Us: UU Women and Social Reform, 1776-1936. She edited Glorious Women, a compilation of sermons about women that won awards from MSUU (Ministerial Sisterhood Unitarian Universalist). Dorothy completed her memoir, Sea Change: The Unfinished Agenda of the 1960s, in 2018. She was on the Core Group from 2004-2010 and served some time as co-convener. She lived near Boston with her long time partner, whom she was able to marry in 2004 thanks to the establishment of marriage equality in Massachusetts. Another of her great joys was becoming a grandmother! We carry some of her books in our STORE.
Past District Representatives
Central Midwest District -- Gretchen Ohmann - (see above)
Florida -- no current rep; the Florida W&R group has dissolved.
Heartland -- Dr. Misty Sheehan, Empire, MI, has been a UU since her children started school many centuries ago. She served on the original Chapin-Crane Women and Religion Team in Michigan from 1978-1985. Her life took her to India and China for several years, then she was an Asian studies professor at College of DuPage in Chicago. There she joined the Central Midwest District Women and Religion Committee from 1999-2003. She joined the Continental Core Group in 2003 as the CMwD rep, and became Co-Convenor for the 2005-2006 year.
Pacific Central-- Barbara Schonborn, Mountain View, CA
Joseph Priestley District -- Nuala Carpenter (see photo and bio above)
Southwest UU Women -- Laura Nagel (see above).
NY Metro -- Laurie James
Laurie James passed away in 2016. Credits: Original one-woman dramas on tour: Winter Wheat, The Betrayal of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Her Woman's Bible; Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller. UU churches, theaters, festivals, UU General Assemblies; The 13th Street Theatre, NYC; The Burbage Theatre, Los Angeles; theaters in Mexico, Hong Kong, and Scotland.
Original docu-dramas, Roots of Rebellion (also WBAI featuring Gloria Steinem); Look Who's on Third!; and Sliding Home! at The Community Church of New York (CCNY); UU Congregation of Central Nassau; GA.
Plays authored/acted: O Excellent Friend! (first prize, Pen and Brush Club), the story of Margaret Fuller and Ralph Waldo Emerson, GA. Gotta Learn the Rule, second prize, Collaboraction Theatre (Chicago), produced at The Producer's Club in NYC.
TV: The Cambridge Forum, "Feminist Ahead of Her Time;" BBC-Scotland TV, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Guest star, Trial By Jury with Raymond Burr.
Off-Off-Broadway: Gibran; Paradox; The Yellow Wallpaper.
Directed Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues (CCNY); UU Congregation at Shelter Rock.
Panel, GA: "Emerson's Circle of Women;" article with same title, Journal of UU History, edited by Dean Grodzins.
Books include Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller, a biography; Why Margaret Fuller Is Forgotten; The Wit and Wisdom of Margaret Fuller; How I Got to Harvard, Off and On Stage with Margaret Fuller; Outrageous Questions, Legacy of Bronson Alcott and America's One Room Schools. Member of CCNY Community Women; Board Member, UUWA Metro District, UU Women & Religion; The Dramatists Guild; The Actors Studio P/D Unit; The American Renaissance Theatre.
W&R Resolution
1977 Business Resolution
Unitarian Universalist Association
WHEREAS, a principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to "affirm, defend, and promote the supreme worth and dignity of every human personality, and the use of the democratic method in human relationships"; and
WHEREAS, great strides have been taken to affirm this principle within our denomination; and
WHEREAS, some models of human relationships arising from religious myths, historical materials, and other teachings still create and perpetuate attitudes that cause women everywhere to be overlooked and undervalued; and
WHEREAS, children, youth and adults internalize and act on these cultural models, thereby tending to limit their sense of self-worth and dignity;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1977 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association calls upon all Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own religious beliefs and the extent to which these beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes within their own families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association to encourage the Unitarian Universalist Association administrative officers and staff, the religious leaders within societies, the Unitarian Universalist theological schools, the directors of related organizations, and the planners of seminars and conferences, to make every effort to: (a) put traditional assumptions and language in perspective, and (b) avoid sexist assumptions and language in the future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association to send copies of this resolution to other denominations examining sexism inherent in religious literature and institutions and to the International Association of Liberal Religious Women and the IARF; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the Unitarian Universalist Association to: (a) join with those who are encouraging others in the society to examine the relationship between religious and cultural attitudes toward women, and (b) to send a representative and resource materials to associations appropriate to furthering the above goals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the President of the UUA to report annually on progress in implementing this resolution.
UUA page with the Resolution
