The bubble is a special form in nature. A living cell can be contemplated as a bubble-like structure, enclosing protectively the important contents of its variously functioning parts. And yet the cell has an external structure through which energy and matter can pass both ways. New life is created inside the cell, which ultimately splits in two not to die but to continue living, and proving that the whole is more than the sum of its parts and that all is connected. And over time, new life evolves and becomes different life. The Global Sisters Groups were like living cells, spiritual bubbles of life creating more spiritual life, allowing ideas and energy to pass back and forth within and beyond each.
The Global Sisters Groups were an indispensable part of the Convocation. To have designed the structure of the Convocation to include time for such interaction is brilliant. I’d like to give kudos to the powerful thinking and understanding of policy making and organizational management that went into this design. The Global Sisters process for the Convocation was based on the Community Capacity-Building process developed by the UU Partner Church Council.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONVOCATION
OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WOMEN
Weaving global partnerships to enrich women’s lives
HOUSTON, TEXAS
February 26 – March 1, 2009
The Convocation opened and closed with a view of Earth from space on two giant screens. The closing song was Blue Boat Home(1) and as it was sung large Earth balls went flying over the heads of the 600 participants who kept them flying by batting them around the large ballroom. It seemed to me that a whole new world-view was finally emerging.
The Convocation itself was both exhilarating and sobering. We listened to a stunning array of powerful women speakers, women such as Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, Rev. Dr. Ann Peart from England, Dr. Kalpana Kannabiran from India, Rev. Pap Maria from Transylvania, Dr. Creamlimon Nongbri from India, Rebecca Adamson from the Cherokee Nation, Rev. Rebecca Sienes from The Philippines, Dr. Sharon Welch, Margot Adler of National Public Radio, Frances Moore Lappe, Kathy Matsui from Japan, and many others who led workshops and facilitated small groups. We watched and listened as the chalice was lighted with words from five languages. We sang along with singer/songwriter Carolyn McDade and singing group emma’s revolution.
OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WOMEN
Weaving global partnerships to enrich women’s lives
HOUSTON, TEXAS
February 26 – March 1, 2009
The Convocation opened and closed with a view of Earth from space on two giant screens. The closing song was Blue Boat Home(1) and as it was sung large Earth balls went flying over the heads of the 600 participants who kept them flying by batting them around the large ballroom. It seemed to me that a whole new world-view was finally emerging.The Convocation itself was both exhilarating and sobering. We listened to a stunning array of powerful women speakers, women such as Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, Rev. Dr. Ann Peart from England, Dr. Kalpana Kannabiran from India, Rev. Pap Maria from Transylvania, Dr. Creamlimon Nongbri from India, Rebecca Adamson from the Cherokee Nation, Rev. Rebecca Sienes from The Philippines, Dr. Sharon Welch, Margot Adler of National Public Radio, Frances Moore Lappe, Kathy Matsui from Japan, and many others who led workshops and facilitated small groups. We watched and listened as the chalice was lighted with words from five languages. We sang along with singer/songwriter Carolyn McDade and singing group emma’s revolution.
Editor’s Note: “U*U’s and nons in a vast interconnected web of purpose” (quoted from Dana Fisher Ashrawi’s poem about the Convocation in the Fall WOMUUNWEB) is already coming true! I received the first post-Convo.news item (below) just this morning from a non-U*U.
The situation in Washington DC appears more hopeful for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with the new Obama/Biden Administration, and the new Congress. Both the new President and Vice President are familiar with the Treaty, both having served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Senators, Biden most recently as the its Chair. Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who now chairs the Committee, has always been supportive, as is Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who chairs the Sub-Committee in which the Treaty rests. The Committee membership now has three women members, Senator Boxer, plus two new women Senators, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and the Party ratio is now 11 Democrats to 8 Republicans (one still undesignated pending the outcome of the Coleman/Franken Senatorial race in Minnesota.) Ratification passage by the full Senate will require a 2/3rds (67) favorable vote.
The situation in Washington DC appears more hopeful for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with the new Obama/Biden Administration, and the new Congress. Both the new President and Vice President are familiar with the Treaty, both having served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Senators, Biden most recently as the its Chair. Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who now chairs the Committee, has always been supportive, as is Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who chairs the Sub-Committee in which the Treaty rests. The Committee membership now has three women members, Senator Boxer, plus two new women Senators, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and the Party ratio is now 11 Democrats to 8 Republicans (one still undesignated pending the outcome of the Coleman/Franken Senatorial race in Minnesota.) Ratification passage by the full Senate will require a 2/3rds (67) favorable vote.
Northern New England Women and Religion has announced the Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont UU Women’s Spring 2009 Retreat, will take place the weekend of May 29-31, at Rockraft Retreat Center in beautiful Sebago Lake, Maine. http://uuwomenandreligion.blogspot.com
St. Lawrence District: Jody Brown says: I am so excited to have been part of the ICUUW that I want to continue the process by holding a women's conference in the St. Lawrence District, my home district. I'm looking for people to help me plan it. My email address is:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please help!
Joseph Priestley District W&R has a great article called "Finding God/dess in Autism," A sermon delivered by Heather Gehron-Rice, M Div, at the UU Church of Delaware County. Their Fall Retreat dates have been announced! (See CALENDAR). www.jpdwr.org.
St. Lawrence District: Jody Brown says: I am so excited to have been part of the ICUUW that I want to continue the process by holding a women's conference in the St. Lawrence District, my home district. I'm looking for people to help me plan it. My email address is:
Joseph Priestley District W&R has a great article called "Finding God/dess in Autism," A sermon delivered by Heather Gehron-Rice, M Div, at the UU Church of Delaware County. Their Fall Retreat dates have been announced! (See CALENDAR). www.jpdwr.org.
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- Northeast District - Great NE UUWR Blog!
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- ICUUW Speakers - Transformation
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- Educate the Women
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- Poetry: We Can
- Poetry: Dreamer of Malta
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- CALLING ALL U*U WOMEN - WORLDWIDE
- Overlooked and Undervalued - Again
- Central Midwest District - Cakes Facilitator Training
- Joseph Priestley District - Good News from UU Congregation of Fairfax, VA
- Exchange - Fall 2008
- ICUUW Planning Committee
- Goals and Promise of the International Convocation of U*U Women
- GA 2008 Exhibit Booth
- Store Featured Item
- Good People in Top-Down Failure
- WE'RE SO THERE! Now Making An International Impact!
- WOMUUNWEB Fall 2007
- WOMUUNWEB 19 Spring 2005
- WOMUUNWEB 18 Winter 2004
