Memories
Joanne "Della" Fought, 83, of Peoria passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015.
Joanne was a leader at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria, serving as President of the Board, Chair of Social Action, on two ministerial search committees, the Building Committee, as well as district and national groups like UU Women's Connection, UU Women's Federation and UU Women and Religion.
She is pictured here (on left) at Central Midwest District WomanSpirit in 2005, which she co-chaired with Pat Goller (on right)
Rosemary Matson — A Woman Without Fear
Rosemary Matson passed away peacefully on September 27, 2014 at her long-time home in Carmel Valley, California. Born on September 20, 1917 as Rosemary Ann Thompson at her family farm in Geneva, Iowa, she was 97 years old. She modeled living by a set of values that included: insisting on equal opportunity and an institutional voice for women; putting a face on the enemy; demonstrating world peace is possible; and standing with workers demanding fair treatment by employers. And, she deeply loved cats, having many close furry friends during her long life.
Rosemary adored grassroots organizing. Over many years she was active in every facet of the Unitarian Universalist denominational Women & Religion activities, from advocating for passage of the 1977 Women and Religion Resolution at General Assembly (she was appointed co-chair of the Continental Committee on Women and Religion) to the 2001 formation of the UUA Women and Religion affiliate. During this period the activities to rid the denomination of sexist practices were vibrant, including: revisioning theology (thealogy), correcting sexist language in hymns and readings, and exposing and transforming sexist attitudes regarding leadership capabilities.
Rosemary was in the thick of it.
Did you know Lucile Longview?
What has the Women and Religion Resolution meant to you?
You are invited to share your memories with us.
E-mail info [at] uuwr.org
Elizabeth Fisher has also written a remembrance (PDF)
May 18, 2011 - Rosemary Matson received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Starr King School for the Ministry. Pacific Central District UUW&R women gathered to help celebrate the occasion. Visit their Facebook page for more: www.pcduuwr.org.
Rise Up and Call Her Name curriculum author Liz Fisher, created a booklet honoring Rosemary's life. (DOWNLOAD a PDF file) Liz says:
"In 1977 Rosemary advocated with other lay women for passage of the Women and Religion Resolution at General Assembly. She was soon appointed by UUA President Paul Carnes to co-chair the President's Continental Committee on Women and Religion (1977-1980). During this period the activities to rid the denomination of sexist practices were vibrant, including: revisioning theology (thealogy), correcting sexist language in hymns and readings, and exposing and transforming sexist attitudes regarding leadership capabilities. Rosemary was in the thick of it. ..."
Congratulations, Rosemary!
Here’s an excerpt from Lucile Schuck Longview's 1975 description of the first U.N. gender justice conference when she attended the International Association of Liberal Religious Women's conference that same year. Evidently she attended the IALRW conference right after the U.N. conference. This bit of historical context about the U.N. conferences fills in information about such references in Jane Flanagan’s article. I have added comparisons between the first U.N. conference that Lucile reports on and the last one in Beijing.
Rev. Dr. Shirley A. Ranck photos
