What's New at 1stU?

SJMT Launches School Supplies Drive

2011-08-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Social Justice Ministry Team is repeating last year's very successful school supplies drive for the students of the Andrew Jackson School. This drive is an opportunity to do something good for families who really need it and to support education in our city.

Donations (school supplies and money) will be accepted beginning Sunday, August 7. Members of the SJMT will be available in the lobby after service to accept donations and answer any questions. If you are unable to attend service but would still like to make a contribution, please contact Jeff in the church office (215-563-3980).

The last day of the drive is Sunday, August 28th, so time is limited! After service on the 28th, come and join us for a supply-packing party, where we will organize all of your wonderful donations to be delivered to the Andrew Jackson School. Refreshments (and fun!) will be provided.

About the Andrew Jackson School:
The Andrew Jackson School is a Philadelphia Empowerment School, located at 12th and Federal in South Philly. The school, which serves grades K-8, has a total of 338 students representing 22 countries. More than 75% of Jackson students live below the poverty line and could really use our help as they return to school this year.

Items Needed:
Marble Notebooks: 717 needed
Spiral Notebooks: 396 needed
Assignment Books: 338 needed
Notecard Packs: 99 needed
Erasers: 239 needed
Folders: 874 needed
Pens: 99 needed
Highlighter Pens: 99 needed
Crayons (24-pack): 239 needed
Colored Pencils (24-pack): 99 needed
Pencil Boxes: 239 needed
Six-inch Rulers: 239 needed
12-inch Rulers: 99 needed
Protractors: 99 needed
White Glues: 338 needed
Safety Scissors: 239 needed
Scissors: 99 needed

For more information check out our facebook event.

Ethical Eating: Food & Environmental Justice

2011-07-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

The following Statement of Conscience was passed by an overwhelming number of delegates at the 2011 General Assembly.

Aware of our interdependence, we acknowledge that eating ethically requires us to be mindful of the miracle of life we share with all beings. With gratitude for the food we have received, we strive to choose foods that minimize harm and are protective of the environment, consumers, farmers, and all those involved in food production and distribution.

Environmental justice includes the equitable distribution of both environmental burdens and benefits for populations of residents and workers. Marginalized people have often been able to find housing or work only in areas exposed to environmental pollutants, with consequent negative health and quality of life effects.

As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to address our relationship with food. Our Principles call for recognition of and respect for the other. As we search freely and responsibly for truth, meaning, and spiritual wholeness, we will make a variety of individual choices about food. Ethical eating is the application of our Principles to our food choices. What and how we eat has broad implications for our planet and society. Our values, Principles, and integrity call us to seek compassion, health, and sustainability in the production of food we raise or purchase.

Food production involving growing, processing, packaging, transporting, and distributing food has become a vast worldwide industry. The mass production of food often maximizes production while minimizing price. This mass production has greatly increased food supply, but has resulted in the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides with crops and the mistreatment of animals and workers in food production. Both this overuse and the large waste streams from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) result in pollution of water, land, and air.

Access to an adequate supply of healthy food and clean water is a basic human need and right. Many people do not have adequate food, while others have a surplus. In many locations, poor distribution of food is a major contributor to hunger and malnutrition. The effects of climate change, weather conditions, and armed conflicts can also expose many people to starvation. Paradoxically, an abundance of food does not guarantee access to healthy food.

We acknowledge that aggressive action needs to be taken that will ensure an adequate food supply for the world population; reduce the use of energy, water, fertilizer, pesticides, and hormones in food production; mitigate climate change; and end the inhumane treatment of animals. These steps call for an evolution of our eating habits to include more locally grown, minimally processed whole foods. We acknowledge that this evolution must respect diversity in cultures, nutritional requirements, and religious practices.

Minimally processed plant-based diets are healthier diets. Some of us believe that it is ethical only to eat plants while others of us believe that it is ethical to eat both plants and animals. We do not call here for a single dietary approach. We encourage a knowledgeable choice of food based on understanding the demands of feeding a growing world population, the health effects of particular foods, and the consequences of production, worker treatment, and transportation methods. We commit to applying this knowledge to both personal and public actions, recognizing that many of us might embark on a dramatic change in eating choices and some might pay more for food that is ethically produced. For congregations, helping congregants gain this understanding and supporting their choices will require a long-term collective process of engagement, education, discernment, and advocacy. Unitarian Universalists aspire to radical hospitality and developing the beloved community. Therefore, we affirm that the natural world exists not for the sole benefit of one nation, one race, one gender, one religion, or even one species, but for all. Working in the defense of mutual interests, Unitarian Universalists acknowledge and accept the challenge of enlarging our circle of moral concern to include all living creatures.

As individuals and as congregations, we recognize the need to examine the impact of our food choices and our practices and make changes that will lighten the burden we place on the world. We also recognize that many food decisions will require us to make trade-offs between competing priorities. These priorities include: taste, selection, price, human health, environmental protection, sustainability, adequate food supply, humane treatment of animals used for food, and fair treatment of farm and food workers.

Environmental concerns include the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and hormones and high volumes of animal wastes produced by CAFOs, all of which can contaminate soil, air, and water. Contributors to global warming include the overreliance on fossil fuels for food production; the methane produced by animals, including but not limited to cattle, sheep, and pigs; and the long-distance transport of food. Expanding agriculture and animal farming often removes natural habitats and reduces natural biodiversity. An additional environmental concern is the deterioration of the oceans and their life forms due to overfishing and pollution.

Human Health concerns include producers' use of growth promoters, pesticides, and antibiotics that can affect child development, antibiotic resistance, and other health conditions. Advertising and marketing can encourage overeating, poor food choices, a focus on body image that can contribute to eating disorders, and the use of infant formula in preference to breast feeding.

Concerns about the Humane Treatment of Animals include intensive confinement and abuse in CAFOs, and inhumane conditions during production, transport, and slaughter.

Concerns about the Fair Treatment of Food and Farm Workers include low pay, poor and unsafe working conditions, exploitation of undocumented workers, and enslavement of others.

Policy concerns include agricultural subsidies that reward the production of certain crops and animal products that are less healthful and environmentally friendly than unsubsidized ones and that penalize small to moderate-sized farming operations. Agricultural subsidies of exported crops have driven small farmers in developing countries off their land. The consequences of agricultural subsidies and mono-cropping include increased gender disparity where women have been the traditional agricultural producers. We recognize replicating corporate agricultural modes in our aid to developing countries is not in the best interest of humanity. We support the development of farming models that safeguard the environment, produce safe foods, provide economic benefits to all economic levels, and create environmentally and economically sustainable models.

Classism, racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression are deeply connected to economic justice, which is a prime determinant of access to food. Some of us will not be able to pay more for ethical food. Others of us will. Yet all of us can have a role in improving the ethics of food. We affirm that the fight for environmental and economic justice is inherently a fight against all forms of oppression. As a result, ethical eating requires different ways of thinking about these issues that reflect their interconnected nature, and we understand that this work will require creativity, patience, and resolve.

Calls To Action

Individual Actions

Recognizing that individual circumstances vary, we aspire to buy, raise, and consume food for ourselves and our families that:

increases our proportionate consumption of plant-based foods, which increases the global access to calories, provides health benefits, and prevents injuring animals;
minimizes the pain and suffering of animals by purchasing meat or seafood produced under humane conditions, for those who choose to eat meat or seafood;
minimizes the negative environmental effects of raising animals or plants by purchasing organically produced food, and seafood certified as responsibly farmed or harvested;
minimizes transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions by obtaining foods locally produced through home or community gardens, farmers markets, or community supported agriculture (CSA);
provides farm workers with living wages and safe working environments;
contributes to social harmony by encouraging communal eating;
promotes health, consuming food in quantities that do not lead to obesity; and

We advocate for the benefit of animals, plants, food workers, the environment and humanity by:

purchasing fair trade--certified products as available.
asking food sellers and producers to label where their products come from to determine distance of transport and whether the products were irradiated or contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs);
pressing food sellers to require that their suppliers certify the humane treatment of animals;
supporting legislation that requires the labeling of products that are irradiated or contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), distribution of adequate ethical food supplies, effective safety inspection of food production, and realignment of agricultural subsidies to support growing more produce and the viability of small farmers; and
protecting and encouraging organic food production and its producers.

Congregational Actions

As congregations, we aspire to:

provide and sell more plant-based, organic, locally produced, and fair trade foods at congregational events;
promote economic accessibility to safe, ethically produced food by organizing members to work for food justice through activities such as: urging grocery chains to locate stores in low income neighborhoods, supporting local food co-ops, helping people obtain food stamps, advocating for increased funding to alleviate hunger, and assisting local meals on wheels and food bank programs;
support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, and other relevant UU organizations in their efforts to ensure that everyone has adequate nutritious food, produced sustainably;
provide educational programs for all ages that address the issues of environmental justice, world hunger, gardening, food preparation, and nutrition;
become Green Sanctuary—accredited and include ethical eating in programs;
advocate for healthful food for school and other institutional meals; and
engage in direct action in solidarity with workers and labor advocacy groups to support agricultural and food workers.

With gratitude and reverence for all life, we savor food mindful of all that has contributed to it. We commit ourselves to a more equitable sharing of the earth's bounty.

Welcome New Building Superintendent

2011-07-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

After reviewing 140 applications and conducting seven interviews, we are pleased to unanimously present to the congregation Matt Miceli, the next Building Superintendent of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.

Matt demonstrated the expertise in both facilities maintenance and event management that we hoped for. He is a certified Journeyman Electrician with over eight years of experience with Master Electrician Kevin Loftus. He previously served as the head electrical facilities operator at Merion Mercy Convent and most recently as Ground/Facilities Manager at Pickett Properties, where he was responsible for the inspection and maintenance of all major facilities. This included installation and maintenance of electrical systems and controls, overseeing the operations of all boilers/heating systems, a bi-monthly inspection of fire code, and ensuring the overall safety and satisfaction of all tenants. Matt’s experience and skills in facility repairs and property renovation are excellent , including his electrical work with the historic chapel at Merion Mercy Convent. We are confident he will hit the ground running! We are equally sure he possesses the requisite love for and knowledge of our Frank Furness historic building that are so vital to this position.

In his spare time, Matt is a founding member of the West Philadelphia rock band, HighKick. This experience has aided his ability to quickly turn over events, to please a crowd, and to collaborate with a diverse group of people. Matt demonstrated a knowledge of the church’s vibrant rental program and an appreciation for our extremely high-paced work environment that welcomes over 2,200 people in and out of the building each week. We were impressed by his commitment to the mission and vision of our regional community center, as well as his innate ability to be hospitable, kind, and patient

Without a doubt we believe Matt will make an excellent addition to our church family. Please give him a warm welcome in person, via email matt@philauu.org or via phone 215-563-3980 x 304.

Submitted by The Building Superintendent Search Committee: Norman Fouhy, Ginni Stiles, Rev. Nate Walker

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA

A regional Community Center subsidizing

cultural, education, civic, wellness & spiritual groups

2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103
www.PhilaUU.org

New book by H. G. Callaway

2010-11-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to say that a friend of the church, H. G. Callaway, just published his new book "Memories and Portraits: Explorations in American Thought".

In 'Memories and Portraits, Explorations in American Thought', philosopher H. G. Callaway embeds his distinctive contextualism and philosophical pluralism within strands of history and autobiography - spanning three continents. Starting in Philadelphia, and reflecting on the meaning of home in American thought, he offers a philosophically inspired narrative of travel and explorations, in Europe and Africa, illuminating central elements of American thought - partly out of diverse foreign and domestic reactions and fascinating cultural contrasts. The book is of interest for the contemporary interplay of analytic philosophy with American pragmatism and for those focused on the interaction of European and Anglo-American thought and society. In this book, the formalism of analytic philosophy encounters a logically articulate version of the contextualism implicit in the pragmatist tradition; and a deep and abiding interest in natural science is augmented by a more literary account of the social and cultural contexts of inquiry - encountered in many years of travel and life abroad. The final chapter, employing a methodological naturalism, brings the perspectives and lessons, from near and far, back home for renewed reflection.

About the Author

Dr. H.G. Callaway, a native of Philadelphia, PA, has published widely in philosophy of language, and in the area of American philosophy, including Context for Meaning and Analysis (1993), Meaning without Analyticity (2008), American Ethics: A Source Book from Edwards to Dewey (2000) and recent editions of R.W. Emerson, The Conduct of Life (2006) and William James, A Pluralistic Universe (2008). H.G. Callaway holds a doctorate in philosophy and has taught in various American and European universities and at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

UUPLAN launches social networking website

2010-10-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

www.uuplan.org

The Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, which serves over 6,000 UUs within 39 congregations throughout the state of Pennsylvania, has launched a new website: www.uuplan.org. Please visit it, sign-in and create a profile and upload a profile photo. You'll then be able to connect with UUs throughout the state around important legislative issues such as Marcellus Shale, LGBT rights, health care, immigration reform, etc... In addition, you'll be able to chat with fellow UUs via text or even video, as well as watch videos or listen to the UU Talk Radio show. For more information about UUPLAN please contact Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis, Outreach Coordinator, at info@uuplan.org or (267) 8UU-PLAN.

Reverend Nate Receives Final Fellowship

2010-10-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to report that the Unitarian Universalist Association's Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) granted Reverend Nate Walker “Final Fellowship with a specialty in Parish Ministry.”

What does this mean? Reverend Nate started this process 8 years ago by becoming an "aspirant" for ministry then enrolled in seminary; completed a psychological evaluation; and met with a regional committee who granted him "candidacy" status. He graduated from seminary, completed a chaplaincy residency and a year-long internship, then met with the national committee, which gave him the highest rating of a "1" to proceed with Preliminary Fellowship. Reverend Nate served a congregation in Staten Island for a year, was ordained by them and then was called to serve as the settled minister of our congregation, the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. For the last four years the MFC has reviewed his annual evaluations composed by the members of these congregations. On October 11, 2010 the MFC informed Reverend Nate of their vote to grant him Final Fellowship, which means that this 8-year process is now complete.

They close their deeply moving letter with the following: "We want you and your congregational leaders to know that together you are creating one of the most exciting ministries in the UUA."

Reverend Nate has found this to be a deeply affirming and rewarding process. He would like to offer a special thanks to all those who have supported him along the way.