UU History & Heritage Convocation 2010 Proceedings

“Connecting Our Diverse Histories to Our Living Heritage”

October 8-10, 2010, Espousal Center, Waltham, Massachusetts

OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE CONVOCATION

The Unitarian Universalist History and Convocation provided a richness of diverse ways of presenting our history and heritage.

The Partners for Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage (PUUHH), representing the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society, Unitarian Universalist Women’s Heritage Society, Unitarian Universalist Religious Education History Group, and the Universalist Heritage Foundation, joined with Unitarian Universalist Collegium to sponsor this Convocation.

Presenters and participants included a gathering of ministers, scholars, theological students, religious educators and congregants who cherish the history and heritage of Unitarian Universalism. This diversity is evident in the Biographic Notations for Presenters.

The invitation for applications for presentations was distributed to the memberships of the sponsoring groups, academic settings, ministers, and religious educators. We were pleased with the diversity of material received.

The material presented followed several themes, such as

Focus on individuals

Congregational history

Ways of presenting history and heritage

Specific organizations or trends in history

Other themes of interest to the presenters

The Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Convocation was held in conjunction with Unitarian Universalist Collegium, which included a theological as well as a historic focus. The collaboration of these events – Collegium and the Convocation – provided opportunity for those attending the Convocation to also hear the Collegium Distinguished Scholar, theologian Catherine Keller.

In addition, there were events focusing on history and heritage before and after the Collegium/Convocation. Prior was opportunity to visit Andover-Harvard Theological Library in Cambridge. Following was the tour of historical locations arranged by the Universalist Heritage Foundation. The flow of activities is noted on the Schedule.

We envisioned various types of presentations as ways of engaging with our Unitarian and Universalist history and heritage, such as Plenary Sessions, papers, workshops, performances, exhibits. More description of these follows.

PLENARY SESSIONS

Panels were developed to address specific topics with the intent of furthering discussion among the presenters, and with the audience. Because of the nature of the Plenaries, precise proceedings are not available. However, following is the focus of each Plenary.

PLENARY 1: “Our History & Our Heritage” Mark Harris

The words History and Heritage have different meanings and uses for ministers, professional historians, educators and congregants. What are the tensions and what can each learn from the other?

*Kathleen Parker

*Dorothy Emerson

*Gordon Gibson

*John Buehrens.

PLENARY II: “1810-1860-1910-1960-2010” Dan McKanan

As we celebrate 50 years of the UUA and an host of other anniversaries, this plenary considers touchstones from our Unitarian and Universalist history and how they are part of the living heritage.

*1810 Dean Grodzins

*1860 Glenna Matthews

*1910 Cyndy Tucker

*1960 David Parke

*2010 Peter Morales

PLENARY III: “From Margins to Center” Helen Zidowecki

Three of our sponsoring organizations were created to draw attention to groups that were felt to be left out of UU history. What does Unitarian and Universalist history as a whole look like from the perspective of these groups? Panel will reflect on marginalization.

*Barbara Coeyman -- Women

*Elizabeth Strong -- Religious Education

*Dick Gilbert -- Universalist

Planned: Paula Cole Jones People of color (Unable to attend due to travel scheduling.)

SCHOLARLY PAPERS

Presentation of academic papers was in conjunction with Collegium, These papers were generally posted on the Collegium website prior to the Convocation, and are now also on the UUHHS website.

 

Clicking on the name of the presenter will open a short biography of the presenter

clicking on the title of the paper will take you to a PDF copy of the presentation

These links will be active by December 30, 2011

Barnett, Michael	Margaret Fuller Shapes the Consciousness of America Through the New York Tribune
Buckley, James	Joseph Smith, Sr: The Link Between Universlism and Mormonism
Coeyman, Barbara	Olympia Brown -- Religious Innovator or Feminist Reformer: Which Came First?
Guest, Avery Pete	In Search of a Loving God: Universalist Churches in New York
Hunter, Doris	Requiem for a Multi-interfaith Organization: Past, Present and Future of the International Association for Religious Freedom
Kellaway, Richard	Relentless Radicals: The Free Religious Association and the Transformation of American Unitarianism
McKanan, Dan	Universalism, Socialism, and Esoteric Religion: The Case of Rev. Charles Vail
Millspaugh, Sarah Gibb	In Context: A Study of About Your Sexuality Curriculum and Its Times
Prud'homme, Sheri	God and Nature in Thomas Starr King's "Lessons from the Sierra Nevada" and "Living Waters From Lake Tahoe"
Renaud, Myriam	Anti-Ritualism and the Future of Liberal Religion
Rosecrans, Jane	Unitarian Universalism and the Secular Church
Tripp, Andrew	Urban Poverty and the Church
Ungar, Arliss	Rev. Dr. Josiah Bartlett, 1913-1997: The Best Seat in the House from Which to View the Theater of Life

WORKSHOPS

Suggested themes in the request for workshops included writing congregational history, accessing archival resources, preaching on history and heritage, teaching UU history to children and adults, collecting oral histories, developing impersonations of famous UUs, preserving historic sites, and teaching UU history. Workshops ranged from formal presentation by one or two persons, to primarily sharing by participants.

Clicking on the name of the presenter will open a short biography of the presenter

clicking on the title of the workshop will take you to additional information

These links will be active by December 30, 2011

Clicking on the name of the presenter will open a short biography of the presenter

clicking on the title of a performance will take you to a PDF copy of the presentation

These links will be active by December 30, 2011

PERFORMANCES

Suggested performances included drama, impersonation or re-enactment of historic Unitarians or Universalists, poetry, and songs. The performances provided different ways of presenting history.

SUNDAY SERVICE

The Worship Leaders for the Sunday Service:

Service Leader and Musician: Rev. Barbara Coeyman

Sermon Contest Preacher: Rev. Richard Gilbert

Song Leader: Joyce Gilbert

Eleven sermons were submitted in the Sermon Contest on the theme of "Unitarian Universalist History as a Source of Religious Meaning Today." These sermons had been delivered or are scheduled for delivery by 2011. The winning sermon was “Soft Seats and No Hell” by Rev. Richard Gilbert, first preached in First Universalist Church, Rochester, NY, October 18, 2009.

We did not receive enough of a response to the Hymn Contest to allow for the selection of a hymn for the service.

EXHIBITS

Individuals or organization were welcome to have exhibits. Pre-registered was received for Exhibits.

Why Margaret Fuller Matters: Traveling Display

Books by Kathleen Parker

Murray Grove Camp and Conference Center

UUA Bookstore

Skinner House

The organizations that were part of the Partners in Unitarian and Universalist History and Heritage each had opportunity for exhibits, as well as for meetings of their respective groups.

A number of additional exhibits appeared that added to the diversity and tapestry of Convo. For example, several writers were available to sign books.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Involved in Planning for Convo at various levels.

Barbara Coeyman

Mark Harris

Dan McKanan

Kathy Parker

Jane Rosecrans

Betsy Stevens

Elizabeth Strong

Helen Zidowecki

Thanks, also, to a number of others where were engaged in various parts of the planning and implementation of the Convocation schedule.

Developing the Proceedings for the UUHHS Website:

Jim Nugent

Kathy Parker

Helen Zidowecki

The preparation of the Proceedings was made possible by a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program.