2025 Jun 29 | News
On June 15th the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA) became a member of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). This is an important milestone for NAUA as membership in IARF represents recognition of NAUA as a member of the world-wide community of liberal religious organizations.
The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), founded in 1900, is the oldest interfaith organization in the world, uniting members across five continents and over 20 countries. Its spiritual diversity includes Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Shintoists, Zoroastrians, and Indigenous practitioners—people who value open inquiry, spiritual growth, and action for justice. Through its Free-Religion Institute and other global programs, IARF engages in thoughtful study, interfaith dialogue, spiritual practice, and advocacy for human rights. Its consultative status at the United Nations enables IARF to give voice to liberal religion in the defense of marginalized communities and the promotion of liberative religion worldwide.
Through NAUA’s membership in IARF, NAUA members will be able to participate in IARF programs and initiatives. NAUA and IARF will collaborate not only with respect to interfaith educational programs but NAUA will also support IARF at the UN to strengthen the voice of liberal religion. NAUA’s admission to membership in IARF was accomplished through the efforts of our International Alliances Committee in collaboration with Professor George Williams, President of IARF. More information about IARF programs and our collaboration with IARF will be provided in future editions of the Compass Newsletter, on the NAUA website and in the Liberal Beacon.
2025 May 31 | News
The NAUA International Alliance hosted a 5-month educational series on Mythology, It was led by Margarete (Marga) Hanna from January through May 2025, with support from Stephen Polmar, John Eichrodt, and Wayne Hanna. We asked Marga to summarize the series for those who were unable to attend one or more monthly sessions. We also want to express gratitude for the enormous investment of time and resources by all series planners, presenters and organizers, as well as the many attendees who enriched the series with their participation.
From January to May 2025, the International Alliance Committee of the NAUA offered the opportunity to gather and discuss how the commonality of myth fosters interconnectedness and a foundation for our spiritual and religious traditions.
The group met on the second Saturday of each month, for five consecutive months. The individuals attending came from Europe, Canada and the United States. The pre-work for each session included reading from the following source books: “The Power of Myth”, the written conversations between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers from 1985/86; “The Heroine’s Journey” by Maureen Murdock, and “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover” by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. Additionally, participants viewed Joseph Campbell’s 5-part series, “The Shaping of our Mythic Tradition.
Mythology has an important connection for Unitarians as it aligns with our values of inclusivity, spiritual exploration and the search for universal truths. Myths embody the mystery and wonder of life. We were encouraged to think of our mystical connection to archetypes and the hero/heroine’s journey. An important part of our discussion was to link the prevailing myths of our North American culture with the archetypes that define us and with the hero-heroine’s journeys which have impacted our lives. ‘Archetype’ is a term first coined by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. He proposed that archetypes are inherited unconscious patterns of thought and behaviour shared by all humans, such as the ‘warrior’, the ‘maiden’, the ‘lover’ the ‘healer’, or the ‘king’.
With the Joseph Campbell lectures we explored how myths from different cultures reflect human experiences. For Campbell, the power of myths lies in the myth’s ability to touch something timeless in the human psyche, what Carl Jung calls “the collective unconscious.” The collective unconscious is a shared, inherited reservoir of universal ideas and images that exist in all human minds, as distinct from the “personal unconscious” which holds individual experiences and memories. Myths provide meaning that speaks to our inner experiences and act as roadmaps for personal growth and transformation. They inspire both individual awakening and communal purpose.
Carl Jung believed that ‘archetypes’ are not learned but live in the ‘collective unconscious’ and show up naturally across time and cultures. They are not fixed patterns of behaviour but are living patterns expressing meaning in our society. Archetypes form the backbone of myths, novels, films and fairy tales. They help us understand patterns of personal growth, relationships and inner conflict. We each play a variety of archetypal roles during our lives; for instance, strength may lie in our role of parent, rebel, caregiver, leader, and so forth.
As part of our journey to understand changing myths and their impact, we explored the ‘Hero’s as well as the Heroine’s’ journeys in ourselves through the lens of mythology. While the Hero’s Journey primarily deals with a protagonist’s quest for an external goal, such as winning a title or special conquest, the Heroine’s Journey is more focused on one’s internal journey, healing wounds, finding self-worth or integrating the feminine and masculine aspects within.
Historical myths show us the gradual displacement of revered female Goddesses with the ascendance of Gods as powerful deities. With the coming of Christianity, worship and reverence was focused on one monotheistic male God only. Gendering the divine was a way for humans to diminish the sacred of the divine feminine, and to elevate the sacred of the divine masculine, enabling them to structure society accordingly by creating a deep split between the power of the masculine and feminine.
Our journey finally led us to discuss the prevailing current myths which have brought America to the ‘brink’. Several of these myths, for example, the myth of the “Red” versus a “Blue” America, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) myth, and others are well identified in the book “A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America” by Richard Slotkin. These have contributed to America at war with itself, rivalrous and antagonistic rather than united and collaborative.
There always is, and will remain, much value in studying the history of myths from around the world, to illuminate our present world’s problems as well as successes, giving us new insights for more effective ways to live in harmony with each other on our magnificent earth, not least through our own spiritual development.
2025 May 14 | News
Enjoy the latest issue of The Liberal Beacon, which includes the following insightful articles and book reviews:
- “What Universities Owe the Liberal Project” by Emilie Chamlee-Wright
- “Dumbfounded: The Need for Laughter in the Face of Adversity” by Todd Eklof
- “An Invitation to a Reading Life” by Lynn Jinishian
- Book Review: “The Are of Loving” by Erich Fromm, reviewed by Candace Schmidt
- Book Review: “Reclaiming Prophetic Witness” by Paul Rasor, reviewed by Lauriston King
- Book Review: “Love Your Enemies” by Arthur C. Brooks, reviewed by Kevin McCulloch
2025 Apr 22 | News, Worship Service, Worship Services
Bob Simoni was the featured speaker for the April 19th service. The title was “Life After Death.”
“Life After Death.” At its heart, religion must try to provide answers to the questions surrounding our existence. Perhaps the biggest questions of all, and ones we have all asked ourselves is “What happened before and what happens next?”. Bob Simoni explored those questions in the April service as we transitioned from Winter to Spring and experienced nature’s rebirth.
Bob Simoni is our NAUA Treasurer, board member, a long time Unitarian, and a member of the Hayward Fellowship. Bob and his wife, Sandy, live in Paso Robles, California.
2025 Apr 1 | News
The newly established NAUA Member Services Committee presented their Action Plan to the NAUA Board of Trustees on March 12th. Many who participated in last year’s Summit will find their ideas expressed below. The Committee has a threefold purpose: 1. To recruit new members; 2. To ensure that current members are and remain engaged; 3. To Identify and reach out to Fellowships and Congregations about the advantages of joining NAUA.
Our first focus will be on enhancing member engagement. Out of the over 1,000 contacts on our list, only a small percentage are actively engaged. We are aware that unless folks are actively engaged, they are likely to drift away. We are also aware that enhancing member engagement is a two-way process that incudes providing wanted/needed programs and services, while also asking members what they need and want. Equally important is communicating what we are doing. Our current plan to is to:
- Revise the NAUA Welcome letter sent to all new members that is more descriptive of who we are, as well as NAUA’s many services and programs,
- Increase communication by initiating a “Member Services Corner” in the Liberal Beacon and/or Compass.
- Create a Member Services web page with links to other programs of NAUA; Add all new Member Services programs/services as they are developed; Include a link or process where members can communicate with us, offer suggestions, etc.
- Provide assistance to new congregations or fellowships in formation, as well as assistance in leaving UUA, if that is their desire. Such assistance might include developing governance, congregational communications, minister-board relationships, personnel policies, etc. [New committee member, Rev. Terry Cummings has volunteered to provide these services. If you would like to discuss this more, please send your request to info@nauaitarians.org, and clearly direct it to the Member Services Committee with your specific request.]
- Development of virtual regional NAUA Groups. Such groups might lead to in-person connections, a way to reach out to new members and fellowships, as well as provide members with an opportunity to increase interaction, feel a sense of community, and experience greater connection to NAUA and other members. (If you would be willing to provide leadership in one of these groups, please reach out to judi.durham@gmail.com and please include your location.)
This second list of items are no less important, but will likely take more time to develop. It was also decided that the committee will solicit new members with skills in these areas to assist in the development. Included are:
- Video describing what NAUA is. Video would be placed on NAUA home webpage, as well as be used in describing NAUA to potential members/fellowships/etc.
- Develop programs, discussions, activities, etc., that discuss, explore, investigate a philosophical or spiritual orientation.
- Create classes for children & adults in ethical, moral, and civic responsibility.
- Development of RE materials, e.g., Stories for All Ages, etc.
- Development of training materials for lay leaders including worship services, pastoral care, memorial services, marriage ceremonies.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, reactions and new ideas. Feel free to communicate with this committee: judi.durham@gmail.com
