The latest issue of the Liberal Beacon contains four articles, two book reviews and more!
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Consistent with our support for the inherent rights and dignity of all persons, we celebrate and call for action on International Women’s Day on March 8.
International Women’s Day (IWD), is a global recognition and call to action that is dedicated to recognizing the achievements of women and advocating for gender equality. Established by the United Nations (UN) in 1977, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made toward women’s rights while highlighting the challenges that remain.
The United Nations’ goals for International Women’s Day align with its broader mission of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by 2030, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some of the key objectives include:
Promoting Gender Equality
Despite significant progress, women continue to face discrimination in many areas, including education, employment, and leadership. IWD aims to raise awareness and push for policies that promote equal opportunities for women.
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Millions of women worldwide experience domestic violence, sexual harassment, and human trafficking. The UN uses IWD to advocate for stronger legal frameworks and support services to protect women and hold perpetrators accountable.
Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment
Women often face barriers in the workplace, including unequal pay, lack of access to leadership roles, and limited maternity benefits. IWD encourages companies and governments to implement fair labor practices and support women entrepreneurs.
Encouraging Women’s Leadership and Political Participation
Women remain underrepresented in politics and decision-making roles. IWD promotes initiatives to increase female participation in government, business, and community leadership.
Improving Access to Education and Healthcare
Education is a fundamental right, yet millions of girls worldwide are denied schooling due to poverty, early marriage, or conflict. The UN also emphasizes the need for better maternal healthcare, reproductive rights, and mental health support for women.
Each year, the UN selects a theme for IWD, focusing on a pressing issue related to gender equality. The 2024 theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” emphasizes the importance of funding women’s initiatives, supporting female-led businesses, and ensuring access to education and healthcare.
International Women’s Day is more than a celebration—it’s a movement toward a fairer, more inclusive world. By taking action today, we can create a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive.
Created with help from ChatGPT.
The Origin of the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA)The North American Unitarian Association (NAUA) was founded in 2022 as a response to concerns that the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) had shifted away from its core values of religious freedom, intellectual inquiry, and diversity of thought.A group of Unitarian Universalists, including congregational leaders and laypeople, felt that the UUA had become increasingly illiberal and authoritarian, prioritizing ideological conformity over open dialogue and free conscience.These individuals sought to revive Unitarianism and Universalism as traditions centered on freedom of belief, rational thought, and respect for diverse perspectives. The NAUA was created as an alternative association that would promote liberal religious pluralism and uphold the values of individual autonomy and open inquiry, resisting the growing influence of political orthodoxy within the UUA.The NAUA serves as a platform for those who feel alienated by the UUA’s increasingly doctrinaire approach, providing a space for those who believe in freedom to think for oneself and the dignity of diverse beliefs.By Chat GPT Courtesy Jan Anderson, March 2025.
Are you looking for a meaningful way to contribute to our faith community? We are excited to announce that NAUA is seeking dedicated members to serve on our committees. This is a wonderful opportunity to use your talents, share your insights, and help shape the future of our community. Whether you have professional expertise or simply a passion for helping others, your unique perspective is valuable.
If you feel called to serve on a particular committee, please send an email to the committee chair named in each committee description below. For general questions about becoming more involved in NAUA, please email info@naunitarians.org with your questions, thoughts or ideas. We welcome all interested members and are grateful for your willingness to serve.
The Summit team organizes and coordinates the annual NAUA Summit. The team works together with the NAUA Board liaison to plan either an online-only or an integrated in-person / online conference in the fall of each year. The committee will be composed of at least five volunteers who are interested in working together as a team over the course of several months.
If you enjoyed the 2024 Summit or possibly have ideas for how it could be improved, we need your help! Are you interested in working collaboratively with a team to put together a compelling, interactive, multi-day event? Do you like organizing? Do you have an interest in or skills with online technology, workshop moderation or planning activities? Please let us know what areas interest you when emailing Committee Chair Joyce Kinnear, joycekinnear@hotmail.com.
Note: Members will need to be available for Zoom meetings once per month at minimum, with meetings becoming more frequent as the Summit approaches. Members will also be expected to work collaboratively and contribute where necessary, whether that means coordinating with conference hosting services, designing slides, recruiting and communicating with workshop leaders, or responding to member questions and concerns. Everyone in the team will be involved in the process and will be able to contribute to the overall needs of the Committee and of the Summit.
The new NAUA Member Services Committee is anticipated to be a large group (~10 members) and designed to serve the needs of member Congregations, Fellowships, and Individuals, as well as increase NAUA membership and engagement.
Below are a few of the needs and services that were articulated in the first annual Summit Visioning Workshop; however, these examples do not describe the complete scope of the committee.
If you are a team player, enjoy working collaboratively, and would like to join this committee, please send an email to Committee Chair Judi Durham, judi.durham@gmail.com, describing why you would like to join the committee, what you think you might contribute, and where you are located (city / town and state). Since NAUA is primarily an online organization, having Tech skills is a plus, but not a requirement for this committee.
The Worship Committee plans and delivers the monthly online NAUA worship service. Current members enjoy the chance to participate, the challenge of producing an enjoyable and interesting event, the learning that comes with the process, and the friendship that develops among members. If you want to participate, have an idea for a service, or have advice, we want to hear from you. Please get in touch with Committee Chair Roy Dickerson, royhdsk@gmail.com.
The Finance Committee oversees and promotes the financial health of the NAUA, including reviewing the budget, monitoring financial statements, ensuring proper financial reporting and investment oversight, and planning strategic fundraising initiatives.
The Finance Committee currently consists of the Treasurer, Bob Simoni, and the former Treasurer, Lynn Jinishian. We are looking for 1-3 new members with experience working as a treasurer or finance committee member for non-profit organizations. Additional desirable experience could include bookkeeping, budgeting, etc. If interested, please send a letter of interest to Treasurer Bob Simoni, bobsimoni@gmail.com.
Liberal Beacon is a formal publication of the NAUA that is generally published every other month. It includes a variety of articles of interest to religious liberals, as well as information and announcements about NAUA, and a place for feedback from our readers. At the last meeting of the editorial committee, the group said emphatically that we need more members. The group meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 8am (Pacific). Among the tasks that we need help with is gathering articles and reviewing them prior to publication. We are looking for at least 2 or 3 more members. If you are interested, please contact John Miller, editorial@naunitarians.org.
The Communications Committee establishes and implements standards for all public-facing communications, including the website, social media, press releases and events calendar. The committee is also responsible for internal communications, such as the twice-per-month announcements email.
The Communications Committee is currently co-chaired by Joanne Krettek and Board Trustee Terry Anderson, and we are hoping to welcome 4-6 additional volunteer members. Ideally, the committee will include individuals with experience in website development, publishing, graphic design, event management, marketing/promotions, professional writing and/or proofreading. All committee members will embrace NAUA’s values of freedom, reason and tolerance and strive to be polite, respectful, and welcoming toward all new and potential NAUA members. If you are interested in learning more about the Communications Committee, please contact Joanne Krettek for a committee description and available roles: jmkrettek@gmail.com.
Underlying the human world of strife and separation is an oft-neglected landscape of commonality between faiths: the natural world. At precisely the time when our religious and political divisions threaten the existence of life on Earth, science offers a sweeping interfaith vista filled with revelations and insights as spiritually meaningful as ancient scriptures. Read as “scripture,” science offers a common text for all the world’s faiths.
Enlightenment Values of Freedom, Reason and Tolerance. January’s monthly worship service focused on the Enlightenment Values of Freedom, Reason and Tolerance, the very same values that were adopted by the NAUA and that stand at the core of Western liberal tradition. The full service title is: “The Enlightenment Values of Freedom, Reason, Tolerance; Advancing the Human Condition Materially and Spiritually; Our Core Strengths.” The worship team will make this a group effort. Join in exploring and honoring the primary core values and Principles of our liberal faith.