Greetings, !

Image Credit: Thank you to NAUA member Jon Hoskin for submitting the above image to the Compass. Jon used the AI graphic program Fooocus (https://github.com/lllyasviel/Fooocus) to create the background graphic. He added the text via Inkscape (inkscape.org), an open source graphic creator/editor program. He described the image as follows: 

"Tolerance is the first step to losing your bias. Sexism is represented by the women, and different colors on the face represent racism. Even the placement of the text requires Tolerance because it feels like it's not quite in the right place."

NAUA summarizes our values, which emerged during the Renaissance and flourished during the Enlightenment, as FREEDOM, REASON, and TOLERANCE, and considers them fundamental for any society to demonstrate respect for the worth and dignity of every person.
Let's reflect on our values prior to the fall Summit.

TOLERANCE: Every person, regardless of their specific ideologies and identities, should have equal standing and equal access to the benefits and protections of society.

“Religion is like a pair of shoes.....Find one that fits for you, but don't make me wear your shoes.”
George Carlin

"Tolerance, like any aspect of peace, is forever a work in progress, never completed, and, if we're as intelligent as we like to think we are, never abandoned."
Octavia E. Butler

“Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged."
Jalal ad-Din Rumi

“I'm not out to disturb anybody's faith. I happen to be happy and comfortable with a belief system that has a dual deity and operates on a lunar schedule. It suits my needs. If you happen to be happy and comfortable with a belief system that features a single masculine deity and operates on a solar schedule, fine. What matters is what you do, not who's name you do it in.”
Mercedes Lackey, Burning Water

“Discord is the great ill of mankind; and tolerance is the only remedy for it.”
Voltaire

Note: If you've written a poem, designed a work of art, or taken a photograph that might be a good fit for this newsletter and its focus on traditional liberal values, please consider emailing it to jmkrettek@gmail.com. If we aren't able to use it here, we may request your permission to share it on our Facebook page or via other communications. Thanks!

Do you feel called to serve on the Board of Trustees of North American Unitarian Association but were not included in this year’s nominations? We welcome your voice!

Members who wish to stand for election to the Board, but were not nominated by the Nominating Committee, may submit their names for consideration through a self-nomination process. To be eligible, self-nominees must submit a written declaration of candidacy along with documentation of support from at least 10 current members in good standing.

This is an important opportunity to offer your leadership and help shape the future of our organization. We encourage individuals with a commitment to our mission and values to step forward.

To submit a self-nomination, please include:

• Your full name and contact information
• A brief statement (250 words or less) about your background and reasons for seeking a board position
• A list of at least 10 NAUA members in good standing who support the applicant’s nomination, including names and e-mail address or other contact information for verification

All materials must be submitted by September 5th, 2025 to secretary@naunitarians.org.

We look forward to hearing from you!
NAUA Board

This course in August is given on Tuesday-Wednesday (depending on time zone). The course will trace the development of liberal religious ideas beginning in India in the early 1800’s to liberative religion as reflected by Imaoka Shin’ichro’s “Free Religion” concept in Japan. The course will be taught by Professor George Williams. Professor Williams is a retired historian of religions, having spent a lifetime studying religions that liberate. 

Each lecture will be given twice per day so that members in all time zones around the world can participate in at least one session at a convenient time. Even if you have not attended a previous lecture, you will find each individual lecture informing and enlightening.

Find the most convenient time in your time zone and check the date. Everyone in US and Canada will be on Day 1. Those in Europe may be on Day 1 or Day 2 depending on the time selected.

The Zoom link and password are the same for all programs:

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86943657920

The passcode is 043765.

Rev. Michinori Maruta of the Japanese Buddhism movement Rissho Kosei-kai has been active in interfaith dialogue and with IARF’s Free Religion Institute. He will be speaking on a foundational teaching of Buddhism.  

Suffering—such as aging, sickness, death, and separation from those we love or the things we treasure—is universal. The Pali word for suffering is dukkha, which signifies unsatisfactoriness and stress. The Buddha Dharma teaches how dukkha arises and how it can be ended. The cessation of dukkha, called nirvana, liberation and freedom, is feasible here and now.

Lecture Title: “Suffering and Free Religion” (Given two times)

Date & Time: August 27 Wednesday, August 28, Thursday, depending on time zone.

1st Session

PST    9:00 am (Philippines, August 28)

JST  10:00 am (Japan, August 28)

HST  3:00 pm (Hawaii, August 27)

PST 6:00 pm (Los Angeles/Spokane, August 27)

EST  9:00 pm (New York, August 27)

2nd Session

JST 7:00 pm (Japan, August 28)

IST 3:30 pm (New Delhi, August 28)

BST 11:00 am (UK, August 28)

CET 12:00 noon(France, Germany, August 28)

Please check the time and date for your time zone.

Zoom URL: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8099882717

ID 8099882717  Passcode 195052

For questions, contact Stephen Polmar, NAUA International Alliances Committee: alliance@naunitarians.org

Our September gathering is scheduled for Wednesday, September  3rd, from 4:00 - 5:30 PM PDT / 7:00 - 8:30 PM EDT. We’ll be discussing the NAUA Mission Statement - (From the NAUA Bylaws Article 2, Section 1): “NAUA is a member service organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the practice of liberal religion by embracing freedom, reason, and tolerance rooted in our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of ever person and all peoples"

The NAUA Conversation / Discussion CIRCLE has no limits on participation and is open to all NAUA members and friends. Join in creating a vibrant, supportive space for dialogue and reflection.

The zoom link is: https://tinyurl.com/naua-circle

For questions or to register for reminders, email us at circles@naunitarians.org. The CIRCLE will be facilitated by a member of the NAUA Board of Trustees. We hope to see you there!

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The Forum Circle, which is led by Mark Reimers and requires a reservation, took a break over the summer. Twice monthly meetings will resume September 7th.

Sunday, Sept. 7: "Nuclear Energy"

Sunday, Sept. 21: "Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying: A measure of dignity or a slippery slope?"

If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please email circles@naunitarians.org. 

Your Are Invited to the 2025 NAUA Summit!

Are you curious about the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women (ICUUW)? It is a global partnership of Unitarian* Universalists who work for all women’s and girls’ equity through Unitarian* Universalist connections around the world. The ICUUW holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, allowing it to engage in international advocacy focused on women's and girls' rights and equity. Its programs emphasize capacity-building, education, violence prevention, economic advancement, humanitarian relief, and support for marginalized communities.The ICUUW welcomes members of any gender who support its mission. 

Please join this Summit session, Wednesday Oct 1st, 5 pm PDT, for an overview of ICUUW offered by Karen Kortsch, Executive Director, US.  Find out more about ICUUW, its programs, how to join and how to participate. 

If you have questions, please contact Marga Hanna margahanna@shaw.ca or Gail Sandlin gbsandlin@gmail.com

In preparation for our Summit Workshop, How Are We Doing One Year Later, the Member Services Committee (MSC) has begun to gather their thoughts about what the MSC should focus their efforts on going forward. Naturally, we are hopeful that we will soon be able to launch the MSC webpage, a piece of unfinished business form this past year, and that the number of Regional Groups will continue to grow.

But we have also begun exploring other areas of focus such as programs, discussions, or activities for children and adults that guide or assist people in ethical, moral, and civic responsibility and decision making. These are troubled times, not just in this country or politically, but also globally. In addition, the focus on being a good steward of the earth often gets lost in the day-to-day chaos of our lives. Resultant stress levels are rising. Thus, we have begun to ask, how can NAUA be relevant to and in these times? What can we do to be helpful, useful, or provide support or guidance to our members?   

These are some of the questions that we will be asking you in the Breakout Groups during the MSC Summit Workshop on Friday, Oct. 3 (10AM PT).  If you have thoughts about any of this, and would like to share them now, or even after the workshop, we would gladly listen. Please send them to memberservices@naunitarians.org.

We are still hoping that more regions of the country will want to develop regional groups.  If interested in starting a group, please contact us at memberservices@naunitarians.org.

https://naunitarians.org/2025-summit/