The Monthly Newsletter of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. Sunday Services

Transcription

1 Searching for truth through reason, love and diversity January 2015 Edition 590 The Monthly Newsletter of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church Sunday Services January 4th Wounded Places UUs and Religious Vocabulary Rev. Elwood Sturtevant About a decade ago, then UUA President Bill Sinkford opened a discussion on a vocabulary of reverence which ultimately did not resolve our UU issues of language. As we engage with our annual frying pan ritual of letting go, I ll try to gently look at some of the issues we UUs may bring with us from other places. - ERS January 11th Hyacinths and Biscuits Rev. Elwood Sturtevant Carl Sandburg once described poetry as the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits beauty and necessity. Inspired by a sermon by Bruce Southworth, I ll look at Sandburg s life and poetry and share some stories of a person who could use a religious vocabulary in unexpected ways. - ERS January 18th Sex in Church? Rev. Elwood Sturtevant Now that I have your attention, the real sermon is about our attention to sexuality in Unitarian Universalism. That is, I ll review our engagement with Reproductive Justice (a current study/action issue), remind you of the Our Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum, and explore why it s important that we can and do talk about sex in church. - ERS January 25th Cosmology and God Dr. John Hull, Minister of Faith Development at Beargrass Christian Church since 1998 and Adjunct Professor of Hebrew Bible at Lexington Theol. Seminary, will be speaking about cosmology and how, in light of modern science, God fits in. February 1st Black History in UUism Rev. Elwood Sturtevant It being the beginning of Black History Month, I ll share some of the story of African-American involvement in UUism, and at what we might learn from the past as we go forward. I ll draw on the Rev. Mark Morrison- Reed s work, especially Darkening the Doorways Black Trailblazers and Missed Opportunities in Unitarian Universalism. - ERS

2 minister S musings UU Minister Fred L Hammond addresses some of what s been happening as America wrestles with the issues arising in Ferguson and other places. At serenityhome.wordpress.com/ he notes that two different approaches may be leading people to talk past each other. First, there is the American legal system which is supposed to consider events on a specific, case by case basis as it tries to figure out what happened and what should result from the particular intersection of specific facts and existing law. But then there is the question of whether individual events can add up to something that we miss when we only look at circumstances case by case. One of the patterns that s been around for a long time is that the perceived race of a person often influences how that person is treated. Sometimes we need to step outside our own experiences to appreciate the concerns of others. I ve been at UU clergy meetings where we ve been asked How many of you have been stopped by the police because of what you looked like? A minority of the people in the room raised their hands, but that minority included almost every person of color present. And when asked if it had happened more than once, the difference in treatment of those of us who looked white and those who didn t became even more apparent. One aspect of white privilege is being able to generally assume that you re safe in an encounter with the authorities. Part of what the news is showing us currently is that it may be dangerous for people of color, especially for black men, to make that assumption. One of the stories recently in the news makes this point. A young black man in a Walmart has an unloaded air rifle, and is talking on a cell phone to his family. Someone, worried about what he is seeing, calls the police, and the black man, still on the phone, winds up dead. The Guardian s story at surveillance-video-walmart-shooting-john-crawfordpolice reports how the grand jury chose not to indict the police, but also contrasts what the police were told by the person who had called them with what a surveillance video showed was actually happening. I suspect that had it been a nicely dressed white man doing the same things as the black man was doing, the police wouldn t have been called and there wouldn t have been a shooting. You can look at the website and decide for yourself. And sometimes more than one pattern of things may be happening. In addition to issues involving race, there may be another connected to escalating responses between police and protestors. Part of this pattern may involve the militarizing of the police equipping them to encounter terrorists and heavily armed drug cartels and creating a mindset focused on the need to bring superior force to more and more situations and the corresponding distrust of armed authorities that the general public may be feeling when it hears stories of seeming overreaction. At berkeley-protests-cindy-pincus_n_ html there is the story of the Intern Minister at the First Unitarian Church of San Francisco. She was at a protest that had begun peacefully but which had turned violent in some places. The intern, Cindy Pincus, says she was helping a woman who had fallen when she (Pincus) was struck with a nightstick, creating a gash that took three staples to close. Pincus says her particular group was behaving peacefully and trying to get away when she was hit. A Berkeley Police Department spokeswoman said that violent protesters put everyone at risk, including peaceful demonstrators, the Huffington Post reports, but it seems to me that indiscriminately escalating the violence isn t an appropriate police response. I hope that authorities including the police will reach out to the communities they serve and engage in dialogues about how to best protect not just property rights, but human rights to dignity and respect, so that both community members and the police can be safer as they encounter each other. And I hope that such dialogues can include taking the time to imagine what it feels like to be in someone else s place. - ERS

3 Joys and Concerns JOYS: For Marie Cassady who celebrated her 102 nd birthday in December Chris Allison s oldest daughter, a professor of art, who will have an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in Washington DC Kate Thomas will be doing an internship in a library in California Ed Foote who welcomed his first great granddaughter on December 10th CONCERNS FOR: Jill Harmer whose car was totaled in a wreck Jill Baker s friend in Owensboro who has been diagnosed with leukemia Grace Wooding s son s family who is having some difficulties Joyce Hoffman whose brother died after a 5-year battle with prostate cancer, but the family was pleased that his corneas could be donated to help others David Cooper who has many students who have experienced the murder of family members Charles Snyder s sister who had eye surgery and for a friend in Texas diagnosed with sarcoma Bruce Murray s former neighbor who is dealing with cancer and for the daughter of a friend who is starting treatment for breast cancer Sandy Reese whose good friend s husband has Alzheimer s and is in a nursing home with hospice care Kellie Scott whose good friend died recently Susie Pasikowski who had shoulder surgery recently and whose husband is in assisted living Tony Taylor s wife s grandmother was hospitalized with heart trouble Barb Friedland s sister s dog died after being hit by a car Marj Heifner who underwent a second surgery after breaking her ankle and is now recuperating at Jefferson Place Carolyn Jones who is undergoing postoperative radiation therapy after her tongue cancer diagnosis Ernie Weill who had a malignant tumor removed from his neck and will be undergoing chemotherapy Henry and Lisa Austin who have dealt with Henry s prostate cancer diagnosis as well as the illnesses and deaths of several close friends in 2014 Keeley Hibdon and her children who are living with her mother temporarily CONDOLENCES FOR: Faye Scarboro whose 54-year-old son died recently The Horvay family on the death of Jean Horvay who was an early TJ member

4 Aprons, Aprons, Aprons! The HOTies have rounded up an over abundance of aprons in our kitchen/scullery. But we don t have an over abundance of storage space. We are going to keep a dozen aprons. If you donated an apron to the church and want it back PLEASE COME GET YOUR APRON BEFORE JANUARY 31, Excess unclaimed aprons will be donated to KEAP yard sale or to Goodwill on February 1, Feel free to bring your favorite apron to wear when you help in the kitchen and then take it home with you. Otherwise we ll still have plenty of aprons for volunteers to use. Debbie Weeter Hospitality Oversight Committee Chair Men s Group The first Monday at noon of every month at Bob Evans Restaurant on Hurstbourne at noon. All men welcome! Womens Lunch Bunch On the first Monday of every month at the Bristol Café on Hurstbourne Lane at noon. The Women's Choir is rehearsing on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. New members are welcome!

5 Open Campus with the Minister "Escalating Inequality" The UUA's current study/action issue, "Escalating Inequality" is concerned with issues of class and inequality. Its Study Guide is at Instead of setting out a single curriculum, the guide gives choices about how to proceed, so I propose to begin with showing the documentary Inequality for All, with Robert Reich, and then using, as suggested, some of the sessions from The Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit and Life. (see ) I ll also share the materials for a new curriculum, Class Conscious: Class and Classism in UU Life by Dr. Suzanne Zilber to see if we want to explore it, perhaps continuing to meet after Open Campus. 1/21 Kickoff 1/28 Session 1 Inequality for All documentary and discussion Robert Reich argues that the widening income gap is bad for the American economy 2/4 Session 2 The WiSdom Path Talking about Money The variety and complexity of individual and social dimensions of our relationships with money. 2/11 Session 3 The Meaning of Money in Our Lives Our own stories, and generational differences in relating to money and finances 2/18 Session 4 Cultural Lessons About Money and Wealth Reflecting on the spoken and unspoken messages we have received from culture and religion 2/25 Session 5 Money and Society classism and economic justice 3/4 Session 6 A Network of Mutuality the impact of our financial choices in the global community 3/11 Session 7 Reflections on EACM and KEAP I ll invite people who have worked with EACM (Eastern Area Community Ministries our neighbors) and KEAP (our TJ project in Kenya) to reflect on their experiences and what we can learn about ourselves 3/18 Imagining a Transformed World innovative models and hopeful stories The Caregivers Support Group Tuesday, January 6th at 4 pm in the Hearth Room at TJ. All are welcome. The Caregivers Support Group will meet on Tuesday, January 6th at 4 pm in the Hearth Room at church. This group is for anyone in a caregiving situation, either local or longdistance. Please be aware during the winter months that if the schools are closed by weather on that day, the Caregivers Group is cancelled.

6 We ve opened our calendars to a fresh, New Year full of opportunities, plans, and hopes. What a wonderful time to reengage with the TJ community! Religious Exploration at TJUC has so much to offer to you- no matter what stage of life you re in. For adults, Sunday morning RE continues and, for those of you who have responsibility for children and youth, whether you re a parent, grandparent, or perhaps have some other role in the lives of young people, our Kids Who Thrive learning series will resume in February on Sunday afternoons. Later this month, a new semester of Open Campus experiences will begin on Wednesday evenings with offerings for all ages. The important middle school edition of Our Whole Lives sexuality education program, offered in collaboration with First Unitarian Church, is coming up as well. (Stay tuned for detailed information about OWL!) Of course, our Sunday morning RE Groups for children and youth are ready to welcome new and returning families. As if all that was not enough, it s time for our intergenerational Mystery Friends tradition to begin! Many of us have goals for the New Year that may center on health and fitness. As you consider the needs of your whole self, I invite you to also explore other needs, which may be overlooked or lost in the hectic pace of the busyness of life. Most folk, when asked, say that the reason why they are part of TJUC is because of a deep need for community. This community is here for you and the RE program hopes to offer you many reasons to start fresh at TJ. I m looking forward to welcoming you! Barb Friedland, Director of Lifespan RE American Freethought: Part 2 Moderated by Dick Brown This video highlights the following notions and topics: The abolition movement seeds the women's rights and freethought movements. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Seneca Falls women's rights conference. Suffragist-freethinker Matilda Joslyn Gage. Darwin's Origin of Species. Religious resistance: the American Tract Society, morals crusader Anthony Comstock. D. M. Bennett, editor of The Truth Seeker. Rise of "The Great Agnostic," Robert Green Ingersoll. Dawn of America's first Culture Wars--discussion follows. Humanists of Metro Louisville 7:00 PM Hearth Room, TJUC Monday, January 12, 2015 Joys and Concerns From the Sunday Service Planning Committee: Please be considerate and be brief (no more than 30 seconds) when stating your joy or concern. Thank you.

7 It s Time for Mystery Friends! Sign ups for TJ's Mystery Friend program are open now! Mystery Friends is one of TJUC s favorite community building programs. Adults and young people are matched by interest areas and are encouraged to get to know one another anonymously through notes. FAQ: How can I sign up? Forms are available at the Mystery Friends table in the Gathering Space and are also available for download from the church website ( What s the deadline to sign up? January 4 th. This gives DLRE Barb time to work her match up magic. What s involved? Each Mystery Friend is expected to leave a note for his/her friend every Sunday starting on January 11th. Friends are also expected to attend the Mystery Friend Breakfast at TJ on Sunday, February 15 th where friend pairs finally meet and have fun together. How will I know about my Mystery Friend match? DLRE Barb will send information via several days before the note exchange begins. What if I can t come on a Sunday? Friends who cannot be at church on a given Sunday, agree to mail, , or drop off a note at TJ. DLRE Barb helps with special deliveries. :0 Have A Heart Tree Thank You The Social Justice Committee offers many thanks to the numerous people at TJ who participated in our Have-A-Heart program this holiday season. The kindness and generosity of our congregation was on full display as we delivered the gifts to the Mohamed family and to Eastern Area Community Ministry s Christmas Store. Thank you TJ members and friends, once again, for having a BIG heart! Santa brought you a new laptop? Donate your old laptop to TJ s Kenya Education & AIDS Program for of our Kenyan university students. They would be thrilled & you received a tax deduction!

8 Make the New Year Bright! For many years, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has worked hand-in-hand with partners around the world to make a difference for all. There is still time to support this important work through our Guest at Your Table program. It s a perfect way to live into our church covenant to make a difference in the world. This is the 40th anniversary of Guest at Your Table and the UUSC is hoping for especially generous support for the program. Please bring your donations from your Guest At Your Table box to the office by January 11 th. Checks made out to UUSC are welcomed with Guest At Your Table noted in the memo line. Remember that if your donation is at least $125.00, it will be matched dollar for dollar by the Shelter Rock Congregation. Thank you for your generosity in backing this important effort! WinterFair! Fare! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! To each and everyone for helping host the most successful WinterFair! we have ever held! EVER! Efforts large and larger, combined to create this most excellent WinterFair! Our customers raved over the quality of the art work presented! Our church volunteers scurried and bustled and dived in to create a most welcoming atmosphere for both artists and our customers! Our artists once again expressed gratitude for the warm and welcoming atmosphere we created for them! And the financial part (ta da!) is the VERY (woot! woot!) BEST (yahoo!!) we have ever done EVER!! When all the bills and reimbursements are finalized, WinterFair 14 will add over $11,000 to the TJ operating budget!!!!! YAY for everyone and all the effort, fun, ingeniousness, laughter, hugs and EVERYTHING that combined to make this the best WinterFair EVER!! Out of 24 years, the VERY BEST! Yay volunteers!! Yay organizers and coordinators!!yay artists!! Yay customers!! Yay everyone!!!!!! And guess what?!?!?!? We'll do it again next year!!!!! On December 4 and 5, 2015, we will host our 25th (yes, 25th!!) WinterFair!!! Mark your new calendars and planners for this auspicious event! YOU WILL WANT TO BE THERE! WITH US! HAVING A GRAND TIME! WOOHOO!!! Until next year, for the WinterFair! Team, Diana Fulner, who is grateful for you all!

9 Open Campus - Winter 2015 Spaghetti Dinner Kick Off January 21 at 5:30 to 7:00 pm It s not just food! Entertainment will be provided by Micky and Jan Nelson! Classes start January 28th and run through February 18th 5:15 pm - Dinner at Shiraz 6:30 pm - Vespers 7:00 pm - Classes and Groups Classes for this semester are: Exploring Your Personal Beliefs, Part 2 Escalating Inequality (description in this newsletter - runs through March 18th) Memoir Writing Bridge Coaching Singing Meditation Seriously Green Kelly and Tony Sweazy say going FULL OUT GREEN was a slow transition that started in the 80 s. Both were reared in homes that did little things to conserve, like reusing rubber bands, twist ties and aluminum foil. They were admonished to turn off the lights when they left in the morning. When they became a couple and bought their first house, the first thing they did was install new window. In the past few years, Kelly has segued into being a vegetarian and a yoga instructor. She takes her lunch to work in glass containers rather that plastic ones. They joke about their assembly line in their kitchen no wet food in the garbage. (compost pile) They recycle plastic cups. If Roger goes to their house for a do, he might get a cup with Helen written on it and he ll be Helen for the night! Tony is also a vegetarian and an energy specialist. He has taken courses with the Federal Government and knows a lot about spray foam and code verification. He is currently working with Green Sanctuary to obtain even more solar panels in the future. They would like to see TJ get a charging station for members who have hybrid cars. Like all of us, they love our back yard and have a deep appreciation for nature. Some day they would like to build a smaller house for themselves from scratch and make it energy efficient to the max.

10 TJ Young Musicians Recital Sponsored by the LRE and Music Committees Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 1P.M. ( right after the Potluck) Eligible Young musicians: Any TJ Family member younger than 20 who has studied voice or his/her instrument for at least 2 years. Pieces: No longer than 10 minutes. Accompanist: Music Director, Frank Richmond. Practice time with Frank: Application deadline: Sunday, January 25th, time to be announced. Please submit your application in person or via to Barbara Friedland by January 25th. TJ Young Musicians Recital Application Name & Age: Piece: Length: Need Accompanist?: Are you new to TJ? Newcomer Orientation Saturday, January 17th 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Hearth Room New members at TJ and visitors who are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and membership are encouraged to attend a church orientation from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 17th. Elwood, our minister, will talk about the history of the church and our beliefs and covenants, while Barb Friedland will talk about Lifespan Religious Education. Other members of the church will share information about how to get involved in the church community, financial stewardship, and other topics. A free lunch will follow at noon. Reservations for childcare should be made before, January 14th. Please RSVP to let us know if you are attending to office@tjuc.or or call Check us out on facebook!

11 January 2015 Sunday, January 4, :30 AM - 10:30 AM Adult RE 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Sunday Service 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM RE Groups for Children & Youth 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM Potluck 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Administration Committee Meeting 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM Good Life Group Monday, January 5, :00 PM - 01:30 PM Men' s Group at Bob Evan 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM Women's Group at Bristol 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM Endowment Committee Tuesday, January 6, :00 PM - 05:00 PM Caregiver Support Group 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Practice Wednesday, January 7, :00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group Thursday, January 8, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Movie with Ann Dorzback 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Women's Choir Practice Sunday, January 11, :30 AM - 10:30 AM Adult RE 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Aesthetics Committee 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Sunday Service 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM RE Groups for Children & Youth 12:45 PM - 02:00 PM Music Committee Meeting 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Board of Trustees Meeting 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM KEAP Sponsor Meeting Monday, January 12, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Humanist Group Tuesday, January 13, :00 PM - 07:30 PM Grounds Committee Meeting 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Practice Wednesday, January 14, :00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group Thursday, January 15, :30 PM - 07:30 PM Hospitality Committee 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Mindfulness with the Minister 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Women's Choir Practice Saturday, January 17, :00 AM - 01:00 PM Newcomer Orientation Sunday, January 18, :15 AM - 10:30 AM Social Justice Meeting 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM Adult RE 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Sunday Service 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM RE Groups for Children & Youth 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM CYRE Team Meeting Monday, January 19, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Stewardship Committee Tuesday, January 20, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Practice Wednesday, January 21, :00 PM - 02:00 PM Brown Bag Book Group 05:30 PM - 08:30 PM Open Campus Kickoff 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group Thursday, January 22, :30 PM - 08:00 PM Membership Committee 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM Mindfulness with the Minister 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Women's Choir Practice Saturday, January 24, :00 AM - 12:00 PM Parent/Youth Conversation Sunday, January 25, :15 AM - 10:30 AM Green Sanctuary Meeting 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM Adult RE 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Sunday Service 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM RE Groups for Children & Youth 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM Caring Ministry Meeting Tuesday, January 27, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Choir Practice Wednesday, January 28, :00 PM - 06:30 PM Endowment Board Meeting 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Bridge Group 06:30 PM - 07:00 PM Vespers 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Open Campus Thursday, January 29, :00 PM - 08:30 PM Mindfulness with the Minister 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Women's Choir Practice Friday, January 30, :00 PM - 09:30 PM Hootenanny

12 Adult Religious Exploration Sunday Mornings at 9:30 How Jesus Became God by Prof. Bart Ehrman. Dr. Ehrman has written four New York Times best sellers and has been the video presenter in several well-received series here at TJ, including those hosted by our own expert, Roger Omanson. Here s the beginning of the course description: The early Christian claim that Jesus of Nazareth was God completely changed the course of Western civilization. In fact, without the Christian declaration of Jesus as God, Western history as we know it would have never happened. You can see the full description of the course at courses/how-jesus-became-god.html. 1/4 The Council of Nicea 1/11 Once Jesus Became God 1/18 New Class audition 1/25 New Class audition We ll be looking for a new class to begin in January. Possible new classes might be: The Science of Mindfulness: A Research-Based Path to Well-Being with Ronald Siegel The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience with Andrew Newberg Philosophy, Religion, and the Meaning of Life with Francis Ambrosia The Holy Land Revealed with Jodi Magness You can read about these lectures at Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation Thursdays 7 PM No session on 1/1 or 1/8 We ll have half an hour for the video presentation about mindfulness, the ten to fifteen minutes to go over what was presented, and then a time for mostly silent sitting. [See courses/practicing-mindfulness-an-introduction-to-meditation.html for description.] We have visitors every Sunday. They would like to meet you.

13 Promoting TJ - Community Outreach for 2015 The purpose of the Promotions Committee is to financially support the church thru extra rental income, and to attract prospective members who will discover our warm and inviting church community. TJ s Promotion committee has accomplished a lot in the past year: a unique slogan and logo, attractive professional brochures, flyers and banners, and we have offered some assistance to other committees in promoting TJ s special events. Thanks to a memorial gift from the Weeter family in memory of Ann Weeter, TJ recently offered our new Thomas Jefferson Conference Center (the hearth room) as an attractive venue for workshops and meetings. There is an important second component to the Promotions Committee: the "Membershipproducing, Community Outreach component. We are seeking ways to enhance TJ s brand identity in the community thru various media resources, programs or collaborations with other organizations. At this time, we are seeking interested TJ members or friends of TJ who will share their ideas - how do we attract folks in our community who may be searching for a place that provides a church home for them? What community resources would best be utilized to advertise our church community? Do you have any ideas to share? Will you join our subcommittee to create some useful plans? A marketing background is not required - just someone who believes in the value of sharing TJ with our community. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Ellen Wade, bigole@aol.com or This small group will work out convenient times for the first meeting! Hope to hear from you! P.S. This group will not meet forever! - Just long enough to create some tangible ideas that we may implement. Won t you join us? Ann Dorzback, Wanda Ferrell, Rhea Timmons, Ellen Wade

14 Disruptive Behavior Policy Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, Louisville, KY is a place of safety and integrity for each person s mind, body, and spirit. We are a supportive and nurturing faith community, honoring and respecting the rich diversity of those gathered here. Recognizing that warmth, kindness, and commitment to compassion and justice will shape us as a congregation of goodwill and generosity, we covenant to affirm and promote: -Honesty and authenticity in our relationships -Words that are supportive and caring, not belittling or demeaning - A welcoming and non-judgmental attitude -Respect for each person s boundaries of mind, body, and spirit -Refraining from displays of temper -Honoring the gifts and blessings of thought and deed While openness to a wide variety of individuals is one of the prime values held by our congregation and expressed in our denomination s purposes and principles, we affirm the belief that our congregation must maintain a secure atmosphere where such openness can exist. When any person s physical and/or emotional well-being or freedom to safely express his or her beliefs or opinions is threatened, the source of this threat must be addressed firmly and promptly, even if this ultimately requires the expulsion of the offending person or persons. Disruptive behavior of an individual within the church building and grounds, may lead to concerns about one or more of the following: -Perceived threats to the safety of any adult or child. -Disruption of church activities. -Diminished appeal of the church to its potential and existing membership. Therefore, the following shall be the policy of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church with regard to disruptive behavior by an individual or individuals. 1. If an immediate response is required, this will be undertaken by the Minister, if available, and/or the leader of the group involved. This may include asking the offending person or persons to leave, or suspending the meeting or activity until a time when it can be safely resumed. If further assistance is required, the police may be called. Anytime any of these actions are undertaken without the Minister being present, the Minister must be notified. 2. Whether or not an immediate response is required, all situations will be referred to an ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Trustees. The committee will respond in terms of their own judgment. Guidelines to follow include: The committee will respond to problems as they arise. There will be no attempt to define acceptable behavior in advance. Persons identified as disruptive will be dealt with as individuals; stereotypes will be avoided. The committee will collect all necessary information.

15 To aid in evaluating the problem, the following will be considered: Dangerousness: Is the individual the source of a threat or perceived threat to persons or property? Disruptiveness: How much interference with church functions is taking place? Offensiveness: How likely is it that prospective or existing members will be driven away? To determine the necessary response, the following points will be considered: Causes: Why is the disruption occurring? Is it a conflict between the individual and others in the church? Is it due to a professionally diagnosed condition of mental illness? History: What has been the frequency and degree of disruption caused in the past? Probability of Change: How likely is it that the problem behavior will diminish in the future? The committee will decide on the necessary response on a case by case basis. However, the following three levels of response are recommended: Level One: The committee shall inform the Minister of the problem and either the Minister or a member of the committee shall meet with the offending individual to communicate the concern. Level Two: The offending individual is excluded from the church and/or specific church activities for a limited period of time, with reasons and the conditions of return made clear. Any action taken for a Level One or Level Two response may be appealed to the Board of Trustees and/or the Minister. Level Three: The offending individual is permanently excluded from the church premises and all church activities. Before this is carried out, the committee will consult with the Board of Trustees and the Minister. If it is decided that expulsion will take place, a letter will be sent by the Minister and/or President of the Board of Trustees explaining the expulsion and the individual s rights and possible recourse. Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church strives to be an inclusive community, affirming our differences in beliefs, opinions and life experiences. However, concern for the safety and well-being of the congregation as a whole must be given priority over the privileges and inclusion of the individual. To the degree the disruptive behavior compromises the health of this congregation, our actions as a caring faith community must reflect this emphasis on security. Appendix: Composition and Formation of the Ad Hoc Committee The Ad Hoc Committee consists of three church members appointed by the Board of Trustees at the beginning of each fiscal year. To fill these important volunteer positions, the Board solicits input from the Membership Coordinator and Chair of the Membership Committee. Church members with backgrounds in social work, counseling psychology, conflict resolution, mediation, and interpersonal relations are considered desirable candidates. The Board invites prospective Ad Hoc Committee members to serve a term of one church year, although by mutual agreement, committee members may serve additional terms.

16 Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church 4936 Brownsboro Road Hwy. 22 Louisville, KY Return Service Requested January 2015 Edition 590 MATERIALIZING In what form did the spirit appear to you today the blossom of a flower, the tug of a child s hand the silent twinkling stars, an old woman smiling at the bus stop, a lover s gentle hug, a presence so close to your soul that you could almost touch it, words of truth formed unbidden in your mind? The holy disguised in so many ways, may your sense open wide in recognition. - by Jean M. Olson, from Falling into the Sky The Reverend Elwood Sturtevant, Minister Tuesday - Thursday, 1-4 pm and by appointment Barb Friedland Director Lifespan Religious Exploration Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (may vary) Frank Richmond, Music Director Debbie Horvay Administrator/Newsletter Editor Monday - Friday 10:00-2:00 pm Ellen Wade, Rental Coordinator Weddings and Rentals Call the office. Office hours: Monday thru Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm 9:30 am - Adult Religious Education 11:00 am - Sunday Service 11:00 am - Children /Youth Lifespan RE office@tjuc.org Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church 4936 Brownsboro Rd (Hwy 22) Louisville, KY 40222

17 TJUC Trivia Event An Invitation for You! Saturday, January 31st at 7:00 pm Please mark your calendars for a unique, funloving event. A Trivia Evening offering a friendly competition of wit, food and beverages, and a cash prize. All to benefit TJUC and Hosparus! Assemble a team of 4-8 folks with varied interests to increase your chances to win the $150 cash prize. Ticket sales will be in the Gathering Space on Sundays in January. You can also purchase tickets online at TJUC.org by using PayPal. Please note space is limited! Doors open at 7:00, with Trivia beginning at 7:30. For further info, contact Lesley Henney at or L.henney18@gmail.com. This Trivia event will be brought to you by TJUC s Social Justice Committee. A note about HOSPARUS: Hosparus will receive 50% of the proceeds from this event. Hosparus is a non-profit hospice provider serving Louisville, Central KY, the Barren River area, and Southern IN. Hosparus provides treatments that enhance the comfort and quality of life for those with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The Hosparus staff of healthcare professionals and volunteers provides services including symptom control, medication management, personal care, counseling and spiritual care, and bereavement counseling. It is important to note that while Medicare, Medicaid, and some insurance plans cover hospice services, donations enable Hosparus to care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. Hosparus has touched the lives of many families in our community dealing with end-of-life issues.