“The Texas Observer”

Interim Editor In Chief, Gus Bova, and Executive Director, Loren Lynch

GOOD NEWS:
Your voices to the Austin City Council have made a difference. Council Members are looking seriously at the Generation and Climate Protection Plan our community has produced as an alternative to the methane/gas-potential hydrogen generation plant AE wants.

THANK YOU!  We are told Austin Energy (AE) has backed off until community voices quiet down then AE will try again. Want to keep up the pressure ?
Send Mayor Watson and the members of the Austin City Council an email to support the advisory group’s clean energy plan.

Green Sanctuary Readers, here is a snippet from Climate Scientist and Texan, Katharine Hayhoe. You can read more at her hands on free climate newsletter: talkingclimatenewsletter@outlook.com

Hardly anyone cares about climate change… right? Wrong! New research shows that 86 percent agree that people in their country should try to fight global warming and 89 percent say they want more action from their governments. These results are based on a survey of more than 130,000 people in 125 countries around the world.

Here’s the even more interesting part, though: the same study found that people around the globe also underestimate how much their fellow humans support climate action. For example, 69 percent say they are willing to pay 1 percent of their monthly income to aid in the fight, but they think only 43 percent would agree with them. And I would bet a big part of that gap is because, in most countries around the world, it’s rare for people to hear about climate change. We just don’t talk about it.

Continuing Capital Campaign
Giving Tree

Thank you to everyone who walked and donated for the Austin 2024 CROP Hunger Walk at Camp Mabry.

The First UU CROP Walk team joined teams from congregations all over the Austin area in this interfaith walk that raises money to end hunger in Central Texas and around the world.

It is not too late to help the First UU team. Donate online at events.crophungerwalk.org or contact Ivy Speight at cropwalk@austinuu.org for other options. From combating climate change in Honduras to providing agricultural training in Cambodia to stocking shelves in local food pantries, your donation will make a difference in the fight to end hunger. A portion of the funds raised in Austin will go to the Central Texas Food Bank, as well as Casa Marianella, Manos de Cristo, Urban Roots, Austin City Lutherans – Bread for All, Micah 6, Faith Food Pantry and Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Thank you for your support of the Austin CROP Hunger Walk! We look forward to seeing you on the trail in 2025!

Come join us at the Sierra Club Climate Crisis Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at First United Universalist Church at 4700 Grover Lane hosted by First UU’s Green Sanctuary Committee.

It’s casual: come when you can, leave when you must. If you want, you can join us for our program at 7:15 p.m. on Zoom.

Our plan (come when you can):

6:30 p.m. – Start our potluck (come whether you have a dish or not)

7:00 p.m.  – Get to know each other social activity by Victoria

7:15 p.m.  – Announcements

7:20 p.m. – Presentation on Climates and Elections 2024 – What’s the Most Effective Use of Your Time.
Bob Hendricks will provide a summary of research and ways to get involved with and lead a discussion.

7:50 p.m. – Q&A on Climate Science with Bruce Melton. Ask him anything you want!

8:20 p.m. – Conversation and clean-up

The most important thing we can do for the climate in 2024 is to elect climate advocates to public office. If we elect the wrong candidates, policy on our climate crisis could be dead, along with too many more people from extreme weather events. But you already know that. So let’s consider how we can most effectively use our time and effort on the 2024 elections, and which ones are the best match for each of us.

Co-Lead Ministry Announcement

On Tuesday, February 20, at our regular monthly meeting, the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin agreed that we will initiate a search for a co-lead minister this summer. We appreciate the many congregants who expressed their opinions, support for, concern with, and opposition to this model of leadership. We took all comments into consideration and spent considerable time weighing all options.  In the end, we feel co-ministry is the best model for a church as large as ours (nearly 500 members).  We come to this decision based primarily on the following:
 

• It is clear the congregation wants a called minister rather than a contract/hired minister. So the main decision point was whether to call an associate minister or a co-lead minister.
   
• Rev. Chris prefers working collaboratively with a partner. Having a co-equal to bounce ideas off of results in richer, more well-thought-out plans. He is very much in favor of this model.
   
• It aligns best with the values stated in our mission, chalice lighting, and the 8th principle, as the hierarchical model is very much aligned with the dominant white culture. Having co-lead ministers is one way we can start to dismantle systems of oppression.
   
• We believe it will bring us a richer pool of candidates than a search for an associate minister. We can also look for someone with skills that complement Chris’ strengths rather than duplicating them.
    
•  While this model is not as common as the hierarchical model, it is working well for several congregations and organizations both within and outside of the UU world. Adopting it will put us on the leading edge of governance models in the UUA, especially for large churches. 
   
• No governance model is immune to the risk of conflict. We recognize that conflicts may occur regardless of the ministry model we choose. This makes the covenant between the two ministers critical and calls us all to stay in covenant with each other. 

For more details, please see this list of FAQs regarding our decision and the co-lead model, as well as a general timeline for the search. In addition, we will begin the process of creating a search committee on March 1 with a deadline to express interest or nominate someone on March 15.  We are excited to embark on this process and feel it has great potential to move the church forward in our work to build the Beloved Community.

 
In faith,
 
Gretchen Riehl,
President

Here is a brief recap of news from our denomination:

1. General Assembly – this is where UUs come together to worship, celebrate, learn and make decisions.  For 2024 GA will be June 20 – 23, and will be completely virtual!  This will make it much easier to attend and fully participate.  More information and registration is at https://www.uua.org/ga.   

2. UUSC petition for Climate Justice – the UU Service Committee is spearheading a campaign to encourage the US Climate Envoy to confirm US support for climate justice.  You can read more and sign onto the letter here. 

Tis the season for gathering Board of Trustee nominations for the next Board year, which begins in June 2024. We anticipate several Board vacancies will need to be filled. Finally, we are also looking to fill vacancies in the Nominating Committee for this year.

How can you help?
– If you are interested in serving on the Board or know of someone in our church who you think would be a good fit, please stop by the Board table at Howson Hall after service this Sunday

– You can also email the Nominating Committee regarding your interest at nomcom@austinuu.org.

You’re Invited

TXUUJM Annual Gathering!

Date: March 23, 2024

Time: 9:30am-4:30pm

Location: First Unitarian Church of Dallas

4015 Normandy Ave Dallas, TX 75205

We are so excited! Registration is now open for this year’s TXUUJM annual gathering! (See video above from Rev. Erin, also on TXUUJM YouTube and Facebook for sharing.)

We will hold a timely panel discussion on the topic of “Bodily Autonomy, Safety, & State Control,” with community discussion and updates on 2024 election work as well. In person or online, please register for an inspiring and educational day! (Find TXUUJM’s weekly Action Hour, We Cry Justice, and other programs listed on our EveryAction event page.) 

Similar to our 10th Anniversary gathering last January in Austin — but with a lighter agenda to allow for more fellowship and connection time — we will gather at First Unitarian Church of Dallas and online, Saturday, March 23, 2024.

SPACE IS LIMITED. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! (and let us know your dietary needs)

The day will include an election-year update, opportunities for regional caucusing, yummy food, time for youth to gather, and a panel and small group engagement focusing on our theme: Bodily Autonomy, Safety, and State Control.

Perhaps most important, this annual gathering is a chance to see friends, connect with other Texas UUs and TXUUJM partners, renew our spirits, and strategize for the meaningful work we are called to do.

We can’t wait to see you, in person and online! The event is FREE, though we ask for your contribution for lunch cost and if you would like a TXUUJM t-shirt. At TXUUJM, we never want cost to be a barrier, so we also have a spot on registration for folks who are able to donate a lunch to share with someone who needs it.

Interested In Volunteering?

Please fill out the form with your details and select the volunteer roles that most interest you. Whether you can lend a hand with setup, offer technical support, or lead our Youth Caucus, your participation is invaluable. We’re excited to have you on board and will be in touch with more details soon. Contact our TXUUJM Organizer if you have any questions about this form or volunteer roles at michelle@txuujm.org.

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!

Many helpers make for lighter work and a more vibrant event. 
Questions about the event? Please contact txuujm@gmail.com (not the wonderful and hard-working staff at First Unitarian). Thanks!

and please SHARE this event with friends, family, and on your social platforms!

The church is especially in need of volunteer greeters and ushers. Both are great ways to meet your fellow church participants. To find out more about volunteering just send an email to info@austinuu.org

Our church connections ministry also needs folks to talk with their fellow church participants about how they might find transformative ways to participate in the life of the church. Email tranform@austinuu.org to find out more.

The Continuing Capital Campaign kicked off Saturday, February 3rd, as part of an early “Valentine” celebration of the love we share. The CCC aims to pay off the current mortgage that was taken out to cover the renovations to the facility that exceeded the original campaign.  For more information about the CCC, please visit our table in Howson Hall and consider a commitment to this program! Our goal is $1.2 million to completely repay the debt and cover contingencies.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Check out this Goodness is Love in Action video and learn more mlf.org.

This is a busy time in our denomination. Here are a couple of things you may want to know:

1) Israel/Palestine
– The UUA has issued a statement on “the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza and Israel”
– Church leaders, including our UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, have sent a letter to President Biden urging him to support demilitarization and humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

2) General Assembly – this is where UU’s come together to worship, celebrate, learn, and make decisions. For 2024 GA will be June 20 – 23, and will be completely virtual! This will make it much easier to attend and fully participate. Visit www.uua.org/ga for more information and registration. 

For questions about GA or other denominational activities, contact David Overton at denom@austinuu.org

Join First Unitarian Universalist church on Sunday, March 17 for a Pi Day Pie Contest.  Bake your favorite sweet, savory, or vegan pie for a chance to win a prize.

To Enter: 

1. Bring a pie on Sunday, March 17 to Howson Hall before service. (3.17 is close enough to 3.14159265)
2. Place pie on the correct category table. Savory, Sweet, or Vegan
3. Fill out a contestant card.  

After service, we will announce the winners for each category in Howson Hall.

Extra pies to share and not compete are welcome too. 

Want to be a judge?  Contact Shannon at info@austinuu.org.