Monday, May 21, 2007
Memorial Day
This week Krista Tippet will replay a 2006 interview with a military chaplain. This program is titled "The Soul of War" and airs on NPR. Check your listings for Speaking of Faith.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Army Censors Bloggers
From Wired News:
Sure glad this wasn't the case when I was in Iraq - I spent hours each day writing for my blog and it was one thing that helped me stay connected with the outside world.The U.S. Army has ordered soldiers to stop posting to blogs or sending personal e-mail messages, without first clearing the content with a superior officer, Wired News has learned. The directive, issued April 19, is the sharpest restriction on troops' online activities since the start of the Iraq war. And it could mean the end of military blogs, observers say. Military officials have been wrestling for years with how to handle troops who publish blogs. Officers have weighed the need for wartime discretion against the opportunities for the public to personally connect with some of the most effective advocates for the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq -- the troops themselves. The secret-keepers have generally won the argument, and the once-permissive atmosphere has slowly grown more tightly regulated. Soldier-bloggers have dropped offline as a result.
The new rules (.pdf) obtained by Wired News require a commander be consulted before every blog update. "This is the final nail in the coffin for combat blogging," said retired paratrooper Matthew Burden, editor of The Blog of War anthology. "No more military bloggers writing about their experiences in the combat zone. This is the best PR the military has -- it's most honest voice out of the war zone. And it's being silenced."
Saturday, April 07, 2007
UUMM News
Hello Fellow UU's in the Military!
I have a few news items to share with you from Unitarian Universalist Military Ministries, about different developing events among our growing and burgeoning group of Military UU's.
First, I would like to offer welcome and congratulations to Rev. George Tyger, who has been selected to become a U.S. Army Chaplain with the rank of Captain. Rev. Tyger is currently the senior minister of the First Universalist Church of Rochester, NY. He will be attending the Chaplains training course at Ft. Jackson this summer, and will be going on Active Duty with the Army. Rev. Tyger is a prior service enlisted army soldier.
Second, I would like to update you all on the progress of the new policy initiative for how the UUA both endorses and supports our military chaplains and chaplaincy candidates. The draft policy has been approved by the Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group of the UUA, and will be officially unveiled at General Assembly. It involves a more structured application and approval process for endorsement as military chaplains, and approval for seminary students to participate in the Chaplain Candidate programs. It also calls for the creation of a new Committee on Military Ministry (CMM) within the UUA. The commitee will initially be chaired by Rev. Lisa Presley, and will coordinate the endorsement process, as well as provide regular contact and support to our serving military and federal chaplains and chaplaincy candidates. The membership of the Committee is being recruited by the UUA as we speak.
Third, I would like to point you all towards an article about myself and Maj. Seanan Holland that has appeared in yesterday's online edition of UU World, on the subject of military chaplain candidacy. http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/22319.shtml
I'm sure that there are alot of other wonderful things going on out there, but I am going to try to post a quick article from UUMM every couple of months on developments at the UUA level in relation to the military and military ministry. If anyone has any news they would like to share with me, please do so at david@celestiallands.com .
Yours in Faith,
2LT David Pyle
USAR Chaplaincy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Monday, March 12, 2007
Tales of the Tartan Shirt
In an earlier post I mentioned developing religious education materials for use in our societies. These tales, something of a departure from the usual UU military Blog entries, is offered in this spirit. The material is not copyright so you're free to develop it as suits the need.
"Pretty! She called me pretty! I am the official tartan of the United States Marine Corps," declared my plaid shirt.
"I'm sure my mother-in-law meant it as a compliment," I said as soothingly as possible. "
"All of the other shirts in the closet will laugh at me after this," he bellowed.
"They will not. Why that chiffon scarf will forever be in your debt for jumping off your hanger and pulling her back up from behind the cedar chest. And that chambray shirt with the embroidered flowers--I think she'd like to hang next to you. That is, after your bath. I mean wash."
"OK, but hang me out on the line to dry."
"It's below freezing, I said.
"All to the good. I can take it."
This is just a rough sketch of the possibilities that can be used in discussing differences in social roles with children.
"Pretty! She called me pretty! I am the official tartan of the United States Marine Corps," declared my plaid shirt.
"I'm sure my mother-in-law meant it as a compliment," I said as soothingly as possible. "
"All of the other shirts in the closet will laugh at me after this," he bellowed.
"They will not. Why that chiffon scarf will forever be in your debt for jumping off your hanger and pulling her back up from behind the cedar chest. And that chambray shirt with the embroidered flowers--I think she'd like to hang next to you. That is, after your bath. I mean wash."
"OK, but hang me out on the line to dry."
"It's below freezing, I said.
"All to the good. I can take it."
This is just a rough sketch of the possibilities that can be used in discussing differences in social roles with children.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Any Soldier
Hi,
I'm going to try to set up a collection within my congregation to send care packages to a reserve unit from our state (the 399th Combat Support Hospital). I found the unit on www.anysoldier.com, which is a great website to check out, if you haven't seen it. Has anyone else done something similar with their congregations?
Adrian
I'm going to try to set up a collection within my congregation to send care packages to a reserve unit from our state (the 399th Combat Support Hospital). I found the unit on www.anysoldier.com, which is a great website to check out, if you haven't seen it. Has anyone else done something similar with their congregations?
Adrian
Washington Office for Advocacy
Hi,
I was poking around the UUA website, and came across the section on the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy. Curious, I looked around for any military related issues. I was pleased to find a section entitled " Welcoming Veterans and Military Families in Our Congregations and Community", though I was a bit non-plussed at it's location - at the very bottom of the "Occupation of Iraq" Issues page. Obviously not as important as say "America Says NO!" or "Iraq for Sale" or a link to a website for the short film "The Ground Truth" an anti-war documentary that focuses on a small group of soldiers who after serving in Iraq became anti-war activists.
What I found a bit more disturbing was in the Links section.
Under the section "Military Spending and Disarmament" (Sets the tone) there were links for various anti-war/anti-military organizations such as the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (www.nwtrcc.org) which entourages activists to evade paying portions of thier income tax as a means of protesting war. Oh, and it also refers to the military as a "bigoted" institution and goes on to say "The military is, bar none, the most homophobic institution in our culture. Yet for all its sexism, heterosexism, racism and persecution of sexual minorities at home AND overseas, the military continues to be funded at enormous levels while programs everybody needs - health care, housing, food, environmental protection and education - continue to be gutted. More continues to be spent on the military each month than has been spent by the U.S. in the entire history of AIDS research. Killing, it seems, is far more important than saving lives." Oh and it also says "Over 50% of federal tax dollars go to fund one of the most misogynist and destructive forces in our society: the military."
Now, I realize that simply because this organization is in the links section of the UUA website does not necessarily imply that the UUA in anyway endorses or agrees with any of the positions taken by this organization, but it does seem to indicate that somebody within the UUA thinks highly enough of it to put the link up.
Several other websites listed that are also anti-military (as opposed to simply being anti-Iraq war) and focus on opposing military recruitment, selective service, and ROTC.
While I certainly respect the opinions of those Unitarian-Universalists who are pacifists, I am bit chagrined that it seems to be the position of the UUA (perhaps unofficially) to only support one, rather extreme, viewpoint on the subject.
Adrian
P.S. Oh and when you google "UUA military" the first thing that comes up is a section on the UUA website about conscientious objection. This blog is third.
I was poking around the UUA website, and came across the section on the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy. Curious, I looked around for any military related issues. I was pleased to find a section entitled " Welcoming Veterans and Military Families in Our Congregations and Community", though I was a bit non-plussed at it's location - at the very bottom of the "Occupation of Iraq" Issues page. Obviously not as important as say "America Says NO!" or "Iraq for Sale" or a link to a website for the short film "The Ground Truth" an anti-war documentary that focuses on a small group of soldiers who after serving in Iraq became anti-war activists.
What I found a bit more disturbing was in the Links section.
Under the section "Military Spending and Disarmament" (Sets the tone) there were links for various anti-war/anti-military organizations such as the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (www.nwtrcc.org) which entourages activists to evade paying portions of thier income tax as a means of protesting war. Oh, and it also refers to the military as a "bigoted" institution and goes on to say "The military is, bar none, the most homophobic institution in our culture. Yet for all its sexism, heterosexism, racism and persecution of sexual minorities at home AND overseas, the military continues to be funded at enormous levels while programs everybody needs - health care, housing, food, environmental protection and education - continue to be gutted. More continues to be spent on the military each month than has been spent by the U.S. in the entire history of AIDS research. Killing, it seems, is far more important than saving lives." Oh and it also says "Over 50% of federal tax dollars go to fund one of the most misogynist and destructive forces in our society: the military."
Now, I realize that simply because this organization is in the links section of the UUA website does not necessarily imply that the UUA in anyway endorses or agrees with any of the positions taken by this organization, but it does seem to indicate that somebody within the UUA thinks highly enough of it to put the link up.
Several other websites listed that are also anti-military (as opposed to simply being anti-Iraq war) and focus on opposing military recruitment, selective service, and ROTC.
While I certainly respect the opinions of those Unitarian-Universalists who are pacifists, I am bit chagrined that it seems to be the position of the UUA (perhaps unofficially) to only support one, rather extreme, viewpoint on the subject.
Adrian
P.S. Oh and when you google "UUA military" the first thing that comes up is a section on the UUA website about conscientious objection. This blog is third.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Did You See That?
Have you ordered your UU Military Ministries Gear yet? Mine came in a few days ago.
I got a large coffee mug and a button. I wanted to get more but funds are short as of right now. The coffee mug now proudly rests on my desk at work. Several people have asked about it and expressed delight in finding out its meaning.
The button I wore on my lapel today at church. Proudly displayed above my name tag. I didn't get any questions of comments about it. That may be because my name tag itself holds various items. Blue background representing the fact that I am a board member, a lapel pin in red and gold from The Church of the Larger Fellowship, and an orange ribbon and golden safety pin that represents a promise I keeping for myself this year.
Still, next Sunday, if people do not ask about it I think I might start pointing out. "See my new UUMM button?"
Also check this post out from Cee Jay. She is a fellow congregant of mine, and a good friend. Great advise on how to really, actually, support our troops.
I got a large coffee mug and a button. I wanted to get more but funds are short as of right now. The coffee mug now proudly rests on my desk at work. Several people have asked about it and expressed delight in finding out its meaning.
The button I wore on my lapel today at church. Proudly displayed above my name tag. I didn't get any questions of comments about it. That may be because my name tag itself holds various items. Blue background representing the fact that I am a board member, a lapel pin in red and gold from The Church of the Larger Fellowship, and an orange ribbon and golden safety pin that represents a promise I keeping for myself this year.
Still, next Sunday, if people do not ask about it I think I might start pointing out. "See my new UUMM button?"
Also check this post out from Cee Jay. She is a fellow congregant of mine, and a good friend. Great advise on how to really, actually, support our troops.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Welcome to a new Blogger!
Please welcome someone I have been in communication with on several projects over the past several months... Here is the info he sent us...
ET1(SW/AW) Lou Portella, USN Active
On shore duty at Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic / Surface Nuclear Propulsion Administration code N92V /
Unitarian Church of Norfolk (UCN), Thomas Jefferson District
Founder and co-chairperson of UUniforms, UCN's military support group
Welcome Lou to UU's in the Military!
ET1(SW/AW) Lou Portella, USN Active
On shore duty at Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic / Surface Nuclear Propulsion Administration code N92V /
Unitarian Church of Norfolk (UCN), Thomas Jefferson District
Founder and co-chairperson of UUniforms, UCN's military support group
Welcome Lou to UU's in the Military!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
UU Military Ministries Gear!
Hello everyone!
I have been intending to do this for awhile, and this morning I had a choice...either read William Ellery Channing's "Unitarian Christianity" for class tomorrow (I'll do it tonight) or actually do a
project that is kinda fun for me...
So, I opted for the "fun" project this morning. Now, fun is a relative term... But you will see what I mean.
Eric David Carlson, a fellow student here at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, created a logo for the UU Military Ministries awhile back, on the promise that one day I would send him a coffee cup with that logo on it. Lou Portella sent me the wondeful logo that the UUniforms project in Norfolk VA had created... and I decided the time was right to make some UU Military Ministries Gear available!
Here is the link: http://www.cafepress.com/uumm
Now, it is done through CafePress, and so I could have added a markup on the gear... but no... not yet, anway. We may in the future do so to help fund some UUMM projects and the like, but for right now, all of this is as low in price as I can make it.
So, check it out and show up on Sunday morning for Coffee Hour with a UU Military coffee cup, or wear a UU Miliary baseball cap at General Assembly!
Oh, and Eric... I will get the coffee cup sent to you soon, I promise! As soon as mine gets here!
Yours in Faith,
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplaincy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
www.uumm.blogspot.com
I have been intending to do this for awhile, and this morning I had a choice...either read William Ellery Channing's "Unitarian Christianity" for class tomorrow (I'll do it tonight) or actually do a
project that is kinda fun for me...So, I opted for the "fun" project this morning. Now, fun is a relative term... But you will see what I mean.
Eric David Carlson, a fellow student here at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, created a logo for the UU Military Ministries awhile back, on the promise that one day I would send him a coffee cup with that logo on it. Lou Portella sent me the wondeful logo that the UUniforms project in Norfolk VA had created... and I decided the time was right to make some UU Military Ministries Gear available!
Here is the link: http://www.cafepress.com/uumm
Now, it is done through CafePress, and so I could have added a markup on the gear... but no... not yet, anway. We may in the future do so to help fund some UUMM projects and the like, but for right now, all of this is as low in price as I can make it.
So, check it out and show up on Sunday morning for Coffee Hour with a UU Military coffee cup, or wear a UU Miliary baseball cap at General Assembly!Oh, and Eric... I will get the coffee cup sent to you soon, I promise! As soon as mine gets here!
Yours in Faith,
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplaincy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
www.uumm.blogspot.com
Monday, February 05, 2007
Greetings everyone!
I was very excited to discover this blog - as far as I can tell I'm the only serviceman in my congregation so I really don't have anyone to discuss my experiences with. My wife and I have been members of our congregation for 14 months now and we are both very happy there. I've been sort of lost spiritually for several years after realizing that my agnosticism was not particularly fulfilling, and I've really found a home in UU. I was a bit apprehensive about how well I would fit in the congregation, knowing in advance that most UUs tend to be very liberal and have a strong anti-war stance. I don't consider myself a liberal in the modern understanding, but more of a classical liberal. I'm definitely a social libertarian, so many of the social justice activities of the UU dovetail nicely with my beliefs, but as a lifelong soldier (and infantryman too boot) I can hardly describe myself as a pacifist or anti-war. For the most part my congregation has been very welcoming, and usually the only response I get when I say I'm in the military is an expression of concern for my safety if I was deployed. What troubles me a bit is that I hear frequent denunciations of "militarism" and "warmongering" from both the pulpit and members of the congregation. Nothing seemingly directed towards me (and I get along quite famously with our minister) - but it still makes me a touch uncomfortable. Both the words militarism and warmongering are obviously pejorative, and I'm not 100% exactly what is meant by them - are they denunciations of an extreme, unnecessary use of military force - or the military and the use of force in general? I suppose I could simply ask my minister but frankly I feel a bit uncomfortable raising the issue directly - I certainly don't want to hurt anyones feelings of insult anyone by seeming to make accusations. Has anyone else felt this sort of tension? Am I overreacting (which I suspect I might be)?
Thanks,
Adrian
I was very excited to discover this blog - as far as I can tell I'm the only serviceman in my congregation so I really don't have anyone to discuss my experiences with. My wife and I have been members of our congregation for 14 months now and we are both very happy there. I've been sort of lost spiritually for several years after realizing that my agnosticism was not particularly fulfilling, and I've really found a home in UU. I was a bit apprehensive about how well I would fit in the congregation, knowing in advance that most UUs tend to be very liberal and have a strong anti-war stance. I don't consider myself a liberal in the modern understanding, but more of a classical liberal. I'm definitely a social libertarian, so many of the social justice activities of the UU dovetail nicely with my beliefs, but as a lifelong soldier (and infantryman too boot) I can hardly describe myself as a pacifist or anti-war. For the most part my congregation has been very welcoming, and usually the only response I get when I say I'm in the military is an expression of concern for my safety if I was deployed. What troubles me a bit is that I hear frequent denunciations of "militarism" and "warmongering" from both the pulpit and members of the congregation. Nothing seemingly directed towards me (and I get along quite famously with our minister) - but it still makes me a touch uncomfortable. Both the words militarism and warmongering are obviously pejorative, and I'm not 100% exactly what is meant by them - are they denunciations of an extreme, unnecessary use of military force - or the military and the use of force in general? I suppose I could simply ask my minister but frankly I feel a bit uncomfortable raising the issue directly - I certainly don't want to hurt anyones feelings of insult anyone by seeming to make accusations. Has anyone else felt this sort of tension? Am I overreacting (which I suspect I might be)?
Thanks,
Adrian
Welcome to another New Blogger
We would like to welcome Adrian Gunn to the UU's in the Military forum... Here is Adrian's information:
I'm an Army veteran and member of the Massachusetts Army NationalGuard, and a Unitarian-Universalist. My wife and I have been membersof the First United Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts for thepast 14 months, and I'm interested in joining your blog.
Thanks,
SGT Adrian Gunn
A TRP 1-182 CAV SQD
I'm an Army veteran and member of the Massachusetts Army NationalGuard, and a Unitarian-Universalist. My wife and I have been membersof the First United Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts for thepast 14 months, and I'm interested in joining your blog.
Thanks,
SGT Adrian Gunn
A TRP 1-182 CAV SQD
Friday, February 02, 2007
Welcome to a new blogger
Please everyone welcome a new blogger, James White. Here is the information that James sent us:
My name is James White and I am a UU stations at Ft. Hood, TX. My wife and I got to the UU Church in Waco. I am in the process of becoming a chaplain and would like to join your blog.
James
www.jamespaulwhite.com
Welcome to the Blog!
David
My name is James White and I am a UU stations at Ft. Hood, TX. My wife and I got to the UU Church in Waco. I am in the process of becoming a chaplain and would like to join your blog.
James
www.jamespaulwhite.com
Welcome to the Blog!
David
Monday, January 29, 2007
The Marines on PBS
On Wednesday, February 21st, PBS will air a documentary titled The Marines. Regardless of the editorial tone of the program, this is a good teaching opportunity. Our station lists the showing as 8:00 PM CST.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Unitarian Universalist Military Ministries
Hello everyone,
I am happy to announce a sister-blog to this one, one that can hopefully become a public face for our efforts to conduct ministry both within the military, and to military affiliated members of our congregations.
The new website can be found at http://uumm.blogspot.com/
Our goal with this site is to create a space where our UU Military Chaplains can have a place to make announcements, to share information, and to connect with the UUA at large on military issues. It also can serve as a space for information sharing for the nacent "UUA Committee on Military Ministry" that is being contemplated by an ongoing review of UU Military Chaplaincy endorsement and support. This site can also be a centralized webpresence for connection to UU Military Ministry projects such as the UUniforms project at the Unitarian Church of Norfolk, and the Great Lakes Ministry Project here in Chicago.
I have invited as contributors to the site all currrent and former serving UU Military Chaplains (that I know of), Chaplaincy Candidates (that's easy, its just me as far as I know right now) and representatives of all of the current UU projects of military outreach and ministry.
I decided to base this site in a blog so that multiple people could post articles and information to it without the need for an intermediary. This will help prevent the kind of problems that have occurred in the past with the last time a UU Military Ministry website was set up (Eric Johnson, if you read this, please contact me, I've been trying to reach you for about 18 months). This way there is no need to go through a difficult transfer of the site on a regular basis, and all any contributor needs to put information on the site is an internet connection.
So, if you are involved in a Military Ministry or outreach effort, and you have not received an invite from me, then please send an email to uumil@uublog.org . I would love to hear about your efforts, and possibly get an article about them on the site. And if you are a UU Military Chaplain or Chaplaincy Candidate and have not recieved an invite, then by all means please contact us. We are still in the process of making those connections.
Yours in Faith,
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplaincy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
http://uumm.blogspot.com/
I am happy to announce a sister-blog to this one, one that can hopefully become a public face for our efforts to conduct ministry both within the military, and to military affiliated members of our congregations.
The new website can be found at http://uumm.blogspot.com/
Our goal with this site is to create a space where our UU Military Chaplains can have a place to make announcements, to share information, and to connect with the UUA at large on military issues. It also can serve as a space for information sharing for the nacent "UUA Committee on Military Ministry" that is being contemplated by an ongoing review of UU Military Chaplaincy endorsement and support. This site can also be a centralized webpresence for connection to UU Military Ministry projects such as the UUniforms project at the Unitarian Church of Norfolk, and the Great Lakes Ministry Project here in Chicago.
I have invited as contributors to the site all currrent and former serving UU Military Chaplains (that I know of), Chaplaincy Candidates (that's easy, its just me as far as I know right now) and representatives of all of the current UU projects of military outreach and ministry.
I decided to base this site in a blog so that multiple people could post articles and information to it without the need for an intermediary. This will help prevent the kind of problems that have occurred in the past with the last time a UU Military Ministry website was set up (Eric Johnson, if you read this, please contact me, I've been trying to reach you for about 18 months). This way there is no need to go through a difficult transfer of the site on a regular basis, and all any contributor needs to put information on the site is an internet connection.
So, if you are involved in a Military Ministry or outreach effort, and you have not received an invite from me, then please send an email to uumil@uublog.org . I would love to hear about your efforts, and possibly get an article about them on the site. And if you are a UU Military Chaplain or Chaplaincy Candidate and have not recieved an invite, then by all means please contact us. We are still in the process of making those connections.
Yours in Faith,
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplaincy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
http://uumm.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 15, 2007
Welcome our Newest Blog members, and our technical problem has been fixed.
Greetings all!
Recently, Blogger moved all their membership accounts to Google, and that left us with a password problem that would not allow us to add any new members to the UU's in the Military Blog. We now have that fixed, and I would like to welcome the following new Bloggers. Here is their information...
Commander Randy Carol Balano, USNR
I started my military service in 1977, joining the Marine Corps Reserve right after high school. I transferred to the Navy Reserve in 1983, and earned a commission as an intelligence officer in 1987. I have served on active duty in Europe and did a two year tour as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. In addition to my reserve career, I am also a civilian employee of the Department of the Navy. My husband John is also a Navy veteran. We are both active members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, MD. Many members of our congregation have a connection with the military, either
having served themselves or having relatives who have served. I have had discussions with other members of our congregation about organizing some kind of a support program for military UUs and their
families, and perhaps extending it beyond the local congregation to the wider community. We started talking about this more than a year ago, but the timing was always problematic for one reason or another.
We hope to start planning and organizing in earnest after the holidays. I would welcome any ideas from other people who have or are trying to develop a program within their congregations.
Private Ethan Osborne, USMC
Hello my name is Ethan Osborne. I am a member of St. Johns Unitarian Universalist Church and consider myself a gnostic pantheist and am a member of CUUPs. I am leaving for Paris Island in feburary and wanted to be connected to unitarians in the Military.
And someone I know when he came to visit Meadville, Andrew Mertz
Andrew Mertz, Army National Guard vet, son of Vietnam vet, grandson of WWII vet, all UUs. I work for the UU Church of Arlington, Virginia. I am applying to Meadville-Lombard Theological School this winter.
My Question:
I met David Pyle at Meadville in October. He turned me onto this blog spot, and the "Founding the UU Military Fellowship" document. I have finally been able to sit down and read all of it. I was curious about where "we" are in the process it describes? I was not able to attend the 2005 GA discussion, but was wondering if the working group has taken any action beyond what I see on this blog and in the document?
Our Story:
I am keenly aware that our church has an undercurrent of "Defense" personnel. The National Guard Headquarters and Foreign Service Institute are literally across the street. Ft Myer 1.6 miles away, Pentagon 2.7 miles. Several of our members work for the DoD. I don't hesitate to say the majority of our congregation works for or is retired from the federal government or related contractors [DoD, State, EPA, CIA, Justice, Social Security Admin, Labor, Health and Human Services, etc]. The same is true for many of the congregations in the greater Washington area.
I often get the feeling that we just don't talk about that stuff. Obviously some of them can't like CIA and NSA employees, but that's not why. There is no out right contempt, but there is no support either.
My Story:
As I said the National Guard Headquarters is literally across the street and we have a sign posted "no national guard parking." I chuckled when I first visited the church 2.5 years ago for the job interview. See, being in the Virginia Army National Guard at the time my car had NG license plates, and still does. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone left a note under my wiper, or told the office there was "another Guardsman parking in our lot."
A few days ago it happened. A church member gave a note to the church office that the same car with guard plates has been parking in our lot for the entire week "in blatant disregard of our policy." Obviously this member thought I was working for the NG across the street and was parking here because of a lack of spaces, which is somewhat common. Apparently not noticing the fact that I have been parking in the church parking lot 6 days a week for the past 2 years. I even have our famous blue "Uncommon Denomination" bumper sticker, and UUSC decal. Anyway, I chuckled again when I heard the news. Our facility manager told the member it was an employee and was OK. But I just can't stop thinking about the motivations behind this member who was blind to the obvious.
Wade
USAF Civil Engineer
Member of Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists (although I will start a 10 month stint at Ft. Leavenworth KS (no, not like that) for Command and General Staff College, on 16 Jan 07)). Hoping to attend and volunteer with the All Souls Church in Kansas City, KS.
We welcome you all, finally, to the UU"s in the Military Blog!
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplancy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Recently, Blogger moved all their membership accounts to Google, and that left us with a password problem that would not allow us to add any new members to the UU's in the Military Blog. We now have that fixed, and I would like to welcome the following new Bloggers. Here is their information...
Commander Randy Carol Balano, USNR
I started my military service in 1977, joining the Marine Corps Reserve right after high school. I transferred to the Navy Reserve in 1983, and earned a commission as an intelligence officer in 1987. I have served on active duty in Europe and did a two year tour as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. In addition to my reserve career, I am also a civilian employee of the Department of the Navy. My husband John is also a Navy veteran. We are both active members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, MD. Many members of our congregation have a connection with the military, either
having served themselves or having relatives who have served. I have had discussions with other members of our congregation about organizing some kind of a support program for military UUs and their
families, and perhaps extending it beyond the local congregation to the wider community. We started talking about this more than a year ago, but the timing was always problematic for one reason or another.
We hope to start planning and organizing in earnest after the holidays. I would welcome any ideas from other people who have or are trying to develop a program within their congregations.
Private Ethan Osborne, USMC
Hello my name is Ethan Osborne. I am a member of St. Johns Unitarian Universalist Church and consider myself a gnostic pantheist and am a member of CUUPs. I am leaving for Paris Island in feburary and wanted to be connected to unitarians in the Military.
And someone I know when he came to visit Meadville, Andrew Mertz
Andrew Mertz, Army National Guard vet, son of Vietnam vet, grandson of WWII vet, all UUs. I work for the UU Church of Arlington, Virginia. I am applying to Meadville-Lombard Theological School this winter.
My Question:
I met David Pyle at Meadville in October. He turned me onto this blog spot, and the "Founding the UU Military Fellowship" document. I have finally been able to sit down and read all of it. I was curious about where "we" are in the process it describes? I was not able to attend the 2005 GA discussion, but was wondering if the working group has taken any action beyond what I see on this blog and in the document?
Our Story:
I am keenly aware that our church has an undercurrent of "Defense" personnel. The National Guard Headquarters and Foreign Service Institute are literally across the street. Ft Myer 1.6 miles away, Pentagon 2.7 miles. Several of our members work for the DoD. I don't hesitate to say the majority of our congregation works for or is retired from the federal government or related contractors [DoD, State, EPA, CIA, Justice, Social Security Admin, Labor, Health and Human Services, etc]. The same is true for many of the congregations in the greater Washington area.
I often get the feeling that we just don't talk about that stuff. Obviously some of them can't like CIA and NSA employees, but that's not why. There is no out right contempt, but there is no support either.
My Story:
As I said the National Guard Headquarters is literally across the street and we have a sign posted "no national guard parking." I chuckled when I first visited the church 2.5 years ago for the job interview. See, being in the Virginia Army National Guard at the time my car had NG license plates, and still does. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone left a note under my wiper, or told the office there was "another Guardsman parking in our lot."
A few days ago it happened. A church member gave a note to the church office that the same car with guard plates has been parking in our lot for the entire week "in blatant disregard of our policy." Obviously this member thought I was working for the NG across the street and was parking here because of a lack of spaces, which is somewhat common. Apparently not noticing the fact that I have been parking in the church parking lot 6 days a week for the past 2 years. I even have our famous blue "Uncommon Denomination" bumper sticker, and UUSC decal. Anyway, I chuckled again when I heard the news. Our facility manager told the member it was an employee and was OK. But I just can't stop thinking about the motivations behind this member who was blind to the obvious.
Wade
USAF Civil Engineer
Member of Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists (although I will start a 10 month stint at Ft. Leavenworth KS (no, not like that) for Command and General Staff College, on 16 Jan 07)). Hoping to attend and volunteer with the All Souls Church in Kansas City, KS.
We welcome you all, finally, to the UU"s in the Military Blog!
David Pyle
2LT, USAR Chaplancy Candidate
Student, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Friday, January 05, 2007
America's Holy Warriors
From UU seminary grad, journalist, and author Chris Hedges:
Read the rest of the article here.
The drive by the Christian right to take control of military chaplaincies, which now sees radical Christians holding roughly 50 percent of chaplaincy appointments in the armed services and service academies, is part of a much larger effort to politicize the military and law enforcement. This effort signals the final and perhaps most deadly stage in the long campaign by the radical Christian right to dismantle America’s open society and build a theocratic state. A successful politicization of the military would signal the end of our democracy.
Read the rest of the article here.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
War Widow Wins Fight To Put Pentacle On Headstone
(AP) WASHINGTON The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan saw a Wiccan symbol placed on a memorial plaque for her husband Saturday, after fighting the federal government for more than a year over the emblem.
Roberta Stewart, widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, and Wiccan leaders said it was the first government-issued memorial plaque with a Wiccan pentacle — a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle. More than 50 friends and family dedicated the plaque at Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery, about 30 miles east of Reno.
They praised Gov. Kenny Guinn for his role in getting the Nevada Office of Veterans Services to issue the plaque in September. The agency cited its jurisdiction over maintenance of the state cemetery.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes more than 30 symbols, including more than a dozen variations of the Christian cross and the atomic whirl used by atheists, but not the pentacle.
VA officials have said they are rewriting rules for approving emblems, but the process requires a public comment period.
Last month, Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the VA on behalf of Stewart and others for its refusal to include the Wiccan emblem.
"Our people are on the front line in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's not right they're not getting equal treatment," said the Rev. Selena Fox, one of the Wiccan organizers of the event.
About 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics. Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo-pagans.
Stewart and four other soldiers died Sept. 25, 2005, when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
The available VA "emblems of belief" include Unitarian, Humanist, Atheist, and a lot of others I've never heard of.
Roberta Stewart, widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, and Wiccan leaders said it was the first government-issued memorial plaque with a Wiccan pentacle — a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle. More than 50 friends and family dedicated the plaque at Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery, about 30 miles east of Reno.
They praised Gov. Kenny Guinn for his role in getting the Nevada Office of Veterans Services to issue the plaque in September. The agency cited its jurisdiction over maintenance of the state cemetery.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes more than 30 symbols, including more than a dozen variations of the Christian cross and the atomic whirl used by atheists, but not the pentacle.
VA officials have said they are rewriting rules for approving emblems, but the process requires a public comment period.
Last month, Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the VA on behalf of Stewart and others for its refusal to include the Wiccan emblem.
"Our people are on the front line in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's not right they're not getting equal treatment," said the Rev. Selena Fox, one of the Wiccan organizers of the event.
About 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics. Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo-pagans.
Stewart and four other soldiers died Sept. 25, 2005, when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
The available VA "emblems of belief" include Unitarian, Humanist, Atheist, and a lot of others I've never heard of.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Show Them You Care!
You've hear it right? Maybe even said it "We support the troops, even if we disagree with the war."
Thanksgiving comes next week with Yule, Hanukkah, and Christmas right around the corner.
When I think about our Service Members so far away from home and family it makes me want to do something for them.
I have decided to adopt a service member from eCarePackage. If I can send one of them a CD or book, or something else to make their lives a little better, let them know there is someone back here that they do not know but who loves, prays, and cares for them all the same.
Really it is the least I can do. This is a brand new web site, and it looks like there is not a ton of people signed up yet... Hopefully that will change soon.
Here is some info from the eCarePackage website
eCarePackage was established as a program of the nonprofit organization, Operation Homefront, in response to requests from service members, military families, and our outstanding and loyal donors.
Due to heightened security, Operation Homefront staff came up with this program as a way to allow patriotic citizens to continue to support our service members and their families without violating their safety and security.
For security purposes, the contact information of service members and families who sign up are never released to anyone, including donors who wish to adopt them. Instead, Operation Homefront ships the packages directly and permits communication only by email. We trust our donors will understand.
All items available in the eCarePackage store are listed based on a minimum requested donation amount to cover administering the program and shipping of the package.
Because many of these items are donated, our staff may substitute like items of different brands and package sizes in some cases on your orders.
Any funds remaining after covering costs will be used by Operation Homefront to help military families in need.
We appreciate your generosity and thank you for your support!
You can also adopt a military family and choose between with or without children. I hope to choose some husband or wife without children, they deserve our support too.
Until Then, and Always
~ Jamie
If you are a same-sex partner of a deployed military member and need someone to speak to, or would just like something small but heartfelt for the holidays... and you are comfortable sharing your shipping address, please email me.
In case you missed it.. http://www.ecarepackage.org/
Thanksgiving comes next week with Yule, Hanukkah, and Christmas right around the corner.
When I think about our Service Members so far away from home and family it makes me want to do something for them.
I have decided to adopt a service member from eCarePackage. If I can send one of them a CD or book, or something else to make their lives a little better, let them know there is someone back here that they do not know but who loves, prays, and cares for them all the same.
Really it is the least I can do. This is a brand new web site, and it looks like there is not a ton of people signed up yet... Hopefully that will change soon.
Here is some info from the eCarePackage website
eCarePackage was established as a program of the nonprofit organization, Operation Homefront, in response to requests from service members, military families, and our outstanding and loyal donors.
Due to heightened security, Operation Homefront staff came up with this program as a way to allow patriotic citizens to continue to support our service members and their families without violating their safety and security.
For security purposes, the contact information of service members and families who sign up are never released to anyone, including donors who wish to adopt them. Instead, Operation Homefront ships the packages directly and permits communication only by email. We trust our donors will understand.
All items available in the eCarePackage store are listed based on a minimum requested donation amount to cover administering the program and shipping of the package.
Because many of these items are donated, our staff may substitute like items of different brands and package sizes in some cases on your orders.
Any funds remaining after covering costs will be used by Operation Homefront to help military families in need.
We appreciate your generosity and thank you for your support!
You can also adopt a military family and choose between with or without children. I hope to choose some husband or wife without children, they deserve our support too.
Until Then, and Always
~ Jamie
If you are a same-sex partner of a deployed military member and need someone to speak to, or would just like something small but heartfelt for the holidays... and you are comfortable sharing your shipping address, please email me.
In case you missed it.. http://www.ecarepackage.org/
Friday, November 10, 2006
Honoring our UU Veterans
Honoring our Unitarian Universalist Veterans
By F. Vernon Chandler
Veterans Day, originally established as Armistice Day in 1926, is the official holiday when the United States honors our men and women who are veterans. The holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all US veterans.
Recognizing and honoring the military service of members in our Unitarian Universalist congregations are not high priorities for many of our churches and fellowships. But there are literally hundreds of Unitarian Universalists in our nation's armed forces today, and chances are that someone sitting near you on Sunday morning was once in uniform.
I suspect that many Unitarian Universalist veterans feel some awkwardness in sharing this distinction with other UUs on Veterans Day. Given the number of veterans who are members of our religious faith, I can't help wishing our Veterans Day observances were different.
Our veterans' military experiences are varied. Some enjoyed peacetime service. Others were touched by the horrors of combat. A few continue to carry physical and emotional scars from their wartime service. For some veterans, it was their military experience that initiated the religious search that eventually brought them to Unitarian Universalism. I know a few current and former military personnel who actually discovered Unitarian Universalism while in uniform. After all, we have UU chaplains in all branches of military service and a few of our larger military installations have UU congregations that meet in military chapels.
Political opinions vary among those in uniform as it does among civilians. One big difference for our men and women in uniform is that they do not have the same freedom to express their opinions publicly as do other citizens. The tempo of military deployments today places a great strain on our military personnel and their families. I have friends and colleagues who are on their second one year deployment in less than 4 years.
On this Veterans Day weekend, I encourage Unitarian Universalists to honor the veterans and military personnel in their congregations. Regardless of your political views regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our members of the armed forces do not start wars nor do they dictate foreign policy.
Our Unitarian Universalist military personnel need your support... and your love.
Expressing that support could be as simple as lighting a candle for your veterans on Sunday morning. Or you might consider offering time in your worship service for individual veterans to stand and share a special memory or lesson in life that was gained from military service. Hearing what our Unitarian Universalist veterans have to say and share just might be more powerful than any sermon preached from your congregation's pulpit!
This year, when you see Veterans Day flags flying in your towns, no matter what your feelings are about this or any war, my fondest hope is that you will remember our UU veterans and UU military personnel. Remember them and reach out to them in love, extending the olive branch of acceptance and respect that our UU faith calls us to embrace each day.
The Rev. Dr. F. Vernon Chandler is a Unitarian Universalist minister and has served for over 32 years as a UU military chaplain. His overseas active duty assignments include tours of duty in Bosnia, Germany, Hungary, Korea, and Kosovo. He holds the rank of Colonel in the US Army Reserve. Vernon and his wife Nataliya reside in Eberstadt, Germany.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Another new Blogger...
Wow, interest really seems to be picking up!
I would like to welcome our newest Blogger, Frank Coon...
Here is his information
I'm Frank Coon and I am a twenty-year Navy Lieutenant (LDO) stationed at the Naval Reactors Representative's Office in Bremerton, WA. My family and I are active members of Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church in Bainbridge Island, WA. I would love to join this blog.
Thanks,
Frank
I would like to welcome our newest Blogger, Frank Coon...
Here is his information
I'm Frank Coon and I am a twenty-year Navy Lieutenant (LDO) stationed at the Naval Reactors Representative's Office in Bremerton, WA. My family and I are active members of Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church in Bainbridge Island, WA. I would love to join this blog.
Thanks,
Frank
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