Transformation, Collective Wisdom and You by Nancy King Smith, Co-chair, UUMFE Board

The new UU Ministry for Earth is intending to be a connector supporting and inspiring individuals, congregations, ministers, UUA leadership and staff, and other UU organizations to lift up voices for Earth from within our denomination. From its beginnings in 1999 as the Seventh Principle Project, UUMFE has sought to both influence UU’s at all levels to make the Seventh Principle (respect for the interdependent we of which we are all a part), more central to their lives and theology. A step in that direction was the gift of UUMFE’s Green Sanctuary Program to the UUA, thus making Earth care more mainstream within the Association. We now feel called to continue serving as the leading edge of UU environmental theology, practice and justice by collecting the wisdom and experience of all sectors of Unitarian Universalism and making it available to individuals, congregations, Districts and the Association.

In order to meet this new calling, we know we need to transform the way we operate to take advantage of current technology that allows for the sharing of information and its dissemination in new ways. Thus, we are revamping our website to be a place where resources can be shared and created for everyone’s use. We will be changing our staffing model to give us the support that will be needed to implement this vision. We are asking you to help us by sharing your expertise and stories. So, we invite you to collaborate on the new Environmental Justice Guide by responding to the request on Page 6 to help review and add to this publication. As we continue our transformation we will be inviting you to participate in more ways to build the wisdom and voice of earth care within the UUA and in the larger world.