Podcasts about starr king school

In this deeply moving Season 7 finale episode, we honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake, beloved faculty member, mentor, tireless advocate for justice, and prophetic voice in the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) community and beyond, who passed away in March 2025. Dr. Blake first came to PSR in 1968, during a time of national upheaval that he often compared to our own. Inspired by personal encounters with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders, he pursued a theological education rooted in justice, compassion, and community. After graduating in 1971, he remained deeply connected to PSR, through transformative teaching that spanned more than five decades, serving as Professor of Leadership and Social Transformation at Pacific School of Religion (PSR) as well as Dean of the Faculty at Starr King School for Ministry and pastor at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, founded by his mentor, Dr. Howard Thurman. We celebrate his lasting impact through the voices of community members who share personal reflections and memories of Dr. Blake, exploring the divine synchronicity that brought him into their lives and the profound impact he had on theological education and social justice movements. The episode closes with a powerful question to each guest: What action will you take in the world because of Dr. Blake's friendship, ministry, and justice work? Their answers reflect the enduring call to carry forward his legacy, one rooted in love, integrity, and fierce commitment to justice.Featured Voices:Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy – President of PSR, shares how Dr. Blake became a mentor and colleague who shaped the vision of theological education through both word and action, including the anonymous co-creation of a visionary pamphlet on communal learning.Rev. Janet Wolf – Reflects on her partnership with Dr. Blake in the Freedom Seminary and his commitment to children-centered theology and nonviolent social change through the National Council of Elders.Dr. Leonard McMahon – Honors Dr. Blake's unwavering encouragement of students, his courageous vulnerability, and his mentorship during doctoral studies.Dr. Jim Lawrence – Speaks to Dr. Blake's embodiment of the spiritual legacy of Howard Thurman and his powerful preaching ministry that bridged intellect and soul.Rev. Elena Rose Vera – Shares her experience as a student and spiritual daughter of Dr. Blake, lifting up his humility, deep integrity, and transformative support during her journey as a trans woman of color in ministry.In Loving Memory:Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake1946 – 2025"Well done, good and faithful servant."To get more content like this and learn more about ignite and PSR go to psr.edu.

Rev. Theresa “Rivka” Gevurtz is an interfaith minister, chaplain and spiritual director, ordained through The Chaplaincy Institute in 2018 and earning her MDiv. at Starr King School for the Ministry in 2019.  Rivka's area of focus is addressing the ways religious wounding impacts not only the queer community, but the society at large.  Her ministry is influenced by the social justice commitment of her Jewish tradition, faith-based advocacy for the LGBTQ community, as well as by the contemplative and mystical traditions and Reiki energy healing.  She is available for companioning your spiritual journey, celebrating life's liminal and lifecycle moments, and holding sacred witness as you make meaning of your life. Connect with Rivka: Website: https://shelterforthespirit.com Email: rivka@shelterforthespirit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revrivka/  Facebook:  Shelter For The Spirit | Facebook YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQAf2wgdssjo1Pla_8ZVlw  ✨Connect with Colleen and Robyn  Classes: https://reikilifestyle.com/classes-page/ FREE Distance Reiki Share: https://reikilifestyle.com/community/  Podcast: https://reikilifestyle.com/podcast/ (available on all major platforms too) Website: https://reikilifestyle.com/ Colleen Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReikiLifestyle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reikilifestyleofficialempo Robyn Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynbenellireiki Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robynbenellireiki **DISCLAIMER** This episode is not a substitute for seeking professional medical care but is offered for relaxation and stress reduction which support the body's natural healing capabilities. Reiki is a complement to and never a replacement for professional medical care. Colleen and Robyn are not licensed professional health care providers and urge you to always seek out the appropriate physical and mental help professional health care providers may offer. Results vary by individual.

The guest preacher is Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry.   Now that the worst has begun, what is our task as free religious people? Before we can decide, we must understand how trauma shapes our decision making – and the real difference faith can make. 

Interview begins: 3:40 In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, Dr. John Price hosts Ayize Jama-Everett for a discussion on spirituality, religion, cultural identity, and the pervasive impact of colonization. Ayize shares insights from his journey, beginning with how his roots in Harlem and his work within the psychedelic space have shaped his perspective on community, healing, and cultural reclamation. Together, they examine how long-established cultural dynamics continue to influence our lives, often without our conscious awareness. Ayize discusses his efforts to influence these dynamics at a cultural level, reflecting on religious and spiritual practices as tools for both personal and collective transformation. They also explore the complexities of whiteness—not only as a cultural identity shaped by colonization but as an orientation that often perpetuates colonizing behaviors toward other cultures. Ayize shares the purpose behind his documentary, A Table of Our Own, which aims to expand access to healing practices for Black people and to highlight the important work already being done within these communities. The project seeks to de-stigmatize these substances, reframing them as natural balms that have served as spiritual and psychological support for Black people over millennia. The conversation touches on Black joy, the importance of reconnecting with land-based spiritual practices, and the need to decolonize healing spaces. Ayize's reflections offer a fresh lens on the healing power of connection, inspiring listeners to consider how we might engage in reclaiming and honoring our spiritual and cultural roots. Bio: Ayize Jama-Everett holds three Master's degrees: Divinity, Psychology, and in Fine Arts, Writing. He blends these degrees in all his work, often identifying as a guerilla theologian, a community-based therapist, and an afro-futurist in the same breath. He's taught at Starr King School for the Ministry, California College of the Arts, The University of California, Riverside, Western Colorado College, and several private High schools for over twenty years. His expertise includes working with adolescents, the history of substance use in the United States, the history of Sacred Plant medicines in the Maghreb, the religious roots of political violence from Ireland to the Middle East, educational arts pedagogy, and Afrofuturism. He's published four novels (The Liminal series) and two graphic novels (Box of Bones and The Last Count of Monte Cristo). www.atableofourown.org Website for The Sacred Speaks: www.thesacredspeaks.com/ WATCH: YouTube for The Sacred Speaks www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/ @thesacredspeaks Twitter: twitter.com/thesacredspeaks Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesacredspeaks/ Brought to you by: www.thecenterforhas.com/ Theme music provided by: www.modernnationsmusic.com/

Worship service given May 26, 2024 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Yvette McDonnell, Interfaith Chaplain and Spiritual Companion Ritualist, inspires with stories of sowing seeds of change and nurturing a summer garden. Yvette (she/her) is an Interfaith Chaplain who has dedicated her life to helping others. She earned her Master's degree in Social Change from Starr King School for Ministry, with certificates in Chaplaincy and Interfaith Studies. Yvette's ministry is centered around love, healing, and an intuitive understanding of ancestral wisdom that honors the many ways of knowing in the world. Her background in Social Justice helps her support those who have been marginalized by society and companion those who are interested in exploring their biases. Yvette is an educator, Spiritual Companion Ritualist and proprietor of Soul Tapestry LLC. She encourages people to breathe slowly and savor each moment, so that they can bring integrated awareness into their lives. Yvette specializes in guiding people who are interested in creating rituals to guide, protect, celebrate, and mourn the many aspects of life. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center. This Sunday half of the offering supports the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston's healthcare and community landscape.  The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

https://www.chaplaincyinnovation.org https://www.sankofacpe.org What does it mean to provide spiritual care to people who are unhoused and locally incarcerated? Join the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab for a conversation with Chaplain Charlotte Cramer, founder of Temple of the Forgotten. Chaplain Cramer provides spiritual care to those who are unhoused and locally incarcerated in Marin County, California. Temple of the Forgotten is a non-denominational spiritual community that equips local organizations to build professional and community-based spiritual care for those living in the institutions of poverty, homelessness and county-level incarceration. We thank Sankofa CPE for their support of this webinar. Accredited by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education to offer Level I and Level II Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Units, Sankofa offers innovative, unique CPE programming that features online CPE groups, African-centered curriculums, LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, along with social justice-oriented and digital ministry clinical site placements. Learn more at sankofacpe.org. Charlotte Cramer is an ordained Interfaith Minister and Chaplain with her Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry, a Certificate in Chaplaincy from The Chaplaincy Institute, and four units of Clinical Pastoral Education from The Shaw Chaplaincy Institute. She works as a street minister with The Street Chaplaincy in San Rafael, Marin County, CA, providing spiritual care for the many unhoused folks currently living in the city. Rev. Charlotte also works in Marin County Jail, providing direct spiritual care to inmates (with a list of at least 10-16 clients) and leads weekly tarot card reading group sessions. Prior to this work, Rev. Charlotte worked in family ministries for a UU congregation, lived in and managed a retreat center in Costa Rica, and lived in a spiritual community in Nevada City, CA. Rev. Charlotte has been studying, both personally and academically, inter-spiritual mystical experience, deep listening, non-ordinary states of consciousness and death/dying for over 5 years. She has a deep passion for spirituality, caring for the human soul, and for her calling as a street minister. Rev. Charlotte lives in San Anselmo, CA, with her little puppy dog, Willie, and spends her free time in nature, practicing jiu jitsu, and going to ecstatic dance.

"This is a spiritual test, this is a spiritual war, as much as it is a material one. People say, ‘As above, so below.' How we are interfacing with the physical realities of this moment, the ways that we are leveraging our daily energy are either making us complicit with life's desecration or helping us to affirm life and the spirit of resistance. The battle that we are in is right now!"— Layla K. Feghali on the violence in Gaza, Sounds of SAND, Ep. #76We are now over four months into a worsening genocide in Gaza — with over 30,000 murdered and over 2 million now enduring military-enforced famine enacted by Israel, the US, and their global allies. There is no way a 90-minute teaching can impact the depth of sorrow, injustice, betrayal, and state-sponsored violence unfolding in Palestine. And yet, we share a moral obligation to resist the life-desecrating forces at work. In this gathering, our three guests share of their personal attempts as Earth-honoring ritualists and educators to embody core values and take tangible action in a time of genocide. Calls to Action to Support these GoFundMe Campaigns: SAND's GoFundMe to help Amina & her family Layla Feghali's connection to Ahmed Al Munirawi's campaign Layla Feghali's connection to Reem Shaheen's campaign Guests:Daniel Foor is a doctor of psychology, experienced ritualist, and the author of Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing. He is a practicing Muslim and initiate in the Òrìṣà tradition of Yoruba-speaking West Africa who has also learned from Mahayan Buddhism and the older ways of his English and German ancestors. Daniel was a U.S. Fulbright scholar in Cairo, Egypt as a student of Arabic language, and he is passionate about generational healing and training leaders and change makers in the intersections of cultural healing, animist ethics, and applied ritual arts. He lives with his wife and daughters near his adoptive home of Granada, Spain in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Taya Mâ Shere is a ritual artist embracing embodied, earth-honoring devotion as liberatory spiritual practice. She serves as a professor of Organic Multi-Religious Ritual at Starr King School for the Ministry and co-weaves Makam Shekhina, a Jewish and Sufi Muslim multi-religious community committed to counter-oppressive spiritual practice. Taya Mâ hosts the acclaimed podcast, Jewish Ancestral Healing and The Sarah & Hajar Series: Sacred Practice and Possibility at the Intersections of Judaism and Islam. She is currently tending Ceasefire movement chaplaincy and From the Deep, an emergent mystery school of earth-reverent ritual and counter-oppressive devotion. She co-founded the Kohenet movement and is co-author of The Hebrew Priestess: Ancient and New Visions of Jewish Women's Spiritual Leadership. Her five albums of sacred chant have been heralded as “cutting-edge mystic medicine music.”Layla K. Feghali is an ethnobotanist, cultural worker, and author who lives between her ancestral village in Lebanon and her diasporic home in California, where she was born and raised. Her dedication is the stewardship of our earth's eco-cultural integrity and the many layers of relational restoration, systemic reckoning, and healing that entails. Feghali offers a line of plantcestral medicine and other culturally-rooted offerings, with an emphasis on Southwest Asia and its diasporas. Her recent book, The Land in Our Bones, documents cultural herbal and healing knowledge from Syria to the Sinai, while interrogating colonialism and its lingering wounds on the culture of our displaced world. Topics: 00:00:00 — Introduction 00:05:43 — Daniel Foor 00:21:44 — Taya Mâ Shere 00:35:44 — Layla K. Feghali 01:00:28 — Guided Practice 01:10:22 — Questions from the Event Chat 01:20:29 — Yeye Luisha Teish 01:23:48 — Closing Statements Support the mission of SAND the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

"Storm Warning" Sunday, February 18, 10:50 am, 2024 It's a fraught time in our nation, especially because it's an election year. On this President's Day weekend, how might we read more clearly the crucial signs of our time? And how might our faith be a source of strength, not only for ourselves but for others? Starr King School for the Ministry is commemorating its long-standing connection with the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco! President Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt will provide an inspiring sermon, followed by refreshments at an after-service reception in the Chapel, which will include the debut of our new campaign film. We look forward to seeing you there! Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Guest Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Sonya Sukalski, Sabbatical Minister; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Sam King, Vice Moderator; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Nancy Munn, Morgen Warner, Akane Ota, Ben Rudiak-Gould, Andrew Kessler, Maggie McGrann, Soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Alex Schofield, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Storm Warning" Sunday, February 18, 10:50 am, 2024 It's a fraught time in our nation, especially because it's an election year. On this President's Day weekend, how might we read more clearly the crucial signs of our time? And how might our faith be a source of strength, not only for ourselves but for others? Starr King School for the Ministry is commemorating its long-standing connection with the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco! President Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt will provide an inspiring sermon, followed by refreshments at an after-service reception in the Chapel, which will include the debut of our new campaign film. We look forward to seeing you there! Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Guest Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Sonya Sukalski, Sabbatical Minister; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Sam King, Vice Moderator; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Director; Nancy Munn, Morgen Warner, Akane Ota, Ben Rudiak-Gould, Andrew Kessler, Maggie McGrann, Soloists; Wm. García Ganz, pianist Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Alex Schofield, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

Ayize Jama-Everett holds three Master's degrees: Divinity, Psychology, and in Fine Arts, Writing. He blends these degrees in all his work, often identifying as a guerilla theologian, a community-based therapist, and an afro-futurist in the same breath. He's taught at Starr King School for the Ministry, California College of the Arts, The University of California, Riverside, Western Colorado College, and several private High schools for over twenty years. His expertise includes working with adolescents, the history of substance use in the United States, the history of Sacred Plant medicines in the Maghreb, the religious roots of political violence from Ireland to the Middle East, educational arts pedagogy, and Afrofuturism. He's published four novels (The Liminal series )and two graphic novels(Box of Bones and The last Count of Monte Cristo). As an associate professor at Starr King, he teaches The Sacred and the Substance, a course that examines the role of consciousness altering plants in religions around the world. He also coordinates the Psychedelics and the Seminary lecture series for Starr King, which invites luminaries from the Psychedelic world to discuss their orientations to faith and religion. Ayize is the producer of a documentary about Black people and psychedelics entitled A Table of Our Own. His shorter works can be found in the LA Review of Books, The Believer, and Racebaitr. He is a Board member of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, leading their initiative to look at the role of psychedelics in the mental health of People of color and poor people. Ayize also serves as a board member to Access to Doorways, a non-profit committed to increasing the number of Queer and BIPOC people involved in psychedelics at every stage. In addition, he serves as a board-level advisor to Psychedelics Today, focusing on their VITAL psychedelics training program. He's also served in an advising capacity at UC Berkeley Center for psychedelic science, has been a guest lecturer at the California Institute of Integral Studies Psychedelic Therapies and research center, and was a featured speaker at Stanford's first Psychedelics and design symposium. A Table of Our Own is a groundbreaking documentary about Black People and Psychedelics/Plant Medicine. Although Ayize wears many hats, from therapist to writer to professor, filmmaking was not something he ever saw himself doing. He shares about the process of seeing this project through, including the fact that no major psychedelic organizations put forth support to make it happen. Through discussion of one of his books, Box of Bones, the topic of stories arises - who gets to tell the stories, and why? The cornerstone of therapy is, what stories are you telling yourself, and why? Stories always reinforce a narrative. Adjacent to this and the discussion of evil, Ayize pushes back on the “hurt people hurt people” trope - not all hurt people hurt people. Some hurt people hurt people, some hurt people protect people, help people, say “never again, I'm not going to let that happen to me or anyone else.” During and following this conversation, I find myself reflecting on the position of privilege that is to take a stance that evil does not exist. In the context of harms in community, Ayize puts forth that people who want to avoid conflict will ask what was going on for that person who caused harm? You get to ask the question because you haven't been hurt. The conversation winds down with a tip of the hat to speaking the truth, and all of the people who have come together to birth A Table of Our Own. Links: A Table of Our Own Ayize's writing Therapy/psychospiritual work with Ayize A Table of Our Own on IG “The greatest tool the colonizer has is the mind of the colonized” - Franz Fanon

An Interview with Mushim Patricia IkedaMushim Patricia Ikeda is a Buddhist teacher ordained in the Korean Sŏn (Zen) tradition. She is also an author, poet, mentor, and community activist.  She teaches meditation retreats for people of color, women, and social justice activists nationally and is a meditation teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in downtown Oakland.  She was a board member of the San Francisco Zen Center.  In September 2015 she received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Starr King School for the Ministry.  As an author, her writing has been published in Lion's Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. Mushim is also a consultant to justice-centered organizations requesting mindfulness training for stress reduction and is often asked to give trainings on disability and access-informed mindfulness.More on Mushim:- http://www.mushimikeda.com/More on Simplicity Zen Podcast: - https://simplicityzen.com/

In this interview from the 2023 Mystics Summit, Omid Safi joins Taya Ma for a conversation about Rumi, his main teachings, and how he's situated on the wider Path of Radical Love.This interview is part of the 2023 Mystics Summit a free online event. For more information, please visit mysticssummit.com. This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved.In this episode, Omid Safi and Taya Mâ talk about:Rumi's background and why his real legacy is more than just his poetry, it's his beingHow the Path of Radical Love keeps us rooted and grounded, and how we can cultivate those rootsPractices that can guide us towards onenessHow we can interpret Rumi's work both on its own accord and through the context of the time in which it was writtenAbout Taya MâTaya Mâ Shere plays passionately in realms of transformative ritual, embodied vocalization, and ancestral healing. She is a professor of organic multireligious ritual at Starr King School for the Ministry, founder of the emergent online mystery school From the Deep, and co-founder of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute. Learn more about her at taya.maYou can join Omid on one of his heart-centered and spiritually-focused educational tours of:Mecca and Medina Umrah program: December 14-21st, 2023. [For Muslim participants]Morocco: April 13-22nd, 2024.Turkey: somewhere in late May to early June, 2024.More information is available at Illuminated Courses & Tours.“Approach the teachings of the Path of Love, or of Islam, or of Sufism, or whatever tradition it is that draws you closer to God, in an interactive model. Don't look at it purely and simply as receiving the teaching, but also keep a journal of your responses to the teachings, to the stories. And when something touches your heart, write that down. And write down what it was and what it made you think because sometimes those momentary realizations are like a lightning bolt in a dark sky, and for one minute everything is clear. You see your own self clearly, and then it may be gone.” – Omid SafiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"WEAV: What is it?" Sunday, July 16, 10:50 am This past Spring, UUSF piloted a new program from Starr King School of the Ministry, WEAV. What is this program and how does it help with our 8th principle work? Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Sam King, Worship Associate; Jayanti Chapot, Reflection; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia, Reflection; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Michael Mandrell, guitarist; Richard Fey, songleader Alicia Cover, Order of Service; Shulee Ong & Eric Shackelford, Livestream Cameras; Eric Wood (Desired Effect), Audio; Tom Brookshire, Live Chat Moderator; Matias Salazar & Tony Miller, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"WEAV: What is it?" Sunday, July 16, 10:50 am This past Spring, UUSF piloted a new program from Starr King School of the Ministry, WEAV. What is this program and how does it help with our 8th principle work? Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Sam King, Worship Associate; Jayanti Chapot, Reflection; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia, Reflection; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Michael Mandrell, guitarist; Richard Fey, songleader Alicia Cover, Order of Service; Shulee Ong & Eric Shackelford, Livestream Cameras; Eric Wood (Desired Effect), Audio; Tom Brookshire, Live Chat Moderator; Matias Salazar & Tony Miller, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

In this episode of the Hope and Heresy podcast, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are joined by Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond, Co-Moderators of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), to discuss the question at the heart this season of the podcast: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? In this episode, we phrased the question a bit differently, asking, "If you could wave a magic wand and fix or change one thing about the world, what would it be?"Our hosts and guests discuss the power of approaching with curiosity and saying "yes," the importance of uplifting marginalized voices in our communities, the necessity of reforming our policing system, and more. About this week's guests: Rev. Meg Riley, a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, was raised in congregations in Charleston, West Virginia, and Akron, Ohio. After serving for 38 years as a religious professional in a variety of capacities, Rev. Riley retired in the summer of 2020. She now serves, with Charles DuMond, as co-moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association. She lives in Minneapolis, nestled in with her family, animals, gardens, deep friendships, and a vibrant activist community. She is also the editor of Testimony: The Transformative Power of Unitarian Universalism.A lay leader who came to Unitarian Universalism from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Charles Du Mond, for many years, described himself as a Quaker who belonged to a UU Church. Now, he is simply a Unitarian Universalist.He joined the UUs of San Mateo in 1993. He has served on its Board of Trustees, holding all the leadership positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. He taught religious education (RE), including every Our Whole Lives (OWL) level from kindergarten to high school, facilitated the Beloved Conversations curriculum three times, led a capital campaign, participated in a Ministerial Search Committee, and developed and led Sunday Services.Beyond his local congregation, he served on the UUA Pacific Central District Board, District Presidents' Association / Regional Leaders Group, the Board of the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), the Board of the Starr King School for the Ministry, and the advisory board for UU United Nations Office. Du Mond has a PhD in Statistics which he uses to design, analyze, report, and present the results of clinical trials to regulatory agencies. He lives in San Mateo, CA. He has been married to Barbara for 40 years. They have two adult children, Jennifer and Emily, and one grandchild, Rio.

In this episode, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah sit down over Zoom with Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, and Dr. Elias Ortega, president of Meadville Lombard Theological School, to discuss the question animating this season: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History?About this week's guests: The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt became President of Starr King School for the Ministry in Oakland, CA on July 1, 2014. For 13 years, she was Senior Minister of The Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, a 175-year old Unitarian Universalist congregation on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she is a graduate of Yale University and Drew Theological Seminary.The Rev. Ms. McNatt was an editor and widely anthologized writer for more than 20 years before answering the call to ordained ministry. She is a former editor at the New York Times Book Review; the author of three books, including her memoir, “Unafraid of the Dark;” a former contributing columnist for Beliefnet.com; a former commentator on MSNBC; a contributing editor to UU World, the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association; and a cultural critic whose work appears regularly in The Huffington Post, The New York Times Book Review, Essence and other print and online publications. Her current projects include serving as a co-editor for a planned anthology of Unitarian Universalist historical writings, as well as continuing research into the multiracial liberal religious coalitions of early 20th century Chicago.Dr. Elías Ortega is an interdisciplinary scholar who received his M.Div. and Ph.D. (Religion and Society, Magna Cum Laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary (2005, 2011). He also holds a B.A. in Communications Arts & Sciences and Philosophy and Religion from Calvin College. Prior to joining Meadville Lombard Theological School, Dr. Ortega served as Associate Professor of Social Theory and Religious Ethics at Drew University Theological School. At Drew Theological, he served as Deans' Council Chair, was a member of the Digital Humanities Advisory Committee, and the Title IX Committee. His primary teaching and research areas are Sociology of Religion, Religious Ethics, Cultural Sociology, Social Movements, Critical Theory, Africana Studies, Latinx Cultural Studies. In addition to teaching at Drew, he has also taught at Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Community College. In the American Academy of Religion, he serves on the Committee on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession, and on the Steering Committees for the Religion and Politics.  

No matter how we identify, we all have a lot to unpack. While there is a multitude of texts with universal application, community organizer Krista R. Pérez has written a book specifically with a BIPOC audience in mind. In Unearthing Our Roots, Pérez encourages advocates, activists, and leaders from historically marginalized groups to implement transformative and healing practices within their communities. Pérez extends an invitation to readers to unearth and uproot racist, anti-Black, ableist, and other biases that fracture relationships surrounding their communities. With decades of lived experience and a multidisciplinary approach, Pérez presents guided journal prompts for examining our own intentions, strategies for unraveling harmful biases and behaviors, and transformative and restorative practices for communities of historically marginalized groups at both micro and macro levels. Partially funded by the Tacoma Arts Commission, Unearthing Our Roots is a book that doubles as a clarion call. Krista R. Pérez aims to share her story, all parts of her story, including her softest and strongest parts, her sacred nature, the joy of motherhood, and her deeply rooted cultural values, to create spaces for Women of Color to show up in all capacities. Krista is also a proponent of integrated leadership, in which we bring all parts of ourselves to our professional workspaces. By making our whole selves visible we learn to value our whole selves, and others, as others and community members. Jasmine M. Pulido is a Filipina American writer-activist, small business owner, and mother. Her written work has been featured in the South Seattle Emerald, International Examiner, The Postscript, and Give Grief a Voice. Her work has been performed through Velasco Arts and Bindlestiff Studio. She recently wrote her first play, “The Master's Tool” exploring the struggles of BIPOC folks in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion work in white-dominant non-profit workplaces. Jasmine is pursuing her Master's in Social Change at Starr King School for the Ministry. She writes a bi-weekly substack called “Liberation Library” and is currently working on her first novel. Unearthing Our Roots Blue Cactus Press

Doug Kraft is a Buddhist teacher, Counselor, author and ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. He has a Masters in Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley. His most recent book is "Resting in the Waves". In this podcast episode we discuss  his practice journey and explore  various topics pertaining to what science tells us about Buddhist practice.    More about Doug:https://easingawake.comMore about Simplicity Zen Podcast:https://simplicityzen.com/

"Higher Love: Installation Service" (October 3, 2021) Worship Service "The Installation Service of Senior Minister Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern" This is a sermon (Higher Love) about where this ministry together takes us and some of what we learn along the way. Our preacher, the Rev. Elizabeth Lerner Maclay, is the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI. Rev. Maclay has been in Providence since 2017 in a congregation that first gathered in 1720! Rev. Maclay played a central role while serving in Maryland for the successful passage of that state's Marriage Equality legislation, as well as their DREAM Act and their repeal of the death penalty. In Providence she has led the organizing of faith communities for gun control and worked during this pandemic with other faith leaders, particularly Black religious leaders, to found and co-lead Faith in Science, promoting equity of vaccine access and uptake for people of color in Rhode Island. Shirley Gibson and Kathleen Quenneville, Members of the Search Committee that called Rev. Southern; Rohit and Leila Menezes, Rev. Southern's husband and daughter, respectively Dennis Adams, Worship Associate, UUSF; Rev. Elizabeth Lerner Maclay, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI; Rev. Mr. Barb Greve, Hospice Chaplain with Vitas Healthcare and former Co-Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia, Board of Trustees Moderator of UUSF; Harry Arthur and Max Benbow, Representatives of the Family Ministry Program; Rev. Dr. John A. Buehrens, Former President of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister of UUSF; Jonah Berquist, Board of Trustees Vice Moderator of UUSF; Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Presiding Minister, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples; Charles Du Mond, Co-Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Michael Pappas, M.Div., Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council; Rev. Rosemary Bray-McNatt, President, The Starr King School for the Ministry; Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita, UUSF; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, UUSF. Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Director of Communications; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Judy Payne, flowers Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director; Mark Sumner, Pianist & Music Director; Wm.; Garcia Ganz, Pianist; Andrés Vera, Cellist; Jon Silk, Drummer; UUSF Choir; UUSF Bell Choir

"Higher Love: Installation Service" (October 3, 2021) Worship Service "The Installation Service of Senior Minister Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern" This is a sermon (Higher Love) about where this ministry together takes us and some of what we learn along the way. Our preacher, the Rev. Elizabeth Lerner Maclay, is the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI. Rev. Maclay has been in Providence since 2017 in a congregation that first gathered in 1720! Rev. Maclay played a central role while serving in Maryland for the successful passage of that state's Marriage Equality legislation, as well as their DREAM Act and their repeal of the death penalty. In Providence she has led the organizing of faith communities for gun control and worked during this pandemic with other faith leaders, particularly Black religious leaders, to found and co-lead Faith in Science, promoting equity of vaccine access and uptake for people of color in Rhode Island. Shirley Gibson and Kathleen Quenneville, Members of the Search Committee that called Rev. Southern; Rohit and Leila Menezes, Rev. Southern's husband and daughter, respectively Dennis Adams, Worship Associate, UUSF; Rev. Elizabeth Lerner Maclay, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI; Rev. Mr. Barb Greve, Hospice Chaplain with Vitas Healthcare and former Co-Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia, Board of Trustees Moderator of UUSF; Harry Arthur and Max Benbow, Representatives of the Family Ministry Program; Rev. Dr. John A. Buehrens, Former President of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister of UUSF; Jonah Berquist, Board of Trustees Vice Moderator of UUSF; Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Presiding Minister, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples; Charles Du Mond, Co-Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Michael Pappas, M.Div., Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council; Rev. Rosemary Bray-McNatt, President, The Starr King School for the Ministry; Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita, UUSF; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, UUSF. Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Director of Communications; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Judy Payne, flowers Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director; Mark Sumner, Pianist & Music Director; Wm.; Garcia Ganz, Pianist; Andrés Vera, Cellist; Jon Silk, Drummer; UUSF Choir; UUSF Bell Choir

This episode first aired Sep 10, 2019. Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder (she, her), a San Francisco native, has served her call through prophetic action and ministry for justice for over thirty years. This call to “blend proclamation, worship, service and advocacy on behalf of those most marginalized in church and in society” led to the founding of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991. In 2003, Rev. Dr. Flunder was consecrated Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 100 primarily African American Christian leaders and laity. Rev. Dr. Flunder is on the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry and DEMOS and has taught at many theological schools. She is a graduate of the Certificate of Ministry and Master of Arts programs at PSR, and received her Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is also an award-winning gospel music artist and author of Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic and Radical Inclusion. This episode is brought to you by the 2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference. Use code QUEEROLOGY to save 10% off your registration at qcfconf.org. Links and Resources: 2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic and Radical InclusionCity of Refuge United Church of ChristMasterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame Queerology Podcast on Instagram Queerology Podcast on Twitter Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts Matthias Roberts on Patreon

Enjoy this fifth episode, featuring co-hosts Hannah Perez-Postman and Adam Brock and their guest speakers, Renee Millard-Chacon Youth Program Development Coordinator at Spirit of the Sun, and Leora Cockrell, Organizer with Jews on Ohlone Land. They discuss Indigenous rights through the lens of Shmita, during which our guests will speak about what brought them to their work as activists and what we all can do to contribute and organize for a more just society for everyone. Renee Millard-Chacon - Youth Program Development Coordinator, Spirit of the Sun Writer, educator, Danzante Azteca, Xicana activist, and most importantly the mother of two sons. She is an indigenous womxn of Dine/Mexica decent, fighting for future generations and committed to relating climate justice to social justice. She has worked with the International Indigenous Youth Council, 350.org, Four Winds American Indian Council of Denver, Womxn From the Mountain, and Earth Day Live 2020, in hosting, organizing, and leading marches, workshops, and educational resources for social justice and environmental justice. She welcomes any respectful correspondence to start doing the tedious but powerful work of creating better relations in spaces that deserve to be healed because of the trauma from historical inequality and environmental racism. Leora Cockrell - Organizer with Jews on Ohlone Land. Leora grew up on Wopumnes-Nisenan-Mewuk land in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. Leora received their bachelor's degree in Sustainable Agriculture and minor in Gender Studies at UC Davis. Leora is now in the Masters of Social Change Program at Starr King School for the Ministry on Lisjan, Ohlone land studying and working on right relationships with land and Indigenous people as part of the diasporic Jewish community.

There are some moments when I get lost in resentment toward others -- I can tell because I feel like I'm covered in fish guts. I'm grateful that I have a way to get past those moments and reconnect with my life, with others, and with the world. The Rev. Joel Miller is currently the Interim Minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis. Since his graduation from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1991, Joel's ministry has included opening and serving the Columbine UU church in Littleton, CO, for 7 years, serving as senior minister in Buffalo, NY, for 11 years, and serving as interim minister for 5 different UU congregations since 2011. He is an Accredited UUA Interim Minister and is also accredited as a Professional Transition Specialist by the Interim Ministry Network.

The Rev. Barbara F. Meyers is a Unitarian Universalist Community Minister. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley in 2004 and launched a community ministry specializing in mental health. She is affiliated with Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fremont, California. She is assistant director of the Life Reaching Across to Life peer support center, the author of a mental health curriculum for congregations. The book “Held – Showing Up for each Other's Mental Health” published by Skinner House Books in July 2020. She is the President of the Board of the UU Mental Health Network. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theflame-uu/message

March 7 Guest Minister, The Rev. Joel Miller Rev. Joel is the Interim Minister at All Souls Indianapolis. A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA, his ministry includes opening and serving the Columbine UU church in the Denver area for 7 years, serving as senior minister in Buffalo, NY for 11 years, and serving as interim minister for 5 different UU congregations since 2011. He is primarily a Humanist, but has been surprised to find himself a theist because of his spiritual practices in recovery from alcohol addiction.

How are we as congregations and individuals living into our seven principles? Rather than a quiet creed, as Unitarian Universalists, we have committed to uphold our values and act in these specific ways with one another. An 8th principle could guide us to be accountable within all our principles as well as spotlight the dismantling of racism. Speaker Bio Jennifer Springsteen is a seminary student at Starr King School for the Ministry in California. She is the co-founder of PDX Writers and her writing has won several awards including Regional Arts and Culture Council grants, an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship, and two Pushcart Prize nominations. She is represented by Joanna MacKenzie of Nelson Literary Agency. She writes, teaches, and edits in Portland.  

We're joined this week by friend of the show, Dr. Isabel Call, to discuss the fine, finnicky art of Sabbath and Jenny Odell's book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Dr. Isabel Call is a community economist, disability activist, and Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, OH. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry. Watch: Jenny Odell, "How to Do Nothing" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/godlycommunists/message

“Democracy will constantly break your heart.” Aaron chats with fellow-progressive and friend of the show Elle Mills-Warner about the 2020 elections specifically, the possibilities (and limitations) of electoral politics in general, and what it might take to unite a divided country. Also, Make America Sweden Again. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlycommunists Elle Mills-Warner is a spiritual seeker, activist, and artist working in direct ministry with vulnerable populations. She received a Bachelor of the Arts from Weber State University and a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry. She describes herself as multireligious having a background in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism), Greek Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Unitarian Universalism. She is currently an active member of Community of Christ, several earth-centered traditions, and regularly attends Mass. Prior to seminary, Elle did a research blog called “52 Weeks in 52 Churches” in which she visited 52 houses of worship in a single year. Elle self-identifies as an intersectional feminist, socialist, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is currently a Residential Companion at Plymouth Healing Communities in Seattle, WA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/godlycommunists/message

“If we realized that we have the power as the people, to decide to take back our own decisions and abilities and our own power; to make good and right decisions for the good of the whole, we will leave room and space. There are many different flowers in the Garden of God. And there are many different ways in which those flowers cross pollinate. There's room and space for all of us to grow and be healthy and we can make room.” - Bishop Yvette FlunderWhen society does not accept you for who you are, it takes radical self love and potent community to experience real freedom. Bishop Yvette Flunder found herself in this position when she realized that traditional religious frameworks weren't designed with her in mind.Bishop Yvette Flunder is my guest this week on Find Your Fierce & Loving. We had a wide-ranging conversation and Bishop Yvette had an electrifying perspective on the state of politics, religion, and the necessary ingredient each of us is at this moment on the planet. As Bishop Yvette Flunder says, closets are for brooms. It's time for you to come out into your light.Take a listen to the episode for more of Bishop Yvette Flunder wisdom and her beautiful choir voice.(01:55) - Pentecostal struggle(06:04) - Justice and Jesus(09:54) - Repression to obsession(13:43) - Reclamation(15:34) - Chains of self-depreciation(23:43) - The source of salvation(30:49) - Privilege in exile(36:42) - Death rattle(40:02) - In utero realities(44:37) - Designer's originalRev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, a San Francisco native, has served her call through prophetic action and ministry for justice for over thirty years. This call to “blend proclamation, worship, service, and advocacy on behalf of those most marginalized in church and in society” led to the founding of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991. In 2003, Rev. Dr. Flunder was consecrated Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 100 primarily African American Christian leaders and laity. Rev. Dr. Flunder is on the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry and DEMOS and has taught at many theological schools. She is a graduate of the Certificate of Ministry and Master of Arts programs at Pacific School of Religion and received her Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is also an award-winning gospel music artist and author of Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic and Radical Inclusion. You can find out more about Bishop Yvette Flunder by following her on Facebook @bishopyvetteflunder, and Instagram or Twitter @bishop_flunder.Do you want to unleash your inherent love and goodness, liberate yourself, and free humanity from the oppressive systems and structures we have created? We are here to support you in finding your fierce and loving life. Join us in Our Circle, a vibrant membership community rich in opportunities for engagement and transformation. Find out more at lolawright.com/our-circle.You can follow Lola Wright, on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and learn more about my work at lolawright.com.Chicago born and built, Lola grew up in wealth and privilege, yet always sensed something was missing. She sought out aliveness and freedom in music, immersing herself in the hip hop and house music scenes of 90s Chicago. After finding herself on her own at 23, as the mother of two young children, she became determined to create a new experience.Lola is an ordained minister with a gift for weaving together the mystical and material, she served for many years as the CEO of Bodhi Center, an organization committed to personal transformation, collective awakening, conscious activism, and community-building. Theme music by independent producer Trey Royal.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Find Your Fierce & Loving in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help others find the show. Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Rev. Theresa “Rivka” Gevurtz is an interfaith minister, chaplain and spiritual director, ordained through The Chaplaincy Institute in 2018 and earning her MDiv. at Starr King School for the Ministry in 2019.  Rivka’s area of focus is addressing the ways religious wounding impacts not only the queer community but the society at large.  Her ministry is influenced by the social justice commitment of her Jewish tradition, faith-based advocacy for the LGBTQ community, as well as by the contemplative and mystical traditions and Reiki energy healing.  She is currently working on a book about her family’s journey; as a bi-woman, married to a trans-man and parent of a gender-fluid young adult. She is available for companioning your spiritual journey, celebrating life’s liminal and lifecycle moments, and holding sacred witness as you make meaning of your life. Contact Rivka: www.shelterforthespirit.com rivka@shelterforthespirit.com office: (971) 990-1361 Facebook:  Shelter For The Spirit Contact Colleen: colleen@reikilifestyle.com Facebook: @reikilifestyle Instagram: @colleenbenelli Contact Robyn: robyn@reikilifestyle.com Facebook/Instagram: @robynbenellireiki

Charles Garfield is a psychologist, professor and lecturer, and the author of thirteen books including OUR WISDOM YEARS He has been recognized internationally as the founder of Shanti Project, a widely acclaimed AIDS and cancer service organization (www.shanti.org). For more than forty years, he has pioneered the development of healthcare and social service oriented volunteer organizations in a wide variety of settings. Of these efforts, Garfield says: “Shanti’s work demonstrates that health professionals and volunteers (America’s largely unrecognized workforce) can learn to be tender with people and tough on problems as they serve those who need them most.”   A clinical professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco (UCSF) for nearly four decades, and a fellow of the American Psychological Association, he is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.   Dr. Garfield has lectured widely, addressing audiences that include a Clinton White House conference, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Head Coaches of Olympic sports, and the leadership of Oklahoma City following the bombing of that city’s federal building. What brought you into the field of aging? (2:20)   The importance of productivity. (3:45)   How people 'reboot/reinvent' themselves later on in life (5:14)   Why physical abilities may decline, but 'aliveness' thrives.  (11:11)   Aging actively and successfully (16:00)   Leaving a legacy (18:38)   Passing on what you've learned in life. (21:01)   Executive Medicine Moment (21:11)   Tackling Regrets (21:56)   Fresh Off the Press (21:56) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200505121701.htm   You can learn more about Charles by click the link below: https://charlesgarfield.com/ You can purchase the book here: https://charlesgarfield.com/our-wisdom-years.html   You can find Stay Young America! at:  Website: StayYoungAmerica.com  Twitter: @StayYoungPod Facebook: @Stay Young America!

The Shanti Project: Nonprofit Volunteer Support for The Elderly in a Time of Coronavirus Charles Garfield is a psychologist, professor and lecturer, and the author of twelve books including LIFE'S LAST GIFT. He has been recognized internationally as the founder of Shanti Project, a widely acclaimed AIDS and cancer service organization (www.shanti.org). For more than forty years, he has pioneered the development of healthcare and social service-oriented volunteer organizations in a wide variety of settings. Of these efforts, Garfield says: “Shanti's work demonstrates that health professionals and volunteers (America's largely unrecognized workforce) can learn to be tender with people and tough on problems as they serve those who need them most.” A clinical professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco (UCSF) for nearly four decades, and a fellow of the American Psychological Association, he is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.  Dr. Garfield has lectured widely, addressing audiences that include a Clinton White House conference, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Head Coaches of Olympic sports, and the leadership of Oklahoma City following the bombing of that city's federal building. Volunteers are America's unrecognized workforce. Without their contribution, especially in this time of COVID 19, we would simply not be able to care adequately for those who are elderly and/or infirmed. By training volunteers in peer counseling skills, they can make vital contributions to our most vulnerable neighbors during this most challenging time. His new book, OUR WISDOM YEARS: Growing Older with Joy, Fulfillment, and No Regrets is on sale.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles Garfield, PhD, is a psychologist, professor and lecturer and the author of 13 books, most recently, Our Wisdom Years-Growing Older with Joy, Fulfillment, Resilience, and No Regrets. Dr Garfield is also the founder of the internationally renowned Shanti Project. He has been a clinical professor of psychology at the Univ of CA School of Medicine at SF for nearly four decades and is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School in Berkeley.

Podcast: This week on The Mystical Positivist, we speak by telephone with Sam Webster, PhD, M.Div., Mage. Sam hails from the Bay Area and has taught magick publicly since 1984. He graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley in 1993 and earned his doctorate at the University of Bristol, UK, studying Pagan history under Prof. Ronald Hutton. His thesis was published as The History of Theurgy from Iamblichus to the Golden Dawn. Sam is an Adept of the Golden Dawn, a cofounder of the Chthonic-Ouranian Templar order, and an initiate of Wiccan, Druidic, Buddhist, Hindu and Masonic traditions. His work has been published in journals such as Green Egg and Gnosis, and 2010 saw his first book Tantric Thelema, establishing the publishing house Concrescent Press. In 2001 he founded the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, and in 2013 founded the Pantheon Foundation. Sam serves the Pagan community as a priest of Hermes. In this wide ranging conversation, we discuss the nature of ritual and Adeptship. In addition we discuss a Pagan/Magickal perspective on the current pandemic including the nature of the liminal moment facing humankind. More information about Sam Webster's work can be found at: The Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn website: www.osogd.org, Pagan Currents website: pagancurrents.com, Pantheon Foundation website: www.pantheonfoundation.org, Sam Webster's Blog: samwebstermage.com.

How can we continue to live as a community when we are so far apart from each other? Are there circumstances in which the best way to be a community is to stay apart? Rev. Sam Teitel explores these questions in Abide With Me. This week's service includes a Medical Minute with Dr. Lisa Jennings, a special reminder from Music Director Chuck Schulz, and a prayer for Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt of the Starr-King School for the Ministry.

"My goal is to present questions and ideas to get people to talk to each other. What we have in common is greater than what makes us different." Octavio Pascal Carrasco is a historian of American culture and music with special interest in the processes of social change, cultural resistance, and the religious imagination. As an undergraduate student at Princeton University, he was blessed to work with Dr. Cornel West, exploring the religious dimensions of Tupac Shakur's music and death. He completed his Masters Degree at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA with Rev. Dr. Gabriella Lettini. As the '11-'12 Hilda Mason teaching fellow he developed and taught the course Music & Art for Social Change . He was further blessed to complete his PhD work with Dr. West, Daisy Machado, and Troy Messenger at Union Theological Seminary in NY, focusing on “the long sixties” as a period of profound awakening in American history. Octavio's primary mode of transportation is walking, using the “eyes in his feet” to remain connected with his surroundings. His academic studies are grounded in his time living in Guatemala, Spain (Barcelona is his favorite world city!) and the Czech Republic. He can be found teaching English as a second language wherever there are students and juggling book loans at ALL the local libraries. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

"Millie Phillips Ordination Service" (January 26, 2020) On January 26th, at 6PM in our Sanctuary we ordained into UU Ministry Millie Phillips. Millie is a long time member and lay leader in the congregation who completed her studies at the Starr King School of the Ministry and was cleared for ordination this past spring by the denomination. As is the custom of Unitarian Universalism it is a congregation that ordains people into ministry and ours voted this fall at a special meeting to ordain Millie. Rev. Millie Phillips Rev. Christopher Bell, Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Dorsey O. Blake, Presiding Minister Rev. Cat Cox, Spiritual Director Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator, Board of Trustees Stephen Schwichow, Ordination Committee Chair Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Dr. Amy Kelly, Ordination Committee Eric Langhirt, Ordination Committee Jan and Howard Oringer, Ordination Committee Stephen Schwichow, chair, Ordination Committee Melvin Starks, Ordination Committee Judith Stoddard, Ordination Committee Eric Hamilton, guitarist Randy Moore, drummer Reiko Oda Lane, organ Richard Saunders, bass Keith Saunders, pianist Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Shulee Ong, Camera Jonathan Silk, sound, OOS

"Millie Phillips Ordination Service" (January 26, 2020) On January 26th, at 6PM in our Sanctuary we ordained into UU Ministry Millie Phillips. Millie is a long time member and lay leader in the congregation who completed her studies at the Starr King School of the Ministry and was cleared for ordination this past spring by the denomination. As is the custom of Unitarian Universalism it is a congregation that ordains people into ministry and ours voted this fall at a special meeting to ordain Millie. Rev. Millie Phillips Rev. Christopher Bell, Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Dorsey O. Blake, Presiding Minister Rev. Cat Cox, Spiritual Director Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister Carrie Steere-Salazar, Moderator, Board of Trustees Stephen Schwichow, Ordination Committee Chair Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister Dr. Amy Kelly, Ordination Committee Eric Langhirt, Ordination Committee Jan and Howard Oringer, Ordination Committee Stephen Schwichow, chair, Ordination Committee Melvin Starks, Ordination Committee Judith Stoddard, Ordination Committee Eric Hamilton, guitarist Randy Moore, drummer Reiko Oda Lane, organ Richard Saunders, bass Keith Saunders, pianist Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Shulee Ong, Camera Jonathan Silk, sound, OOS

Podcast: This week on The Mystical Positivist, Rob and I speak with two previous guests on the show Sam Webster and Gus diZerega about their new project Pagan Currents, an online open source creative commons journal for serious Pagan work intended for practicing Pagans rather than academics, while acknowledging the overlap between the two groups. Sam Webster, PhD, M.Div.,Mage, hails from the Bay Area and has taught magick publicly since 1984. He graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley in 1993 and earned his doctorate at the University of Bristol, UK, studying Pagan history under Prof. Ronald Hutton. He is an Adept of the Golden Dawn, a cofounder of the Chthonic-Ouranian Templar order, and an initiate of Wiccan, Druidic, Buddhist, Hindu and Masonic traditions. His work has been published in journals such as Green Egg and Gnosis, and 2010 saw his first book Tantric Thelema, establishing the publishing house Concrescent Press. In 2001 he founded the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, and in 2013 founded the Pantheon Foundation. Sam serves the Pagan community as a priest of Hermes. Gus diZerega combines decades of work in Wicca and shamanic healing with an academic background, including a PhD in Political Theory and extensive teaching and publishing experience in mainstream academia. He is a Third Degree Elder in Gardnerian Wicca, studied closely with Timothy White, who later founded Shaman's Drum magazine, and intensively practiced Brazilian Umbanda for six years under Antonio Costa e Silva, as well as integrating it into his own healing work afterwards. He has given workshops and talks on Pagan spirituality and healing in the United States and Canada as well as organized international conferences and taught internationally in the social sciences. Gus' book Faultlines: The Sixties, the Culture War and the Return of the Divine Feminine, received a 2014 Silver Award from the Association of Independent Publishers. Pagans and Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience, won Best Nonfiction of 2001 from The Coalition of Visionary Resources. More information about Sam Webster and Gus diZeriga's work can be found at: Pagan Currents website: pagancurrents.com The Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn website: www.OSOGD.org Gus diZerega's Website: dizerega.com

Susun Weed answers 90 minutes of herbal health questions followed by a 30 minute interview with Taya Shere (Taya Mâ). Taya is the co-founder of Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute, co-author of The Hebrew Priestess: Ancient and New Paths of Jewish Women's Spiritual Leadership, and faculty at Starr King School for the Ministry and the Chaplaincy Institute, where she trains emergent clergy across faith traditions. She teaches Ancestral Lineage Healing, offering individual sessions virtually, and in-person workshops across the country. Taya is also a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and offers online courses in Embodied Presence, Pleasure as Prayer, Conscious Menstruation and Ancestral Healing. Her Hebrew Goddess chant albums — This Bliss, Wild Earth Shebrew, Halluyah All Night and Torah Tantrika — have been heralded as "cutting-edge mystic medicine music." She makes home, music and other magic in Berkeley, California, on occupied Ohlone lands.   

Our lives often feel distressingly small.  Religious experience is largely about feeling part of something larger, indeed, infinite.   Speaker Bio The Reverend Mark Gallagher grew up in Chicago. He attended the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley, California.  As minister, he has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in California, Nevada, and Washington, including twenty-one years at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver  in Vancouver, Washington. He retired from the Vancouver church in 2015, but still lives in Vancouver with his wife, Jennifer, and carries on a free-lance ministry of teaching and preaching.

Host Marlena Willis talks with E.N. Hill, who describes themselves as a black, gay, gender non-binary, Christ-loving non-Christian. They practice a family of religious diversity: God as father, the earth and earth-based practices as mother, Buddhism as lover, and African spiritual practices as grandparents. From a military background, now called to be a minister, they see their role as modeling unapologetic loving of themselves.   E.N. (pronounced as ee-ahn) is a second-year Masters of Divinity student focusing on Buddhism & Unitarian Universalist Ministry at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. They are also working as the Founding Director and Spiritual Care Advisor of SPARK Collective Living, a housing commune based in East Oakland. The post Full Acceptance of Self – A Conversation with E.N. Hill appeared first on KPFA.

Kathryn interviews Tom Baker, author of “One Dog's Faith: How My Dog Helped Me Trust in God and Overcome Chronic Worrying”. With his business failing, and facing bankruptcy, Baker lost 30 pounds due to stress and was unable to function as a father and husband. It wasn't until he began looking at life through the eyes of his dog, Mango, that he managed to turn things around. Baker has worked in radio and television for over 35 years as a writer, producer and editor. Kathryn also interviews Shanti Project Founder Charles Garfield PhD, author of “Life's Last Gift: Giving and Receiving Peace When a Loved One is Dying”. A good death is no oxymoron. It's within everyone's realm of possibility. Dr. Garfield argues that we need only realize its potential and prepare ourselves to meet it mindfully, with compassion and courage. He is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Kathryn interviews Tom Baker, author of “One Dog's Faith: How My Dog Helped Me Trust in God and Overcome Chronic Worrying”. With his business failing, and facing bankruptcy, Baker lost 30 pounds due to stress and was unable to function as a father and husband. It wasn't until he began looking at life through the eyes of his dog, Mango, that he managed to turn things around. Baker has worked in radio and television for over 35 years as a writer, producer and editor. Kathryn also interviews Shanti Project Founder Charles Garfield PhD, author of “Life's Last Gift: Giving and Receiving Peace When a Loved One is Dying”. A good death is no oxymoron. It's within everyone's realm of possibility. Dr. Garfield argues that we need only realize its potential and prepare ourselves to meet it mindfully, with compassion and courage. He is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

LIFE'S LAST GIFT: Giving and Receiving Peace When Dying ~ Charles Garfield, Ph.D. Psychologist and Shanti Project founder, Charles Garfield offers compassionate and expert guidance for friends and families who want to ease their loved ones’ final days. By focusing on the reciprocal and healing relationship between the living and the dying, Life’s Last Gift provides practical tools about connecting, finding peace, and being of service to those at the end of life. Charles Garfield, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, and founder of Shanti Project, a widely acclaimed AIDS and cancer service organization.  Dr. Garfield is a Clinical professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco for nearly four decades and a fellow of the American Psychological Association. He is currently a research scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.  Additional information available at www.charlesgarfield.com also visit The Shanti Project at http://www.shanti.org/ ************************************************* For more information about BITEradio products and services visit: http://www.biteradio.me/index.html

Host Ali Nazar interviews Rabi'a Keeble, founder of Berkeley's Qal'bu Maryam, the first women led, all inclusive mosque in America.TRANSCRIPTSpeaker 1:[inaudible]. Speaker 2:You are listening to k a l x Berkeley 90.7 FM, university of California and listener supported radio. And this is a method to the madness coming at you from the Public Affairs Department here at Calyx celebrating the innovative spirit of the bay area. [00:00:30] I'm your host, Colleen Huizar. And today in studio we have with us a special guest Rabi'a Keeble from the women's mosque here in Berkeley. Hi Robia. How are you? I'm fine, thank you. Um, and Rabiah, uh, has joined us today after launching, uh, the mosque in the last few weeks. So we're going to get into that in a little bit. But first, Ruby, I have a question for you. The same question I asked all founders of organizations. Sure. You have seen a problem [00:01:00] there. Usually people start something cause there's a vacuum or a void, right? So, um, can you explain, please tell us what's the problem that your new organization is trying to solve? Speaker 3:Wow. You know, it's a whole, uh, list of things actually, and it's not likely that Cowbell Mariam is gonna solve all of these problems, but at least we're opening up the conversation and hopefully there will [00:01:30] be a robust sort of conversation that continues on this topic. But some of the things that I, I believe have been issues for me personally, uh, and my journey as a Muslim since I converted, uh, 15 years ago is, is mainly accessibility. Um, I never could figure out, now I, I know the [inaudible] very well [inaudible] to death and all this, [00:02:00] but I never could figure out why women had to sit behind men if they were allowed in the same space at all. Second of all, why women were using separate entrances sometimes, uh, separate buildings, sometimes, uh, not allowed at all to attend a mosque. But the places that I've [00:02:30] been to right here in Berkeley, right here in the bay area, we still have mosques that do this. Speaker 3:And I was like, I was not entirely a mosque copper. I did settle in at one mosque where I, I stayed there for some time, but there were times when I was invited other places and I was surprised. I was really surprised. You know, it's a lack of accessibility to the mom, uh, to facilities. Uh, quite often [00:03:00] you'd go to these women's areas and they were not clean, uh, distress looking. Um, many of them were just very cutoff. Uh, one place was just a room, a separate room, no plasma TV screen, no projection. It was just a separate room. And I, I recall asking someone like, well how do you know what the mom is saying? How do you know when this is happening or that is happening? [00:03:30] And I was actually told by one of the sisters that, well, you know, we don't really need to know. Speaker 3:You know, and I think over time, perhaps not intentionally, you collect all of these things, you know, and it gets to the point where you even have a lot of questions and where do you go to have your questions answered? The most that I attended the women's sat behind the men, but there was [00:04:00] still an acknowledgement that we were separate. Um, but often the men would talk to the mom, they would ask questions, there would be conversations going back and forth, and the women are all the way in the back. And it's like, what if I have a question? What if there's something that's nagging and I want to ask him about it? I can't just chat him up like these guys are chatting them up. I have to sit back here and then I have to wait [00:04:30] until June was over and I have to plow through all the men who are trying to get at him. Speaker 3:And that means I don't get an opportunity. So I saw it also as just an issue of accessibility. Um, there's also, I think a problem when you separate men and women that men lose an opportunity to know women better, to actually learn from women. Um, [00:05:00] you know, there's like sort of ships in the night, you know, if you even say some lady come to her brother's like, what did you just say? Oh, you know, we're just exchanging a greeting brothers. Nothing more than that, you know, but even that is sometimes chancy. So how do we establish, how do we establish like a normalized kind of, uh, of interactions and normalized kind of relationship with our brothers is, [00:05:30] you know, a lot of people say, well, why do you want to kick me to the curb? Or You mad at men? This is not being mad at men. Speaker 3:This the same join us, but let's get together in a different way. Let's be allies, let's be friends. Let's, let's, let's ignore all these odd little things that are traditional things for sure. Uh, that you can't talk to a woman in lunch. This your, you know, like what's going to happen [00:06:00] if you do that or, uh, I think maybe it was the chronicle article where they talked to any mom in Santa Clara, like about men praying, potentially praying behind a woman. And I think is the answer was, well, you can do it, but I don't want to see the repercussions. I was like, holy macro, what, what repercussions are we talking about here? Speaker 2:Well, there's so many different interpretations of all scripture, and I think, [00:06:30] you know, uh, enlightened Muslim men argue that something like the hijab is the first responsibility is on the man to avert his temptation and desire. There's lots of different ways to look at things. I think that the, uh, that a mom, you know, who knows where he's coming from, but, uh, no. Uh, but, you know, I think I want to follow up on that question is, is a beautiful statement of the problem statement you're trying to solve is, I think what I think I'm hearing you say is that the moss [00:07:00] that you're starting in Berkeley is to rethink that relationship between men and women and have them on an equal playing field in the eyes of cod and in front of an a mom so that everybody can pursue mama and Mama. Is that, what, is it the feminine of your mom? Okay. So I'm to everybody can be an equal footing to pursue their spiritual enlightenment. Um, but before we get further into the vision and how this is going, tell us a little bit about you. How did you, uh, arrive to Islam and, and [00:07:30] you know, what was your journey to, to this religion? That's pretty complicated. Speaker 3:Try and kind of like reduce it into a digestible portion. Um, I was some nominally race as a Christian. Uh, my family was not very religious, although we, you know, grew up with a lot of religion around us. We didn't belong to a church, uh, but I absorbed a lot [00:08:00] of the, uh, Christian, you know, lifestyle knowledge ethics because we were surrounded with it. Um, I would say that, uh, I was always interested in scripture even at a very young age. Uh, I was always very interested in knowing more. I wanted to know God, I really, I wrote really recall being very young and wanting to know who god was. And [00:08:30] I really thought that I could find it in the Bible and I would read the Bible and read the Bible and read the Bible. And I actually at a very young age, knew the Bible incredibly well. Speaker 3:I could quote it. Um, but that was my, you know, that was my initial journey. And I think like a lot of young people, you know, you wonder off the path, you start exploring life in different ways and is not a big deal for, for most, you know, college kids and whatever. They're not [00:09:00] thinking about that. They're thinking of other stuff. And so I think I was like any other adolescent or teenager, I sort of didn't care. And, um, there came a point in my life when I was looking for something healing another path, I don't know. And I actually came across a flyer at Berkeley Library, the main library that said Sufi healing. And I was like, hmm, I don't even know what Sufi [00:09:30] is. I don't, I wonder what this is. I had time, so I said, I'm going to check it out. And I came up on campus and, um, I went to this gathering and even though I was not really sure what was happening, I really loved the people I was around. Speaker 3:I had never been around people who were so welcoming, so kind. And it appeared so forgiving and loving. They weren't [00:10:00] afraid to show love and to pull me in and to, and to, you know, acknowledge my humanity. Does that make sense? And to treat me honestly and fairly, even though I was asking stupid questions, which I was asking a lot of at the time. And eventually, um, you know, exposure to Sufism absolutely exposes you to Islam because [00:10:30] who FISM is Islam, excuse me, can no for coal. And, um, with the exposure to Islam through Sufism, I sort of, it felt like something had opened up to me, you know, really beautiful. It was like, it was very unusual. It was like, what is this wonderful thing? Speaker 3:[00:11:00] And so, you know, many people see Islam and Sufism as separate and it's just not so, and, um, I think if you're really a lover, as Sophie's would say, of the beloved, it makes you want to dig deeper and to Islam, you know, to find the roots of this, how these people, whoever they were, were able to tap into this [00:11:30] very unique and wonderful way of expressing their worship in their love of God. Um, I didn't know until later that in some places Sufism was looked down upon. Um, and I didn't understand it. I never could understand it. Uh, I would hear things like dance that's wrong. They use music that's around the men and women dance [00:12:00] together. That's even more how wrong. It's like Akash you know, what kind of existence is that? Where are you doing is looking for things to yell? Ha. Rahmat yeah. Which is unfortunately Speaker 2:very much so much part of the Muslim world these days is that's how they operate is as a judgment. And, you know, uh, you know, I'm a Muslim myself. Um, it's a tragedy to see the characterization [00:12:30] of the religion that's happening in popular culture today because it's the antithesis of what you're talking about. It's not the love base of my tradition that I grew up in was very much similar to, you know, looking at, uh, the, the world who wondrous eyes, who the love the beloved spirit. Um, as opposed to this, uh, the absolute opposite, the negativity of like, you're doing this wrong. You're doing this wrong, which turns people off their religion Speaker 3:turns to people. It just, it's, it's, it's kind of a weird paradox. [00:13:00] You would think it would turn people off and you think it would push women back and make them like what really, you know, think a little bit [inaudible] you see just the opposite. You see these women that are so willing to be controlled, so willingly following even very mistaken and misguided people in a lot of cases, not all [00:13:30] shakes, any moms are misguided, but in a lot of cases they are. And I'm just so shocked sometimes when women act so afraid or they will come to me and they'll will say, well sister, what makes you think that it's okay to pray with men or for women to lead prayer? I said the Quran, have you read it? You know, and they're always, you know, like very suspicious. Like really? But the Koran says that, you know, [00:14:00] a great, the great majority of people that I talk to have never read the crown for themselves. Speaker 3:They've always had someone tell them what's in it. Interesting. And their spin on it as a matter of fact. And so this is one of the biggest problems I think that we run into as Muslims, is that it's always like, I feel like there is this desire to spin things to [00:14:30] maintain control rather than to educate rather than to elevate. I had this conversation with someone, I forget who, and he was insisting that a man could not marry a divorcee. Right. And I was thinking to myself, I said, but where's that in the car? I don't know if a woman's divorce, she can't marry her. Well, I'm sorry, but what some Kadesia [00:15:00] I divorce a problem. Speaker 2:[inaudible] married a divorce woman. Speaker 3:I divorced one man, you know rom you. Yeah. Ridiculous. There's so many people [inaudible] women who don't know that. Yeah. They don't know that he hadn't like up to nine wives in his lifetime. Maybe more. And a few of them were widows or divorcees. So, you know, I think [00:15:30] it's becoming very clear that education is such a huge, huge part of this and women necessarily have to start educating women and men because we're not as tied to status quo as men are. I think men feel like they have to carry this. They have to continue with it. They they, they have to do this thing with this, but it's like, okay, [00:16:00] you know, after, while don't you understand that this is something you can share, that it's okay to talk to a knowledgeable, educated sister or maybe one who isn't but has good questions in that you can sit and talk and not worry about who's married and who's wearing hijab and who's this and that and the other thing and just work on that. Because we're in a, we're in a situation here in America [00:16:30] all over the world where the world thinks of us, Hispanic people, they think of us as terrorists. They think of us as people who want to destroy their comforts and to change how I had someone, some woman asked me, she goes, well, I just don't want to have any Shiria law. I said, are you Muslim? No, I am not. I said, you don't have to worry about because it's not for you. It's for [00:17:00] Muslims. Speaker 2:Yeah. Wow. That's a talking point of the right. I mean it's, this is scare tactic, but we're talking to Rabiah Keel. She's a Kibo, she's the founder of, uh, Kaaboo. Mariam is how you pronounce it. Um, it's a, a brand new moths here in Berkeley, California. Um, and it is the, um, first mosque in the nation that is led by women that it's all inclusive. So it's, uh, open to men and women, but led [00:17:30] by women right here in our fair town of Berkeley, California. Thanks for joining us. Rubia um, Ga, Berkeley. I want to ask you about, um, you know, you're an innovator and it's not always, this is, this show is about innovation. Okay. And it's not always, um, easy innovate in the business world. I talk to a lot of people, it's kind of put up on a pedestal because you know, people love this term, especially in the bay area to disrupt and has startups, but you're innovating [00:18:00] in a place that people don't always love religion. Speaker 2:Right? You know, people have their dog Ma and you're talking about men who have trouble seeing, um, why there's problems. Cause it's kind of always been this way. And in my experience with religion, people rely on their tradition. That's one of the comforts of religion. Sure. It's always been this way. Doesn't change. Absolutely. So I want to ask you about that leap that you've taken of how you saw the problem and said, you know, why are the sisters behind the brothers? Why can't they talk [00:18:30] to the mom? So you decided to do something about it. And I'm fascinated by this and people who take this jump from seeing a problem to actually doing something about it. Can you explain to us what, what spurred that notion in you that you need to do something about this? Speaker 3:Well, I didn't think I needed to do something about it. I felt like somebody needed to do something about it. And I waited. I actually waited and I would, [00:19:00] you know, I also tried to be the obedient Muslima. I really did. I was, you know, I'd sit and watch stuff go down and not say anything because I was afraid of backbiting and I did all of that stuff. And you know, uh, yeah. I mean, but I waited, you know, I was patient with it. And honestly I believe that it's kind of a divine [00:19:30] intervention. I don't, I don't think by myself that I would have done this because I would've been afraid. But I think that God has basically been with me throughout this. I've, I felt it, I felt led. Um, the way things were sort of falling into place was just unbelievable. And the support, um, I'm sure there's elements [00:20:00] in the Muslim community that wanted me to fail. Speaker 3:I have no doubt about it. There are people in the Muslim community that see me as an upstart and troublemaker and all that. I get that, um, because I also address very powerfully racism and all those other things that we don't ever want to talk about. Polite Muslims, don't want to talk about it. But that's sad. I don't think it was me. [00:20:30] I think it was God, I think this will, it will be successful or fail based on God's timing, not mine. Um, I decided from the beginning to step out of it to not have my and cage tenant and I, there's been times, there was a reporter from mouches Sarah last week and she was insisting, she says, well, I cannot film, [00:21:00] there's no men here. There's only women here. Speaker 4:Okay, Speaker 3:how is this inclusive if there's no men here? I said, because I don't hire people. It's like any other mosque. Whoever wants to come, comes, whoever does, I want to go and they don't come. So I said, I'm sorry, I can't help you. She says, okay, I'll come next week and can, can you get some brothers, call some brothers and tell us. I was like, so [00:21:30] la. Anyway. Speaker 2:[inaudible] well, um, let me ask you about, um, a more general question for our listeners. Probably most of them are not Muslims that don't understand the importance of the mosque to Muslim life. And, um, and, and we're speaking with, uh, Rabi'a Keeble. She's the founder of called Marianna Hae, a woman's Moss. All inclusive. Mazda started here in Berkeley, uh, in April, I think is when, is that when you launched the official list? Yeah. So just last month, right here in Berkeley. [00:22:00] Um, so can you tell us a little bit about what is the importance of the mosque and why is it so important to have one that, uh, matches the kind of ethos you're talking about? Speaker 4:Well, Speaker 3:I don't know exactly what you want me to say here, but, um, the way I see a mosque and having been exposed to Christian Christianity and the way Christians to things, especially Black Christians and [00:22:30] Black Christian women, for me a place of worship is part of my life as a woman. I didn't see myself excluded because in Christianity, the type that I grew up with, southern Baptist women were not excluded. Women were leaders. So oftentimes pastors are doing very important things. So coming into Islam, I didn't leave that behind. [00:23:00] That's part of me where if I'm in a worship situation, I'm looking for female leadership as well as male. Right. Um, I believe that mosque are community oriented mainly, uh, in the west. It can't really be that way because we don't have neighborhoods around, you know, people will drive an hour to get to the mosque or [00:23:30] whatever. You don't just walk over and it's not the center of the village or the city or whatever. But I believe the intention is it was that, and it was the place where you would go to hear the news, to hear announcements, um, to hear the word, to heal, hear inspiration, um, to ask questions, whatever, you know, it was in that gathering space. Speaker 3:Was it original? The question is, [00:24:00] was it originally conceived of as a place where men and women attended jointly? Uh, no, probably not because that was not the culture of the time. Speaker 2:No. Bar Arabia in the 600 Speaker 3:does very, very, very gender, you know, uh, specific about things. You know, only women did these things. Only men did these things and blah, blah, blah. You know, the whole thing. So I [00:24:30] think that this was seen as a male space, but that was because that was what it was like an Arabian, the seventh century. Yeah. Very divided, very, very, uh, you know, assignments, uh, for gender that which informed I think other things. But, um, now in the 21st century here in America, how does that model work for us? And I would say it doesn't work so well. Yeah. It's not the reality [00:25:00] of our everyday life as it was then. We go to work, we mix, we go to the store, we stand behind or in front of somebody who's of the opposite gender. Um, we drive down the street, we go to the gas state, whatever. Everything that we do. It's mixed. It's mixed. Yup. Speaker 2:So I think what I'm hearing you say is the importance of the mosque is to reflect the society [00:25:30] that we live in, to build a community of, of worshipers, of Islamic worshipers, but reflective of more of our times. Yeah. And, and which is, I think the problem you're trying to solve, which is so appropriate. It is an innovation that's needed and the bravery that you're showing to stand up and, and do it is really amazing and inspiring. So thank you so much trivia. I really appreciate you coming here. I wanted to ask you one last question. Um, you've created, you're creating [00:26:00] a space, right? And what struck me, I went to one of your launch events was the diversity of people that were there. Yeah. Um, so can you tell me maybe one or two stories of your favorite things that have happened so far? Surprises to you cause you're creating a space of worship for people to come and express. Yeah. Things that maybe they haven't been able to express anywhere else. Cause you've created this safe, wonderful, diverse space. Yeah. Well what's, what's happened to you so far that you've been like, wow, that was, that was amazing. Speaker 3:[00:26:30] I tell you the whole time I've been like, wow, yeah, I fully expect it that nobody would show up. I fully, I did. I fully expected that, you know, the word would get out over there. Don't do that because me as doing whatever it is, but it didn't turn out that way because God is guiding this. And, um, I think one of the most powerful things, it wasn't a big thing. There was a, uh, a brother who [00:27:00] came to one of the Joomla's and, uh, I had done the call to prayer, I had called [inaudible] and I had never done it before my life, but you know, that tells you something, right? That I was exposed to it enough that I knew it. Yeah. Speaker 2:And Juma, for those who don't know is the Friday prayer is the Sabbath of, of uh, Muslim. Speaker 3:Alright. [inaudible] and this brother said to me, one thing that we're doing, uh, is that after Solat, [00:27:30] instead of everybody bolting, leaving, I ask questions. I say, do you have questions? I want you to talk about what's on your heart. I want you to ask questions. And, um, this brother raised his hand and he said, you know, I really like this because I want my wife to be with me in worship. I want her in the kid sitting next to me. [00:28:00] I had never thought of that. I really had never thought that that might be something that's very supportive and comforting for man is to have his wife next to him. And it really touched me. Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a beautiful story. I'll share with you what really inspired me. Plus as someone who's a Muslim but also loves music. Um, when I went to one of your launch events, um, you had a convert who got up there and talked about how she had missed gospel music [00:28:30] from when she was growing up as a Christian. And so she decided to incorporate gospel music into Islam and then did an Islamic prayer in a gospel way. She just blew my mind and my wife and I look at each other like, this is the place for us. This is amazing. Although we don't do that in Juma. We don't do that. Yeah. I mean that was, uh, that was the initial launch, but it was, I think, part of the spirit, which is that you're creating a safe place for people to express themselves and in Islam [00:29:00] that hasn't been easy to do in my lifetime. Um, so it's, it's amazing, amazing innovation. This, this store, this, this show is about innovation. And, uh, I especially like having spiritual, uh, people on the show to talk about. They're helping to forge new paths in the bay area. So we've been speaking with, uh, Robbia Keeble. She is the founder of Kobu. Maryam is a women's all inclusive mosque here in Berkeley. Just started Rubia [00:29:30] if people want to get involved, they want to attend a service. If they want to join the congregation, how can they do that? Speaker 3:They can do that by Friday, Fridays at 1230 [inaudible] at two, four, four one cod avenue at the Graduate Theological Union star King School of the ministry, which is only a block or two from UC Berkeley. Um, you can join us and, um, the doors are open. Please join us. So 1230 on Friday Friday's [00:30:00] graduate theological union, Starr King School, the ministry to four four oh one, La Conte. Great. Thank you so much for coming in today. Thank you for having me. They come slow on. Best of luck. Okay. Listening to method to the madness on KALX Berkeley 90.7 FM. I'm here. I was telling the czar, have a great Friday. Everybody. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It Ain't Necessarily So Our nation lives in a perpetual wrestling match with might opponents. Individually and collectively we are called to engage our personal, social, political and religious communities to bring about transformation for the common good of humanity. Really is this what we are called to?  If so, how might the arts support us in the divine project of becoming fully human. Trust me, there is hope. Before becoming Minister for Faith in Action and then Parish Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and before graduating from Starr King School for the Ministry, Rev. Duhart served as a social worker and military chaplain. She is exchanging pulpits with Rev. Buehrens. Rev. Jacqueline Duhart, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Larry Chinn, piano Asher, song leader Howard Oringer, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

It Ain't Necessarily So Our nation lives in a perpetual wrestling match with might opponents. Individually and collectively we are called to engage our personal, social, political and religious communities to bring about transformation for the common good of humanity. Really is this what we are called to?  If so, how might the arts support us in the divine project of becoming fully human. Trust me, there is hope. Before becoming Minister for Faith in Action and then Parish Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and before graduating from Starr King School for the Ministry, Rev. Duhart served as a social worker and military chaplain. She is exchanging pulpits with Rev. Buehrens. Rev. Jacqueline Duhart, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Larry Chinn, piano Asher, song leader Howard Oringer, Welcome Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

What Does It Mean To Have Faith In The Collective Power Of Working People? At a time when the U.S. labor movement is struggling to survive and so many people lack secure employment and living wages, can the fight for justice on the job be source of spiritual strength, as it was for many of our ancestors? Our preacher will be our own Millie Phillips, a long-time labor activist, member of UUSF, recent graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, and now Intern Minister for the UU Congregation of Santa Rosa. Millie Phillips , M.Div. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister The Labor Heritage/Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus Pat Wynne, Choir Director Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Kate Offer, song leader Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

What Does It Mean To Have Faith In The Collective Power Of Working People? At a time when the U.S. labor movement is struggling to survive and so many people lack secure employment and living wages, can the fight for justice on the job be source of spiritual strength, as it was for many of our ancestors? Our preacher will be our own Millie Phillips, a long-time labor activist, member of UUSF, recent graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, and now Intern Minister for the UU Congregation of Santa Rosa. Millie Phillips , M.Div. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister The Labor Heritage/Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus Pat Wynne, Choir Director Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Kate Offer, song leader Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound, Worship Archives/Podcast

Spiritual Care Ministers are often said to have people in their “spiritual care” or to be involved in “the care of souls.” What is that in practical terms? The Rev. László Major, minister of the 350 member Unitarian Church of Dakt in Transylvania has been studying pastoral care this year as the Balázs  Scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. He will serve as Worship Associate and offer a brief reflection during the service and a longer dialogue after the service. The offering will go to our Partner Church in Transylvania, which our Choir will visit on their pilgrimage this summer. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. László Major,  Balázs Scholar Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Christine Tulis, harp and vocals Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Spiritual Care Ministers are often said to have people in their “spiritual care” or to be involved in “the care of souls.” What is that in practical terms? The Rev. László Major, minister of the 350 member Unitarian Church of Dakt in Transylvania has been studying pastoral care this year as the Balázs  Scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. He will serve as Worship Associate and offer a brief reflection during the service and a longer dialogue after the service. The offering will go to our Partner Church in Transylvania, which our Choir will visit on their pilgrimage this summer. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. László Major,  Balázs Scholar Dr. Mark Sumner, piano Christine Tulis, harp and vocals Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Reciprocal Care Meg is the daughter of a UU Religious Education Director. She is both a licensed psychotherapist and has served as minister to four UU congregations. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at Starr King School for Ministry and Clinical Supervisor of the Native American Counseling Center. She works with troubled families and with historic and present day trauma, and is a graduate of Rev. Jeremy Taylor’s Marin Institute of Dream Workers. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Meg Whitaker-Greene, Guest Preacher Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Michael Yokas, violin Laurel Sprigg, soprano Mark Johnson, piano Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Reciprocal Care Meg is the daughter of a UU Religious Education Director. She is both a licensed psychotherapist and has served as minister to four UU congregations. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at Starr King School for Ministry and Clinical Supervisor of the Native American Counseling Center. She works with troubled families and with historic and present day trauma, and is a graduate of Rev. Jeremy Taylor’s Marin Institute of Dream Workers. Rev. John Buehrens,Senior Minister Rev. Meg Whitaker-Greene, Guest Preacher Lucy Smith, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Michael Yokas, violin Laurel Sprigg, soprano Mark Johnson, piano Jim Valent, Trustee Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Alienation and Reconnection Alienation, said theologian Paul Tillich, is inherent in the human condition. We live alienated from ourselves, from others, and from the very ground of our being. How then do we reconnect? Preaching for us will be a scientist turned minister, now retired from active ministry but still serving as a research scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. John Buehrens calls Jay "one of my wisest colleagues." The Coming of Age class will provide the Message for All Ages. Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, song leader Reiko Oda Lane, organist and bell choir director Giacomo Fiore, guitar Emily Wilson, Administrator Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

Alienation and Reconnection Alienation, said theologian Paul Tillich, is inherent in the human condition. We live alienated from ourselves, from others, and from the very ground of our being. How then do we reconnect? Preaching for us will be a scientist turned minister, now retired from active ministry but still serving as a research scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. John Buehrens calls Jay "one of my wisest colleagues." The Coming of Age class will provide the Message for All Ages. Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson, Guest Minister Kat Liu, Worship Associate Dr. Mark Sumner, song leader Reiko Oda Lane, organist and bell choir director Giacomo Fiore, guitar Emily Wilson, Administrator Jonathan Silk, OOS, Sound & Worship Archives/Podcast

  Peter Morales - The visible spokesperson for Unitarian Universalism Rising quickly from member to Seminarian, to religious leader and becoming UUA President, Peter Morales shares his passion for the future of Unitarian Universalism. Here are some of the quotables taken from this episode: -The largest religious group of people 35 and under is nothing (the nones.) This is a change from 12%-35% in the last century. -Our religious cousins in nearly 8 yrs have lost up to 1/4 of there members. -We are about where we were 10 yrs ago, less the past 3 yrs a 1% decline/yr. Although it's a bit misleading because 35%-40% of congregations are growing, 35% are declining and others in the middle are treading water.   -You went (to church) out of a sense of habit or obligation, those days are over . -Nothing is stable right now, the ones (congregations) with leadership will thrive, and others that are missing leadership will not thrive. It's about learning how to reach out to those 10s of millions who have become skeptical -Church has become a bad brand. Because of  how people associate with it we have to find a way of reaching and engaging people beyond what we do in Sunday morning programming -So what's the solution? it's a problem with no obvious solution -How do we adapt to a new environment? -Interfaith work. We've never reached out as a faith organizations. There will be  more work in the coming year and is the future in this area. We can do it more easily than one of the other progressive faith communities can and I want us to live in to that possibility -We're multifaith at our core, theologically, so we're natural people to lead and convene this effort. Bio: The Rev. Peter Morales is the eighth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). He was elected in June 2013 to a second four-year term. Prior to his election, Morales served as the senior minister at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colorado. From 2002 to 2004, Morales was the UUA Director for District Services. He has also served on the UUA Board of Trustees, as trustee from the Mountain Desert District, and on the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) Executive Committee, as the first person to carry its anti-racism, anti-oppression, multiculturalism portfolio. Before entering the ministry, Morales was a Fulbright lecturer in Spain, a newspaper editor and publisher in Oregon, a Knight International Press Fellow in Peru, and a regional manager in California state government. Morales grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, in 1967. He earned his M.Phil in American Studies from the University of Kansas in 1976 and his M.Div. from the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California, in 1999. Quote: “No other faith aligns with the emerging culture the way we do. No other faith has our potential to touch lives and change the world.” - Peter Morales Contact: petermorales@uua.org   Final Credits: music thanks to: "Carefree", "Open Those Bright Eyes", "Sweeter Vermouth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

While laughter is wonderful medicine, is mirth as a way to enlightenment or to our connection with the mystery? Come and join Amanda as we ponder ways to deepen our spirituality and connection through laughter. Amanda Tarling lives in Victoria and is an active member of Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation. She is slowly working on courses at Starr King School for the Ministry with the eventual goal of becoming a Unitarian Minister. Amanda is the Lay Minister of the Salt Spring Island Fellowship working with them once a month in the pulpit and once a month for a coffee morning or workshop.

Dawn began contemplative practice in 1997. She is currently earning an MA (MDiv equivalent) in Buddhist Studies and Chaplaincy from the Graduate Theological Union. Dawn was ordained in Burma in 2009, and was authorized to teach Buddhist practice, from the perspective of loving-kindness, by her Burmese teacher that year. She teaches meditation, mindfulness, and loving-kindness in Buddhist, clinical, and educational settings. She serves intermittently as a commissioned interfaith chaplain and was a student in John Buehrens preaching class this spring at Starr King School for the Ministry. Dawn Neal, Guest Preacher Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Chair Dr. Mark Sumner, piano & song leader Mark Johnson, piano Radim Zenkl, mandolin & flute Jim Valent, Welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Dawn began contemplative practice in 1997. She is currently earning an MA (MDiv equivalent) in Buddhist Studies and Chaplaincy from the Graduate Theological Union. Dawn was ordained in Burma in 2009, and was authorized to teach Buddhist practice, from the perspective of loving-kindness, by her Burmese teacher that year. She teaches meditation, mindfulness, and loving-kindness in Buddhist, clinical, and educational settings. She serves intermittently as a commissioned interfaith chaplain and was a student in John Buehrens preaching class this spring at Starr King School for the Ministry. Dawn Neal, Guest Preacher Alison Rittger, Worship Associate Chair Dr. Mark Sumner, piano & song leader Mark Johnson, piano Radim Zenkl, mandolin & flute Jim Valent, Welcome Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Monica Joy Cross joins us in this episode to talk about her experiences as a transgender Person of Color in a primarily white denomination. What do we need to do to have the conversation about race in our society? Do we need a more radical solution? How do we, both black and white, see beyond our personal experiences to see the systems that keep us in this cycle of mutual destruction and create change? How do we create the Kingdom of God in us to create the Kingdom of God around us?   Monica Joy Cross is a Transgender Scholar-Activist who serves as an Associate Minister at Tapestry Ministries, Disciples of Christ, Christian Church in Berkeley, Ca.  Monica received a Masters in Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in 2012 and a Masters in Religious Leadership for Social Change from Starr King School for the Ministry in 2014.  Her Journey with the Holy has led her from the citadels of conservatism to the liberal bastions of enlightenment and queer realities.  Monica is a Board Member of The Community Collaborative Planning Council of Alameda and Contra-Costa County for policy and allocation of funding in the San Francisco Bay Area around HIV/AIDS; the Founder of Global Prayer Network and a Different Imagination for a Just and Sustainable Humanity; has authored: Reflections of a Prophet Without Honor - a book of reflections which emerge from her life with God; Authenticity and Imagination in the Face of Oppression - Autobiographical, it addresses gender , race, religion, sexuality, and strategies towards liberation due to be released in September 2015; and has a Blog entitled: The Transgender Scholar.   While being a native of Southern California Rev. Monica Cross currently makes her home in Richmond, California.    Links   Monica’s Facebook Email:  Blog: http://transgenderscholas.blogspot.com/

    KC Slack - A Seminarian's Ministry   Ever wonder what it's like to choosing to attend seminary after being a UU for only three years? KC gives you a unique perspective about her journey becoming a seminarian. You will also hear how she unexpectedly came to engage with the homeless during her commute and the relationships she developed. Enjoy this candid interview with KC Slack.   KC Slack is a second year seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry, and the Student Minister for Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Livermore. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and a member of the UU Society of Cleveland,  KC earned a BA in Political Science and spent several years working as a patient advocate in an abortion clinic before heading off to seminary. She is passionate about social justice, and  she can often be found reading, yelling on the internet, or deep in conversation with friends. She also loves to dance, spend time with friends and loved ones, and hang out with her two cats, Lyndon and Denny. KC's Favorite Quote: "It is easy to forget how full the world is of people, full to bursting, and each of them imaginable and consistently mis-imagined." - John Green, Paper Towns  Where To Find KC: Blog: https://unexpecteddivinity.wordpress.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcslack     Final Credits: music thanks to: "Carefree", "Open Those Bright Eyes", "Sweeter Vermouth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  

Our children, youth, and teachers will process in following their welcome back breakfast. Minister Emerita Kay Jorgensen will invest John with an official cap from the Faithful Fools Street Ministry. Margot Campbell Gross will again lead us in meditation and prayer. And our preacher will be the new President of Starr King School for the Ministry. Don't miss this Sunday! Invite your friends. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Guest Minister Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Rev. Kay Jorgensen, Minister Emerita Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister of Family Life Regina Wells, Spirited Play Teacher Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Michaelle Goerlitz, Percussionist David Chiu, President San Francisco Board of Supervisors Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

Our children, youth, and teachers will process in following their welcome back breakfast. Minister Emerita Kay Jorgensen will invest John with an official cap from the Faithful Fools Street Ministry. Margot Campbell Gross will again lead us in meditation and prayer. And our preacher will be the new President of Starr King School for the Ministry. Don't miss this Sunday! Invite your friends. Rev. John Buehrens, Senior Minister Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Guest Minister Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita Rev. Kay Jorgensen, Minister Emerita Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister of Family Life Regina Wells, Spirited Play Teacher Cindy Pincus, Intern Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organ Michaelle Goerlitz, Percussionist David Chiu, President San Francisco Board of Supervisors Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Worship Archives/Podcast

This week’s co-host is Rev. Lee Whittaker, one of my very good friends from seminary, and a recent graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. On this week’s show we talk about the “emerging church” and how the welcome … Continue reading →

Tonight we meet with former Patheos.com Columnist Sam Webster (now at The Wild Hunt) to talk about his controversial Patheos article "Why You Can't Worship Jesus Christ and Be Pagan," and other issues such as the superiority of Pagan theology, his concerns regarding the popular notion of building interfaith relationships, religious legitimacy, and his thoughts on what we need to be doing as Pagans to insure our religious future in the years to come. Sam is also the President and Executive Director of the Pantheon Foundation, whose mission is to provide organizational support for the practice of Pagan religion and the fostering of Pagan Ministry. To study the history, promote the culture, and advance the social welfare of Pagans and the Pagan community. Sam Webster, M. Div., Mage, hails from the Bay Area and has taught magick publicly since 1984. He graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley in 1993. He is now a PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, UK, studying Pagan history under Prof. Ronald Hutton. He is an Adept of the Golden Dawn, a cofounder of the Chthonic-Ouranian Templar order, and an initiate of Wiccan, Druidic, Buddhist, Hindu and Masonic traditions. His work has been published in a number of journals such as Green Egg and Gnosis, and 2010 saw his first book Tantric Thelema, establishing the publishing house Concrescent Press. He authors two blogs, Arkadian Anvil and Pagan Restoration . In 2001 he founded the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, and serves the Pagan community principally as a priest of Hermes. - SamWebsterMage.com The songs featured in this episode were: “Hunter” by Pandemonaeon “To The Morrigan” by Sencha the Vate “Call Me Satan” by Omnia “Alesia” by Eluveitie “A Poison Tree” by Finvarra “Glashtyn Shanty” by SJ Tucker “Green and Gray” by Damh the Bard “Pagan Ways” by Damh the Bard

The Reverend Dr. Dorsey Blake, who succeeded Howard Thurman as the minister of The Fellowship of All People here in San Francisco. Dorsey also serves on the faculty of Starr King School for the Ministry, where he is one of the school's favorite teachers. In his sermon Dr. Blake will pick up on the hopeful themes to be found in the writings of Howard Thurman, a man who encouraged people of all backgrounds to live a better future into being by working to both envision a better future and to achieve it. The Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Guest Minister The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Podcast

The Reverend Dr. Dorsey Blake, who succeeded Howard Thurman as the minister of The Fellowship of All People here in San Francisco. Dorsey also serves on the faculty of Starr King School for the Ministry, where he is one of the school's favorite teachers. In his sermon Dr. Blake will pick up on the hopeful themes to be found in the writings of Howard Thurman, a man who encouraged people of all backgrounds to live a better future into being by working to both envision a better future and to achieve it. The Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Guest Minister The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Interim Senior Minister Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Jonathan Silk, Sound, Order of Service & Podcast

"In April at the Pacific Western Regional Assembly, Rev. Sarah Moldenhauer-Salazar preached a sermon that made waves across the Region inspiring a new way of thinking about Unitarian Universalism for the 21st century. She has agreed to come preach it for us. Please join us to hear Rev. Sarah's inspiring message. Rev. Sarah serves our movement as the President of the Pacific Central District UU Ministers Associating and as a Trustee of the Starr King School for the Ministry. She currently serves as a community minister for a non-profit working with homeless youth." The Rev. Sarah Moldenhauer-Salazar, Guest Minister The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Maria Solis, Soprano Soloist William Klingelhoffer, Shofar Gayle Atkinson, Quartet Kerry Parker, Quartet David Jones, Quartet Mark Johnson, Quartet Jonathan Silk, Sound and Order of Service

"In April at the Pacific Western Regional Assembly, Rev. Sarah Moldenhauer-Salazar preached a sermon that made waves across the Region inspiring a new way of thinking about Unitarian Universalism for the 21st century. She has agreed to come preach it for us. Please join us to hear Rev. Sarah's inspiring message. Rev. Sarah serves our movement as the President of the Pacific Central District UU Ministers Associating and as a Trustee of the Starr King School for the Ministry. She currently serves as a community minister for a non-profit working with homeless youth." The Rev. Sarah Moldenhauer-Salazar, Guest Minister The Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Worship Associate Reiko Oda Lane, Organist Dr. Mark Sumner, Choir Director Maria Solis, Soprano Soloist William Klingelhoffer, Shofar Gayle Atkinson, Quartet Kerry Parker, Quartet David Jones, Quartet Mark Johnson, Quartet Jonathan Silk, Sound and Order of Service

Does it matter when we lie? What about little white lies What does it mean to tell the truth? Come explore this rich theme with guest worship leader Emily Webb. Emily is the Intern Minister at First UU San Diego and a student at Starr King School for the Ministry.

Sermon delivered by guest minister Rev. Kathleen McTigue on April 7, 2013. Rev. McTigue is director of the UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ), which is a joint collaboration of UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association. She leads the UUCSJ in strategically pursuing its mission to increase the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice. Prior to joining UUCSJ, Kathleen served in parish ministry for 25 years, including 21 years as senior minister to the Unitarian Society of New Haven, Connecticut. Her previous experience also includes several years of social justice activism in the San Francisco Bay area and six months volunteering with Witness for Peace in Nicaragua. Rev. McTigue earned a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. She can be contacted at kmctigue@uucsj.org.

Sermon delivered by Rev. Bill Haney on October 23, 2011. Rev. Haney is the interim minister at the Green Valley UU Congregation near Tucson, Arizona. Prior to his call to ministry he was an architect. Bill attended Oklahoma University, studying under the architect Bruce Goff after having a private interview with Frank lloyd Wright to see if he would want to study at Taliesin. After a fulfilling vocation, he attended Starr King School for Ministry when he met and married Loretta Williams.  He served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, Missouri for 21 years prior to his current position. Bill can be contacted at whaney@uuma.org.

  The Rev. Martin Luther King is best known for his work on civil rights and for advocating non-violent resistance.  Few people, however, know about his religious convictions and what he preached from the pulpit. Be Scofield a San Francisco based spiritual activist has done extensive research into King’s theology and has uncovered some surprising information about King’s beliefs beyond that of civil rights. Be holds a B.A. in Psychology/Philosophy from Warren Wilson College, has done graduate coursework in Postcolonial Anthropology and is currently pursuing a Master's of Divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry in the Unitarian Universalist tradition with an emphasis in women’s studies and counter oppression. His website God Bless the Whole World is a free online educational resource that provides tools for personal and social transformation. The site feature hundreds of videos, audio files, articles and courses on social justice, spiritual activism, counter oppression, environmentalism and self care among many others.   Resources King's God: The Unknown Faith of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Article in Tikkun Magazine, by Be Scofield God Bless the Whole World  Website The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute Email Be Scofield  

Welcome the Rev. Robert Balint, the 2009-10 Balazs Scholar from Starr King School for the Ministry. Balint is minister of the Unitarian Church in Meszko, the alabaster village in Transylvania where Francis Balazs for whom the fellowship is named once served. In addition to his theological studies, Balint has completed a degree in sociology at Kolozsvár Babes Bolyai University. He has been involved in the Unitarian youth movement and worked with local social and charity organizations. With others, he has started the Balázs Ferenc Historical Preservation Project, designed to preserve and promote Francis Balázs's spiritual and material heritage.

Sermon delivered by Jeremy Elliott, Intern Minister, Feb. 24, 2008. The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, teaches that the history of Unitarianism and Universalism in America has been a history of unleashed soul power. From our founding, we have endeavored to cultivate all of the faculties of the soul to liberate, nurture, and heal our world. The Rev. Dr. William Ellery Channing spoke of the importance of “unfolding? these powers to find our salvation. Henry David Thoreau challenged humanity to “live life deliberately? to be truly alive to the world. This Sunday, we will explore and celebrate the lineages of ordinary prophets of liberal religion who shaped the movement we have inherited. How might we offer the powers of our souls to change the world?

The Idolatry of Symbols by Rev. Karen Gustafson Karen was ordained by the Duluth Unitarian Universalist congregation in 1986. She is a graduate of the Starr King School for the ministry in Berkeley California. Before becoming an minister, Karen was a public school educator in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. She is married and has four just- barely-adult children. Karen is inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver, Denise Levertov and Wendell Berry and time in the woods and near the lakes of northern Minnesota. This sermon explores symbols and the power they can hold over us.

Amina Wadud has been a Professor of Islamic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University since 1992 and is currently Visiting Scholar of Islamic Studies at the Starr King School for Ministry. She is a world-renowned scholar of Qur’anic interpretation and gender, a believing Muslim woman, of African descent, and mother of five children. It is this confluence of identities that has driven Prof. Wadud to undertake what has been termed the “gender jihad,” the struggle for justice for women within global Islamic communities. The author of countless articles, lectures, workshop presentations and media interviews, Wadud is internationally recognized for her pathbreaking books Qur’an and Woman, an incisive application of classical disciplines and prerequisites of Islamic interpretation towards a gender inclusive reading, and Inside the Gender Jihad, in which she reflects on the dual roles of scholarship and activism in pursuit of reform in Islamic thought and practice. In 2005, she was at the center of a global media storm after leading prayers in front of a mixed-gender congregation in New York City, a role some contend belongs exclusively to Muslim men. Her act resulted in a global and public debate among Muslims and non-Muslims about women’s roles in Islam. Selected Bibliography: Introduction to Islam: A Reader. Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company, Iowa. upcoming. Inside the Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam. Oneworld, 2006. “Muslim Women: Between Citizenship and Faith,” Women and Citizenship. ed. Marilyn Friedman. Oxford University Press, 2005. Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective. Oxford University Press, 1999.