UUFP     

From the Pam Tenney

Denominational Affairs Committee Annual Report

July 1 2007 through Jun 30, 2008

Chairperson:  Pam Tenney

 

Core Committee Members :  Donna Sprock, Mason Moseley, Patricia Moseley, , Christopher Hicks, Cynthia Manuel, Sandra Engelhardt, Nick Boke , Jerry Tenney, Christy Woods, Wythe Holt, Madeenah Qayyum

 

Social Concerns Committee Members: Greg Sprock, Buffy Boke, Steve Kadar, Bob Smith, Alice Smith, Jacquie Ream, Dawn Hutchinson

 

Members: UUFP Congregation

 

Sub-committee: LINK chaired by Marge Gates. Communicates needs of LINK and collects and delivers needed items to LINK.

 

Purpose: The Social Concerns Committee serves to facilitate the important social actions that take place within the congregation. We are committed to active involvement with social issues. Our committee is particularly supportive of the following Unitarian Universalist principles:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations

The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

 

The Social Concerns Committee meets at 7:00pm on the 4th Monday of every month. All are welcome to attend and raise an issue of concern.

 

Report:   Last year Christopher Hicks and Cynthia Manuel developed a Social Concerns website so that we could promote and share actions, events, ideas and concerns with the congregation and the community.

You can access the social concerns website at http://wiki.fini.net/bin/view/UUFP/WebHome or on the UUFP website by selecting Social Concerns. Christopher led the 4^th Sunday Potluck/ Movie/discussion events (after second service; Please join us!) Christopher and Cynthia served as the UUFP representative for the local CROP WALK. Sandra Engelhardt kept us updated with TJD news and events.  She cooked meals during trips to Mississippi for the Gulf Coast hurricane relief team.  Donna Sprock, Dawn Hutchinson and Pam Tenney provided leadership and organization of PORT.  With the help of many members of the congregation over 200 homeless people received two home cooked meals and a bagged lunch and accommodations for the night. THANK YOU!

Donna Sprock continued to lead the Peacemaking discussions.  Jacquie Ream who last year led the Social Concerns’ involvement with the Welcoming Congregations in getting the word out regarding the Marriage Amendment joined up with the Welcoming Congregation Committee. Steve Kadar and Pam Tenney also joined the Welcoming Congregation Committee. Patricia Moseley and Nick Boke continued the program, English as a Second Language, at the fellowship.  Bob and Alice Smith kept us informed of the local UN events.  Christy Woods kept us connected to Veteran’s Affairs. Mason Moseley kept us connected to our continuing support of last years Justice Sunday program, “The Lost Boys of Sudan”. Wythe Holt and Jerry Tenney spearheaded the Peninsula Peace project and kept us involved in the local anti-war movement. The Peninsula Peace Project is currently meeting at the fellowship on the 2^nd Wednesday at 7:00.  So far the projects of the PPP have been a wonderful Martin Luther King presentation at Victory Arch in downtown Newport News.  Speakers were Jerry Tenney Christopher Hicks, Christy Woods, Nick Boke and music was provided by Bob Matter. Check out TV coverage on the UUFPSC website.  We have a continuing monthly (weekly as able) vigil on the 1^st Saturday 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Hilton Village at the corner of Warwick and Main. JOIN US! Pam Tenney attended PORT meetings, COC meetings, and UUFPSC meetings. And our minister, Buffy Boke inspired us with sermons and offered support and advice as needed.

 

 The following are the highlights of the Social Concerns Committee:

*Outreach program “Peninsula Peace Project” * Participation in the Sunday Justice Program on Martin Luther King * Guest speaker Tom Palumbo gave presentation on his trip for the Peace Delegation to Iran* Crop Walk*Provided a wonderful meal and a program on peace during annual UUFP Retreat*collected winter clothing for PORT, *organized and participated in PORT,* Link food collections *International Hour of Peace, *Sunday Movie/Discussion events have included Peacemaking, In this World, Bush’s Brain, Noam Chomsky.

 

Future Plans :  UUFPSC plans for the upcoming year include: networking with the Norfolk and Williamsburg UU churches, bringing awareness of the larger UUA social justice programs by coordinating UUFP events and programs to the UUA social justice calendar, continuing 4-year Peacemaking program, 4^th Sunday movie/discussion and the PPP, working with the fellowship circle’s to implement social justice/community services: supporting Green Sanctuary, supporting Welcoming Congregation, PORT, LINK, providing opportunities for the congregation and the larger community to connect through social justice events and projects.  Any comments, suggestions, questions can be directed to any of the core committee members.

 

Lots to do

If you haven't been enlisted to work on a committee, read these reports and find one that appeals to you. The membership committee can help! 

This is a growing, dynamic church!