On occasion I am beyond flattered by circumstances, Most recently it was being recognized at the Wichita NOW Chapterâs Annual Colleen Kelly Johnstonâs âShe Makes a Differenceâ Dinner, along with Julie Burkhart and Marge Zakoura Vaughn. More about the event later, but first I want to clear up something often misunderstood. NOW is an acronym … Continue reading A Feminist Life
âSometimes I think the only real division into two is between people who divide everything into two, and those who donât.â Â Gloria Steinem, âMy Life on the Roadâ (2015) Unitarian Universalists understand that nothing in this world can be divided into two distinct parts or opinions. Â But one issue, high profile in Wichita always … Continue reading Once Upon a Feminist Life: Our Minds, Our Bodies, Our Choices
Ten years ago a friend had a startling reaction to my casual reference to âwe feminists.â âIâm not a feminist,â my 20-something friend responded indignantly, much to my surprise. I knew her to be someone who thought clearly about women’s issues. A few questions from me followed.   âDo you believe in equal pay for equal … Continue reading Feminist Life
[This post is the first in an on-going series of social justice stories and reflections from members of the First UU Wichita congregation. If you would like to submit a blog post for publication, please contact our Social Action Coordinator Margi Ault-Duell at socialaction@firstuu.net. Enjoy!] Once upon a feminist life⊠Written by Del Smith When … Continue reading Once Upon a Feminist Life
Presented by the Children’s Religious Exploration class of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita, this video explores the principles of Unitarian Universalism and what it means to practice them. This film was written and designed entirely by the kids.
(Del Smith heard Forrest Church speak at her UU Church in Long Beach, CA, in 1998. She now admits that she was excited that he was the speaker, but only because his father was the late Frank Church, liberal senator (ID). Rev. Churchâs message that âacceptance trumps toleranceâ quickly converted her to being a fan … Continue reading Unitarian Universalist Religious Pluralism
(This weekâs blogger is Del Smith, a Unitarian Universalist since the early 60s. Back in the day she served as âSunday School Superintendent.â Her experience teaching UU kids, plus the congregationâs social activism, influenced her decision to become a public school teacher.) ââŠSome beliefs are like shadows, clouding childrenâs days with fears of unknown calamities. … Continue reading Questions are as Welcome as the Answers: The Legacy of Sophia Lyon Fahs
