When a few members or our church met in September 2006 first met for a Peace Making meeting, we agreed we wanted to take action for rather than talk peace to death. We are members of the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church (BAUUC), Clear Lake/Houston, TX and UU members are known for discussing any topic – very thoroughly.
Several members have long been active in peace movements, attending rallies and holding signs over busy
People were given the opportunity to call out names of those they knew, that have been touched by the horrors of war. One of the Peacemaking group members created a emotionally moving and thought provoking slideshow of
We met again in January and further outlined what we would like to accomplish as a group. Suggestions included showing relevant films at a progressive film forum held Thursday evenings at the church. We discussed finding a professional mediator who could address conflict resolution. Another member is making arrangements with a local mediator to schedule for a spring meeting.
On February 22nd our congregation sponsored a production of The Vagina Monologues with congregant members giving voice to this powerful, provocative drama. A flyer inside the program explains, “V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of playwright/founder Eve Ensler’s awared winning play The Vagina Monologues.” V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women. All proceeds from the performance were given to Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a shelter for abused women. BAUUC received many calls following the performance, thanking us for making this available, giving testimony to the difference it made to many audience members. We are proud to be a congregation that is willing to make an uncomfortable decision, supporting an uncomfortable production, provoking uncomfortable realizations that we hope creates change within individuals and our community.
Suggestions at subsequent meetings include requesting a section of the church library for books and films related to peace. One member has been in contact with Diane Wilson, author of An Unreasonable Woman and founder of Code Pink toward inviting her to give a church sermon and weekend workshop regarding her work.
Our group keeps a calendar of peace-related events, both grassroots and organized, in the