The dedicated group of planners for the International Convocation of U*U Women¹ is focused on these questions: what are the goals of the Convocation, what outcomes do we hope for, and what do we want to accomplish? The answers depend on women attending from around the world, speakers and planners staying attuned to the issues, and our fundraising efforts coming together to ensure diverse representation at the Convocation.

A convocation is different from a conference. “Convocation” comes from the Latin, convocare, meaning to call forth or summon together, and vox, or voice. Unlike a conference where the agenda is known, a convocation calls forth the collective voice.

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A birthday card I once got had these words:  “Find the place where you belong, then set your sights on reaching it.”  When I became the UU Women and Religion representative in the UUA Board-created “inclusion groups alliance” after all those groups were disaffiliated from official attachment to the UUA, I wanted to give the effort my all.  Coalition building in egalitarian, complementary collaboration is a good thing.  After all, with our UU membership being so small compared to the numbers of other religions, our Washington, D.C. UUA office usually joins in interfaith coalitions to make the UU voice heard on Capitol Hill.  Well, after about a year of teleconferencing we in the ‘inclusion groups” found that the coercive and unclear organizing we were placed in did not work to form the expected alliance.

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UU Women and Religion decorated our booth at General Assembly with a new banner of the logo and the starwoman who graces our web site. Shirley brought the original UUW&R cloth banner as well, and we displayed the cloth banner made by the Florida District Women and Religion in reponse to the December 2007 murders of two Florida District W&R committee members and two of their children. Purple ribbons were handed out, in support of the ongoing fight against domestic violence.
 
Copies of the new "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Part I: In Ancient Times" were on sale, as well as the rest of the items regularly sold in our online store (www.uuwr.org/store.htm). Cakes Part II "On the Threshold" was in its final proofreading stage, so we took orders at the booth. It seemed to me that GA attendance was sparse, and few folks traversed the corner where we were placed across from an empty booth and the UUs for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and between two theological schools. Shirley and I staffed the booth with help from core group members Helen Popenoe, Laurie James, Florida District past convener Susan Pendergraft, and past CMwD W&R member Janet Nortrom of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With those people who did stop by the booth, we were able to take the time to talk in depth somewhat about what was on their minds. People didn't buy much but took lots of literature.
 
We also raffled off a set of "Cakes," a set of Laurie James books, and a set of "Rise Up" curriculum, all donated by their authors.

Look where we are in our Women and Religion (W&R) movement! Our new Co-conveners, Gretchen Ohmann and Shirley Ranck, have been totally with us for very meaningful years, giving progressive steps in support of our mission of examining and eliminating sexism (plus more.) Today, and for the near future, their sure-footed co-leadership will give inspiration for collaborative ways spreading into new possibilities. Patriarchal assumptions, language and behavior still surround us, but UU cultural attitudes are, clearly, changing. One present example of egalitarian complementarity is with the editorship of this issue of WOMUUNWEB. I’ll be collaborating with Dana Ashrawi, the International Convocation of UU Women’s Communications Coordinator.

Shared Leadership -- a PCD Leadership Day, November 1, 2003, training tool presented by Rosemary Matson & Geri Kennedy (Order from the UUWR Store)

General Assembly 2008
Many of us were at the GA in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Here are some photos of our booth and from the Annual Gathering. Rev. Addae Watson conducted the opening service and Rev. Shirley Ranck was our keynote speaker.

We passed a budget, honored the women of Florida District in solidarity with their memorial to the Clearwater family's tragedy, and elected new co-conveners. We are seeking a Secretary to round out our core group. Contact me if you are interested in working in this volunteer capacity.

-- Gretchen


The purple banner at the bottom of the booth is the memorial to the Clearwater family. It will soon become a traveling memorial to raise awareness about issues related to domestic and sexual violence and violence against women. Stay tuned.

GA2008 Photo album HERE.

There is a short video from our GA2008 booth HERE.

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GA2007 photos HERE.
GA2006 photos HERE.