1. MUA Annual General Meeting: this will be held at Shrewsbury Unitarian Church on Saturday 30th March. Guest Speaker: Karen Hanley, Parliamentary liaison person for Unitarians.
2. Spring Training Day: the theme will be ‘Music in Worship’. Course Leaders are Revs Ant Howe and Danny Crosby. At Kingswood on Saturday 16th March.
3. Meet the new Unitarian Chief Officer: members of the Executive Committee will be meeting Elizabeth Slade, the incoming Unitarian Chief Officer, on either 28th or 29th March.

1. MUA Annual General Meeting 2019 will be held at Shrewsbury Unitarian Church on Saturday 30th March. Guest Speaker to be confirmed.
2. Spring Training Day: the theme will be ‘Music in Worship’. Date to be confirmed.
3. MU Now: the deadline for the next issue is Friday 4th January. The theme is ‘New year, new hope’. All contributions to Sue Woolley, please.

Twelve of us spent a very enjoyable day at Kingswood on Saturday 10th November, discovering how to ‘put the worth into worship’. This training day was led by Rev. Ant Howe, Kingswood’s minister.

He had asked each participant to bring an “item of personal worth” with them, and after the opening devotions, we sang ‘Bring Flowers to Our Altar’ and brought our items to the table, sharing what they meant to us. Each sharing was followed by a period of silence, and it was a beautiful, meaningful ritual.

We also wrote some original worship material while we were there – I am hoping that this can be shared on the website in the near future.

Our thanks to Ant for a rich and enjoyable day.

More than 30 Unitarians gathered at Kingswood Meeting House on Saturday 3rd November, to share food and fellowship, and to listen to our Guest Speaker, Rev. Daniel Costley, who is the minister of five congregations in Kent. His talk was both instructive and entertaining. Here he is in Kingswood’s pulpit (photo by Ant Howe):

After the talk there was a lively question and answer session. Then we adjourned to the schoolroom for lunch. Jill Bowie and her staff did us proud, and everyone enjoyed this Unitarian social occasion.

We are sad to report that Malcolm Sadler, a past President of the Midland Unitarian Association, died in hospital on 17th October. His memorial service was held on Friday 2nd November, at Warwick Chapel, which he served faithfully for more than 50 years. Indeed it is not too much of an exaggeration to say that without Malcolm, Warwick Unitarians would no longer exist, let alone as the thriving congregation they now are.

His memorial service was a joyous occasion. Led by Rev. Ant Howe, who had been his minister at Warwick for the past few years, it included many special memories, and laughter as well as tears. It seemed peculiarly appropriate that the accompanist got stuck in traffic, so that for the first part of the service, Ant had to dash from piano to reading desk, just as Malcolm used to. The service included a tribute from his long-time friend, Peter Sampson, with whom Malcolm collaborated on the production of Let Us Sing, affectionately known as “the pink hymnbook”.

The Warwick congregation laid on a sumptuous spread afterwards for the many attenders – Malcolm was well-known and well-loved in his lifetime. Folk came from as far as Rochdale and Lancaster to pay tribute to him.

His dedication, and gentle, loving presence will be long remembered.

Professor Ewan Fernie has given a fascinating talk about George Dawson, minister of Church of the Saviour in Birmingham in the mid-19th century. It is well worth a listen. https://www.historywm.com/podcasts/meet-birminghams-lost-philosopher-george-dawson-1821-1876

1. Model Contracts: It was agreed that it would be good practice for the District Minister to hold blank copies of model contracts (e.g. for the employment of lay workers, the hiring of sub-contractors, the letting of premises) so that congregations planning to do any of these things would have an approved contract to hand. If any congregations are willing to share such contracts which they have used / are using, please contact the District Minister (contact via Contact page).
2. MUA Annual Lunch: this will be held at Kingswood Meeting House, on Saturday 3rd November, with Guest Speaker Rev Daniel Costley.

1. Stronger Data Protection Act: The Data Protection Act is being strengthened, which will have implications for how all congregations hold personal data. It comes into force on 25th May 2018. Please could all congregations ensure that they have asked their members to complete the forms circulated by Sandy Ellis, and return a list of names for inclusion in the next MUA Annual Report to him.
2. Chaplain to Mayor of Kidderminster: Rev. Winnie Gordon is now Chaplain to the Mayor of Kidderminster.

More than 30 Unitarians from 11 congregations around the District assembled at Unitarian New Meeting Church in Birmingham for the District’s 152nd Annual General Meeting.

Following a commendably brief business meeting, followed by an even briefer AGM of the Midland Unitarian Association of  Lay Preachers & Service Leaders, both in the church itself, during which we welcome one new member to the Executive Committee, we adjourned to the Priestley Room and enjoyed a delicious cold buffet lunch, which had been laid on by the congregation of UNM. It was a chance to catch up with old friends, and to make new ones.

At 1.45, we moved back into the church for a short Presidential Service, led by MUA President, Ms. Diane Rutter. She took privilege and exclusion as her theme, and reminded us that until 1813, Unitarians were the “have-nots”, who were not allowed to meet together in worship. She then spoke of the need to support refugees – today’s “have-nots”.

She then introduced our Guest Speaker, Stephen Lingwood, pioneer minister of Cardiff Unitarians. He gave us a fascinating talk about his new post at Cardiff – which is 1/3 for the congregation, and 2/3 doing Unitarian evangelism – sharing the good news about our Unitarian faith. He stated that our mission is to address the current spiritual crisis, which is causing the climate crisis, by inviting people into relationship with self, neighbours, community, the Earth and God. And to encourage a deep connection with the interdependent web of all existence – we are all one.

He explained that as Unitarians are a liberal religious movement, we acknowledge that revelation is not sealed, and that there is always more truth to be discovered. Our practice should be dialogue, rather than monologue – not just about the individual spiritual journey. His current ministry is about building relationships and having conversations, about being alongside people where they are.

He argued that spirituality is about becoming more human, each in our own unique way, by making discoveries through faith and trust. He said that one part of the greater mission should be to make a more loving, just world which will enable us to work on the climate crisis. We need to combine activism and spirituality.

He concluded by saying that if we can build beloved community, we can build paradise. It is about entering into dialogue, respecting the dignity of the individual and their right to say no, building relationships over time, and also part of a larger mission to work towards justice and peace.

Unitarians: Together in Diversity
A Survey of the Beliefs, Values, and Practices of Contemporary British Unitarians
by Sue Woolley
Published by the Lindsey Press, April 2018
£9.50

Dating back 450 years and still evolving, Unitarianism is a faith which imposes no creed or dogma on its followers. It is a community of individuals, each on their own spiritual journey, each guided by their own reason and conscience. So what, if anything, binds us together?

It sometimes seems easier for us to express what we don’t believe, rather than to positively affirm what we do believe. Sue Woolley, our District Minister, set out to discover what contemporary British Unitarians actually believe, and how they give expression to their faith in their daily lives. She conducted an in-depth survey in 2017, seeking answers to questions such as: How do you perceive ‘the Divine’ … What is your relationship with Christianity and other faith traditions? … Do you have a regular spiritual practice? … Should religion and politics be kept separate from each other? … What are your views on gender, sexuality, and marriage? … What is the basis of your personal morality? … What happens after we die? … and many more.

Maybe you yourself were one of the 257 Unitarians who responded to the survey? If so, you might find yourself quoted (anonymously) in this book, which presents a detailed assessment of the findings. In considering the range and depth of present-day Unitarian beliefs, values, and spiritual practices, Sue Woolley explores what it is that holds Unitarians ‘together in diversity’.

Copies (£9.50 each) may be bought at the General Assembly annual meetings in the first week of April, or ordered from the Unitarian Head Office at Essex Hall in London from 9 April onwards (Monday–Friday, 10 am–5 pm). You can pay over the phone (tel. 0207 240 2384) with a credit or debit card.