Rev. Chuck Freeman: Root Power: One February evening in 1994 during Live Oak’s seedling days, the community decided to employ consensus as our governing model. Shared power and shared leadership has been at the root of our genius over the years. As we grow bigger branches, the consensus model is being stretched and challenged. How can we maintain the spirit of consensus without making molasses seem speedy? What are the spiritual principles of consensus that go beyond “church governance”, which enhance all relationships? [36:01]
Ryan Valentine: Turning Public School Into Sunday School: Long a contentious venue for church-state issues, public schools have become the front line in Texas’ “culture war”. The religious right is busy dreaming up new ways to introduce religious ideology into the classroom: creationism (or intelligent design) into biology textbooks; stripping out all disease prevention and family planning from health textbooks in favor of abstinence-only instruction; elective courses in the Bible, many of them devotional in nature; teaching fundamentalist, Protestant beliefs as fact. Come hear what you can do to protect the line separating church and state in our neighborhood schools. [25:11]
Rev. Chuck Freeman: Flame On!: Every Sunday we join UUs around the globe in lighting what is known as the Flaming Chalice. How did this come to be a common symbol for our churches? What are the meanings that underlie it? We have a real purty one now! Today we will dedicate our new chalice, bathing it in history and future vision. [18:08]
Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Foundation for Democracy: Leander Independent School District has a vision: “Every student is encouraged, supported, and challenged to achieve the highest levels of knowledge, skills, and character.” Yet schools in Leander, Cedar Park, Austin, and Texas face enormous challenges in helping all of our students achieve these standards. Changing demographics mean that more families who speak no English and have no high school graduates at home attend Texas schools. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita propelled 46,000 students into Texas and 35,000 of them are staying. Many of them will need extra assistance in meeting state standards. Can we do something about the schools? [25:52]
