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Scott Wells, 39, is a Universalist Christian minister doing Universalist theology and church administration hacks in Washington, D.C.

Anti-clerical?

The Unitarian Fellowship movement was the most successful liberal church growth program in living memory. It was not perfect, but given how different these fellowships were from what came before, it’s amazing it worked — or was allowed to work — at all.
The Unitarian Fellowships get a bad rap today, which I think odd [...]

Possible next steps after the UUA staff cuts

While it is pretty clear where I stand on some matters related to Unitarian Universalist Association staffing, it’s not to say I’d be happy to leave things as they were had there been no financial crisis.
In a word, I think we suffer from over-consolidation. Apart from the theological schools and camps, it’s hard to [...]

Thinking about the UUA staff cuts

I’ve heard two attitudes that see some good come out of the staff cuts. One which disagrees with the Washington Office — though others will be losing their jobs too — for political, policy reasons and another which thinks the Washington Office shouldn’t exist for polity reasons. I have no sympathy for either argument. The [...]

Bad day for the UUA

Saw this, “oh crap” was the best I could think.

UUA eliminates Washington advocacy office
The Unitarian Universalist Association announced the layoffs of 15 employees February 26 as the first phase of a reorganization of the UUA’s staff.
The UUA’s Washington Office for Advocacy will be eliminated at the end of the fiscal year in June. Four of [...]

The bigger winners today in D.C. . . .

. . . are the same-sex couples in Maryland. I know: as a D.C. resident, I should be happiest the place I call home, but . . .
Last week, the Maryland Attorney General announced that, barring court action, the same-sex marriages contracted in other jurisdictions would be recognized in Maryland. This is good news [...]

I officiate weddings in the District of Columbia

To remind my readers: I am an ordained minister with fifteen years’ experience in performing weddings. I have credentials to preform weddings in the District of Columbia.
And, yes: I will talk to same-sex couples looking to marry. (Indeed, I am half of a same-sex couple.)
As you might know, the District of Columbia will [...]

Clergy sexual misconduct site resumes

I’m glad to see Speaking Truth to Power — a site addressing clergy sexual misconduct (CSM) resume. In its own words, “its specific focus is Unitarian Universalist processes for dealing with CSM.” Though popularly conflated with child sexual abuse, the risk of clergy sexual misconduct remains and in a congregational system there’s little natural recourse [...]

The winners with regions

I was a little amazed about the idea — from a special UUA Board meeting no less; where’s the fire? — that five regions should supplement and perhaps supersede the current nineteen districts.
Chutney asks who the losers would be. Staff, to be sure. That’s what reorganizations are for. But I wonder who the winners [...]

My Lenten practice

Still getting my feet about putting longer-format, more-theological works at my RevScottWells.con blog. That’s where I put
“At Lent: less meat, less Google“

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Nonprofit license for mailing?

I don’t think I’m reading this incorrectly, but it seems that a religious organization, whether or not it is incorporated (a state I wouldn’t recommend) or has an affirmative IRS 503(c)(3) ruling (that’s a recognition as a public charity by the federal tax authority, for my overseas readers) is eligible to apply for a nonprofit [...]