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Charter For Compassion
November 21st, 2011
Sunday 20th November we included The Charter For Compassion. Across the country, many other Unitarian Churches marked this day by reading the charter out during the service.
For more information about the movement, please go to http://charterforcompassion.org/site/
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
Thought for the Day
November 4th, 2011
Occupy London SX (date of message 29th October)
As we did not meet last Sunday because of the Great South Run, you may be interested in some thoughts which I would have shared if we had.
It is now over two weeks since the Occupy London SX protestors set up their camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral, following similar protests in New York at Wall Street which were inspired by a Canadian group called ‘Adbusters’. The Wall Street protests began in mid-September.
The former Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s, Rev’d Dr Giles Fraser, initially welcomed the protestors and defended their right to protest. However, as the protest has developed the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral decided to close the doors of St Paul’s to the public because of perceived Health and Safety concerns. As you know Giles Fraser has become a casualty of the protest, resigning because he did not believe that the Church should be associated with the use of force to move the protestors on.
Occupy London SX issued a nine point statement about their purpose which laid out their concerns about Capitalist policies associated with the banking crises, government cuts, arms dealing and the desire for ‘authentic global equality’.
Many Unitarians have sympathies with the issues the protestors are highlighting, but as Giles Fraser said “the protestors have said a lot about what they are against but have suggested little by way of solutions.”
Where do we stand as Unitarians in regard to these protests and the issues they raise? Some London Unitarians and Unitarian Ministers have gone along to the camp to show solidarity with the protestors. To date as a national body we have not made an official comment although the Executive Committee have shared a number of emails about the subject. There is no clear mandate from previous debates at Annual meetings to give a clear steer on whether or not we should ‘go public’.
I imagine that twenty first century Unitarians will be fairly mixed in their views about whether of not to support the actual protests, but equally united about the underlying challenges the protestors are making about our world. Our nineteenth century Unitarian forbears took a different route in tackling capitalism and injustice. It was a two pronged attack; first they did more than disagree with injustice and inequality; they did something practical about it. They wrote books, became involved in civic and political life, they provided education to the less fortunate (as we well know). Secondly they recognised that the world of business was here to stay and it was better to win over the magnates of the industrial revolution and persuade them of a different and more charitable way. This they did and a number of our Churches were built on the strength of this. They worked with the capitalists, industrialists and entrepreneurs and encouraged them to share some of their wealth with the less fortunate and to use their power to improve the lot of the poor. Some of the ideas of those eighteenth century Unitarians and other non-conformists influenced businesses still in operation today.
They may still have a lesson to teach us! I hope in the next few months we can look at ways in which we can increase our social action and and concern.
Enjoy the day!
Martin
Message from Martin
October 27th, 2011
Sunday October 30th. The Church sanctuary and Hall will be open for those who want to come to welcome the crowds who are cheering on the runners. Coffee, tea and soft drinks will be served and people can use our facilities. If you are local do come along.
Sunday November 6th. Our good friend Peter Hewis will be leading worship today. Peter is a fellow and emeritus chaplain of Harris Manchester College, Oxford and took many service for us at the end of last year when we were between Ministers. We are pleased to be welcoming Peter back.
Martin away. Our Minister will be away in Boston, USA from the middle of next week. He is attending a meeting of Unitarian leaders from around the world which is being held at the Unitarian Universalist HQ in Boston. Sixteen Unitarians from the UK, India, Romania, Canada and the USA will be thinking together about the future of our World-wide Unitarian movement. We look forward to hearing about it on his return.
November services. Our themes/speakers for Sundays in November are as follows:
- Nov. 6th - Rev’d Peter Hewis
- Nov. 13th - Remembrance Sunday with our Minister
- Nov. 20th - Charter for Compassion Sunday with our Minister. This slightly shorter service will be followed by our Annual General Meeting and lunch
- Nov. 27th - The beginning of our Christmas programme. On Sundays during the season we will be including aspects of Jewish Hanukkah, Caribbean Kwanga and the Christian Advent in our services.
Carol services. Our Christmas Eve Carol Service will be at 1930 hrs this year – more details later. The Children’s carol service will be on Sunday 11th December at 1430 hers. Please start to invite your friends to both events.
Best wishes to you all. Martin
Rev’d Martin N Whitell
Mobile: 07976 839299
Church Anniversary!
August 26th, 2011
The church is celebrating it’s 55th anniversary. To mark this occassion the church will be open on the day itself, 8th September, plus there will be a special service on Sunday 11th September. Details as follows:
Thursday 8th September 10.30am-2.30pm. Open church, serving tea and coffee in the hall, with information about the church’s past, present and future.
Sunday 11th September, Anniversary Service 10.30am. Led by the Minister with contributions from the congregation and church users, a chance to celebrate with the wider church family.
You are warmly invited to join us at these two events!
John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church, High Street, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire. PO1 2HW
tel: (023) 9282 1101
Copyright © John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church. Site Hosted and Supported by Drew Westcott
tel: (023) 9282 1101
Copyright © John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church. Site Hosted and Supported by Drew Westcott