Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
A diverse, welcoming community of open hearts and minds since 1948
Cynthia Adcock's Page
Profile Information
- How long have you attended UUCAVA?
- since July 2008
- What does multiculturalism mean to you?
- It means a joyful and energetic opening to the diversity of wisdom and practice among human beings around the world. It means experiencing the depth and power of many traditions as a way of gaining better access to my own full humanity. And it means learning to go way beyond tolerance towards acceptance of conflict among different ways of seeing the world. As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. So also I accept the challenge of the "peaceful warrior" way of life.
- What religion or spiritual practices did you grow up with?
- Born into a devout, liberal Lutheran family (with both parents as ministers, one ordained, one not), I was a Quaker for many years, and have moved into a deeply humanist and also mystical way of life.
- Tell us a little about yourself/your family/your interests:
- I live with my husband Joe, my daughter Iris and son-in-law Tim, plus two grandkids (Clara, 9, and Leo, 5) in Arlington. Joe and I moved here from Seattle specifically to share a house, but the community is fast becoming a home.
For many years I combined college teaching and community development work. My Ph.D. is in history, but I taught everything from political economy to women's studies and the psychology of social change.
Ecology and race have been two "issue areas" that excite me with their positive possibilities—I'm a long-time organic veggie gardener and I love being in multiracial groups where we have learned to share openly and deeply.
Other odd factoids: For 6 years I was a massage & bodywork therapist; I read mysteries but only if they are not sadistic or stupid, and I play the flute, but not well.
Cynthia Adcock's Blog
April Fools' Day for Elders?
I haven't written since April 1st—April Fool's Day. Not sure why. Two possible reasons:
I've been very busy with my adult RE class on the COMMON cause of BOTH economic inequality and climate change, and I've been wrestling with difficult issues surrounding UUCA's Transition Time, including a possible trend that undermines my sense of self-worth (essential for blogging).
What's going on?
I saw minutes of a recent meeting in which it was said that some…
ContinuePosted on May 10, 2013 at 7:30pm
Gratitude for the Tender Caring for our Garden
A heartfelt yes to Earth. There are cultures in which a sick person is placed in the ground, covered with soil, leaving only enough room to breathe. Those cultures understand that the earth can draw out the toxicity within us—mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. Yes, I say.
I leaked many tears of joy during the service on Easter Sunday, feeling so very thankful for words spoken by our ministers.
• So much gratitude for Rev David’s litany decrying “bad…
ContinuePosted on April 1, 2013 at 2:46pm
Weird & Complex UU “Survival Landscapes”
What does it take for a community to survive and thrive?
Enough money or passion? Enough democracy, diversity and/or common ground? A good leader, willing followers or a tolerance for conflict? Or all of the above, if you believe the esoteric complexity and chaos theories born in the 1980s?* Howzat?
Back when some bright-eyed bushy-tailed scholars began playing with computers, they found two…
ContinuePosted on March 11, 2013 at 12:02pm
WHY We Need to Talk about HOW to Do Democracy
Yes, UUs have “representative democracy” to choose our leaders, but that’s only the beginning.
When I asked some UUCA folks what they wanted in a leader, the most common response was “the ability to pull all of us together in one vision—to unite us.”
In other words, good leadership was more “active,” and we ordinary members were more “passive.” Good leadership leads us, and we follow. Problem solved.
Not exactly.
But WHY not?
Because…
ContinuePosted on February 4, 2013 at 10:00am
Ministry, Leadership & That Green Card
Green Card—Legal permission for an immigrant to work and reside in the USA, right?
Yes, but also the UUCA green card seeking nominations for the search committee to find a new minister. I don’t have suggestions yet—I’m still wrestling with issues lurking within the search process:
What kind of ministry—what kind of leadership—will help us become the kind of people, the kind of congregation, that the world needs now?
The Appreciative…
ContinuePosted on January 15, 2013 at 5:19pm
Blog Posts
Watch General Assembly tonight
Posted by UUCAVA on June 19, 2013 at 9:11am
UUCA Seeks Youth Ministry Coordinator
Posted by Rev. Linda Olson Peebles on June 11, 2013 at 5:30pm
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Comment Wall (10 comments)
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Thank you for your welcoming words, and for your contribution to the most recent *UUWorld*. I appreciate your raising the concern that we ourselves are part of what's not working in relationship to the troubles of the world. Just thinking about the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, I bemoan the devastation, but I have yet to alter my driving habits which are part of the problem when multiplied millions or billions of times over.
I look forward to meeting in person in the days ahead!
I don't think my blogs are restricted. I'll have to check.
I read your stuff with great interest.
Judy
While I was culling in my studio, I found a little photo of
two of my kids looking at the bulletin board I told you about.
On the top it says "Where The Action Is" and, by the ages
of my kids, I can see it was about 1967.
I enjoyed meeting you.
judy
I just read your comment about identity.
I'm looking forward to meeting you tomorrow!
Also, I just read "The kids are gone" while I was writing this.
I can definitely relate.
judy