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How long have you attended UUCAVA?: I began work as UUCA's Consulting Minister August 1, 2010. My contract with the congregation expires July 31, 2012.

What does multiculturalism mean to you?: Multiculturalism is an approach to life that affirms and promotes the value each ethnic group brings to the human enterprise. When we have multiculturalism as our context, we move from observation to engagement instead of from observation to judgment.

What religion or spiritual practices did you grow up with?: African American United Methodist family in the Deep South, with shadows extending into Pentecostalism.

Tell us a little about yourself/your family/your interests:: My portfolio at UUCA includes Social Justice, Denominational Connections and Community Building. Throughout 2010-2011, much of my attention is going toward the congregational/denominational focus on justice for immigrants and their families, including a book discussion group (*Getting Immigration Right: What Every American Needs to Know* by David Coates and Peter Siavelis) and a series of pubic events. I am also part of a team launching "S&R: The Sex & Relationship Weekend", an adaptation/condensation of the Our Whole Lives human sexuality curriculum for young adults.

Why are you a Unitarian Universalist?: I initially identified as Unitarian Universalist because its Seven Principles resonated with me. I continue to identify largely because of the networks of relationship I have been welcomed into through the years. Unitarian Universalism is one of the environments where I'm working out my soul's salvation.

Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith's Blog

Sen. Warner Advises VOICE on Immigration

Today, I was part of an 18-member delegation from VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) speaking with Sen. Mark Warner on the Senate's immigration reform bill. Because we know he's an ally of reform, we specifically wanted to know how we can leverage the power of our congregations to the get the bill passed. From the 25 minutes we had with him, here are some of the highlights:

-- As I introduced myself as one of the ministers at UUCA, Sen. Warner noted that…

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Posted on April 18, 2013 at 6:04pm

Holding Boston in Our Hearts

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington shares in the grief from the bombing of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. We pray for the healing of the scores of people wounded. We pray for comfort for the families and friends of the three who were killed,with hope that the other severely injured people recover. We pray for the tortured souls that chose to lash out violently in their pain and anxiety, rather than trust in the ways of peace.

We give thanks for the first responders,…

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Posted on April 17, 2013 at 12:20pm

Join us on ... 'Santa's Bonus Run'

Opportunities to show generosity and compassion abound at UUCA this season!

We found out this week about additional families in our community who could use some holiday cheer through our Secret Santa gift-giving efforts. Now you can be a part of ... Santa's Bonus Run.

Here's how it will work:

- This Sunday morning, take one or more gift request tags from the upstairs Secret Santa tree.

- Fill your name in on the sign-up sheet next to the…

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Posted on December 22, 2012 at 1:24pm

Concerned about Weather Emergencies …?

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy last week and the derecho last summer, I am assembling a short-term Weather Emergency Task Force to consider how UUCA might best respond to the needs of members, friends and the wider community when such crises happen. If you would like to be part of this group that will submit suggestions to the staff for action, please contact me at revc@uucava.org, or call the office at 703.892.2565 x238. Let's plan now so that we might…

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Posted on November 3, 2012 at 11:58am

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 10:56pm on October 15, 2010, Sharon G. Williams said…: Love the Eagle Poem! Thank you! This is my first time on your web page? Are you going to put some music on your web page?

At 8:09pm on May 23, 2010, Cynthia Adcock said…: I am delighted that you are coming to work with us, Rev. Carlton (if I may address you in the way I address our current ministers). For a very many reasons--but your final sentence on your introduction says it best for me. Yes, I see my life process in much these terms--working out my soul's salvation, here on this planet at this time in history. I'm thankful that you bring us a Deep-South and African-American experience, and journalism experience (I was one too). And as one of the folks involved with social justice and journey to wholeness, I look forward to working with you--I/we are ready for some new ways of looking at life. Thank you for choosing to come here!