UUFSMA: “Charting a Course Toward Real Democracy”

“Charting a Course Toward Real Democracy”

Sunday, July 12, 10:30am

This past week we celebrated the 244th anniversary of a nation founded on democratic
principles, but which has never yet truly lived up to the promises of those principles.

“This Sunday I will invite participants in the service to explore the religious mandate to
bring about ‘real democracy’,” says Reverend Tom Rosiello, Minister of the lay-led Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Miguel de Allende. He notes, “Today in the U.S. and in other countries that declare themselves to be democratic, something is funda-mentally wrong. The ongoing protests around the world highlighting the unquestionable racism of U.S. institutions and growing inequality in society show that voices of many go unheard. In 1850, Unitarian Universalist minister Theodore Parker described our supposedly democratic system as ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.’ Today that system now works in ways that are ‘of, by and for’ a privileged society that excludes the unprivileged.”

“Many who benefit from a broken system do not want it to work for others.” He points to
a litany of breaks. Efforts to suppress votes proliferate. Laws to support wider communities of citizens are blocked. Foreign nations interfere in U.S. elections to benefit politicians who favor the privileged. Billionaires buy elections and legislation that favors expanding wealth and influence.

“The upcoming U.S. presidential election makes democracy’s problems clear,” he
observes. “True democracy is not needed just once every four years and democratic elections are only part of democracy. Democracy rests on the principle that our government must hear the voices of all people — before and after elections too.”

In this sermon, Rev. Rosiello invites participants in the service and elsewhere to chart a
new course for the unrealized promise of democracy. According to Rev. Rosiello, “To do so, we must embrace teachings of our faith tradition. This is much more than an issue of political process. It is a moral issue. It requires us to embrace our best values and spiritual fortitude to chart a new course.”

To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit the Fellowship’s website at www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button displayed on the home page. If
requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in between 10:15-10:25 am.

Through grants and awards, UUFSMA donates fifty percent of all income it receives to
support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page’s Donate button. Now more than ever, your support is essential.

Due to the arrival of the coronavirus in San Miguel de Allende, UUFSMA has
indefinitely suspended in-person Sunday services and other gatherings. We advise members and friends to follow the advice of reputable public health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control, and to contact our Minister or Care Team for needed assistance. The UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Our fellowship was born in 1987 when a small group of expatriate religious liberals came together to meet as Unitarian Universalists in San Miguel de Allende. The fellowship has been active and thriving ever since. Every UU church has it’s own flavor, and we are no exception. We are a combination of expats and visitors, each actively engaged and contributing to this wonderful Mexican community we love. Because there is a coming, going, and returning aspect, our spiritual community is extremely fluid.  There is a magic in San Miguel which draws us in and binds us together—both as members of the church and of the larger community. Our programming is led by visiting ministers, community leaders, and church members, so the variety is lively. We have opportunities to meet as UU’s each week at discussion groups, breakfasts, luncheons, and in various other ways. Depending on the season, attendance fluctuates between 40 and 140. Our primary focus is on funding social action within the surrounding community. We love good music, good discussion, good food, and having visitors. We invite you to join us any Sunday morning.

Members regularly post updates and information on this site. We also post meeting minutes and announcements there.

To join our Yahoo group site click on this link:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UUFSMA/info

Click on “membership”and follow the directions.

Posting a notice on the Yahoo site is easy. Just go to your regular mail browser, type in the address line: uufsma@yahoogroups.com , type your message and hit send!

We encourage you to use this site to communicate with other local UUs.