TJ Connection - Summer 2004

Retreating withthe European UUs
From Rev. Vernon Chandler

Located in the heart of the beautiful Ardennes Forest of Belgium is the historic city of Spa, site of this year's European Unitarian Universalists (EUU) Spring Retreat. The actual housing and meeting location was the family-friendly Sol Cres Resort located atop a mountain overlooking Spa. Adjacent to the resort center is the public thermal mineral spring pool and spas. The thermal mineral waters, discovered by the ancient Romans, have been associated with various curative powers for centuries. Roman soldiers used the waters to treat aching muscles and wounds from battle. The name of the city comes from the Latin words espa (fountain) and sparsa (to bubble up).

Nataly and I made the four hour train trip from Heidelberg to Spa and joined more than 100 other Unitarian Universalists from throughtout Europe for this twice-a-year retreat event. Held over the weekend of 23 - 25 April 2004, the theme of this spring's retreat was "The Time Is Now." The special guest speakers for the retreat were the Rev. Donald Harrington, minister and Minister Emeritus of the Community Church of New York for more than 60 years and currently retired and living in Romania and the Rev. Karen Gustafson, minister of the First Unitarian Church in Duluth, MN. In their keynote addresses, the Rev. Harrington and the Rev. Gustafson explored what they considered some of the most urgent human challenges, such as the delicacy of the balances in our environment and how human carelessness might make life impossible, and what we can do about it. Also, they discussed the widening gap between rich and poor, and rich and poor nations and the impact this has upon our future as a world community. Along with the keynote speeches and worship services, there were opportunities to participate in a variety of workshops. In addition to the adult programs, there was a full weekend of activities for the many youths who attended the event.

This was my second EUU retreat. Last October, Nataly and I attended the Fall Retreat held at Oberwesel, Germany. During my weekend experience in Spa, Belgium, I came to realize that these twice annual events are much more than mere retreats. For many of the English speaking Unitarian Universalists spread out over the European continent, these retreats are more akin to attending church twice a year since more than half of the retreat participants live in communities where there are no Unitarian Universalist congregations or fellowships. The EUU was founded in 1982 as a support network and community for the very few English speaking European Unitarian Universalists congregations and the many isolated English speaking Unitarian Universalists living and working in Europe. A majority of the English speaking European Unitarian Universalists are connected to the U.S. military as soldiers, sailors, airmen, Department of Defense civilian employees and family members. Many others are in Europe due to employment with international corporations and/or as faculty at various European colleges and universities. Additionally, there are English speaking Unitarian Universalists who are retired and living in Europe.

During the weekend, I met Unitarian Universalists from Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. What impressed me was the fact that for many of the participants, the retreat experience was similar to a church homecoming or family reunion.

Maggie Goodwin of Paris, France has been attending these EUU retreats for more than 13 years. When I asked her to explain her commitment to the EUU and the twice annual retreats, she said, “I see the EUU and our retreats essentially as an integral link in that interdependent web between UUs everywhere, in our case between European fellowships, their members, and those who live too far from one another to participate in regular UU group activities." She added, "Members of fellowships are further enriched by the spiritual and practical contributions of far-flung UUs who can in turn benefit from a totally UU environment at least twice a year. People and even fellowships come and go, but I like to think that EUU and our retreats will continue for a long time yet, facilitating opportunities for each of us to find what we currently need, be it spiritual renewal, intellectual challenge, or the pleasure of being with those who share our ideas and ideals."

Martha Hicks of Bielefeld, Germany, is editor of the EUU newsletter UNIFIER. I asked Martha about her involvement with EUU. She responded:

"Our family has belonged to the EUU for 14 years now. I wouldn't have taken the trouble to look for a religious community if we hadn't had a baby. But after he arrived, I not only felt a desire but a real need to find a group which taught values I found important in a village environment that could help our son find his own path. As needy as I was for a spiritual home for our son, my husband and I were just as much in need of the warm and friendly fellowship that immediately surrounded us at our first retreat. The area where we live is not known for either of these qualities, so our feelings of appreciation were strong. The friendship of so many people on the same wavelength spread throughout Europe has been a great comfort to us. It has helped to combat a sense of mental and spiritual isolation."

The current president of the EUU is John Keating. John lives in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and is employed as a school psychologist with the U.S. Department of Defense School System. In addition to his weekend "presidential" responsibilities, John led a fascinating workshop entitled "The Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool." John created two different labyrinths near the retreat center and participants were encouraged to walk the labyrinths as a form of prayer/meditation. Although I had read of the recent popularity of labyrinths in the Episcopal Church, this was my first instruction and experience in using a labyrinth as a form of meditation

For Nataly and me, it was a wonderful weekend to be with other open minded Unitarian Universalists who share many of our own values and religious beliefs. Also, as a Unitarian Universalist currently on extended active duty with the military, it was comforting to have open and honest discussions regarding US foreign policy with other UUs connected with the military. Many Unitarian Universalists in uniform do not have such opportunities at our respective military bases and installations where we work. Also, it was comforting to be at a UU gathering where one in uniform did not have to apologize or be asked to explain "how one can be Unitarian Universalist and be affiliated with the military?" Contrary to what many non-military connected UUs might think, there is much political diversity among UUs in uniform and UUs employed as civilians with the military. We share many of the same concerns as do our stateside, non-military related Unitarian Universalists!

Next fall's EUU retreat will be held 29 - 31 October in Reims, France. The theme of the fall retreat is "Challenge, Chaos, Change: Adapting to, and making the most of, the ever-shifting landscapes in our vocational, relational, and personal lives." The guest speaker for the fall retreat is the Rev. David Johnson, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Portage, Michigan.

By the way, you don't have to live in Europe to attend one of the EUU retreats. There were several Unitarian Universalists who flew over from the USA for the Spa retreat. Several of these folks got involved with EUU while living in Europe and they continue to make pilgrimages back to Europe for fellowship with their EUU friends during the spring and fall retreats. If any of you are interested in learning more about the EUU and their retreat programs, you can access their website at www.euu.uua.org

(Vernon Chandler is a TJD Unitarian Universalist minister with a home in Swansea, South Carolina. Vernon and Nataly Chandler currently reside in Heidelberg, Germany, where Vernon is on an extended tour of active military duty as the Deputy Command Chaplain for U.S. Army Europe. Additionally, Vernon serves as minister of the English speaking Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Heidelberg.)