Ken is originally from Lansing, Michigan.  He served as pastor of churches in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hamilton, Ohio; and Los Alamitos, California.  Ken has worked in property management for twenty years.  He is retiring from Mesa Management where he was Business Manager of a senior housing complex in Fountain Valley, California.  He is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ.  Ken and his wife Glenda joined IUCC five years ago.

     Ken looks forward to continuing a tradition of outstanding adult education at Irvine United Congregational Church.  In addition to Adult Sunday School and Bible Study groups, IUCC has also presented high profile programs including: internationally recognized scholars, members of the Jesus Seminar, interfaith dialogue events, and social justice issues.  A small group ministry known as, “Comma Groups” is now at the center of the church’s adult education focus.  Irvine United Congregational Church is an Open and Affirming and Just Peace Church that is proudly progressive and intentionally inclusive.

1872 – 2012 – Celebrating 140 Years!

“The First Congregational Church of Riverside celebrated 140 years of service to Riverside and the surrounding communities on April 21.

“In 1871, John W. North inspected the brush-covered land that was to become the city of Riverside from his buggy.  With him was the Rev. Isaac W. Atherton who founded the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles in 1869.  The following year, partly due to poor health, Atherton moved his family to the tiny colony of Riverside, began preaching and soon founded Riversides first church.”  For the rest, click here

March 24, 2012 – Taking a Stand

In March Jane Quandt, Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church Riverside had already moved her mortgage from Bank of America to Provident Federal, a locally based bank when she was accompanied by supporters as she closed her remaining accounts. Quandt along with members of Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), which whom the church is associated with, and members of the congregation then went before the Riverside City Council to demand the city consider a “responsible banking” initiative as many other larger cities have already done.  The entire story was reported in Riverside’s Press-Enterprise March 25. 

Link to article:  http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120325-banking-inland-clergy-urge-ethical-banking.ece

     One out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday (Finkelhor, 1990), a rate ten times that of cancer (Sadler, 1999).     That, by even the most conservative numbers, means 39,000,000 people in the United States have experienced sexual abuse in some way.

     It is time to heal and end abuse.

     The impacts of child sexual abuse (CSA) and other kinds of abuse are many and profound:  misplaced shame and sense of responsibility for the abuse and such destructive behavior as excessive drug and alcohol use, eating disorders and teen pregnancies.

     Dr. Vincent Felitti’s extensive Adverse Childhood Experiences (www.acestudy.org) study revealed the following correlations between CSA and mental and physical consequences:

Current depression  54%
Chronic depression  41%
Suicide attempts  58%
Alcoholism   65%
All drug use   50%
Injection drug use  78%
Promiscuity   48%
Rape victim   62%
Domestic violence victim 52%

     Few victims report their abuse because of the shame they feel.  They don’t know who to tell, or what words to use.  And, because no one asks them about it or wants to talk about it, they don’t realize how it is impacting their lives.   These destructive childhood experiences, the cost in damaged lives and the victims’ interpretations and behaviors must be addressed.

     During my years as a teacher and K-12 administrator, I had no idea of the widespread nature of child sexual abuse.  As I worked to help teachers become effective advocates for K-12 students and parents, I began to realize that when it comes to recognizing and preventing abuse, teachers and parents were woefully underprepared.

     That is why I am writing to you today.

     The last 20 years have seen an explosion in the number of revelations and lawsuits related to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy, teachers, coaches, therapists and others in roles of authority.    While protecting and caring for children and vulnerable adults is clearly a central value of parental, educational, civic and religious organizations’ missions, how effectively are they addressing the problem?  In particular, what are churches doing to prevent abuse and promote healing?

     The disturbing charges of child sexual abuse during the many years Jerry Sandusky ran the ‘Second Mile’ program for underprivileged youth infuriate the public, and rightfully so.  Adults saw, told other adults, reported to police, reported to university administrators, who received formal complaints as far back as 1998.  And yet he was allowed to continue to act with full authority and access to more and more vulnerable children. 

     Some organizations employ a “one size fits all” Safe Space policy, others boundary trainings via on-line videos and quizzes — with little assessment of their impact on members of the organization.  Safe Space Policies created by a few people on behalf of an organization do not protect children or create an environment in which those who are being “groomed” for sex or those who have been sexually abused at some time in their lives can find support and healing.  Too often, parents and church members take comfort in the practice of implementing background checks to discover registered sex offenders.  Sandusky was not on a sex offender list.

     I think the lack of outrage by churchgoers about sexual abuse may relate to guilt, shame and anger turned inward (depression) in those who saw and did not act.  It may also be a self-protective devise in those who have experienced sexual abuse  – shutting down rather than intervening.  This ineffective behavior must stop.

     That is why I and my colleague, Svava Brooks, director of TAALK San Diego, have created ‘Safe Families, Safer Communities,’ a two-hour parent and teacher workshop.  In this workshop, participants will:

• Understand child sexual abuse contexts, data, and impacts.
• Gain information about stranger danger and child abuse.
• Review prevention and intervention strategies to protect children from sexual abuse.
• Learn to talk to their kids and other adults about personal safety.
• Assess tools that can help parents discuss abuse comfortably with their children.
• Practice questions every parent should ask before placing their child in the care of others.
• Receive a copy of “Parents Preventing Abuse”
• Develop a community action plan to bring ‘Safe Families, Safer Communities’ trainings to parents.

Dr. Vincent Felitti, world-renown principal co-investigator of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, says about our workshop, “I am pleased to support TAALK San Diego’s proposal to bring a community awareness and prevention program for child sexual abuse into San Diego, California.  I believe that an awareness and prevention program like the one proposed by TAALK San Diego is crucial in shifting public consciousness and breaking the silence around abuse… I am well familiar with Svava Brooks, one of the organizers, and feel she is an experienced, highly capable person for this work, as is Dr. Jaime Romo, another valuable leader in this field.” 

     We will be offering the workshop monthly to any parents who sign up.  We also envision local civic and religious groups hosting workshops for their members.   Through such partnerships informed adults will be able to shift the culture in our society that allows sexual abuse to occur.

     April is sexual assault awareness month but the problem is ongoing.  Together, we can prevent sexual abuse. Parents, educators and church goers must learn enough to act now to prevent future abuse and to help those in their organizations (20%) who already carry abuse experiences unbeknownst to others.

     In addition to the ‘Safe Families, Safer Communities’ workshop and the 6 month ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ seminar,  I am available to provide a one-day ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ workshop to help congregational leadership teams jumpstart a process of creating ‘Making Churches Safe’ policies, Response Teams, meaningful education programs and assessment procedures for being a safe and healing community.  Contact me to arrange for a workshop in your area:  Jaime Romo at jr@jaimeromo.com

About the speakers: 

Dr. Romo is a Commissioned Minister in the United Church of Christ for Healing and Healthy Environments. He earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego in 1998 and has served as K-12 teacher and administrator and teacher educator. He has taken an active role in developing and implementing Safe Church Policies and Healing Community practices in churches since 2009, leading trainings for parents, volunteers and employees. His most recent books are: “Healing the Sexually Abused Heart: A Workbook for Survivors, Thrivers, and Supporters;” “Parents Preventing Abuse;” and “Teachers Preventing Abuse.” Dr. Romo coaches survivors and supporters in person and via on-line healing programs at www.healingthesexuallyabusedheart.com. For more info, see www.jaimeromo.com

Svava Brooks is a co-founder and VP for a national non-profit in Iceland dedicated to awareness and education about child sexual abuse and prevention. Svava, currently serves as  Program Director for TAALK.  (www.taalk.org) TAALK is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation in OC with the mission is to break the silence that surrounds child sexual abuse.  Svava also is a trainer and facilitator for Darkness to Light Stewards of Children prevention training, an evidence-based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training.  Svava has provided education and trainings on child abuse and prevention to thousands of adults and teenagers in Iceland and now in Southern CA. For more information, see http://speak4change.com/

Photo by Jack Gillespie

One of the most vivid memories I have of Pilgrim Pines is the Sunday morning church service held under the trees.  We sat on logs facing a makeshift altar in the open air.  I was never quite able to put my finger on it, but there was something so special about that setting.   I could say I felt closer to God in that wide open area, but that doesn’t quite cover it all.  Some of it was the quiet that the setting seemed to require.  There was the quiet rustling of the wind through the trees and the shadows created as the sun rose and shone through the branches.  I remember in particular one time when the whole experience brought me to tears.  Truthfully, I don’t remember any particular sermon or song; I just know that the time touched a part of me that perhaps I had ignored for too long.
- Patty Bender, La Mesa, CA

“One night right after campfire the kids had just left for their cabins and a big old raccoon came amblin’ through the volleyball court.  My friend Barbe and I started to gently shoo it up toward Creek Lodge.  It slowly made its way to the wall.  When it got to the wall it decided to turn back toward Barbe and me.  In all our bravery and glory we turned and high-tailed it in the other direction.”
- Rob Wardle, Waterford, MI

“I remember that, Rob!  And another night a raccoon somehow got into the cabin and was helping itself to some food I had in my bunk area.  My roomies thought it was me and told me to be quiet.  They flipped on the light when the noise continued only to discover the raccoon!”
- Barbe Mitchell, Bakersfield, CA

“I was up at camp with the Youth Round Table for a meeting/retreat.  Camp was pretty deserted; we may have been the only group there.  A group of girls and I were making a trek from the bathrooms behind the office down toward the mail lodge.  Then, la la la la la do de do de do, BAM!  There’s a bear, BIG bear, about two feet from me!  I do what any mature and responsible adult would do – scream and hightail it back to the women’s bathroom, pushing the girls with me.  Quick, shut the door and, um, um, um, wait.  Finally someone got brave enough to check.  No bear.  I think that we were clutching each other so tightly on our way to the main lodge any bear seeing us would have thought the group was one big bear.  BIG bear!”
- Barbe Mitchell

One sunny October weekend, I found myself at Pilgrim Pines for my congregation’s family camp weekend.  At the end of the evening, I settled in with the others in our cabin.  After a sleepless hour listening to the non-stop snorers, I went out to look at the stars for a while.  I wandered up and sat on the veranda around the pool.  It was a super-clear night, and the stars were wondrous.  After I’d sat for perhaps half an hour, I began to hear something moving around at the side of the building.  It was a sort of snuffing sound.  As it got closer, I realized that it might be a bear, and I was a little concerned.  I was just thinking of starting back to the cabin when the actual bear came around the corner of the building toward me.  In the next “oh-my-goodness” split second, it occurred to me that in the fairly populous district of the camp, a dangerous bear would surely have been caught and removed to the wilderness long ago, so this bear was probably pretty laid back.  Besides, my only route off the veranda was directly toward the bear.  So I just sat and waited and watched, and sure enough, the bear passed by a few feet away.  It glanced back over its shoulder as it passed by, and headed on down toward the trash cans.  It made for good conversation at breakfast.                                                                                     -Dick Hatch, La Mesa, CA

Photo by Jack Gillespie

“I loved those nights, so quiet and still, gazing out of the window where I stayed.  There was something of holiness in the stillness of the evening, where the view was peaceful and breathtaking all at the same time.”
- Barbe Mitchell

“…good memories of snow and thick fog, ladybugs filling the air and covering logs, a huge owl swooping down through the pasture…of walking home at night looking up at the stars the whole time and seeing scores of shooting stars in the summer.  Beautiful memories.”
- Win Gould, San Jose, CA

“PP offered some of the best summers and winters of my entire life.  I try to explain it to my kids and there is no way to replicate what occurred there…I loved being a counselor there…little did I know God was planting a seed to prepare me for this wonderful journey I’m on.”
- Dianna Manny

For All People of All Ages Who Can Walk 2 Miles

Pearson Park Amphitheatre
401 North Lemon Street
Anaheim, CA  92805

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Registration is at 7:30 a.m.

For more information
contact the
Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
at (714) 239-6473 or infor@shuracouncil.org

“There’s music to play,(You know it, you know it!)
Places to go, people to see!
Everything (Yeah!)
For you and me!
. . . “Got a lot of livin’ to do!”

            (from Bye, Bye Birdie)

Make that “a lot of singin’ to do” and you have the celebrated songsters of the Pacific Men’s Chorale in concert at the United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM).  Led by Christopher Allen and accompanied by Valerie Victor, the Chorale will present music ranging from “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” to “Ching A Ring Chaw,” “Joshua!” and “Feeling Good.”

Enjoy the music of Vivaldi (“Et in Terra Pax”) and Blind Gary Davis (“Keep Your Lamps!”) and songs from Bye, Bye Birdie and Les Miserables, along with “My America,” “The Sound of Pipe and Drum” and “Bring Him Home.” 

The concert will be at 7:00pm, Friday, May 18, 2012 in the church sanctuary.   UCCLM is located at 5940 Kelton Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942 (619-464-1519, www.ucclm.org).  All are welcome!  A free will offering will be taken.

Why does it happen?

Has it happened to you?

What can be done about it?

Who can help – and how?

These are the questions the young people of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM) have been brainstorming on Sunday mornings, questions which sprang from class assignments, observation, personal encounter and the recognition that different school districts approach the problem differently – some aggressively, some only in response to specific incidents.

Now they are taking the next step – involving others in the discussion.  At 10:00am on Sunday, May 27, 2012 the Youth of UCCLM will host “Rising Above Bullying…,” an interactive forum featuring open dialogue, role-playing and video clips.  They invite you to join them and the members of their church for this special service – and to play an active role in the conversation.

UCCLM, an Open and Affirming church, is located at 5940 Kelton Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942 (619-464-1519, www.ucclm.org).  “Rising Above Bullying…” will be presented in the church’s Friendship Hall. 

All are welcome!

This event is for musicians, pastors, liturgical artists, worship planners, and anyone interested in the worship life of the church!

The 2012 conference will feature Maren Tirabassi, Paul Hobson Sadler, Christopher Grundy, and composer and guest artist Craig Courtney. For complete information visit the UCCMNN website at: www.UCCMNN.com.

The UCCMNN is sponsored by Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ thanks to your generous support to Our Church’s Wider Mission.

The seventh annual Spirit of the Hill award will be presented this year to Rev. Bill Cunitz, M.Div. 1974, on May 17 in Newton Centre, MA. Andover Newton’s Alumni/ae Association Board recognizes that Bill’s life and ministry, since he graduated cum laude from Andover Newton in 1974, has demonstrated:

• Devotion to the renewing of church and society;
• Faith and courage of liberating visions;
• Ability to respectfully cross borders, thus being repairers of the breach;
• Promoting fellowship among ANTS Alumni/ae and demonstrates commitment to the mission of the school.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Rev. Cunitz served the administration of Andover Newton Theological School and five presidents as Director of the 1982-85 Capital Campaign, Director of Church and Alumni/ae Relations, Director of Development and Vice President for Institutional Advancement. As a member of the school’s adjunct faculty from 1991 to 1998, he taught a course in the administration and theology of stewardship. In 1997, he helped to launch the school’s distance education program, and was among the first to teach a course at Andover Newton using the Internet.

In her nomination letter, the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree (M.Div. 1972) wrote, “Throughout his years in ministry, Bill has led with a focused sense of purpose, a deep sense of the importance of relationships, and a wide vision of the mission and ministry of the Christian Church.” Looking specifically at his years on the ANTS leadership team, she added, “His devotion to the School and his sense of integrity carried the day through numerous difficult days in the School’s life in those years. Whether a student, an alum, or a faculty or staff member, when you were in Bill’s presence, you knew that he cared for you personally. That quality of personal concern has infused his leadership throughout his ministerial career.”

Bill has served as the President/CEO of Pilgrim Place in Claremont, CA, since 1998. An internationally known Continuing Care Retirement Community with a focus on social justice, environmental sustainability and innovative healthcare, Pilgrim Place has more than 360 residents who have served the church and humanitarian non-profit organizations. He recently directed a $26.5 million multi-phase redevelopment of the campus that now features 3 LEED certified buildings, more than any other free-standing retirement community in the United States.

He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the UCC Council for Health and Human Services Ministries, the Strategic Planning Committee of Aging Services of CA, Moderator of the Claremont United Church of Christ, Co-chair of the CUCC Senior Pastor Search Committee, the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, Community Senior Services, Inland Valley Hope Partners.

“Bill Cunitz embodies the excellence in ministry which Andover Newton strives to inculcate in each and every student,” the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree wrote. “As an alumnus, Bill has proudly maintained his ANTS connection and ‘carried the flag’ to the west coast and across the United Church of Christ.”

For more information about the 2012 Convocation at Andover Newton Theological School, please call the Rev. Ruth Edens, Annual Fund director, at (617) 831-2409; e-mail her at REdens@ants.edu; or go online to http://www.ants.edu/reunions/

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Founded in 1807, Andover Newton is the nation’s oldest theological school and its first graduate institution of any kind. From the start, it created the model for theological education followed by virtually all graduate seminaries ever since. Andover Newton has always been an innovator in response to a diverse and rapidly changing world. Today, the school serves as a dynamic laboratory for religious education and the church of the future. www.ants.edu