In 1977 the UUA General Assembly unanimously passed the Women & Religion Resolution, calling on all individual UUs and UU organizations to examine and put aside sexist assumptions, attitudes, and language; to explore and eliminate religious roots of sexism in myths, traditions, and beliefs. The impact of this resolution has been profound; ranging from the establishment of women’s spiritual retreats to the rapid increase in the number of female UU ministers. It has prompted the incorporation of more rituals, such as chalice lighting and “Joys and Sorrows” into our services, as well as the review and revision of our Principles and Purposes. Curricula celebrating the female as divine have been developed, including Cakes for the Queen of Heaven.
“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman honoring adult RE curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck. It examines pre-Judeo Christian cultures that may have worshiped the female as divine. The concepts of equality and reverence for the female in a religious setting are eye-opening to many participants. More than Goddess 101, this workshop series examines important elements of today’s women’s lives; personal, interpersonal, and societal. It examines how our culture has been influenced by Judeo-Christian values. The primary question raised is: How would your life have been different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female? Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and beliefs.
The Full Circle Women’s Spiritual Group of the Unitarian Universalist of Annapolis will facilitate this five-series event from April to June 2021.
To learn more, attend the orientation during After Hour (after the UUCA service) on March 21, 2021 from 11:10 to 12:10 pm EDT. The zoom link to participate is https://bit.ly/Cakes2021.